deck6 Flashcards
taciturn
almost always silent
caste
a rigid and hereditary social class
diverge
to depart from a set course or opinion
bigot
one who favors his or her own group and is intolerant of those who differ
insular
narrow in outlook
chicanery
deception by trickery
masquerade
to wear a disguise; to put on a false appearance
keen
having a sharp edge; perceptive
forebear
a person from whom one is descended; an ancestor
dissipate
to scatter; to spend wastefully
impute
to assign credit, often of guilt or blame
vendetta
a bitter feud or quarrel; fight
elicit
to draw out; to invoke
truculent
inclined to fight
leverage
strategic advantage
reprobate
a person who lacks morals
baffle
to frustrate, as by confusing
mitigate
to improve by lessening the severity of
reckon
to calculate; to regard as
foray
a sudden raid
sententious
expressing much in few words; given to pompous moralizing
tenet
a belief
foment
to stir up negative feelings, esp. those that lead to violent action
befuddle
to confuse
colloquial
appropriate to spoken, as opposed to written, language; informal
naive
simple; childlike; lacking worldly wisdom
haughty
stuck-up; arrogant; snobbish
liability
something for which one who is responsible; a debt; a disadvantage
deduce
to reach a conclusion by reasoning
evince
to give outward evidence of; to display clearly
pragmatic
dealing practically with a situation or a thing; based on experience rather than theory
demagogue
a leader who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and passions of the people
latitude
freedom from normal limitations; room for movement or action
confluence
joining together of different streams
vagary
an erratic notion or action
exculpate
to clear from blame or guilt
homage
a sign of respect
rummage
to search thoroughly by handling or disarranging the contents of
exert
to put forth or bring to bear
affliction
pain
qualm
a sudden feeling of sickness
innuendo
an indirect suggestion about someone or something, esp.of a negative nature
expedient
suitable for a purpose; a means to an end, esp. when based on self-interest
exodus
the departure of a large number of people
decrepit
weakened, worn out, or broken down by old age or excessive use
belie
to picture falsely; to contradict
arraign
to bring before a court to answer a legal charge
unfledged
not yet grown
erstwhile
former; of an earlier time
saunter
to walk in a leisurely manner
behemoth
an enormous animal or person
stigma
a sign of disgrace; a mark that lowers a reputation
posit
to assume as a fact or principle
foible
a minor weakness of character
retrench
to reduce, esp. expenses
pivotal
crucial
derelict
abandoned; negligent
commensurate
equal in proportion
sentinel
one who keeps watch
scrutiny
close examination
ostracize
to shun
congregate
to assemble into a group
chronicle
a recording of events in order of time
soporific
promoting sleep
coddle
to treat indulgently
fledgling
a young, inexperienced person
eclat
great brilliance, as of performance or achievement
vociferous
loud and vehement
ravenous
very hungry
facile
with effortless ease
demeanor
outward behavior, esp. that reveals one’s personality or attitude
enmity
the bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or of mutual enemies
verbatim
word for word
schema
an outline or model, often drawn as a diagram
invigorate
to give strength and energy to
cede
to give or formally surrender to another
supplicate
to request with great humility, as though by praying
anthropomorphism
the attribution of human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects
preoccupied
absorbed in thought
circumspect
showing discretion and careful judgement
proximity
closeness
zest
hearty enjoyment
chimerical
created by or as if by a fanciful imagination
wheedle
to persuade or obtain through flattery or cunning
dowdy
lacking in neatness or style; shabby
dilatory
characterized by delay; tardy
ensconce
to settle securely or snugly
paean
a song of joy, triumph, or praise
niche
a place or situation suited for a person or thing; a recess in a wall
attribute
to assign as the source; quality, characteristic
meticulous
extremely or excessively careful about details
ingratiate
to bring oneself into another’s favor or good graces by conscious effort
recount
to tell in detail
corroborate
to strengthen; to confirm; to support
propensity
a natural inclination; a tendency
beguile
to deceive by charm
gesticulate
to make gestures, esp. while speaking
hiatus
an interruption in activity or progress
painstaking
very thorough; careful
avant-garde
a group active in inventing and applying new techniques, esp. in the arts
countenance
appearance, esp. the expression of the face; to tolerate
manacles
shackles; handcuffs
genial
cheerful; friendly
impassioned
filled with emotion; fervent
brevity
briefness
mainstay
a chief support
extrovert
an outgoing person
pedigree
record of ancestry; family tree
affinity
a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
feckless
careless; irresponsible
elude
to escape from, as by daring or skill
divert
to change the direction of; to amuse
mediocre
ordinary to inferior in quality; not standing out from the average
scorn
a feeling of contempt of disdain
aloof
distant or removed in attitude or manner
garrulous
talking too much, esp. about trivial things
sumptuous
of a size or splendor suggesting great expenses; lavish
debonair
easy and carefree in manner
ascribe
to attribute to a specific source
scintilla
a small amount; a spark
motif
a recurring subject or theme, esp. in a work of art or literature
remnant
a small amount left over after the rest has been used; a surviving trace
gall
boldness
ferret
to search
prose
the ordinary form of written or spoken language, without rhyme or meter
avuncular
resembling an uncle; benevolent
denouement
conclusing
dally
to waste time
dismal
causing gloom or depression
waif
a homeless person, esp. a child or orphan
ward
to repel or turn aside
congenital
present since birth
corpus
a large collection of writings
torpid
inactive
inept
without skill
cozen
to defraud or deceive
insolent
boldly disrespectful in speech or behavior
exhort
to urge strongly
compendium
a short, complete summary
palpitate
to beat rapidly
abjure
to renounce under oath; to give up or deny
alacrity
cheerful willingness; swiftness
inadvertent
unintentional; accidental
maraud
to raid
crass
dull-witted; unrefined
envoy
a government representative sent on a special diplomatic mission
