deck7 Flashcards
porous
easily crossed or penetrated
tightfisted
stingy
aspiration
a strong desire for achievement
deluge
a great flood
vitality
the force that distinguishes life from death
substantiate
to support with evidence
tenant
a person or group that rents a place to live or work
chronic
continuing for a ling time
lumber
to move clumsily
de facto
actual or effective, esp. when without legal authority; in fact
infatuated
experiencing an unreasonable passion or attraction
repudiate
to reject as invalid or untrue
implement
to bring about; to into effect; to accomplish
hoard
to stockpile
secular
not religious; worldly
slipshod
marked by carelessness or casual attention to detail
gossamer
light, thin, airy
insulate
to set apart; to protect
malapropism
a ridiculous misuse of words
jaded
worn out; dulled by excess
leeway
margin; room for freedom of action
accommodate
to oblige; to provide a service or favor; to fit
trepidation
strong fear or dread marked by trembling or hesitancy
domestic
relating to the home or family
precipitate
moving rapidly and without caution
sinuous
curving in and out
epithet
a descriptive term for a person or thing
bifurcate
to divide into two parts
vignette
a small design or portrait; a brief scene or literary sketch
aberration
a departure from what is right, true, or expected
cameo
a medallion or other piece of jewelry with a design in relief; a brief appearance in a film, play, or novel
epigram
a short, cleverly-worded statement
jettison
to throw overboard; to discard or abandon something no longer wanted
amble
to walk slowly or leisurely
ascetic
a person who denies him or herself luxuries and leads an austere life
obliging
ready to do favors; helpful
edict
an authoritative order issued publicly; a decree
requisite
needed; necessary
intrinsic
relating to the essential nature of a something
barb
a cutting or biting remark
allude
to refer to indirectly
trenchant
keen and forceful; caustic
unconscionable
beyond reason; not restrained by conscience
diatribe
prolonged and bitter speech or writing
reproof
an expression of disapproval; a rebuke
didactic
intended to teach; inclined to teach excessively
attire
clothes, esp. fancy or elaborate apparel
recant
to formally take back a previous statement
tenure
holding or possession of an office or property
unscrupulous
proceeding ruthlessly; without regard for right or wrong
laggard
a slow person
passe
old fashioned; out of style
upshot
the decisive or final result
transcend
to exceed
probity
complete and confirmed honesty
tacit
unspoken but understood; silent
aegis
a protection; sponsorship
anomaly
a departure from the regular pattern
fulsome
disgusting because excessive or insincere
gainsay
to deny; to declare false
lionize
to look upon or treat as a celebrity
esoteric
known by or confined to a small number of people
ameliorate
to improve
implacable
unable to be pacified
nefarious
very wicked; villainous
buttress
to prop up or support
incisive
keen or penetrating in thought or expression
tautology
needless repetition of an idea in different words
synthesis
the combination of separate parts into a unified whole
appropriate
to set apart for a specific use; to take possession of, often without permission
adulation
excessive flattery or admiration
covert
concealed or disguised
feat
an act or accomplishment showing skill
portly
fat, esp. of one who has a stately, imposing bearing
minuscule
very small
mollify
to soothe the temper; to pacify; to appease
atrophy
a wasting away, esp. of body tissue
eminent
outstanding, distinguished, towering above others
callow
inesperienced
malediction
evil talk about someone; slander; a curse
glean
to gather bit by bit
diligent
painstaking and steady
concomitant
accompanying(of events); existing or occurring concurrently
scourge
a cause of widespread suffering
exult
to rejoice greatly
forestall
to prevent or delay beforehand
hyperbole
exaggeration
complement
something that completes a whole or brings to perfection
peremptory
having the nature of a command; permitting no denial
penchant
a strong liking
hackneyed
made trite and commonplace by overuse
impasse
a dead-end
dichotomy
a division into two contrasting or non-overlapping parts
kowtow
to show servile deference
tirade
an abusive speech
renown
fame or celebrity
oratory
public speaking, esp. marked by pompous rhetoric
watershed
a region that drains into a river, lake, or other body of water
unscathed
unharmed
collaborate
to work together, esp. at n intellectual effort
desultory
lacking a plan or purpose
flabbergast
to overcome with astonishment
eccentric
unconventional; odd
flamboyant
extravagant; showy
mortify
to humiliate; to fill with embarrassment
supercilious
feeling or showing proud contempt; smug; arrogant
scrupulous
conscientious and exact; having principles
monopoly
exclusive possession or control
fetter
to confine, restrain, or keep down; chains; shackles
apotheosis
the ideal example; the elevation of a person to the rank of a god
erudite
well-educated
contravene
to act counter to; violate
manifesto
a public declaration of principles, often political
dint
power; effort (almost always in the phrase “by dint of”)
ascendant
in a position of power of superiority
debacle
an overwhelming defeat or failure
indolent
lazy
auspicious
showing signs of a favorable outcome; marked by favorable circumstances
bilk
to swindle; to cheat
ostentatious
showy; pretentious
verbose
wordy
estrange
to make hostile or indifferent, usually between two persons
swagger
to walk in an arrogant manner
parry
to deflect an attack
hobbyhorse
a favorite pastime; a topic with which one is obsessed
bereaved
suffering the loss of a loved one
gait
manner of moving in foot; rate or manner of proceeding
