Eng List 5, 6, 7 Flashcards
bruit
to voice abroad; rumor
noise; din; clamor
abortive
unsuccessful; failing to succeed
born prematurely
imperfectly developed; rudimentary
contumelious
insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.
a humiliating insult.
dictum
an authoritative pronouncement; judicial assertion.
a saying; maxim.
an incidental or passing remark, opinion, etc.
ensconce
to settle securely or snugly.
to cover or shelter; hide securely.
iconoclastic
attacking or ignoring cherished beliefs and long-held traditions, as being based on error, superstition, or lack of creativity
breaking or destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration.
in medias res
in the middle of things
internecine
of or pertaining to conflict or struggle within a group.
mutually destructive.
characterized by great slaughter; deadly.
maladroit
lacking in adroitness; unskillful; awkward; bungling; tactless
maudlin
tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental
modulate
to regulate by or adjust to a certain measure or proportion; soften; tone down.
to alter or adapt (the voice) according to the circumstances, one’s listener, etc.
portentous
ominously significant or ominously significant or indicative
prescience
knowledge of things before they exist or happen; foreknowledge; foresight
quid pro quo
one thing in return for another
saturnalia
unrestrained revelry; orgy
touchstone
a test or criterion for the qualities of a thing
traumatic
adapted to the cure of wounds.
psychologically painful
vitiate
to impair the quality of; make faulty; spoil.
to impair or weaken the effectiveness of.
to debase; corrupt; pervert.
to make legally defective or invalid; invalidate
waggish
roguish in merriment and good humor; jocular
aficionado
an ardent devotee; fan, enthusiast
browbeat
to intimidate by overbearing looks or words; bully
commensurate
having the same measure; of equal extent or duration.
corresponding in amount, magnitude, or degree
proportionate; adequate.
diaphanous
very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent
emolument
profit, salary, or fees from office or employment; compensation for services