Direct Hits: History Flashcards
Draconian
Characterized by very strict laws, rules, and punishments
laconic
very brief; concise;
spartan
plain; simple; austere
halcyon
Idyllically calm and tranquil
sophistry
a deliberately misleading arguments
chimerical
fantastic schemes; unchecked imagination
ostracize
to deliberately exclude from a group
impecunious
poor; penniless; not affluent
nefarious
famous for being wicked; villainous; vile
jovial
good-humored; cheerful; jocular
dirge
a funeral hymn; mournful music
maudlin
excessively sentimental
quixotic
foolishly impractical;
pandemonium
a wild uproar; tumult
martinet
a strict disciplinarian;
fiasco
a complete failure; a debacle
bowdlerize
to remove or delete parts of a book, song or other work that are considered offensive; to expurgate
galvanize
to electrify; to stir into action as if with an electric shock
picayune
something of small value; petty; trifling
gerrymander
to divide a district so as to give advantage to one side
maverick
an independent person
juggernaut
an irresistible force that crushes everything in its path
Serendipity
an accidental but fortunate discovery
zenith
the highest point; the peak; apex
nadir
the lower point; the bottom
succinct
very brief
terse
very brief
Austere
simple
debacle
complete failure