Deck 5 Flashcards
quorum
/ˈkwɔrəm, ˈkwoʊr-/
number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
The U.S. Senate’s majority leader asked three members of his party to be available to help form a quorum.
raconteur
/ˌrækənˈtɜr; Fr. rakɔ̃ˈtœr/
witty, skillful storyteller
Former president Bill Clinton is known as an accomplished raconteur who can entertain guests with amusing anecdotes about politics all evening.
rail
to scold with bitter or abusive language
The critic of globalization railed against its effect on the poor people of the world.
raiment
/ˈreɪmənt/
clothing
It took two hours for the princess’ handmaidens to help her put on her splendid raiment for her coronation as queen.
ramification
implication; outgrowth; consequence
The full ramification of the invention of the laser did not become apparent for many years; now it is used in a great variety of applications, from DVD players to surgery.
rarefied
/ˈrɛərəˌfaɪd/
extremely high or elevated; lofty; exalted; refined
Many scholars flourish in the rarefied intellectual atmosophere of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, New Jersey.
rationale
/ˌræʃəˈnæl/
fundamental reason
The philosophy of “enlightened self-interest” justifies acting in one’s own interest by asserting that this is not selfish or motivated by a “beggar thy neighbor” rationale, but is simply the best way to ensure the welfare of the entire community.
rebus
/ˈribəs/
puzzle in which pictures or symbols represent words
Egyptian writing uses the principle of the rebus, substituting pictures for words.
recalcitrant
/rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/
resisting authority or control
The officer had no choice but to recommend that the recalcitrant soldier be court-martialed.
recant
/rɪˈkænt/
to retract a statement or opinion
The bishop told the theologian that he must recant his heretical teaching or risk excommunication.
recluse
/n. ˈrɛklus, rɪˈklus; adj. rɪˈklus, ˈrɛklus/
person who lives in seclusion and often in soltitude
The monk spent three years of his life as a recluse, praying and meditating.
recondite
/ˈrɛkənˌdaɪt, rɪˈkɒndaɪt/
dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter
Many classical and biblical references known to educated nineteenth-century readers are now considered recondite by most readers.
redoubtable
/rɪˈdaʊtəbəl/
that is to be feared; formidable; commanding or evoking respect, reverence, or the like
As a result of winning 95% of her cases, the prosecutor has earned a reputation as a redoubtable attorney.
refractory
/rɪˈfræktəri/
stubborn; unmanageable; resisting ordinary methods of treatment
The general practitioner called in specialists to help determine the cause of the patient’s refractory illness.
refulgent
brightly shining; resplendent
On the queen’s neck was a necklace of jewels, in the middle of which was a large, refulgent diamond.
refute
to contradict; disprove
The eighteenth-century English author Samuel Johnson claimed to have refuted the philosophy of idealism by kicking a large stone.
regale
to entertain
Former U.S. presidents Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton often regaled visitors with amusing political anecdotes.
relegate
to consign to an inferior position; 降格する、格下げする
Idealist philosophers are a common target of satire; however, instead of relegating them all to the garbage can, one should reflect that thinkers such as Plato and Kant have given humanity some of its most profound ideas.
remonstrate
/rɪˈmɒnstreɪt/
to object or protest
Minority members of the committee remonstrated with the majority members, saying that the proposal was unjust; nevertheless, it was approved.
renege
/rɪˈnɪg, -ˈnɛg, -ˈnig/
to go back on one’s word; 〔約束などを〕破る、守らない
Generally, if one party to an agreement reneges on its contractual obligations, it must provide appropriate compensation to the other party.
reparation
/ˌrɛpəˈreɪʃən/
the making of amends for wrong or injury done; compensation
The judge said she would not sentence the man to jail on the condition that he pay full reparation to the family hurt by his crime.
repine
fret(思い悩む、くよくよする); complain
The president told the congressional representative he should stop repining over the lost opportunity and join the majority in exploring new ones.
reprise
n.v. repetition, especially of a piece of music
The standing ovation at the end of the set meant that the band had little choice but to reprise a few of their most popular tunes.
