Deck 3 Flashcards
multifaceted
adj. having many facets or aspects “the play of light on the diamond’s multifaceted surface”
diaphanous
adj. translucent, light, and delicate. “a diaphanous dress of pale gold”
anomalous
adj. deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected. “an anomalous situation”
variegated
adj. exhibiting different colors, esp. as irregular patches or streaks. “variegated yellow bricks”
dubious
adj. 1. hesitating or doubting. “Alex looked dubious, but complied”
2. not to be relied upon; suspect. “extremely dubious assumptions”
egalitarian
adj. of, relating to, or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities. “a fairer, more egalitarian society”
n. a person who advocates or supports egalitarian principles.
dilettante
n. a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge.
“a dilettante approach to science”
purveyor
n. a person who sells or deals in particular goods.
“a purveyor of large luxury vehicles”
dowager
n. a widow who holds a title or property, or dower, derived from her deceased husband
profligate
adj. 1. wildly extravagant or wasteful “profligate spending”
2. completely given up to dissipation (wasteful expenditure) and licentiousness (lacking legal or moral restraint) “leading a profligate life”
Dissipation
n. squandering of money, energy, or resources.
“the dissipation of the country’s mineral wealth”
Licentious
adj. promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.
Edify
v. instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually.
Aggregate (noun)
n. a whole formed by combining several (typically disparate) elements. “the council was an aggregate of three regional assemblies”
2.
a material or structure formed from a loosely compacted mass of fragments or particles.
Aggregate (adjective)
adj. formed or calculated by the combination of many separate units or items; total. “the aggregate amount of grants made”
Aggregate (verb)
v. form or group into a class or cluster. “the butterflies aggregate in dense groups”
Disparate
adj. 1. essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison. “they inhabit disparate worlds of thought”
2. containing elements very different from one another. “a culturally disparate country”
Prognosis
n. the likely course of a disease or ailment. “the disease has a poor prognosis”
Preeminence
n. the fact of surpassing all others; superiority. “the region has never regained the economic preeminence that it once enjoyed”
Inclination
n. a person’s natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way; a disposition or propensity.
“John was a scientist by training and inclination”
Retrenchment
n. 1. A cutting down or back; reduction.
2. A curtailment of expenses.
Retrench
v. (of a company, government, or individual) reduce costs or spending in response to economic difficulty. “as a result of the recession the company retrenched”
Effusive
adj. expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.
“an effusive welcome”
Tenuous
adj. very weak or slight.
“the tenuous link between interest rates and investment”
Ineffable
adj. too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
“the ineffable natural beauty of the Everglades”
Incorrigible
adj. (of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed.
“she’s an incorrigible flirt”
Ephemeral
adj. lasting for a very short time.
“fashions are ephemeral”
Emphatically
adj. showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly.
“the children were emphatic that they would like to repeat the experience”
Enigma
n. a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.
Quake
v. (esp. of the earth) shake or tremble.
“the rumbling vibrations set the whole valley quaking”
Bucolic
adj. of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
“the church is lovely for its bucolic setting”
Prolific
adj. 1. (of a plant, animal, or person) producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring.
“in captivity, tigers are prolific breeders”
2. (of an artist, author, or composer) producing many works. “he was a prolific composer of operas”
3. (of a sports player) high-scoring. “a prolific home-run hitter”
4. present in large numbers or quantities; plentiful.
“mahogany was once prolific in the tropical forests”
Lugubrious
adj. looking or sounding sad and dismal.
Sundry
adj. of various kinds; several.
“lemon rind and sundry herbs”
n. various items not important enough to be mentioned individually.
Chicanery
n. the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose.
“an underhanded person who schemes corruption and political chicanery behind closed doors”
Wrongheaded
adj. having or showing bad judgment; misguided.
“this approach is both wrongheaded and naive”
Erudition
n. the quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship.
“he was known for his wit, erudition, and teaching skills”
Facetious
adj. treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.
Deferential
adj. showing deference (humble submission and respect)
“people were always deferential to him”
