CSP vocab Flashcards
To learn words
Incumbent (adj.)
Obligatory (often followed by “on” or “upon”
abhorrent (adj.)
utterly opposed, or contrary, or in conflict (usually followed by “to”)
compass (v)
- to attain or achieve; accomplish; obtain. 2. perimeter; the enclosing lines.
confutation (n)
The act of proving somethign wrong or invalid.
prelate (n)
an ecclesiastic of a high order, as an archbishop, bishop, etc.
ecclesiastic (n)
a member of the clergy or other person in religious orders
gibbet (n)
a gallows with a projecting arm at the top, from which the bodies of criminals were formerly hung in chains and left suspended after execution.
pare (v)
remove; diminish
pestiferous (adj.)
- Bringing or bearing disease 2. Pernicious; dangerous to society
retainer (n)
a servant or attendant who has served a family for many years.
whither (adv.)
to what place
arable (adj.)
suitable for farming; able to produce crops
engross (v)
to acquire the whole of (a commodity), in order to control the market; monopolize
perdition (n)
a state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation
pretense (n)
a claim or title to something
abrogate (v)
to abolish by formal or official means
avail (v)
to be of use or value to; profit; advantage
pliable (adj.)
adjusting readily to change; adaptable
uncouth (adj.)
stranger
precept (n)
a command or principle intended, especially as a general rule of action
leaden (adj.)
dull, spiritless, or gloomy as in mood or thoughty
indigence (n)
seriously impoverished condition; poverty
environ (v)
to form a circle or ring around; surround
environs (n)
the surrounding parts or districts, as of a city; outskirts; suburbs
brackish (adj.)
slightly salty
cistern (n)
an underground container that is used for collecting and storing rainwater
fetter (n)
a chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically around the ankles
surfeit (n)
an excessive amount of something
vitiate (v)
spoil or impair the quality of or efficiency of
surcharge (n)
an additional charge or payment
importunity (n)
the act of soliciting urgently or persistently
intercession (n)
intervening or pleading on behalf of another
probity (n)
integrity and uprightness; honesty
rapine (n)
the violent seizure and carrying off of another’s property; plunder
vicissitudes (n)
successive, alternating, or changing phases or conditions, as of life or fortune; ups and downs
soever (adj.)
- to any possible or known extent–used after an adjective preceded by “how” or a superlative preceded by “the” 2. of any or every kind that may be specified–used after a noun modified by “any,” “no,” or “what”
extrapolate (v)
to infer (an unknown) from something that is known
stolid (adj.)
not easily stirred or moved mentally; unemotional; impassive
flue (n)
a passage or duct for smoke in a chimney
palliate (v)
to make the effects of something less painful, harmful, or harsh. The underlying problem is not solved
Tower of Babel
tower constructed by tyrant Nimrod to reach the heavens. United humanity cursed with different languages by God for their hubris
bestial (adj.)
- without reason or intelligence; brutal; inhuman 2.carnal; debased
Theramin (n)
AKA etherphone; it is an electronic musical instrument that detects the theraminist’s hands, which controls electric signals which produce noise. No physical contact.
“finger in the dike”
a small effort that averts a major disaster but only the symptoms are addressed, not the underlying cause(s)
dike (n)
an embankment for controlling or holding back the water of the sea or a river
parlor (n)
a room in a house or apartment that is used for conversation or for spending time with guests
sieve (n)
- a person who cannot keep a secret 2.an instrument with a meshed bottom, used for separating coarse from fine aprts of loose matter, for straining liquids, etc.
jowl (n)
a jaw, especially the lower jaw. usually fleshy or dropping
loam (n)
a rich, friable soil containing a relatively equal mixture of sand and silt and a somewhat smaller proportion of clay
friable (adj.)
easily crumbled or reduced to powder
centrifuge (n)
an apparatus that rotates at high speed and by centrifugal force separates substances of different densities, as milk and cream
welter (n)
a confused mass; a jumble or muddle
enameled (adj.)
a glassy substance, usually opaque, applied by fusion to the surface of metal, pottery, etc, as an ornament or for protection
titter (v)
to laugh in a restrained, self-conscious, or affected way, as from nervousness or in ill-suppressed amusement
filigree (n)
- delicate ornamental work of fine silver, gold, or other metal wires 2. anything very delicate or fanciful
moor (n)
a tract of open, peaty , wasteland often overgrown with heath, common in high latitudes and altitutdes where drainage is poor.
heath (n)
a tract of open uncultivated land; wasteland overgrown with shrubs
beatific (adj.)
bestowing bliss, blessing, happiness or the like
chaff (adj.)
- worthless matter; refuse 2. the husks of grains and grasses that are separated during threshing
fender (n)
the pressed and formed sheet-metal part mounted over the road wheels of a vehicle to reduce splashing
bole (n)
the stem or trunk of a tree
valise (n)
a small piece of luggage that can be carried by hand, used to hold clothing, toiletries; suitcase; traveling bag
séance (n)
- a meeting in which a spiritualist attempts to communicate with the spirits of the dead 2. a session or sitting, as of a class or organization
bay (v)
to howl, especially with a deep, prolonged sound, as a hound on the scent
retch (v)
to vomit (transitive) or to make an effort to vomit (intransitive)
gout (n)
a mass or splash, as of blood; spurt
exhortation (n)
an utterance; discourse, or address conveying urgent advice or recommendations
composite (adj.)
made up of disparate or separate parts or elements
insofar (adv.)
to such an extent (usually followed by as)
constitution (n)
the way in which a thing is composed or made up
beguile (v)
to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.
in principle
with respect to fundamentals. Ex. prepared to accept the proposition in principle.
interlocutor (n)
a person who takes part in a dialogue
purport (v)
appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess
aforethought (n)
previously in mind; planned beforehand
contravene (v)
to fail to do what is required (by law or rule)
filch (v)
to steal (especially something of small value); pilfer
pilfer (v)
to steal in small quantities
supplant (v)
to take place of another, as through force, scheming or strategy
gross national product (GNP)
the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced during one year by labor and property supplied by the residents of a country. GNP allocates production based on ownership (domestically or abroad)
gross domestic product (GDP)
the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced during one year within a country’s borders–whether produced by that country’s own local firms or by foreign firms
dispensation (n)
permission to break a law or an official promise you have made: release from a rule, vow, or oath; an arrangement
rustic (adj.)
- made of roguh wood 2. of, relating to, or suitable for the country or peole who live in the country; rural
drab (adj.)
- any of various clothes of a dull brown or gray color 2. a dull, lifeless, or faded appearance or quality
slattern (n)
an untidy slovenly women; slut; prositute
brazen (adj.)
acting or done in a very open and shocking way without shame or embarassment
