creative writing Flashcards
ABJURE
(vt) 1. To give up (right, allegiance, etc.) on oath; renounce 2. To give up (opinions) publicly; recant
ABSTRUSE
(adj) Difficult to understand; obscure
ACCESSION
(n) The act of acceding; augmentation; succession to the throne
ADJURE
(vt) 1. To charge solemnly, often under oath or penalty 2. To entreat earnestly
AGUE
(n) 1. A fever, usually that of malaria, marked by regularly recurring chills 2. A chill; fit of shivering
ALACRITY
(n) liveliness; cheerful readiness; promptitude
ALIGHT
(v) 1. To get down off of; dismount 2. To come down after flight 3. [Rare] To come (on
or upon) accidentally
ALLIGATE
(n) to attach; bind
APPELLATION
(n) 1. The act of calling by a name 2. A name or title; designation
ARDENT
(adj) 1. Warm or intense in feeling; passionate 2. intensely enthusiastic or devoted; zealous 3. Glowing; radiant 4. Burning, aflame
ASSEVERATE
(vt) To state seriously or positively; assert
AUGEAN
(adj) difficult or unpleasant
AUGUR
(n) An instrument for boring holes
AVARICE
(n) Covetousness, greed, eagerly desirous (to be); extreme greed for wealth or material gain
AVER
(vt) To declare to be true; affirm. Past tense Averred
AVUNCULAR
(a) Relating to an uncle “The avuncular affair”
BECLOUD
(vt) To cloud over; obscure
BEGUILE
(vt) 1. To mislead by guile; deceive 2. To deprive (of or out of) by deceit; cheat 3. To pass (time) pleasantly; while away [ he beguiled his day with reading ] 4. To charm or delight
BELEAGUER
(vt) 1. To besiege by encircling, as with an army 2. To beset, harass
BENEFICIENCE
(n) The quality or state of doing or producing good
CAPITULATE
(v) To cease resisting; acquiesce, surrender, often after a negotiation of terms
CAPRICE
A sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action// a disposition to do things impulsively
*Capricious: governed by caprice
CLAMOROUS
(adj) 1. Loud and confused; noisy 2. Loudly demanding or complaining
COGITATE
(vt) To think seriously and deeply (about); ponder; consider
COLLOQUY
(n) A conversation; a gathering for discussions of theological questions
COMMINATE
(v) To threaten with divine punishment
CONCOURSE
(n) A large open area inside or in front of a public building, as in an airport or train station
CONCUPISCENT
(adj) lustful; sensual
CONFLUENCE
(n) 1. A flowing together, esp. of two or more streams 2. The place where they join, or a stream formed in this way 3. A coming together as of people; crowd; throng
CONNIVANCE
(n) Willingness to secretly allow or be involved in wrongdoing, especially an immoral or illegal act
CONTIGUOUS
Touching or connected throughout in an unbroken sequence// next or near in time or sequence// touching along a boundary or a point
CONTRARIETY
(n) 1. The condition or quality of being contrary 2. -ties Anything that is contrary; inconsistency
CONTRIVANCE
(n) 1. The use of skill to bring something about/create something
2. A thing that is created skillfully to serve a particular purpose
3. An elaborate scheme
CONVALESCENCE
(n) Time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment; recuperation
CROESUS
(n) a very rich man
CUPIDITY
(n) Greed for money or possessions
DASTARDLY
(adj) Mean, sneaky, cowardly, etc.
DEPORTMENT
(n) The manner of conducting oneself; behaviour
DERELICT
(adj) 1. Deserted by the owner; abandoned 2. Neglectful of duty; negligent
(n) 1. A property abandoned by the owner; esp. a ship deserted at sea 2. A destitute person with no home or job
DESCRY
To catch a glimpse of; to discover
DESICCATE
(vt) 1. To dry completely 2. To preserved (food) by drying
DIMINUTION
(n) A diminishing or being diminished; lessening; decrease
DIMINUTIVE
(adj) 1. Very small; tiny 2. (grammar) Expressing smallness or diminution (a diminutive suffix)
(n) 1. A very small person or thing
DISPENSATION
(n) Exemption from a rule or usual requirement
DOSS
(v) to sleep or lie down in any convenient place
DURANCE
(n) Imprisonment or confinement
EFFICACIOUS
(adj) producing or capable of producing the desired effect; effective
EFFICACY
(n) Power to produce intended results; effectiveness
EFFULGENCE
(n) A brightness taken to the extreme. You may be dazzled by it, stunned by it, or even overcome by it
EMENDATION
The process of making a revision or correction to a text
ENMITY
(n) The bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or mutual enemies; hostility
EVINCE
(vt) To show plainly; make manifest; esp., to show that one has a specific quality, feeling, etc.)