reproach
to find fault with; blame
The speaker in Andrew Marvell’s poem “To His Coy Mistress” reproaches his beloved for ignoring the passing of time and for not being willing to physically express her love for him.
reprobate
/ˈrɛprəˌbeɪt/
morally unprincipled person; 堕落者
The social worker refused to give up hope of reforming the criminal who was generally regarded as a reprobate.
repudiate
/rɪˈpyudiˌeɪt/
to reject as having no authority; 否定する、拒絶する
In the 1960s, many black leaders such as Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael repudiated integration and nonviolence in favor of black separatism and passive resistance in the fight for civil rights.
rescind
/rɪˈsɪnd/
to cancel
The salesperson said he would rescind his offer to sell the goods at a 10% discount unless he received full payment within 24 hours.
resolve
/rɪˈzɒlv/
n.v. determination; firmness of purpose
President Abraham Lincoln displayed remarkable resolve in preventing the Confederate states from seceding.
reticent
/ˈrɛtəsənt/
not speaking freely; reserved; reluctant
Many people in the west are reticent to criticize science, which in the view of many has become a sacred cow.
reverent
/ˈrɛvərənt, ˈrɛvrənt/
expressing deep respect; worshipful
The biologist Loren Eisely had what could be described as a reverent attitude toward nature.
riposte
/rɪˈpoʊst/
a quick, sharp return in speech or action;
The commander decided that the enemy attack must be countered with a quick riposte.
rococo
/rəˈkoʊkoʊ, ˌroʊkəˈkoʊ/ Show Spelled
excessively ornate; highly decorated; style of architecture in eighteenth-century Europe
The authors often wrote in a rich, almost rococo style.
rubric
title or heading; category; established mode of procedure or conduct; protocol
The data from the experiment was so diverse that the scientist decided to design a new rubric to organize it.
rue
to regret
The judge told the convicted man that he would come to rue his decision to commit the crime.
ruse
/ruz/
trick; crafty stratagem;
In July, 1999, a group of Christians from the United Kingdom traveled to various countries in which Crusaders had massacred people to apologize; however, many of the Moslems spurned this overture, believing it to be another Crusade in the form of a ruse.
sage
/seɪdʒ/
wise
Samuel Johnson gave this sage, albeit hard advice to writers wishing to improve their style…
salacious
/səˈleɪʃəs/
lascivious; lustful; 好色な、わいせつな
The school board decided that the book is too salacious to be in the school library.
salubrious
/səˈlubriəs/
healthful
The salubrious effects of exercise on both physical and mental health have been well documented.
salutary
/ˈsælyəˌtɛri/
favorable to or promoting health; healthful; promoting or conducive to some beneficial purpose; wholesome
The system of universal education is in our age the most prominent and salutary feature of the spirit of enlightenment…
sanction
to approve; ratify; permit
The establishment of the state of Israel from Palestinian territory in 1948 was the realization of a hallowed dream for Zionists, but for many Palestinians it meant the sanctioning of continued domination of their land by Europeans.
sardonic
/sɑrˈdɒnɪk/
cynical; scornfully mocking
Satire that is too sardonic often loses its effectiveness.
satiate
/v. ˈseɪʃiˌeɪt; adj. ˈseɪʃiɪt, -ˌeɪt/
to satisfy
The bully satiated his fury by pummeling the helpless little boy.
saturate
to soak thoroughly; imbue throughout
The writer’s recollection of her childhood is saturated with sunshine and laughter.
saturnine
/ˈsætərˌnaɪn/
gloomy
When the long list of casualties from the battle were announced, the mood in the room was saturnine.
savor
/ˈseɪvər/
to enjoy; have a distinctive flavor or smell
The coach gave his team a day off practice to savor their big victory.
schematic
relating to or in the form of an outline or diagram; 図表、概略図
The engineer outlined the workings of the factory in schematic form.
secrete
/sɪˈkrit/
to produce and release substance into organism
The pancreas gland secretes a fluid that helps fat, carbohydrates, and protein to be digested in the small intestine.
