English, 3 Flashcards
Fount
a source
Artifice
a clever trick or stratagem
Perorate
to finish a speech by summarizing its main points
Munificent
very generous in giving a lot of money
Denigrate
to attack somebody’s character or reputation
Pliant
supple and bending easily
Perennial
constantly recurring, or lasting for an indefinite time
Prosaic
not having any features that are interesting or imaginative
Forlorn
lonely and miserable, as though deserted or abandoned
Stolid
solemn, unemotional, and not easily excited or upset
Cuckold
a husband whose wife has been unfaithful to him
Sclerotic
having become unresponsively rigid, especially from longevity
Callow
young or immature, and lacking the experience of life that comes with adulthood
Apoplectic
overcome with anger
Duplicity
the fact of being deceptive, dishonest, or misleading
Craven
so lacking in courage as to be worthy of contempt
Hock
(transitive verb) to deposit something as security against money borrowed, with the risk of losing it if the money is not paid back within a specific period
Paltry
insignificant or unimportant
Shibboleth
a unique pronunciation, word, behavior, or practice used to distinguish one group of people from another and to identify somebody as either a member of the group or an outsider
Vacillate
to be indecisive or irresolute, changing between one opinion and another
Vet
(transitive verb) to subject somebody or something to a careful examination or scrutiny, especially when this involves determining suitability for something
Circumlocution
the use of more words than necessary to express something, especially to avoid saying it directly
Insouciant
showing a casual lack of concern
Disparage
to refer disapprovingly or contemptuously to somebody or something
Potentate
somebody with great power or influence, especially a ruler
Palisade
a fence made of pales driven into the ground
Putrescent
decaying; rotting
Bramble
a prickly scrambling vine or shrub, especially a blackberry or other wild shrub of the rose family
Cleft
a substantial gap or division separating two things
Twain
two people or things
Mien
somebody’s facial expression or general appearance, bearing, or posture, taken as an indication of his or her mood or character
Invective
abusive or violent language used to attack, blame, or denounce somebody
Macabre
including gruesome and horrific details of death and decay
Sycophant
a servile or obsequious person who flatters somebody powerful for personal gain
Credulity
the tendency to believe something too readily
Exhort
to urge somebody strongly and earnestly to do something
Extemporize
to perform or say something without having made any preparation
Cudgel
a heavy stick used as a weapon
Homily
a sermon or other piece of writing on a moral or religious topic
Immutable
not changing or not able to be changed
Riposte
a quick or witty reaction to something, usually spoken
Picayune
of very little importance; small-minded
Adorn
to add decoration or ornamentation to something
Salacious
intended to titillate or arouse people sexually, usually by having an explicit erotic content
Pettifogger
somebody who quibbles or fusses about petty details; an insignificant lawyer
Importune
to ask somebody continually, repeatedly, or forcefully for something, especially in a troublesome way
Affray
a fight or noisy disturbance in a public place
Rejoinder
a reply to something said, especially one that is sharp, critical, angry, defensive, or clever; a defendant’s response
Progeny
something that develops or results from something else
Splenetic
extremely bad-tempered or spiteful
Serendipity
the accidental discovery of something pleasant, valuable, or useful
Iniquitous
immoral, especially in a way that results in great injustice or unfairness
Vacuous
lacking ideas or intelligence, or showing such a lack; lacking content
Unctuous
attempting to charm or convince somebody in an unpleasantly suave, smug, or smooth way
Venire
a judicial writ ordering the summoning of jurors
Prevaricate
to avoid giving a direct and honest answer or opinion, or a clear and truthful account of a situation, especially by quibbling or being deliberately ambiguous or misleading
Cloy
to sicken somebody or become sickened with too much sweetness from something initially pleasing
Pugnacious
inclined to fight or be aggressive
Intransigent
stubbornly or unreasonably refusing even to consider changing a decision or attitude
Acerbic
bitter or sharp in tone, taste, or manner
Bromide
a saying that lacks originality or significance
Ingress
entry into a place
Egress
the act of coming or going out of a place
Experiential
derived from or relating to experience as opposed to other methods of acquiring knowledge
Stodgy
lacking originality, flair, or imagination; boringly or laughably conventional, formal, or pompous
Placate
to make somebody less angry, upset, or hostile, usually by doing or saying things to please him or her
Accouterment
an accessory or piece of equipment associated with a specific object, task, or role
Onanism
the act of masturbating
Sepulcher
a vault in which a corpse is buried
Apogee
the best or greatest point
Palaver
idle, flattering, or time-wasting talk
Effrontery
behavior or an attitude that is so bold or arrogant as to be insulting
Predicable
able to be stated, or able to be said about somebody or something
Fortuitous
happening by chance, especially giving rise to a fortunate outcome
Irrefragable
impossible to refute
Apocrypha
writings or reports that are not regarded as authentic
Contingency
an event that might occur in the future, especially a problem, emergency, or expense that might arise unexpectedly and therefore must be prepared for
Vituperative
an outburst of violently abusive or harshly critical language
Tautology
the redundant repetition of a meaning in a sentence, using different words
Kitsch
sentimentality, tastelessness, or ostentation in any of the arts
Epistemology
the branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge, in particular its foundations, scope, and validity
Eschaton
the end of the world
Inveterate
fixed in a habit or practice, especially a bad one
Privative
indicating the absence or negation of some quality
Casuistry
1.) The application of general rules and principles to questions of ethics or morals in order to resolve them; 2.) The use of subtle, sophisticated, and sometimes deceptive argument and reasoning, especially on moral issues, in order to justify something or mislead somebody
Sinuous
lithe and graceful, especially making graceful winding or curving movements
Encumber
to hamper or impede somebody or something
Furtive
done in a way that is intended to escape notice
Consternation
a feeling of alarm, confusion, or dismay, often caused by something unexpected
Mellifluous
pleasant and soothing to listen to, and sweet or rich in tone
Piquant
1) having a flavor, taste, or smell that is spicy or salty, often with a slightly tart or bitter edge to it 2) refreshingly interesting, stimulating, or provocative 3) excessively severe or hurtful in tone or content
Insipid
dull because lacking in character and lively qualities; bland and without flavor
Discursive
1) lengthy and including extra material that is not essential to what is being written or spoken about; 2) using logic rather than intuition to reach a conclusion
Forthright
1) direct in speech or manner and very honest; 2) plain and simple in style
Burgeon
to produce new buds and leaves, or swell and develop into leaves and flowers; to flourish or develop rapidly
Provenance
1) the place of origin of something; 2) the source and ownership history of a work of art or literature or of an archaeological find
Perspicuous
clearly expressed and therefore easily understood
Abate
1) to reduce in amount, degree; 2) Law
Aberrant
one whose behavior departs substantially from the norm of a group.
Deride
to mock; scorn; make fun of