EXECRABLE
(adj) Abominable; detestable
EXECRATE
(vt) 1. To call down evil upon; curse 2. To denounce scathingly 3. To loathe; detest; abhor
EXORDIUM
(n) 1. A beginning 2. The opening of a speech, treatise, etc.
EXPATIATE
(v) Speak or write at length or in detail
EXPOSTULATE
(vi) To reason with a person earnestly, objecting to his actions or intentions; remonstrate (with)
EXULT
(v) To be very proud and happy. Exultant. Exultation.
FECUND
(adj) Fruitful or fertile; productive fecundity
FINITUDE
(n) The state or quality of being finite
GAINSAY
(v) Deny or contradict (a fact or statement). Speak against or oppose (someone)
IGNOMINY
(n) Shame and disgrace; dishonor
IMPERTINENT
(adj) Not feeling shame or regret; not sorry what one has done
IMPORTUNATE
(adj) Urgent or annoyingly persistent in asking or demanding
IMPRACTICABLE
(adj) Impossible in practice to do or carry out
IMPRECATION
(n) A spoken curse. The act of imprecating. Words may be imprecatory
IMPUDENT
Marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others
INCENDIARY
(adj) 1. Relating to the willful destruction of property by fire 2. Designed to cause fires, as certain bombs 3. Willfully stirring up strife, riot, etc
INCIPIENT
(adj) Just beginning to exist or to come to notice
INEXORABLE
(adj) 1. That cannot be influenced by entreaty; unrelenting 2. That cannot be altered, checked, etc. (inexorable fate)
INDIGENT
Suffering from extreme poverty; impoverished
INELUCTABLE
(adj) not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable
INFERENTIAL
(adj) characterized by or involving conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
INSIPID
(adj) 1. Having no flavor; tasteless 2. Not interesting, dull; lifeless
INSOUCIANT
(adj) Calm and unbothered; carefree; indifferent
INURED
(v)(past tense) Accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant
“She became inured to his anger”
INVETERATE
(adj) 1. Firmly established over a long period; deep-rooted 2. Settled in a habit, practice, prejudice, etc.; habitual
IRASCIBLE
(adj) Easily made angry; quick tempered; irritable
ITINERANT
(adj) Traveling from place to place or on a circuit
(n) A person who travels from place to place
LACONIC
(adj) Brief or terse in speech or expression; using few words
LANGUID
(adj) 1. Without vigor or vitality; drooping; weak 2. Without interest or spirit; listless 3. Sluggish; slow
LASSITUDE
(n) A state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy
LEVITY
excessive or unseemly frivolity
LOQUACITY
(n) The quality of talking a great deal
MAXILLARY
(adj) Designating, of, or near the jaw or jawbone
MENDACITY
Lie// The quality or state of being mendacious
MERITORIOUS
(adj) Having merit; deserving reward, praise, etc.
MIEN
(n) 1. A way of carrying and conducting oneself; matter 2. A way of looking; appearance
MORDANT
(adj) 1. Biting; caustic 2. Corrosive 3. Acting as a mordant
(n) 1. A substance used in dyeing to fix the colors 2. An acid, etc. used in etching to bite lines, areas, etc. into the surface
OBSEQUIOUS
(adj) Showing too great a willingness to serve or obey; fawning
OBVIATE
To anticipate and prevent (something. such as a situation) or make (an action) unnecessary. The use of intelligence or forethought to ward off trouble.
ODIOUS
(adj) Arousing or deserving hatred or loathing; disgusting
OLIGOPOLY
(n) Control of a commodity or service by a few companies or suppliers
ONEROUS
(adj) Burdensome; oppressive
PALAVER
(n) 1. Talk; esp., idle chatter 2. Flattery; cajolery
(vi) 1. To talk, esp. Idly or flatteringly 2. To confer
(vt) To flatter or wheedle
PAROXYSM
(n) A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity
PERDITION
(n) 1. Complete and irreparable loss; ruin 2. The loss of the soul; damnation
PERSPICACIOUS
(adj) Having keen judgement or understanding; discerning
PERTINACIOUS
(adj) 1. Holding firmly or stubbornly to some purpose, belief, or action 2. Hard to get rid of; persistent
PESTIFEROUS
(adj) Harboring infection and disease constituting a pest or nuisance; annoying
PETARD
(n) A metal cone filled with explosives: formerly fastened to walls and gates and exploded to force an opening
PETULANT
(adj) Impatient or irritable, esp. over a petty annoyance; peevish
POLYMATH
(n) A person of great and diversified learning
PRECIPITATELY
(adv?) to hasten the occurrence of; bring about prematurely, hastily, or suddenly: to precipitate an international crisis. … to cast, plunge, or send, especially violently or abruptly: He precipitated himself into the struggle.
