Ed's Vocab 2 Flashcards
Gnomon
n 1 : an object that by the position or length of its shadow serves as an indicator especially of the hour of the day: as
a : the pin of a sundial
b : a column or shaft erected perpendicular to the horizon
2 : the remainder of a parallelogram after the removal of a similar parallelogram containing one of its corners
Austere
adjective
1 a : stern and cold in appearance or manner
b : somber, grave
2 : morally strict : ascetic
3 : markedly simple or unadorned
4 : giving little or no scope for pleasure
5 of a wine : having the flavor of acid or tannin predominant over fruit flavors usually indicating a capacity for aging
synonyms see severe
aus·tere·ly adverb
aus·tere·ness noun
Gossamer
noun
1 : a film of cobwebs floating in air in calm clear weather
2 : something light, delicate, or insubstantial adjective
Immured
transitive verb
1 a : to enclose within or as if within walls
b : imprison
2 : to build into a wall; especially : to entomb in a wall
Other forms: im·mured; im·mur·ing
im·mure·ment -ˈmyu̇r-mənt\ noun
Depredations
transitive verb
: to lay waste : plunder, ravage
intransitive verb
: to engage in plunder
Other forms: dep·re·dat·ed; dep·re·dat·ing
dep·re·da·tion \ˌde-prə-ˈdā-shən\ noun
de·pre·da·tor \ˈde-prə-ˌdā-tər, di-ˈpre-də-\ noun
de·pre·da·to·ry \di-ˈpre-də-ˌtȯr-ē, ˈde-pri-də-\ adjective
Fecundity
1 : fruitful in offspring or vegetation : prolific
2 : intellectually productive or inventive to a marked degree <a>
synonyms see fertile
fe·cun·di·ty \fi-ˈkən-də-tē, fe-\ noun
Examples
the Franklin stove, bifocals, and the lightning rod are just a few of the inventions that we owe to the fecund creativity of Benjamin Franklin</a>
Reaver
intransitive verb \: plunder, rob transitive verb 1 archaic a (1) : rob, despoil (2) : to deprive one of b : seize 2 archaic : to carry or tear away
Entablature
: a horizontal part in classical architecture that rests on the columns and consists of architrave, frieze, and cornice — see column illustration
Origin: obsolete French, modification of Italian intavolatura, from intavolare to put on a board or table, from in- (from Latin) + tavola board, table, from Latin tabula.
Immitigable
adjective
: not capable of being mitigated
im·mit·i·ga·bly -blē\ adverb
Inveteracy
noun
: the quality or state of being obstinate or persistent : tenacity
Facile
the movie takes a facile look at what happens when teens enter into serious romantic relationships
1 a (1) : easily accomplished or attained <a> (2) : shallow, simplistic <i>
b : used or comprehended with ease
c : readily manifested and often lacking sincerity or depth</i></a>
Provenance
noun
1 : origin, source
2 : the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature
Goad
1 a : something that pains as if by pricking : thorn
b : something that urges or stimulates into action : spur
2 : a pointed rod used to urge on an animal
Attar
: a fragrant essential oil (as from rose petals); also : fragrance
Examples
exuding the attar of jasmine, the beautifully bejeweled woman set off for the ball
Incantation
noun
: a use of spells or verbal charms spoken or sung as a part of a ritual of magic; also : a written or recited formula of words designed to produce a particular effect
in·can·ta·tion·al -shnəl, -shə-nəl\ adjective
in·can·ta·to·ry \in-ˈkan-tə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-\ adjective
Querulous
adjective 1 : habitually complaining 2 : fretful, whining <a> quer·u·lous·ly adverb quer·u·lous·ness noun Examples car trips that were frequently spoiled by a couple of querulous passengers in the back
Corona
1 : the projecting part of a classic cornice
2 a : a usually colored circle often seen around and close to a luminous body (as the sun or moon) caused by diffraction produced by suspended droplets or occasionally particles of dust
b : the tenuous outermost part of the atmosphere of a star (as the sun)
c : a circle of light made by the apparent convergence of the streamers of the aurora borealis
Cornice
1 a : the molded and projecting horizontal member that crowns an architectural composition — see column illustration
b : a top course that crowns a wall
2 : a decorative band of metal or wood used to conceal curtain fixtures
3 : an overhanging mass of windblown snow or ice usually on a ridge
Susurrus
noun
: a whispering or rustling sound
su·sur·rant -ˈsər-ənt, -ˈsə-rənt\ adjective
Accede
1 a : to become a party (as to an agreement)
b : to express approval or give consent : give in to a request or demand
2 archaic : approach
3 : to enter upon an office or position
synonyms see assent
Other forms: ac·ced·ed; ac·ced·ing
Examples
finally acceded to their pleas for more time to complete the project
Bifurcated
transitive verb
: to cause to divide into two branches or partsintransitive verb
: to divide into two branches or parts
Vertiginous
1 a : characterized by or suffering from vertigo or dizziness
b : inclined to frequent and often pointless change : inconstant
2 : causing or tending to cause dizziness
3 : marked by turning : rotary
ver·tig·i·nous·ly adverb
Examples
a 3-D effect that is likely to leave some audience members feeling vertiginous
Amphora
1 : an ancient Greek jar or vase with a large oval body, narrow cylindrical neck, and two handles that rise almost to the level of the mouth; broadly : such a jar or vase used elsewhere in the ancient world
2 : a 2-handled vessel shaped like an amphora
Bustard
: any of a family (Otididae) of large chiefly terrestrial Old World and Australian game birds
Democritus
ca 460–ca 370 b.c. the Laughing Philosopher Greek philos.