sedition
/sɪˈdɪʃən/
behavior prompting rebellion
The federal prosecutor argued that the journalist’s article could be interpreted as an act of sedition since it strongly suggested that the government should be overturned.
sedulous
/ˈsɛdʒələs/
diligent
The Nobel Prize-winning scientist attributed his success to what he termed “curiosity, a modicum of intelligence, and sedulous application.”
seismic
/ˈsaɪzmɪk, ˈsaɪs-/
relating to earthquakes; earthshaking
The study of seismic waves enables scientists to learn about the Earth’s structure.
sensual
/ˈsɛnʃuəl/
relating to the senses; gratifying the physical senses, especially sexual appetites
The yogi teaches his students that attachment to sensual pleasure is one of the great hindrances to spiritual advancement.
sensuous
/ˈsɛnʃuəs/
relating to the senses; operating through the senses; 感覚の、五感に訴える
The American painter Georgia O’Keeffe is known especially for her sensuous paintings of plants and flowers and for her landscapes.
sentient
/ˈsɛnʃənt/
aware; conscious; able to perceive
Charles Darwin regarded many animals as being sentient and as having intelligence.
servile
/ˈsɜrvɪl, -vaɪl/
submissive; obedient
None of the dictator’s servile citizens dared question his decree.
sextant
navigation tool that determines latitude and longitude; 六分儀
Because it enabled precise determination of position, the sextant quickly became an essential tool in navigation after its invention in 1731.
shard
a piece of broken glass or pottery; 破片、かけら
Archeologists were able to reconstruct the drinking vessel from shards found around the ancient campsite.
sidereal
/saɪˈdɪəriəl/
relating to the stars
A sidereal year is longer than a solar year by 20 minutes and 23 seconds.
simian
/ˈsɪmiən/
apelike; relating to apes
Many peope in the nineteenth century denied the evolutionary significance of the simian characteristics of human beings.
sinecure
/ˈsaɪnɪˌkyʊər, ˈsɪnɪ-/
well-paying job or office that requires little or no work
The company established the high-paying position of senior advisor as a sinecure for the man who had been instrumental in the company’s success for so many years.
singular
unique; extraordinary; odd
The defendant’s singular appearance made it easy for the witness to identify him as the person at the scene of the crime.
sinuous
/ˈsɪnyuəs/
winding; intricate; complex
The students had trouble following the philosopher’s sinuous line of reasoning.
sobriety
/səˈbraɪɪti, soʊ-/
seriousness
The student approaches her studies with commendable sobriety.
sodden
/ˈsɒdn/
thoroughly soaked; saturated
The sodden field makes it difficult for the soccer players to move effectively.
solicitous
/səˈlɪsɪtəs/
concerned; attentive; eager
The nurse is extremely solicitous of the health of every patient in the ward.
soliloquy
/səˈlɪləkwi/
literary or dramatic speech by one character, not addressed to others; 〔演劇の〕独白、独り言
The nineteenth-century English poet Robert Browning used the dramatic monologue - which is essentially a soliloquy in a poem - successfully in many of his poems.
solvent
/ˈsɒlvənt/
able to meet financial obligations
During the financial crisis several large banks had difficulty remaining solvent.
somatic
/soʊˈmætɪk, sə-/
of the body; bodily; physical
A psychosomatic disorder is a malady caused by a mental disturbance that adversely affects somatic functioning.
soporific
/ˌsɒpəˈrɪfɪk, ˌsoʊpə-/
causing or tending to cause sleep
For some people the best soporific is reading a boring book.
sordid
/ˈsɔrdɪd/
filthy; contemptible and corrupt; 汚い、卑しむべき
The Monica Lewinsky scandal, which led to President Bill Clinton’s impeachment in 1998, must certainly rank as one of the most sordid affairs in American history.
specious
/ˈspiʃəs/
seeming to be logical and sound, but not really so
The article systematically rebuts the specious argument advanced by the so-called expert in the field.
spectrum
band of colors produced when sunlight passes through a prism; a broad range of related ideas or objects
The political science course deals with the whole spectrum of political ideologies.
