Day 30 Flashcards
viable
Capable of living (or growing, developing, etc.);
practical, workable
vicissitude
Changes or variations over time, esp. regular
changes from one thing to another
the vicissitudes of daily life
The chipmaker is more exposed to Apple’s vicissitudes than most.
Why else would people leave the warmth of home for the vicissitudes and expense of attending concerts?
vim
Pep, enthusiasm, vitality, lively spirit
Most turn their attention to it only after finding their initial vim frustrated.
some food and a little rest should give me back some of my vim
vintage
Related to items of high quality from a previous
era, old-fashioned, antique (adj); the wine of a
particular year (noun)
the designer’s bracelets and necklaces have the vintage look of jewelry from the 1920s
virtual
Existing only in the mind or by means of a
computer network; existing in results or in
essence but not officially or in name
virulent
Extremely infectious, poisonous, etc.; hateful,
bitterly hostile
This virulent contagion is spreading in the outdoor community.
the virulent look on her face warned me that she was about to say something unkind
viscid or
viscous
Thick, adhesive, or covered in something sticky
vitriol
Something highly caustic, such as bitter criticism or malice.
(literally, one of a number of chemicals
including sulfuric acid)
political commentators spewing angry vitriol
“her mother’s sudden gush of fury and vitriol”
vociferous
Noisily crying out, as in protest :
: marked by or given to vehement insistent outcry
The decision was made over their vociferous objections.
volatile
Varying, inconstant, fleeting; tending to
violence, explosive
a volatile temper
She is a volatile woman.
voluble
Easily fluent in regards to speech
There was a voluble debate within the FDA over whether the treatment actually worked.
wan
Unnaturally pale, or showing some other
indication of sickness, unhappiness, etc.;
weak, lacking forcefulness
“he gave a wan smile”
wanton
Reckless, vicious, without regard for what is
right; unjustifiable, deliberately done for no
reason at all; sexually unrestrained or
excessively luxurious
I also wrote that innocent people would die as a consequence of the wanton, lawless destruction of medical stocks in a dirt-poor country.
warranted
Justified, authorized (warrant can mean to
justify or a justification, but can also mean to
vouch for or guarantee)
I’ll warrant he’ll be here by noon
welter
Confused mass or pile, jumble; confusion or
turmoil (noun); roll around, wallow, toss
about, writhe (verb)
“the streams foam and welter”
“there’s such a welter of conflicting rules”
whet
Stimulate, make keen or eager (esp. of an
appetite)
whet a knife
We had some wine to whet our appetites.
whimsical
Marked or motivated by whims (odd, fanciful
ideas); erratic, unpredictable
“the whimsical arbitrariness of autocracy”
whitewash
A substance used to whiten walls, wood, etc.
(noun); deception, covering up of wrongs,
errors, misdeeds, etc. (verb)
refused to whitewash the scandal
“his wife must have wanted to whitewash his reputation”
wily
Crafty, cunning, characterized by tricks or
artifice
a wily judge of character, she takes advantage of car buyers’ insecurities to sell them a bigger machine than they really need
winnow
Sift, analyze critically, separate the useful part
from the worthless part
“guidelines that would help winnow out those not fit to be soldiers”
winsome
Charming, engaging, esp. in a sweet and
innocent way
wizened
Withered, shriveled
Her fiction celebrated the couplings of a wide range of characters: teenage girls, wizened old women, circus performers, wolves.
xenophobia
Fear or hatred of foreigners or that which is
foreign
Student organizations issued statements emphasizing that xenophobia has no place at Miami University, Villanueva said.
yoke
A burden or something that oppresses; a frame
for attaching animals (such as oxen) to each
other and to a plow or other equipment to be
pulled, or a bar across a person’s shoulders to
help carry buckets of water, etc. (noun); to
unite together or to burden (verb)
“two crackheads yoked this girl”
a people able at last to throw off the yoke and to embrace freedom
