creative writing Flashcards

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1
Q

ABJURE

A

(vt) 1. To give up (right, allegiance, etc.) on oath; renounce 2. To give up (opinions) publicly; recant

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2
Q

ABSTRUSE

A

(adj) Difficult to understand; obscure

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3
Q

ACCESSION

A

(n) The act of acceding; augmentation; succession to the throne

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4
Q

ADJURE

A

(vt) 1. To charge solemnly, often under oath or penalty 2. To entreat earnestly

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5
Q

AGUE

A

(n) 1. A fever, usually that of malaria, marked by regularly recurring chills 2. A chill; fit of shivering

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6
Q

ALACRITY

A

(n) liveliness; cheerful readiness; promptitude

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7
Q

ALIGHT

A

(v) 1. To get down off of; dismount 2. To come down after flight 3. [Rare] To come (on
or upon) accidentally

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8
Q

ALLIGATE

A

(n) to attach; bind

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9
Q

APPELLATION

A

(n) 1. The act of calling by a name 2. A name or title; designation

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10
Q

ARDENT

A

(adj) 1. Warm or intense in feeling; passionate 2. intensely enthusiastic or devoted; zealous 3. Glowing; radiant 4. Burning, aflame

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11
Q

ASSEVERATE

A

(vt) To state seriously or positively; assert

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12
Q

AUGEAN

A

(adj) difficult or unpleasant

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13
Q

AUGUR

A

(n) An instrument for boring holes

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14
Q

AVARICE

A

(n) Covetousness, greed, eagerly desirous (to be); extreme greed for wealth or material gain

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15
Q

AVER

A

(vt) To declare to be true; affirm. Past tense Averred

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16
Q

AVUNCULAR

A

(a) Relating to an uncle “The avuncular affair”

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17
Q

BECLOUD

A

(vt) To cloud over; obscure

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18
Q

BEGUILE

A

(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

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19
Q

BELEAGUER

A

(vt) 1. To besiege by encircling, as with an army 2. To beset, harass

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20
Q

BENEFICIENCE

A

(n) The quality or state of doing or producing good

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21
Q

CAPITULATE

A

(v) To cease resisting; acquiesce, surrender, often after a negotiation of terms

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22
Q

CAPRICE

A

A sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action// a disposition to do things impulsively
*Capricious: governed by caprice

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23
Q

CLAMOROUS

A

(adj) 1. Loud and confused; noisy 2. Loudly demanding or complaining

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24
Q

COGITATE

A

(vt) To think seriously and deeply (about); ponder; consider

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25
Q

COLLOQUY

A

(n) A conversation; a gathering for discussions of theological questions

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26
Q

COMMINATE

A

(v) To threaten with divine punishment

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27
Q

CONCOURSE

A

(n) A large open area inside or in front of a public building, as in an airport or train station

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28
Q

CONCUPISCENT

A

(adj) lustful; sensual

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29
Q

CONFLUENCE

A

(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

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30
Q

CONNIVANCE

A

(n) Willingness to secretly allow or be involved in wrongdoing, especially an immoral or illegal act

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31
Q

CONTIGUOUS

A

Touching or connected throughout in an unbroken sequence// next or near in time or sequence// touching along a boundary or a point

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32
Q

CONTRARIETY

A

(n) 1. The condition or quality of being contrary 2. -ties Anything that is contrary; inconsistency

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33
Q

CONTRIVANCE

A

(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

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34
Q

CONVALESCENCE

A

(n) Time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment; recuperation

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35
Q

CROESUS

A

(n) a very rich man

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36
Q

CUPIDITY

A

(n) Greed for money or possessions

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37
Q

DASTARDLY

A

(adj) Mean, sneaky, cowardly, etc.

