English, 2 Flashcards
Languid
lacking in vigor or vitality
Opulent
wealthy, rich, affluent
Efficacious
capable of having the desired result or effect
Palliate
to lessen the seriousness or extent of; provide physical relief
Petulant
easily irritated or annoyed
Inculcate
to fix something firmly in somebody’s mind through frequent, forceful repetition
Precipice
a very steep cliff
Imperium
the domain ruled by an emperor
Capricious
changeable; determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity or reason
Rectitude
righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest
Odious
unequivocally detestable
Licentious
unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral
Paroxysm
any sudden, violent outburst
Nugatory
of no real value; trifling; worthless
Rivulet
small stream; a brook
Consecrate
render holy by means of religious rites
Inveigh
to entice, lure or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements
Ensign
a flag or banner, as a military or naval standard, used to indicate nationality
Contumacious
willfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient
Propitious
presenting favorable conditions; favorable
Unequivocal
having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion
Solecism
a socially awkward or tactless act
Palpable
capable of being perceived
Animadversion
an unfavorable or censorious comment; the act of criticizing
Indignation
a feeling of righteous anger
Officious
intrusive in a meddling or offensive manor
Trammel
a hindrance or impediment to free action; restraint
Legerdemain
a display of skill or cleverness, especially for deceitful purposes
Syllogism
a rule of inference; a formal logical scheme used to draw conclusions form a set of premises
Caprice
a sudden desire
Prepossession
a prejudice, especially one in favor of a person or thing
Execrable
utterly detestable; abominable; abhorrent
Infirmity
a physical weakness; a moral weakness or failing
Regicide
the act of killing a king
Deicide
the act of killing a god
Syndicalism
a radical political movement that advocates bringing industry and government under the control of labor unions
Culpability
guilt or blame that is deserved; blameworthiness
Inextricable
incapable of being disentangled, undone, loosed, or solved
Dilettantism
the practice of a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for superficial amusement
Gratuitous
without cause
Efficacy
capacity or power to produce a desired effect
Imbue
to impregnate or inspire, as with feelings, opinions, etc.
Equanimity
steadiness of mind under stress
Apotheosis
the elevation of a person, as to the status of a god; one having no equal; the highest point of the development of something
Untenable
incapable of being judged
Asceticism
self-denying way of life
Pule
to whine, whimper, or cry plaintively
Perforce
unavoidably or as forced by circumstances
Ephemeral
lasting for only a short period of time and leaving no permanent trace
Tacitly
understood or implied without being stated openly
Sublimation
the channeling of impulses or energies regarded as unacceptable, especially sexual desires, toward activities regarded as more socially acceptable, often creative activities
Impetus
the energy or motivation to accomplish or undertake something
Fountainhead
primary source
Sacrosanct
very holy and sacred
Incipient
beginning to appear or develop
Indolence
lazy; painless and slow to change
Polemic
a passionate, strongly worded, and often controversial argument against or, less often, in favor of somebody or something
Acme
the highest point of perfection or achievement
Imprecation
an oath or curse
Assail
to attack somebody vigorously with words or actions; to overwhelm the mind or senses of somebody
Aggregate
collected together from different sources and considered as a whole
Execration
a curse or swearword
Abject
allowing no hope of improvement or relief
Inexpiable
so bad that it cannot be atoned for
Implacable
impossible to pacify or to reduce in strength or force
Derisory
so small or inadequate as to deserve contempt or ridicule
Conciliatory
appeasing
Calumny
the making of false statements about somebody with malicious intent
Perspicacity
acuteness of discernment or perception
Extol
to praise somebody or something with great enthusiasm and admiration
Degradation
great humiliation brought about by loss of status, reputation, or self-esteem
Brigand
a bandit operating in wild or isolated terrain, usually as a member of a roving band
Profligate
extremely extravagant or wasteful
Ostensible
presented as being true, or appearing to be true, but usually hiding a different motive or meaning
Effete
characterized by decadence, over refinement, or overindulgence; lacking the strength or ability to get things done
Indelible
impossible to remove from the mind or memory and therefore remaining forever
Defenestrate
to throw something or somebody out of a window
Paucity
an inadequacy or lack of something
Nepotism
favoritism shown by somebody in power to relatives and friends, especially in appointing them to good positions
Cowed
to frighten somebody into submission or obedience
Venerable
worthy of respect as a result of great age, wisdom, remarkable achievements, or similar qualities
Cognomen
a surname or family name, especially the third name given to a citizen of ancient Rome
Uncouth
behaving in an ill-mannered or unrefined way
Retinue
followers
Clout
the power to direct, shape, or otherwise influence things
Lurid
sensational and shocking, with graphic details of horror, devastation, or violence
Trite
overused and consequently lacking in interest or originality
Anachronism
a person, thing, idea, or custom that seems to belong to a different time in history
Genteel
having or displaying refinement and good manners, especially manners that suggest an upper-class background
Ostentatious
marked by a vulgar display of wealth and success designed to impress people
Arcane
requiring secret knowledge to be understood
Rout
a swift and disorderly retreat by a defeated army; a severe and humiliating defeat
Sagacity
profound knowledge and understanding, coupled with foresight and good judgment
Egalitarianism
maintaining, relating to, or based on a belief that all people are, in principle, equal and should enjoy equal social, political, and economic rights and opportunities
Elenctic
logical refutation by proving the opposite; an argument that refutes a proposition by proving the opposite of its conclusions
Sensualist
pleasure-seeking
Ensconce
to make somebody or yourself comfortably established, as though ready to stay a long while
Bristle (transitive verb)
to react somewhat angrily or indignantly to somebody or something
Prescient
having or showing knowledge of actions or events before they take place
Vociferous
shouting in a noisy and determined way
