Column 11 Flashcards
munificent
mu·nif·i·cent | \myu̇-ˈni-fə-sənt
very liberal in giving or bestowing (see BESTOW sense 4) : LAVISH
munificent donors
prevaricate
pre·var·i·cate | \pri-ˈver-ə-ˌkāt,
to deviate from the truth : EQUIVOCATE
Harlequin
har·le·quin | \ˈhär-li-k(w)ən
capitalized : a character in comedy and pantomime with a shaved head, masked face, variegated tights, and wooden sword
b : BUFFOON
chivalrous chiv·al·rous | \ˈshi-vəl-rəs \
VALIANT
chivalrous warriors
2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of chivalry and knight-errantry
a chivalrous quest
3a : marked by honor, generosity, and courtesy
appreciated the chivalrous acts of the general
homo sapiens
Ho·mo sa·pi·ens | \ˌhō-(ˌ)mō-ˈsā-pē-ˌenz,
humankind
cinnabar
cin·na·bar | \ˈsi-nə-ˌbär
artificial red mercuric sulfide used especially as a pigment
2 : a red mineral consisting of native mercuric sulfide HgS that is the only important ore of mercury
3 : a deep vivid red
eviscerated
evis·cer·ate | \i-ˈvi-sə-ˌrāt \
to take out the entrails of : DISEMBOWEL
b : to deprive of vital content or force
docile
doc·ile | \ˈdä-səl also -ˌsī(-ə)l,
: easily taught
a docile pupil
asseveration
\ -ˌse-və-ˈrā-shən
to affirm or declare positively or earnestly
he always asseverated that he did not know
amethyst
am·e·thyst | \ˈa-mə-thəst,
: a clear purple or bluish-violet variety of crystallized quartz that is often used as a jeweler’s stone
b : a deep purple variety of corundum
phalanx
pha·lanx | \ˈfā-ˌlaŋ(k)s,
: a body of heavily armed infantry in ancient Greece formed in close deep ranks and files
broadly : a body of troops in close array
espionage
es·pi·o·nage | \ˈe-spē-ə-ˌnäzh
the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or a competing company
industrial espionage
grenadier
gren·a·dier | \ˌgre-nə-ˈdir \
: a soldier who carries and throws grenades
b : a member of a special regiment or corps formerly armed with grenades
2
electrolysis
elec·trol·y·sis | \i-ˌlek-ˈträ-lə-səs
the producing of chemical changes by passage of an electric current through an electrolyte
b : subjection to this action
Babylon
Bab·y·lon | \ˈba-bə-ˌlän,
a city devoted to materialism and sensual pleasure
concertina
con·cer·ti·na | \ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈtē-n
a musical instrument of the accordion family
2 : CONCERTINA WIRE
balaclavas
bal·a·cla·va | \ˌba-lə-ˈklä-və,
a knit cap for the head and neck
— called also balaclava helmet
affidavit af·fi·da·vit | \ˌa-fə-ˈdā-vət \
a sworn statement in writing made especially under oath or on affirmation (see AFFIRMATION sense 2) before an authorized magistrate or officer
The witness’s affidavit was presented to the court as evidence.
ligatures
lig·a·ture | \ˈli-gə-ˌchu̇r, -chər, -ˌtu̇r, -ˌtyu̇r\
: something that is used to bind
specifically : a filament (such as a thread) used in surgery
b : something that unites or connects : BOND
having no ligature of race or family affection to bind them together
— Horace Bushnell
acclamations
ac·cla·ma·tion | \ˌa-klə-ˈmā-shən
a loud eager expression of approval, praise, or assent
2 : an overwhelming affirmative vote by cheers, shouts, or applause rather than by ballot
expiation
ex·pi·a·tion | \ˌek-spē-ˈā-shən
the act of making atonement
tetrarch
te·trarch | \ˈte-ˌträrk, ˈtē-\
a governor of the fourth part of a province
2 : a subordinate prince
fascist
fascist \ ˈfa-shist
often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
courteous
cour·te·ous | \ˈkər-tē-əs,
marked by polished manners, gallantry, or ceremonial usage of a court
diffidence
dif·fi·dence | \ˈdi-fə-dən(t)s,
the quality or state of being unassertive or bashful : the quality or state of being diffident
balustrades
bal·us·trade | \ˈba-lə-ˌstrād
a row of balusters topped by a rail
galette
ga·lette | \gə-ˈlet \
: a flat round cake of pastry often topped with fruit
2 : a food prepared and served in the shape of a flat round cake
flambeau
flam·beau | \ˈflam-ˌbō
a flaming torch
unguents
un·guent | \ˈəŋ-gwənt,
a soothing or healing salve : OINTMENT
savanna sa·van·na | \sə-ˈva-nə
a treeless plain especially in Florida
2a : a tropical or subtropical grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees and drought-resistant undergrowth
b : a temperate grassland with scattered trees (such as oaks)
glutinous glu·ti·nous | \ˈglüt-nəs,
having the quality of glue : GUMMY
lobelia
lo·be·lia | \lō-ˈbēl-yə
any of a genus (Lobelia of the family Lobeliaceae, the lobelia family) of widely cultivated plants having terminal clusters of showy lipped flowers
noisome
noi·some | \ˈnȯi-səm \
\: NOXIOUS, HARMFUL a noisome pestilence 2a : offensive to the senses and especially to the sense of smell noisome garbage b : highly obnoxious or objectionable noisome habits
canapés
can·a·pé | \ˈka-nə-pē,
an appetizer consisting of a piece of bread or toast or a cracker topped with a savory spread (such as caviar or cheese)
— compare HORS D’OEUVRE
cyanide
cy·a·nide | \ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd,
a compound of cyanogen with a more electropositive element or group: such as
a
voltaic
vol·ta·ic | \väl-ˈtā-ik,
of, relating to, or producing direct electric current by chemical action (as in a battery) : GALVANIC
voltaic cell
rapacious
ra·pa·cious | \rə-ˈpā-shəs \
excessively grasping or covetous
2 : living on prey
frippery
frip·pery | \ˈfri-p(ə-)rē \
obsolete
a : cast-off clothes
b archaic : a place where old clothes are sold
aphorism
aph·o·rism | \ˈa-fə-ˌri-zəm
a concise statement of a principle
2 : a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment : ADAGE
the high-minded aphorism, “Let us value the quality of life, not the quantity”