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38
Q

DEPORTMENT

A

(n) The manner of conducting oneself; behaviour

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39
Q

DERELICT

A

(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

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40
Q

DESCRY

A

To catch a glimpse of; to discover

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41
Q

DESICCATE

A

(vt) 1. To dry completely 2. To preserved (food) by drying

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42
Q

DIMINUTION

A

(n) A diminishing or being diminished; lessening; decrease

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43
Q

DIMINUTIVE

A

(adj) 1. Very small; tiny 2. (grammar) Expressing smallness or diminution (a diminutive suffix)
(n) 1. A very small person or thing

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44
Q

DISPENSATION

A

(n) Exemption from a rule or usual requirement

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45
Q

DOSS

A

(v) to sleep or lie down in any convenient place

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46
Q

DURANCE

A

(n) Imprisonment or confinement

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47
Q

EFFICACIOUS

A

(adj) producing or capable of producing the desired effect; effective

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48
Q

EFFICACY

A

(n) Power to produce intended results; effectiveness

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49
Q

EFFULGENCE

A

(n) A brightness taken to the extreme. You may be dazzled by it, stunned by it, or even overcome by it

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50
Q

EMENDATION

A

The process of making a revision or correction to a text

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51
Q

ENMITY

A

(n) The bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or mutual enemies; hostility

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52
Q

EVINCE

A

(vt) To show plainly; make manifest; esp., to show that one has a specific quality, feeling, etc.)

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53
Q

EXECRABLE

A

(adj) Abominable; detestable

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54
Q

EXECRATE

A

(vt) 1. To call down evil upon; curse 2. To denounce scathingly 3. To loathe; detest; abhor

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55
Q

EXORDIUM

A

(n) 1. A beginning 2. The opening of a speech, treatise, etc.

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56
Q

EXPATIATE

A

(v) Speak or write at length or in detail

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57
Q

EXPOSTULATE

A

(vi) To reason with a person earnestly, objecting to his actions or intentions; remonstrate (with)

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58
Q

EXULT

A

(v) To be very proud and happy. Exultant. Exultation.

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59
Q

FECUND

A

(adj) Fruitful or fertile; productive fecundity

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60
Q

FINITUDE

A

(n) The state or quality of being finite

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61
Q

GAINSAY

A

(v) Deny or contradict (a fact or statement). Speak against or oppose (someone)

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62
Q

IGNOMINY

A

(n) Shame and disgrace; dishonor

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63
Q

IMPERTINENT

A

(adj) Not feeling shame or regret; not sorry what one has done

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64
Q

IMPORTUNATE

A

(adj) Urgent or annoyingly persistent in asking or demanding

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65
Q

IMPRACTICABLE

A

(adj) Impossible in practice to do or carry out

66
Q

IMPRECATION

A

(n) A spoken curse. The act of imprecating. Words may be imprecatory

67
Q

IMPUDENT

A

Marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others

68
Q

INCENDIARY

A

(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

69
Q

INCIPIENT

A

(adj) Just beginning to exist or to come to notice

70
Q

INEXORABLE

A

(adj) 1. That cannot be influenced by entreaty; unrelenting 2. That cannot be altered, checked, etc. (inexorable fate)

71
Q

INDIGENT

A

Suffering from extreme poverty; impoverished

72
Q

INELUCTABLE

A

(adj) not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable

73
Q

INFERENTIAL

A

(adj) characterized by or involving conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

74
Q

INSIPID

A

(adj) 1. Having no flavor; tasteless 2. Not interesting, dull; lifeless

75
Q

INSOUCIANT

A

(adj) Calm and unbothered; carefree; indifferent

76
Q

INURED

A

(v)(past tense) Accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant
“She became inured to his anger”

77
Q

INVETERATE

A

(adj) 1. Firmly established over a long period; deep-rooted 2. Settled in a habit, practice, prejudice, etc.; habitual

78
Q

IRASCIBLE

A

(adj) Easily made angry; quick tempered; irritable

79
Q

ITINERANT

A

(adj) Traveling from place to place or on a circuit

(n) A person who travels from place to place

80
Q

LACONIC

A

(adj) Brief or terse in speech or expression; using few words

81
Q

LANGUID

A

(adj) 1. Without vigor or vitality; drooping; weak 2. Without interest or spirit; listless 3. Sluggish; slow

