Critical Words Flashcards
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reason or justification for existence
raison d’être
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“satisfaction or pleasure felt in misfortune of others”
schadenfreude
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if all other relevant things, factors, or elements remain unaltered
ceteris paribus
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a policy that allows businesses to operate with very little interference from the government
laissez faire
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: a political principle or policy directed toward the incorporation of irredentas within the boundaries of their historically or ethnically related political unit
irredentism
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government by the mob: mob rule
ochlocracy
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the representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished
prolepsis
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something that has been done and cannot be changed
fait accompli
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: the act of no longer caring for, using, or doing something : the act of abandoning something
: the condition of being no longer cared for
law : failure to do your job or duty : failure to do what you should do
dereliction
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: a Christian festival held on January 6 in honor of the coming of the three kings to the infant Jesus Christ
: a moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way
epiphany
Word for : to regard (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing
reify
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: ambiguity of speech, especially from uncertainty of the grammatical construction rather than the meaning of word
: a sentence or phrase (as “nothing is good enough for you”) that can be interpreted in more than one way
amphibology
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- to suggest or hint slyly: He insinuated that they were lying.
- to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind: to insinuate doubts through propaganda.
- to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods: to insinuate oneself into favor.
insinuate
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- appealing to one’s prejudices, emotions, or special interests rather than to one’s intellect or reason.
- attacking an opponent’s character rather than answering his argument.
ad hominem
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a reduction to an absurdity; the refutation of a proposition by demonstrating the inevitably absurd conclusion to which it would logically lead.
reductio ad absurdum
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- something claimed by a sovereign or superior as a prerogative.
- a charge on bullion brought to the mint to be coined.
- the difference between the cost of the bullion plus minting expenses and the value as money of the pieces coined, constituting a source of government revenue.
seigniorage
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—noun
physical beauty; comeliness.
pulchritude
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-Noun
1.the distribution of light and shade in a picture.
2.Painting. the use of deep variations in and subtle gradations of light and shade, especially to enhance the delineation of character and for general dramatic effect: Rembrandt is a master of chiaroscuro.
a woodcut print in which the colors are produced by the use of different blocks with different colors.
3.a sketch in light and shade.
chiaroscuro
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—noun
moderation; discretion; prudence.
(Compare, hubris)
sophrosyne
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noun
: a feeling of fear that causes you to hesitate because you think something bad or unpleasant is going to happen
"trepidation" from trepid=timorous, fearful other forms: trepidant=timid, trembling, trepidatious=: feeling trepidation : apprehensive; trep·i·da·tious·ly adverb
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—adjective
- characterised by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others: an ostentatious dresser.
- (of actions, manner, qualities exhibited, etc.) intended to attract notice: Lady Bountiful’s ostentatious charity.
ostentatious
—adjective
- easily seen or noticed; readily visible or observable: a conspicuous error.
- attracting special attention, as by outstanding qualities or eccentricities: He was conspicuous by his booming laughter.
conspicuous
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—adverb
1.near in space, time, or relation: The time draws nigh.
2.nearly; almost; (often followed by on or onto ): nigh onto twenty years.
—adjective
1.near; approaching: Evening is nigh.
2.short or direct: to take the nighest route.
3.(of an animal or vehicle) being on the left side: to be astride the nigh horse.
Archaic. parsimonious; stingy.
—preposition
near.
—verb (used without object), verb (used with object)
Archaic. to approach.
—Related forms
un·nigh, adjective
nigh (nahy)
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intransitive verb
: to show that you believe you are more intelligent or better than other people
: to do something that you usually do not do because you believe you are too important to do it
Full Definition
1 a : to descend to a less formal or dignified level : unbend
b : to waive the privileges of rank
2 : to assume an air of superiority
Examples
I will not condescend to answer the sore loser’s charge that I cheated in order to win the race
wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French condescendre, from Late Latin condescendere, from Latin com- + descendere to descend.
First use: 14th century
con·de·scend\ˌkän-di-ˈsend\
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a composite German word that describes processes of dealing with the past, which is perhaps best rendered in English as “struggle to come to terms with the past”.
It is a key term in the study of post-1945 German literature and culture.
Vergangenheitsbewältigung
is a composite German word that describes processes of dealing with the past (Vergangenheit = past; Bewältigung = coming to terms with, mastering, wrestling into submission)
Word for: noun
: a young and successful person who is sometimes shocking and does things in a way that is very different from normal
1
a : a child whose inopportune remarks cause embarrassment
b : a person known for shocking remarks or outrageous behaviour
2
: a usually young and successful person who is strikingly unorthodox, innovative, or avant-garde
en·fant ter·ri·ble \äⁿ-fäⁿ-te-ˈrēblə\
