deck8 Flashcards
lukewarm
mildly warm; lacking enthusiasm
grandiloquent
using excessively fancy or pompous words
vex
to disturb; to distress
imbroglio
a confused misunderstanding or disagreement
hygienic
tending to promote or preserve health
emaciated
made thin unnaturally; abnormally thin due to starvation
proselytize
to try to convert someone to one’s own faith or cause
penurious
stingy, exhibiting a petty unwillingness to spend money
heckle
to harass ( a speaker) with questions or taunts
detract
to take away a desirable part; to diminish
albeit
although
circumlocution
an indirect or wordy way of expressing an idea
boon
a welcome benefit
rubric
a category, class, title, or name
bona fide
genuine
nonchalant
seemingly unconcerned or indifferent
panegyric
elaborate praise, esp. in a formal, public setting
tactile
of or related to the sense of touch
iconoclast
one who attacks and seeks to destroy widely accepted ideas
haphazard
occurring or happening by mere chance
condolence
sympathy with another in sorrow
discursive
covering a wide range of subjects; rambling
drone
to make a continuous, low buzzing or humming sound; to speak monotonously
wallow
to roll about lazily, in or as if in water, snow or mud; to revel
insurrection
a rebellion
alchemy
medieval chemistry, esp. the attempt to change common metals into gold
reiterate
to repeat
charisma
a quality of leadership that inspires great devotion in one’s followers
nostrum
a potion given as a medicine of doubtful effectiveness
catalyst
something or someone that initiates a reaction, esp. without being involved in or changed by the consequences
distraught
anxious or agitated
criterion
a measurable value; a standard for judging
entreaty
an earnest plea or request
suffuse
to spread through or over (as with light or color
cachet
a mark of distinction
parley
a discussion, esp. between enemies to resolve disputes
emit
to send forth; to give out
jeer
to make fun of; mockery
humid
moist
obfuscate
to make difficult to understand; to make indistinct
hamper
to keep from moving or acting freely
reconcile
to make friendly again; to settle a dispute
inaugurate
to formally bring into office at the beginning of a term
subjugate
to bring under control; to conquer
plebeian
common
fervid
extremely emotional; passionate
diaphanous
of transparent or translucently fine texture
pathology
the study of the cause and development of disease
indoctrinate
to teach to accept a belief uncritically
enigma
something that is puzzling, ambiguous, mysterious, or inexplicable
besiege
to crowd on; to move in on; to overwhelm
motley
having elements of great variety; composed of many colors
impeccable
flawless
raillery
light, good-natured ridicule or satire
plunder
to rob; to take wrongfully
stultify
to cause to lose interest, become bored, or feel dull and not alert
burly
strong and muscular
bemuse
to confuse or stupefy
redoubtable
fearsome; formidable
vacillate
to swing back and forth
missive
a written message
inclement
harsh; severe (usually of weather)
magnate
a very important or influential person, esp. in business
taut
tense; very tight
jostle
to push and shove; to move by pushing or elbowing
headlong
with uncontrolled speed and force
interject
to insert between other things
ersatz
artificial; not genuine; fake
facsimile
an exact copy
magisterial
characteristic of a master or teacher; stately dignified in manner or appearance; overbearing
obeisance
a gesture, such as a bow or curtsy, that expresses respect or obedience
lucrative
producing wealth; profitable
compound
a building or group of buildings enclosed by a barrier
persevere
to remain constant despite obstacles
lapse
to decline from a previous level or standard; to come to an end
gouge
a chisel with a rounded blade; to cut or scoop out, as with such a chisel
inhibit
to hold back
heterodox
not in agreement with accepted beliefs, esp. religious dogma
wizened
wrinkled from aging
lithe
limber and graceful; supple
conduit
a channel for conducting fluids; a means by which something is transmitted
bastion
a well-fortified place; a source of protection
posthumous
done or occurring after death
prepossessing
impressing favorably
spurious
not genuine; false
conciliate
to overcome or try to overcome distrust or hatred through friendly acts
apex
the highest point
trajectory
the path of a moving body through space
secede
to withdraw formally from an alliance or membership
languish
to lose strength or health; to remain neglected
schism
a division; a split; a break
tax
to make difficult or excessive demands upon
aggravate
to worsen
listless
having no interest in what is going on about one; languid; spiritless
imperious
domineering, marked by arrogant assurance
frenetic
wildly excited or active
incur
to acquire or sustain something undesirable
trace
a faint amount
valedictory
a farewell speech
quagmire
wet, boggy ground; a difficult situation
dubious
causing doubt; questionable
disinter
to exhume; to dig out of the ground
frond
a large leaf, esp. of a fern, palm, etc
reign
to rule, as by a monarch; the period of rule
garish
marked by unpleasantly bright colors or excessive ornamentation
oxymoron
a figure of speech combining apparently contradictory terms, e.g., “darkness visible”
cower
to draw back out of fear
deft
quick and skillful
exact
to demand and obtain by force or authority
vindicate
to clear of blame with supporting arguments or proof
toddle
to walk with short, unsteady steps, like a child
labyrinthine
complicated; puzzling
stupefy
to put in a state of little or no sensation; to amaze or astonish
cherub
a kind of angel, usually portrayed as a child
theocracy
the rule of a state by religious leaders
fallow
of land, plowed but not planted during the growing season; characterized by inactivity
vouch
to give assurances of a guarantee; to give supporting evidence
finite
measurable; having an end
inexorable
impossible to stop or resist
ordeal
an extremely difficult experience
gild
to cover with a thin layer of gold
regale
to delight or entertain
exonerate
to find blameless