spendthrift
/ˈspɛndˌθrɪft/
person who spends money recklessly
A Chinese proverb describes a paradox: Rich spendthrifts never save enough, but the poor always manage to save something.
sporadic
/spəˈrædɪk/
appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; occasional
Despite the ceasefire, there have been sporadic outbreaks of violence between the warring factions.
squalor
/ˈskwɒlər, ˈskwɔlər/
filthy, wretched condition
The family lives in squalor in the slums of Mexico City.
staccato
/stəˈkɑtoʊ/
marked by abrupt, clear-cut sounds
We listened to the staccato steps of the woman in high heels running down the street.
stanch
/stɔntʃ, stæntʃ, stɑntʃ/
to stop or check the flow of
The country’s government has put controls on currency movement to stanch the flow of money out of the country.
stentorian
/stɛnˈtɔriən, -ˈtoʊr-/
extremely loud
The stentorian speaker prefers not to use a microphone so that the audience can appreciate what he calls “the full effect of my powerful oratory.”
stigma
mark of disgrace or inferiority; 汚名、汚点
A problem with giving formal psychological treatment to a child who is believed to be poorly adjusted to society is that he may acquire a stigma as a result of officially being labeled as deviant, and he may act to corroborate society’s expectation.
stint
to be sparing; 出し惜しむ
Stinting on funding for education strikes many people as shortsighted.
stipulate
to specify as an essential condition; を規定する、明記する、要求する
The president’s lawyer stipulated that he would appear before the investigative committee, but would answer only questions directly relevant to the issue at hand.
stolid
/ˈstɒlɪd/
having or showing little emotion
Behind the professor’s stolid appearance is a fun-loving, gregarious character.
stratified
arranged in layers
One of the implications of an increasingly stratified economy for America might be increased social unrest.
striated
/ˈstraɪeɪtɪd/
marked with thin, narrow grooves or channels; 筋［線・縞・溝］のある、線状の
The striated surface suggested to the geologist that he was walking over an area in which there once had been a torrent of water.
stricture
/ˈstrɪktʃər/
something that restrains; negative criticism
As professionals, lawyers are expected to abide by a set of ethical strictures in their practice of the law.
strident
/ˈstraɪdnt/
loud; harsh; unpleasantly noisy
Calls for the prime minister’s resignation became more strident after it was discovered that he had strong connections to organized crime.
strut
/strʌt/
to walk with a vain, pompous bearing, as with head erect and chest thrown out, as if expecting to impress observers
The star quarterback strutted around campus the entire week after he led his team to a 42-0 win over the country’s top-ranked team.
stultify
/ˈstʌltəˌfaɪ/
to impair or reduce to uselessness
The professor of education believes that overreliance on rote learning stultifies students’ creativity.
stupefy
/ˈstupəˌfaɪ, ˈstyu-/
to dull the senses of; stun; astonish
After drinking three glasses of wine, Linda was stupefied.
stygian
/ˈstɪdʒiən/
dark and gloomy; hellish
subpoena
/səˈpinə, səb-/
notice ordering someone to appear in court; 召喚令状
The judge issued a subpoena for the man but the prosecutor had little hope that he would appear because he was living abroad.
subside
/səbˈsaɪd/
to settle down; grow quiet
Army personnel told the civilians to wait for the violence to subside before reentering the town.
substantiate
/səbˈstænʃiˌeɪt/
to support with proof or evidence
The validity of fossil identification is substantiated by data from geology and carbon-14 dating.
substantive
/ˈsʌbstəntɪv/
essential; pertaining to the substance
The judge cautioned the attorney to present only information that was substantive to the case at hand.
subsume
/səbˈsum/
to include; incorporate
The philosopher described his work as an attempt to arrrive at a final generalization that will subsume all previous generalizations about the nature of logic.
subversive
/səbˈvɜrsɪv/
intended to undermine or overthrow, especially an established government
Anything that subverts the market mechanism is believed to cause anomalies in prices, making the economy less efficient.
