English, 4 Flashcards
Parity
equality, as in amount, status, or character
Leery
wary; suspicious
Spate
a fast flow, rush, or outpouring
Circumspect
heedful of potential consequences
Impugn
attack as false or wrong
Prudence
knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress; wisdom
Abeyance
temporary cessation or suspension
Beholder
a person who becomes aware through senses
Unwarranted
incapable of being justified or explained
Bandied
exchanged
Partisan
devoted to a cause or party
Imperturbable
not easily excited; emotionally steady
Posterity
all future generations
Upshot
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
Abjure
to reject; abandon formally
Arrogate
1) to claim or appropriate for oneself presumptuously or without justification 2) to attribute or assign to another without justification
Stultify
deprive of strength or efficiency
Assoil
to absolve; to acquit
Preternatural
existing outside of or not in accordance with nature
Stentorian
extremely loud
Scion
a descendant or heir
Bemuse
cause to be confused emotionally
Abrogate
to abolish, put aside, revoke or put an end to, usually by authority
Sojourner
a temporary resident
Belie
to represent falsely
Foible
an idiosyncrasy or small weakness
Ebullient
full of cheerful excitement or enthusiasm
Germane
suitably related to something, especially something being discussed
Iconoclast
1) somebody who challenges or overturns traditional beliefs, customs, and values; 2) somebody who destroys religious images or opposes their use in worship
Conflagration
a large fire that causes a great deal of damage
Impecunious
having little or no money, and so unable to lead a comfortable life
Itinerant
traveling from place to place, especially to find work or as part of your work
Periphery
1) the area around the edge of a place; 2) the position or state of having only a minor involvement in something
Abstemious
moderate or sparing; temperate; moderate; not extreme in opinion, statement, etc.
Sacerdotal
relating to or characteristic of a priest or the priesthood
Anathema
1) somebody or something that is greatly disliked or detested and is therefore shunned; 2) a forceful curse or denunciation
Ontology
the most general branch of metaphysics, concerned with the nature of being
Intercessor
1) the action of pleading on somebody’s behalf; 2) the action of attempting to settle a dispute
Recalcitrant
1) stubbornly resisting the authority of another person or group; 2) difficult to deal with or operate
Collude
to cooperate with somebody secretly in order to do something illegal or undesirable
Abstruse
difficult to penetrate
Brazen
1) showing or expressing boldness and a complete lack of shame; 2) with an unpleasantly loud and resonant sound
Decry
to express strong disapproval of or openly criticize somebody or something
Blight
1) something that spoils or damages things severely; 2) a severely spoiled or ruined state, especially of an urban area
Adroit
displaying physical or mental skill
Byline
the name of the author of an article in a newspaper or magazine, printed at the head of the article
Mirth
happiness or enjoyment, especially accompanied by laughter
Succinct
expressed with brevity and clarity, with no wasted words
Accretion
an increase by natural growth or addition
Tactile
relating to or used for the sense of touch
Furrow
1) a narrow trench in soil made by a plow; 2) a wrinkle on the skin of the forehead, as a result of frowning or age
Divest
to take away something, especially status or power, from somebody or something
Bereft
deprived of somebody or something loved or valued
Meritorious
deserving honor and recognition
Rigmarole
an irritating, tedious, or confusing sequence of tasks, especially tasks that seem unnecessary or absurd
Affable
good-natured, friendly, and easy to talk to
Acculturate
to adapt or adjust to the cultural traits or patters of another group as a result of conditioning
Stalwart
1) dependable and loyal; 2) sturdy and strong
Baleful
threatening, or seeming to threaten, harm or misfortune
Prognosticate
to predict or foretell future events
Deprecate
to express condemnation of something or somebody
Dovish
advocating peaceful solutions and the avoidance of confrontation or war
Fidelity
loyalty to an allegiance, promise, or vow
Cavort
to behave in a physically lively and uninhibited way
Incisive
1) quick to understand, analyze, or act; 2) characterized by clear and direct expression
Sumptuous
1) magnificent or grand in appearance; 2) entailing great expense
Cajole
to persuade somebody to do something by flattery or gentle but persistent argument
Brackish
somewhat salty, especially from being a mixture of fresh and salt water
Milieu
the surroundings or environment that somebody lives in and is influenced by
Interregnum
the period of time between the end of one reign or regime and the beginning of the next
Iridescent
having rainbow colors that appear to move and change as the angle at which they are seen changes
Pariah
somebody who is despised and avoided
Impertinent
showing a bold or rude lack of respect, especially to a superior
Bellicose
ready or inclined to quarrel, fight, or go to war
Honorarium
an amount of money paid to somebody, especially a professional or famous person, for providing a service such as addressing a conference
Listless
lacking energy, interest, or the willingness to make an effort
Timorous
showing fear or hesitancy
Subterfuge
a plan, action, or device designed to hide a real objective, or the process of hiding a real objective
Laggard
a person who or thing that does not keep up with others
Reticent
unwilling to communicate very much, talk freely, or reveal all the facts about something
Redoubtable
with personal qualities worthy of respect or fear
Pirouette
a spin of the body, especially one performed in ballet on tiptoe or on the ball of one foot
Analgesic
describes a type of medication that alleviates pain without loss of consciousness
Moribund
1) in the process of becoming obsolete; 2) nearly dead
Inane
1) irritatingly silly or time-wasting; 2) empty, insubstantial, or void
Interlope
to encroach on the rights (as in trade) of others
Jaunty
1) happy, carefree, perky, fashionable, and confident
Waylay
to lie in wait for somebody, especially as part of an attack or ambush
Indomitable
brave, determined, and impossible to defeat or frighten
Bucolic
relating to or characteristic of the countryside or country life
Distemper
a state of physical or mental disturbance
Plaudit
an expression of praise or approval
Taciturn
habitually uncommunicative or reserved in speech and manner
Modicum
a small amount
Apostasy
the renunciation of a religious or political belief or allegiance
Aver
to assert something confidently
Feckless
unable or unwilling to do anything useful; lacking the thought or organization necessary to succeed
Dither
to behave in a nervous and indecisive way
Voluble
talking easily and at length, or involving lengthy talking
Gregarious
very friendly and sociable
