Deck No. 1 Flashcards
Memorize first 100 words from The Economist Magazine
abberant
markedly different from an accepted norm
contortion
n. the act of twisting or deforming the shape of something (e.g., yourself)
n. a tortuous and twisted shape or position
nimble
adj, quick and light in movement; moving with ease; agile; active; rapid: nimble feet.
quick to understand, think, devise, etc.: a nimble mind.
cleverly contrived: a story with a nimble plot.
ordeal
Noun: any extremely severe or trying test, experience, or trial.
meager
adjective
deficient in quantity or quality; lacking fullness or richness; scanty; inadequate: a meager salary; meager fare; a meager harvest.
anectodal
adjective
(of an account) not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research.
lurch
verb:
make an abrupt, unsteady, uncontrolled movement or series of movements; stagger.
“the car lurched forward”
synonyms: stagger, stumble, sway, reel, roll, weave, totter, flounder, falter, wobble, slip, move clumsily
gale
noun
- a very strong wind.
“I slept well despite the howling gales outside”
synonyms: storm, tempest, squall, hurricane, tornado, cyclone, typhoon, whirlwind, superstorm; a storm at sea.
2. an outburst of laughter.
“she collapsed into gales of laughter”
synonyms: outburst, burst, eruption, explosion, effusion, attack, fit, paroxysm;
intone
verb:
say or recite with little rise and fall of the pitch of the voice. “he intoned a short Latin prayer”
synonyms: chant, intonate, sing, recite;
nimble
adjective:
quick and light in movement or action; agile.
“with a deft motion of her nimble fingers”
adroit; “her mind was so nimble and she was so quick to learn”
gall
noun:
bold and impudent behavior.
“the bank had the gall to demand a fee”
used to refer to something bitter or cruel.
fable
noun:
a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.
a supernatural story incorporating elements of myth and legend.
myth, legend
cavernous
adjective:
giving the impression of vast, dark depths.
strident
adjective:
- (of a sound) loud and harsh; grating.
“his voice had become increasingly strident” - presenting a point of view, especially a controversial one, in an excessively forceful way.
“public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident”
chastise
verb:
rebuke or reprimand severely.
“he chastised his colleagues for their laziness”
cringe
verb:
- bend one’s head and body in fear or apprehension or in a servile manner. “he cringed away from the blow”
- experience an inward shiver of embarrassment or disgust. “I cringed at the fellow’s stupidity”
impetuous
adjective:
acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
“she might live to rue this impetuous decision”
moving forcefully or rapidly.
“an impetuous but controlled flow of water”
somber
adjective:
- having or conveying a feeling of deep seriousness and sadness. “he looked at her with a somber expression”
- dark or dull in color or tone.
“the night skies were sombre and starless”
grotesque
adjective:
- comically or repulsively ugly or distorted.
“a figure wearing a grotesque mask” - incongruous or inappropriate to a shocking degree.
“a lifestyle of grotesque luxury”
strife
noun:
angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict. “strife within the community”
visceral
adjective:
relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect. “the voters’ visceral fear of change”
wane
verb:
(of a state or feeling) decrease in vigour or extent; become weaker. “confidence in the dollar waned”
protégé
noun:
a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced or influential person.
“Ruskin submitted his protégé’s name for election”
agnostic
noun:
a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.
brawl
noun:
a rough or noisy fight or quarrel.
“he’d got into a drunken brawl in a bar”
sly
adjective:
- having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature.
“a sly, manipulative woman” - showing in an insinuating way that one has some secret knowledge that may be harmful or embarrassing.
“he gave a sly grin” - surreptitious
morsel
noun:
a small piece or amount of food; a mouthful.
“Juliet pushed a morsel of toast into her mouth”
drowsy
adjective:
- sleepy and lethargic; half asleep.
“the wine had made her drowsy” - (of a place) peaceful and quiet.
“a drowsy suburb called Surrey Hills”
gruff
adjective:
- (of a voice) rough and low in pitch.
“she spoke with a gruff, masculine voice” - abrupt or taciturn in manner.
“Robert’s gruff, no-nonsense approach”
digress
verb:
leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.
“I have digressed a little from my original plan”
haughty
adjective:
arrogantly superior and disdainful.
“a look of haughty disdain”
bulge
noun:
a rounded swelling which distorts an otherwise flat surface. “the telltale bulge of a concealed weapon”
verb:
swell or protrude to an incongruous extent.
“the veins in his neck bulged”
saunter
verb, noun:
walk in a slow, relaxed manner.
“Adam sauntered into the room”
regent
noun:
a person appointed to administer a state because the monarch is a minor or is absent or incapacitated.
blithe
adjective:
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.
“a blithe disregard for the rules of the road”
happy or carefree.
“a blithe seaside comedy”
redundant
adjective:
not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous.
“an appropriate use for a redundant church”
effrontery
noun:
insolent or impertinent behaviour.
“one juror had the effrontery to challenge the coroner’s decision”
cozen
verb:
trick or deceive.
“do not think to cozen your contemporaries”
brusque
adjective:
abrupt or offhand in speech or manner.
“she could be brusque and impatient”
preen
verb:
- (of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one’s appearance.
“adolescents preening in their bedroom mirrors” - congratulate or pride oneself.
“he’s busy preening himself on acquiring such a pretty girlfriend”
grisly
adjective:
causing horror or disgust.
“the town was shaken by a series of grisly crimes”
gruesome
adjective:
causing repulsion or horror; grisly.
“the most gruesome murder”
extremely unpleasant
froth
noun:
- a mass of small bubbles in liquid caused by agitation, fermentation, or salivating.
“leave the yeast until there is a good head of froth” - worthless or insubstantial talk, ideas, or activities.
“the froth of party politics”
quiver
verb:
tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion.
“the tree’s branches stopped quivering”