PRECIPITOUS
(adj) 1. Dangerously high or steep 2. (of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration
PRESENTIMENT
(n) A feeling that something, esp. of an unfortunate nature, is about to take place; foreboding
PRESCIENCE
Foreknowledge of events// divine omniscience// human anticipation of the course of events
PROMULGATE
(v) Promote or make widely known (an idea or cause)
PROPHYLACTIC
(adj) preventive or protective; especially preventing disease
(n) A prophylactic medicine, devise
PROPITIATE
(vt) To win or regain the goodwill of; appease or conciliate
PROPRIETY
(n) 1. The polite and correct way of behaving
QUIESCENT
(adj) Quiet, still; inactive
RANKLE
(vi, vt) To cause or fill with long-lasting rancor, resentment
RECPOMPENSE
(v) Make amends to someone for loss or harm suffered; compensate
(n) Compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made
RECRUDESCENCE
(n) The recurrence of an undesirable condition
REDOLENT
(adj) 1. Sweet smelling; fragrant 2. Suggestive
REPROBATE
(n) Unprincipled person “He’s a reprobate, a scoundrel.”
(adj) Unprincipled “My reprobate old friend”
(v) Express or feel disapproval of “I reprobate my own transgressions upon reflection”
RETRENCHMENT
(n) The reduction of costs or spending in response to economic difficulty
RIPOSTE
(n) A sharp swift retort
SACROSANCT
(adj) Very sacred, holy, or inviolable
SAGACIOUS
(adj) Very wise or shrewd
SAGACITY
(n) The quality or an instance of being sagacious
SALIENT
(adj) 1. Leaping 2. Pointing outward; projecting 3. Standing out; noticeable; prominent
SALUBRIOUS
(adj) Promoting health or welfare; healthful; wholesome, salutary, etc
SANCTIMONIOUS
(adj) Pretending to be very pious; affecting sanctity or righteousness
SANGUINE
(adj) 1. The color of blood; ruddy 2. Cheerful; confident; optimistic
SCINTILLA
(n) 1. A spark 2. A tiny bit, a trace
SCRUPULOUS
(adj) 1. Having or showing scruples; conscientiously honest 2. Demanding or using precision, care, and exactness
SEDITION
(n) A stirring up of rebellion against the government
SEDITIOUS
(adj) 1. Of, like, or constituting sedition 2. Stirring up rebellion
SEDULOUS
(adj) Showing dedication and diligence
SENTENTIOUS
(adj) 1. Expressing much in few words; short and pithy 2. Full of, or fond of using, maxims, proverbs, etc., esp. In a pompously trite or moralizing way
SEQUESTER
(v) To hide, or keep away from others; withdraw; to seize or hold, as until a debt is paid
SERAGLIO
(n) 1. The part of a Muslims household where his wives or concubines lieve; harem 2. The palace of a Turkish sultan
SERE
(adj) Dried up; withered *seldom used except in poetry
SHAMBOLIC
(adj) very disorganized; messy or confused
SHRIFT
(n) Confession; especially to a priest
SIBILANT
(adj) Having or making a hissing sound
(n) A consonant characterized by a hissing sound
SLAKE
(v) Quench or satisfy (one’s thirst)
SOLICITOUS
(adj) Characterized by or showing interest or concern
(n) Solicitude: Care/concern for something or someone
SUBTERFUGE
(n) Any plan, action, etc. used to hide one’s true objective, evade a difficult situation, etc.
SUFFUSE
(vt) To overspread so as to fill with a glow, color, fluid, etc.: said of light, a blush, air,
SUPPLICATE
(v) Ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly
SUSPIRATION
(n) The act of sighing, or fetching a long and deep breath
SYCOPHANT
(n) A person who weeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; toady
TACIT
(adj) Understood or implied without being stated
TACITURN
(adj) Almost always silent; not liking to talk
TEMERITY
(n) Foolish or reckless boldness; rashness
TIMOROUS
(adj) 1. Full of or subject to fear; timid 2. Showing or caused by timidity
TREPIDATION
(n) 1. Tremulous or trembling movement 2. To tremble 3. Fearful uncertainty or anxiety
TUMESCENCE
(n) 1. A swelling; distention 2. A swollen or distended part
(adj) Tumescent ego
UNCTUOUS
(adj) Excessively smooth, suave, or smug
VERACITY
(n) 1. Habitual truthfulness; honesty 2. Accordance with truth; accuracy of statement 3. Accuracy or precision, as of perception 4. That which is true; truth
VERITABLE
(adj) being such in truth or fact; actual
VICISSITUDE
(n) A change of circumstance or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
VIRULENT
(adj) 1. a. Extremely poisonous or injurious; deadly b. Bitterly spiteful; full of hate and enmity
VITIATE
(vt) 1. To make imperfect or faulty; spoil 2. To weaken morally; debase 3. To make legally ineffective
VOLUBLE
(adj) Characterized by ready or rapid speech
IMPENITENT
(adj) Not feeling shame or regret; not sorry for what one has done
ITINERANT
Traveling from place to place