Common Words II Flashcards
meticulous
adjective: marked by extreme care in treatment of details
diffident
adjective: showing modest reserve; lacking self confidence
gossamer
adjective: characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
eschew
verb: avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
didactic
adjective: instructive (especially excessively)
fortuitous
adjective: occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause
aesthetic
adjective: concerned with the appreciation of beauty
noun: a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement
torpor
noun: inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy
culpability
noun: a state of guilt
cryptic
adjective: mysterious or vague, usually intentionally
querulous
adjective: habitually complaining
audacious
adjective: willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks
dogmatic
adjective: highly opinionated, not accepting that one’s own beliefs may not be correct
perfidy
noun: an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust
glut
noun: an excessive supply
verb: supply with an excess of
deferential
adjective: showing respect
decorous
adjective: characterized by good taste in manners and conduct
prescience
noun: the power to foresee the future
preclude
verb: keep from happening or arising; make impossible
superfluous
adjective: serving no useful purpose
adjective: more than is needed, desired, or required
obscure
verb: make unclear
adjective: known by only a few
apathetic
adjective: marked by lack of interest
platitude
noun: a trite or obvious remark
rustic
adjective: characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial
volubility
noun: the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously
incisive
adjective: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
dictatorial
adjective: expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler
bucolic
adjective: relating to the pleasant aspects of the country
conspicuous
adjective: without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
impudent
adjective: improperly forward or bold
frivolous
adjective: not serious in content or attitude or behavior
culminate
verb: to reach the highest or most decisive point
reticent
adjective: disinclined to talk, not revealing one’s thoughts
gall
noun: the trait of being rude and impertinent
noun: feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
aesthete
noun: one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature
gainsay
verb: deny or contradict; speak against or oppose
concede
verb: acknowledge defeat
verb: give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
recondite
adjective: difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
mitigate
verb: make less severe or harsh
verb: lessen the severity of an offense
chortle
verb: to chuckle, laugh merrily, often in a breathy, muffled way
engender
verb: give rise to
germane
adjective: relevant and appropriate
exacerbate
verb: make worse
vociferous
adjective: conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
inexorable
adjective: impossible to stop or prevent
lambast
verb: criticize severely or angrily
entrenched
adjective: fixed firmly or securely
banal
adjective: repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
mawkish
adjective: overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting
predilection
noun: a strong liking
