Direct Hits Science & Social Sciences Vocabulary 8 Flashcards
Catalyst
in chemistry, a catalyst is a subtance (such as an enzyme) that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction at some temperature, but without itself being transformed or consumed by the reaction. In everyday usage a catalyst is any agent that provokes or triggers change.
Caustic
in chemistry, a caustic substance is one that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action. Hydrofluoric acid and silver nitrate are examples of caustic substances. In everday usage, a caustic comment is one that hurts of burns.
Crystallize
in chemistry, crystallization is the process by which cystals are formed. In everdya isage, to crystallize means to give a definite form to an idea or plan.
Innate
inorn; natural
Succint
concise
Osmosis
in chemostry, osmosis refers to the diffusion of a fluid through a sem-permeable membrance until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the membrane. In everyday usage, osmosis refers to a gradual, often unconcious process of assimilation.
Assimilating
absorbing and integrating
Sedentary
in ecology, animals that are sedentary remain or live in one area. In everyday usage, sedentary means settles and therefore accustomed to sitting or doing little exercise.
Corpulent
overweight, obese
Virulent
in medical science, virulent refers to a disease or toxin that is ectremely infectious, malignant, or poisnous. In everyday usage, virulent refers to language that is bitterly hostile, hateful, and antagonistic.
Empirical
in science, empirical means originating in or based on direct observation and experience. empiral data can then be used to support of reject a hypothesis. In everyday language, empirical means to be guided by practical expericne, not theory.
Daunting
intimidating
Entomology
the sceintific study of insects
Mystified
confused
Surmise
deduce, theorize
Etymology
a branch of linguistics concerned with the history and derivation of words.
Gestate
in science, gestate means to carry within the uterus from conception to delivery. In everyday language, gestate means to concieve and dvelop in the mind.
Cathartic
purgative, either physically or emtionally; cleansing
Encompass
include
Denouement
ending, resolution
Paradigm
in science, a paradigm is a framework or model of thought
Refuted
proved false
Entrepreneur
a person who organizes and manages a business or enterprise
Lucarative
very profitable
Extravagant
excessive and therefore lacking restraint
Avarice, Cupidity
excessive desire for wealth; greed; covetousness
Glut, Plethora, Surfeit
a surplus or excess of something
Destitute, Impoverished, Indigent
very poor, lacking basic resources
Affluent, Opulent
very rich, having abundant rsources
Munificent
very generous
Philanthropic
generous to socially useful purposes because of a love of humanity
Parismonious
excessively cheap with money; stingy
Depreciation
any decrease of loss in vlaue by age, wear, or market conditions
Remunerate
to compensate; to make payment for; to pay a person
Accord
a formal concurrence, agreement, or harmony of minds
Enlighten, Edify
to inform, instruct, illuminatte, and thus remove darkness and ignorance
Erudite
learned, literate, authoritative
Appeasement
the policy of granting concessions to maintain peace
Nullify
to make null; declare invalid
Triumvirate
a group or association of three leaders
Pretext
an excuse; an alleged cause
Watershed
critical point that marks a change of course; a turning point
Consensus
a general agreement
Autocrat, Despot
a ruler or other person with unlimited power and authority
Manifesto
a public declaration of beliefs, policies, or intentions
Enfranchise
to endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote
Disenfranchise
to deprive of some privilege or right, especially the right to vote
Coerce
to force to act or think in a certain way by use of pressure, threats, or torture; to compel
Egalitarian
favoring social equality; believing in a society in which all people have equal political, economic, and civil rights
Demarcation
the settling or marking of boundariess or limits, as a line of demarcation
Heresy
false beliefs
Stigmatized
branded
Ameliorate
to make a situation better
Exacerbate
to make a situation worse
Desiccated
thoroughly dried out; lifeless, totally arid
Contiguous
sharing an edge or boundary; touching
Archipelago
chain of islands
Proximity
two objects are very near in space of time
Pertinent
relevant; to the point; clearly illustrative of a major point
Predecessor
someting that followed or came before
Complicity
association or participation in a wrongful act
Exonerate, Exculpate
to free from guilt or blame
Indisputable
not open to question ; undeniable; irrefutable
Precedent
an act or instance that is used as an example in dealing with sibsequent similar instances
cede, ceed, cess
to go
Cede
to admit a point in an argument
Accede
to go along with, to agree to
Concede
to yield to, agree to a loss in an election
Intercede
to go between two litigants
Precede
to go before
Recede
to go back
Secede
to go arpat, to leave a group, like the Union
Exceed
to go beyond the ordinary
Accession
a going to, like an accession to the throne
Recession
a going back, a decline in the economy
Unprecedented
without previous example, never known before
Malfeasance
misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official; intentionally performing an act that is illegal
Blatantly
unmistakably
Misfeasance
performing a perfectly legal act, but in a mistaken or erroneous manner
Nonfeasance
failure to act when the position one occupies requires one to act
Probity
integrity and uprightness; honesty; high moral standards