82
Q

LASSITUDE

A

(n) A state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy

83
Q

LEVITY

A

excessive or unseemly frivolity

84
Q

LOQUACITY

A

(n) The quality of talking a great deal

85
Q

MAXILLARY

A

(adj) Designating, of, or near the jaw or jawbone

86
Q

MENDACITY

A

Lie// The quality or state of being mendacious

87
Q

MERITORIOUS

A

(adj) Having merit; deserving reward, praise, etc.

88
Q

MIEN

A

(n) 1. A way of carrying and conducting oneself; matter 2. A way of looking; appearance

89
Q

MORDANT

A

(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

90
Q

OBSEQUIOUS

A

(adj) Showing too great a willingness to serve or obey; fawning

91
Q

OBVIATE

A

To anticipate and prevent (something. such as a situation) or make (an action) unnecessary. The use of intelligence or forethought to ward off trouble.

92
Q

ODIOUS

A

(adj) Arousing or deserving hatred or loathing; disgusting

93
Q

OLIGOPOLY

A

(n) Control of a commodity or service by a few companies or suppliers

94
Q

ONEROUS

A

(adj) Burdensome; oppressive

95
Q

PALAVER

A

(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

96
Q

PAROXYSM

A

(n) A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity

97
Q

PERDITION

A

(n) 1. Complete and irreparable loss; ruin 2. The loss of the soul; damnation

98
Q

PERSPICACIOUS

A

(adj) Having keen judgement or understanding; discerning

99
Q

PERTINACIOUS

A

(adj) 1. Holding firmly or stubbornly to some purpose, belief, or action 2. Hard to get rid of; persistent

100
Q

PESTIFEROUS

A

(adj) Harboring infection and disease constituting a pest or nuisance; annoying

101
Q

PETARD

A

(n) A metal cone filled with explosives: formerly fastened to walls and gates and exploded to force an opening

102
Q

PETULANT

A

(adj) Impatient or irritable, esp. over a petty annoyance; peevish

103
Q

POLYMATH

A

(n) A person of great and diversified learning

104
Q

PRECIPITATELY

A

(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.

105
Q

PRECIPITOUS

A

(adj) 1. Dangerously high or steep 2. (of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration

106
Q

PRESENTIMENT

A

(n) A feeling that something, esp. of an unfortunate nature, is about to take place; foreboding

107
Q

PRESCIENCE

A

Foreknowledge of events// divine omniscience// human anticipation of the course of events

108
Q

PROMULGATE

A

(v) Promote or make widely known (an idea or cause)

109
Q

PROPHYLACTIC

A

(adj) preventive or protective; especially preventing disease
(n) A prophylactic medicine, devise

110
Q

PROPITIATE

A

(vt) To win or regain the goodwill of; appease or conciliate

111
Q

PROPRIETY

A

(n) 1. The polite and correct way of behaving

112
Q

QUIESCENT

A

(adj) Quiet, still; inactive

113
Q

RANKLE

A

(vi, vt) To cause or fill with long-lasting rancor, resentment

114
Q

RECPOMPENSE

A

(v) Make amends to someone for loss or harm suffered; compensate
(n) Compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made

115
Q

RECRUDESCENCE

A

(n) The recurrence of an undesirable condition

116
Q

REDOLENT

A

(adj) 1. Sweet smelling; fragrant 2. Suggestive

117
Q

REPROBATE

A

(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”

118
Q

RETRENCHMENT

A

(n) The reduction of costs or spending in response to economic difficulty

119
Q

RIPOSTE

A

(n) A sharp swift retort

120
Q

SACROSANCT

A

(adj) Very sacred, holy, or inviolable

121
Q

SAGACIOUS

A

(adj) Very wise or shrewd

122
Q

SAGACITY

A

(n) The quality or an instance of being sagacious

123
Q

SALIENT

A

(adj) 1. Leaping 2. Pointing outward; projecting 3. Standing out; noticeable; prominent