Soupçon
: a little bit : trace <a></a>
Ululant
adjective
: having a howling sound : wailing
Perspicacity
adjective \: of acute mental vision or discernment : keen synonyms see shrewd per·spi·ca·cious·ly adverb per·spi·ca·cious·ness noun per·spi·cac·i·ty \-ˈka-sə-tē\ noun
Elucidate
transitive verb \: to make lucid especially by explanation or analysis intransitive verb \: to give a clarifying explanation synonyms see explain
Chthonic
adjective
: of or relating to the underworld : infernal
Pastiche
1 : a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work; also : such stylistic imitation
2 a : a musical, literary, or artistic composition made up of selections from different works : potpourri
b : hodgepodge
Orrery
: an apparatus showing the relative positions and motions of bodies in the solar system by balls moved by a clockwork
Other forms: plural or·rer·ies
Febrile
adjective
: marked or caused by fever : feverish
Exordium
: a beginning or introduction especially to a discourse or composition
Other forms: plural ex·or·diums or -dia-dē-ə\
ex·or·di·al -dē-əl\ adjective
Examples
in his exordium the author warns his readers that they should expect a radically different interpretation of the causes of the war
Primogenitor
: ancestor, forefather
Examples
the family held a huge reunion to mark the 200th anniviersary of their primogenitors’ arrival in America
Libertine
1 usually disparaging : a freethinker especially in religious matters
2 : a person who is unrestrained by convention or morality; specifically : one leading a dissolute life
libertine adjective
Examples
the legend of Don Juan depicts him as a playboy and libertine
Anathema
1 a : one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority
b : someone or something intensely disliked or loathed — usually used as a predicate nominative
Atrophic
1 : decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue; also : arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant
2 : a wasting away or progressive decline
Entreaty
: an act of entreating : plea
Other forms: plural en·treat·ies
Examples
our entreaties to give us another few minutes to answer the test questions fell on deaf ears
Scrimshaw
noun
1 : any of various carved or engraved articles made originally by American whalers usually from baleen or whale ivory
2 : scrimshawed work
3 : the art, practice, or technique of producing scrimshaw
Proles
noun or adjective
: proletarian
Examples
the writer’s prole origins are evident in his gritty novels about life in the inner city
Hoary
1 : gray or white with or as if with age 2 : extremely old : ancient Other forms: hoar·i·er; hoar·i·est hoar·i·ness noun Examples hoary legends a hoary tale of revenge a hoary cliché/joke
Convivial
: relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company <a> <a>
con·viv·i·al·i·ty -ˌvi-vē-ˈa-lə-tē\ noun
con·viv·ial·ly -ˈviv-yə-lē, -ˈvi-vē-ə-lē\ adverb
Examples
the hiking club attracts a wide range of convivial people who share a love of the outdoors</a></a>
Perfidious
: of, relating to, or characterized by perfidy
synonyms see faithless
per·fid·i·ous·ly adverb
per·fid·i·ous·ness noun
Examples
a perfidious campaign worker revealed the senator’s strategy to his leading rival for the nomination
Precept
noun
1 : a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action
2 : an order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official
synonyms see law
Noumena
noun
: a posited object or event as it appears in itself independent of perception by the senses
Other forms: plural nou·me·na-nə, -ˌnä\
nou·men·al -mə-nəl\ adjective
Verisimilitude
1 : having the appearance of truth : probable
2 : depicting realism (as in art or literature)
Recalcitrant
1 : obstinately defiant of authority or restraint 2 a : difficult to manage or operate b : not responsive to treatment c : resistant synonyms see unruly recalcitrant noun Examples the manager worried that the recalcitrant employee would try to undermine his authority
Expostulation
Examples
despite the earnest expostulations of her friends, Jessica continued to date the foul-tempered guy
to reason earnestly with a person for purposes of dissuasion or remonstrance
Arabesques
1 : an ornament or style that employs flower, foliage, or fruit and sometimes animal and figural outlines to produce an intricate pattern of interlaced lines
2 : a posture (as in ballet) in which the body is bent forward from the hip on one leg with one arm extended forward and the other arm and leg backward
3 : an elaborate or intricate pattern
