Deck 4 Flashcards
multifarious
having many different parts, elements, forms, etc.
Modern technology is so complex and multifarious that it requires thousands of specialitsts to devise and operate.
mundane
worldly as opposed to spiritual; concerned with the ordinary; この世の、平凡な
Fundamentalists contend that the Bible’s account of the creation is literally true, while others believe that it is the retelling of a powerful myth current in the Middle East that sought to explain the mundane in spiritual language.
necromancy
black magic; a method of divination through alleged communication with the dead
Television might seem like necromancy to a time traveler from the fifteenth century.
neologism
/niˈɒləˌdʒɪzəm/
new word or expression
The word “anesthesia” was the neologism of the American physician and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes, who used it in 1846…
neophyte
/ˈniəˌfaɪt/
novice; beginner
The school provides extensive support and guidance for neophyte teachers.
nexus
a means of connection; a connected group or series; a center
Wall Street is the nexus of America’s financial system.
nonplussed
bewildered; 途方に暮れて、窮地に追い込まれて
The members of the football team were nonplussed by the presence of a female reporter in the locker room.
nostrum
medicine or remedy of doubtful effectiveness; supposed cure
Although there are many nostrums urged on obese consumers, the only effective remedy for this condition is prosaic but nonetheless valid: eat less and exercise more.
nugatory
/ˈnugəˌtɔri, -ˌtoʊri, ˈnyu-/
of no real value; trifling; worthless; invalid
The historian has a knack for focusing on information that appears nugatory but that, upon examination, illuminates the central issue.
obdurate
/ˈɒbdʊrɪt, -dyʊ-/
stubborn
Coach Knight is obdurate about one thing: the offensive line is the heart of his football team.
obsequious
/əbˈsikwiəs/
overly submissive
Tom’s tendency to submit meekly to any bullying authority is so great that his wife suggested he overcome this obsequiousness by taking an assertiveness training course.
obsequy
/ˈɒbsɪkwi/
funeral ceremony (usually plural)
Solemn obsequies were held for President John F. Kennedy following his assassination on November 22, 1963.
obviate
/ˈɒbviˌeɪt/
to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent
An experienced physician can often discern if a patient’s symptoms are psychosomatic, thus obviating the need for expensive medical tests.
occlude
to shut; block
Space is an environment uniquely suited to solar cells since it has no weather to occlude the Sun and it is not susceptible to interruptions in sunlight caused by the rotation of the Earth.
officious
/əˈfɪʃəs/
too helpful; meddlesome
Some of us on the tour found the guide officious, but others thought she was helpful and courteous.
olfactory
/ɒlˈfæktəri, -tri, oʊl-/
concerning the sense of smell
Wine connoisseurs say that the olfactory senses play as important a part in appreciating good wine as the sense of taste.
oligarchy
/ˈɒlɪˌgɑrki/
form of government in which power belongs to ony a few leaders
In 411 B.C., democratic government was overthrown in Athens and a conservative oligarchy called the Four Hundred came to power.
onerous
/ˈɒnərəs, ˈoʊnər-/
burdensome
The duty the judge considers most onerous is sentencing convicted criminals.
opprobrium
/əˈproʊbriəm/
disgrace; contempt; 非難、軽蔑
It is difficult to imagine the opprobrium heaped on a person who is a traitor to his or her group.
ornithology
/ˌɔrnəˈθɒlədʒi/
the branch of zoology that deals with birds
ostentatious
showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious
A member of the bourgeoisie might purchase a vacation home on Maui or Cape Cod that some would regard as an ostentatious display of wealth, but that the person regards as simply a pleasant place to go on vacation.
overweening
presumptuous; arrogant; overbearing; 傲慢な
The ancient Greeks believed that overweening pride - what they called hubris - would be punished, eventually, by the gods.
paean
/ˈpiən/
song of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy
Fundamentally, the poem is a paean of joy, celebrating the coming of democracy to the country.
paleontology
古生物学
pallid
lacking color or liveliness
Archeological evidence indicates that women have been using makeup to give color to pallid face for millennia.
panegyric
/ˌpænɪˈdʒɪrɪk, -ˈdʒaɪrɪk/
elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
Many panegyrics were written to Abraham Lincoln in the years after his death, and he has become one of the most revered figures in American history.
paragon
model of excellence or perfection
The epic poet Homer was regarded by the ancient Greeks as a paragon of literary excellence.
partisan
one-sided; committed to a party, group, or cause; prejudiced
Supporters of constitutional monarchy believe that while in this system, as it is generally practiced today, virtually all power is vested in popularly elected assemblies, the institution of the monarchy continues to serve a purpose as a focus of national unity above the furor of partisan politics.
pathological
departing from normal condition; 病理学の、病的な
Psychology is the science that studies cognitive and affective functions, both normal and pathological, in human beings and other animals.
patois
/ˈpætwɑ, ˈpɑtwɑ; Fr. paˈtwa/
a regional dialect; nonstandard speech; jargon
In Singapore the lingua franca is increasingly becoming Singapore English, widely regarded as a patois.
paucity
/ˈpɔsɪti/
scarcity
An argument sometimes advanced for euthanasia is that the amount of money spent on prolonging a person’s life for several months is exorbitant in relation to the paucity of funds available for preventive health programs and child health, both of which are highly cost-effective.
pedantic
/pəˈdæntɪk/
showing off learning
The Sophists have acquired a reputation as being learned but rather pedantic entertainers who gave didactic talks on every subject under the Sun; the truth, however, is that some of the Sophist philosophers were very able thinkers.
pellucid
/pəˈlusɪd/
transparent; translucent; easily understood
Two writers often mentioned as having an admirably pellucid style are Bertrand Russell and George Orwell.
penchant
inclination; 好み、傾向
Sue has a penchant for science, while her brother is more interested in the arts.
penury
/ˈpɛnyəri/
extreme poverty
The autobiography tells the story of the billionaire’s journey from penury to riches beyond his imagining.
peregrination
a wandering from place to place
Swami Vivekananda’s peregrinations took him all over India.
peremptory
/pəˈrɛmptəri, ˈpɛrəmpˌtɔri, -ˌtoʊri/
imperative; leaving no choice
The general’s words were spoken in the peremptory tone of a man who is used to having his commands obeyed without question.
perennial
present throughout the years; persistent
Perennial warfare has left most of the people of the country in poverty.
perfidious
faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy
The novel tells the story of the hero’s perfidious lover.
perfunctory
/pərˈfʌŋktəri/
superficial; not thorough; performed really as a duty
The perfunctory inspection of the airplane failed to reveal structural faults in the wing.