124
Q

SALUBRIOUS

A

(adj) Promoting health or welfare; healthful; wholesome, salutary, etc

125
Q

SANCTIMONIOUS

A

(adj) Pretending to be very pious; affecting sanctity or righteousness

126
Q

SANGUINE

A

(adj) 1. The color of blood; ruddy 2. Cheerful; confident; optimistic

127
Q

SCINTILLA

A

(n) 1. A spark 2. A tiny bit, a trace

128
Q

SCRUPULOUS

A

(adj) 1. Having or showing scruples; conscientiously honest 2. Demanding or using precision, care, and exactness

129
Q

SEDITION

A

(n) A stirring up of rebellion against the government

130
Q

SEDITIOUS

A

(adj) 1. Of, like, or constituting sedition 2. Stirring up rebellion

131
Q

SEDULOUS

A

(adj) Showing dedication and diligence

132
Q

SENTENTIOUS

A

(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

133
Q

SEQUESTER

A

(v) To hide, or keep away from others; withdraw; to seize or hold, as until a debt is paid

134
Q

SERAGLIO

A

(n) 1. The part of a Muslims household where his wives or concubines lieve; harem 2. The palace of a Turkish sultan

135
Q

SERE

A

(adj) Dried up; withered *seldom used except in poetry

136
Q

SHAMBOLIC

A

(adj) very disorganized; messy or confused

137
Q

SHRIFT

A

(n) Confession; especially to a priest

138
Q

SIBILANT

A

(adj) Having or making a hissing sound

(n) A consonant characterized by a hissing sound

139
Q

SLAKE

A

(v) Quench or satisfy (one’s thirst)

140
Q

SOLICITOUS

A

(adj) Characterized by or showing interest or concern

(n) Solicitude: Care/concern for something or someone

141
Q

SUBTERFUGE

A

(n) Any plan, action, etc. used to hide one’s true objective, evade a difficult situation, etc.

142
Q

SUFFUSE

A

(vt) To overspread so as to fill with a glow, color, fluid, etc.: said of light, a blush, air,

143
Q

SUPPLICATE

A

(v) Ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly

144
Q

SUSPIRATION

A

(n) The act of sighing, or fetching a long and deep breath

145
Q

SYCOPHANT

A

(n) A person who weeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; toady

146
Q

TACIT

A

(adj) Understood or implied without being stated

147
Q

TACITURN

A

(adj) Almost always silent; not liking to talk

148
Q

TEMERITY

A

(n) Foolish or reckless boldness; rashness

149
Q

TIMOROUS

A

(adj) 1. Full of or subject to fear; timid 2. Showing or caused by timidity

150
Q

TREPIDATION

A

(n) 1. Tremulous or trembling movement 2. To tremble 3. Fearful uncertainty or anxiety

151
Q

TUMESCENCE

A

(n) 1. A swelling; distention 2. A swollen or distended part
(adj) Tumescent ego

152
Q

UNCTUOUS

A

(adj) Excessively smooth, suave, or smug

153
Q

VERACITY

A

(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

154
Q

VERITABLE

A

(adj) being such in truth or fact; actual

155
Q

VICISSITUDE

A

(n) A change of circumstance or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant

156
Q

VIRULENT

A

(adj) 1. a. Extremely poisonous or injurious; deadly b. Bitterly spiteful; full of hate and enmity

157
Q

VITIATE

A

(vt) 1. To make imperfect or faulty; spoil 2. To weaken morally; debase 3. To make legally ineffective

158
Q

VOLUBLE

A

(adj) Characterized by ready or rapid speech

159
Q

IMPENITENT

A

(adj) Not feeling shame or regret; not sorry for what one has done

160
Q

ITINERANT

A

Traveling from place to place