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Study Hall > English vocab > Flashcards

English vocab Flashcards

1
Q

inexorable

A

impossible to stop or prevent.

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2
Q

visceral

A

relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect.

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3
Q

visage

A

a person’s face, with reference to the form or proportions of the features.

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4
Q

plaintive

A

sounding sad and mournful.

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5
Q

domicile

A

the country that a person treats as their permanent home, or lives in and has a substantial connection with.

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6
Q

mutable

A

liable to change.

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7
Q

squalor

A

the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect.

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8
Q

gamut

A

the complete range or scope of something.

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9
Q

cull

A

select from a large quantity; obtain from a variety of sources.

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10
Q

flabbergasted

A

greatly surprised or astonished.

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11
Q

neophyte

A

a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.

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12
Q

lampoon

A

publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm.

a speech or text lampooning someone or something.

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13
Q

esoteric

A

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.

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14
Q

notwithstanding

A

in spite of.

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15
Q

pervasive

A

(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.

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16
Q

perpetual

A

never ending or changing.

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17
Q

euphemism

A

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

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18
Q

waif

A

a homeless, neglected, or abandoned person, especially a child.

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19
Q

hidebound

A

unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention.

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20
Q

permeate

A

spread throughout (something); pervade.

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21
Q

sojourn

A

a temporary stay.

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22
Q

rambunctious

A

uncontrollably exuberant; boisterous.

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23
Q

exuberant

A

filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement.

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24
Q

boisterous

A

(of a person, event, or behavior) noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy.

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25
Q

rowdy

A

noisy and disorderly.

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26
Q

hybrid

A

the offspring of two plants or animals of different species or varieties, such as a mule (a hybrid of a donkey and a horse).

a thing made by combining two different elements; a mixture.

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27
Q

ditty

A

a short, simple song.

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28
Q

lilt

A

a characteristic rising and falling of the voice when speaking; a pleasant gentle accent.

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29
Q

schmaltzy

A

excessively sentimental.

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30
Q

interlope

A

become involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.

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31
Q

burgeon

A

begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.

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32
Q

maverick

A

an unorthodox or independent-minded person.

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33
Q

crusty

A

having or acting as a hard outer layer or covering.

(especially of an old person) outspoken and irritable.

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34
Q

acerbic

A

(especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright.

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35
Q

undertaker

A

a person whose business is preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and making arrangements for funerals.

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36
Q

fervor

A

intense and passionate feeling.

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37
Q

hamper

A

a large basket with a lid used for laundry.

hinder or impede the movement or progress of.

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38
Q

nuance

A

a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

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39
Q

serendipity

A

the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

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40
Q

licentious

A

promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.

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41
Q

promiscuous

A

having or characterized by many transient sexual relationships.

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42
Q

transient

A

lasting only for a short time; impermanent.

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43
Q

incidentally

A

used when a person has something more to say, or is about to add a remark unconnected to the current subject; by the way.

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44
Q

bacchanal

A

an occasion of wild and drunken revelry.

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45
Q

fortuitous

A

happening by accident or chance rather than design.

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46
Q

gripe

A

complain about something in a persistent, irritating way.

a minor complaint.

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47
Q

gild

A

cover thinly with gold.

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48
Q

taffeta

A

a fine lustrous silk or similar synthetic fabric with a crisp texture.

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49
Q

apparatus

A

the technical equipment or machinery needed for a particular activity or purpose.

a complex structure within an organization or system.

a collection of notes, variant readings, and other matter accompanying a printed text.

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50
Q

forerunner

A

a person or thing that precedes the coming or development of someone or something else.

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51
Q

detractor

A

a person who disparages someone or something.

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52
Q

disparage

A

regard or represent as being of little worth.

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53
Q

clangorous

A

characterized by or making a continuous loud banging or ringing sound.

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54
Q

itinerant

A

traveling from place to place.

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55
Q

extant

A

(especially of a document) still in existence; surviving.

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56
Q

curator

A

a keeper or custodian of a museum or other collection.

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57
Q

quip

A

a witty remark.

make a witty remark.

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58
Q

extemporaneous

A

spoken or done without preparation.

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59
Q

sultry

A

(of the air or weather) hot and humid.

(of a person, especially a woman) attractive in a way that suggests a passionate nature.

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60
Q

symposium

A

a conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject.

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61
Q

boorish

A

rough and bad-mannered; coarse.

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62
Q

misfit

A

a person whose behavior or attitude sets them apart from others in an uncomfortably conspicuous way.

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63
Q

contentious

A

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.

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64
Q

predispose

A

make someone liable or inclined to a specified attitude, action, or condition.

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65
Q

exult

A

feel or show triumphant elation or jubilation.

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66
Q

tempestuous

A

characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion.

very stormy.

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67
Q

latent

A

(of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed.

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68
Q

piquant

A

having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor.

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69
Q

ordinance

A

a piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority.

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70
Q

parsimony

A

extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources.

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71
Q

indelible

A

(of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed.

not able to be forgotten or removed.

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72
Q

stigma

A

a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.

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73
Q

entrench

A

establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or unlikely.

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74
Q

fickle

A

changing frequently, especially as regards one’s loyalties, interests, or affection.

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75
Q

implore

A

beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something.

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76
Q

nuptial

A

relating to marriage or weddings.

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77
Q

dowry

A

property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage.

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78
Q

aptitude

A

a natural ability to do something.

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79
Q

soirée

A

an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music.

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80
Q

ecclesiastical

A

relating to the Christian Church or its clergy.

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81
Q

pithy

A

(of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive.

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82
Q

maxim

A

a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct.

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83
Q

delectation

A

pleasure and delight.

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84
Q

vapid

A

offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging.

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85
Q

spearhead

A

the point of a spear.

lead (an attack or movement).

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86
Q

seismic

A

relating to earthquakes or other vibrations of the earth and its crust.

of enormous proportions or effect.

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87
Q

sinuous

A

having many curves and turns.

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88
Q

overwrought

A

in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety.

(of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction.

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89
Q

galant

A

relating to or denoting a light and elegant style of 18th-century music.

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90
Q

disparate

A

essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison.

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91
Q

encompass

A

surround and have or hold within.

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92
Q

peripatetic

A

traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods.

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93
Q

contender

A

a person or group competing with others to achieve something.

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94
Q

moniker

A

a name.

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95
Q

wintry

A

characteristic of winter, especially in feeling or looking very cold and bleak.

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96
Q

culminate

A

reach a climax or point of highest development.

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97
Q

treatise

A

a written work dealing formally and systematically with a subject.

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98
Q

finagle

A

obtain (something) by devious or dishonest means.

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99
Q

hanker

A

feel a strong desire for or to do something.

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100
Q

newfangled

A

different from what one is used to; objectionably new.

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101
Q

inflection

A

a change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender.

the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice.

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102
Q

accoutrement

A

additional items of dress or equipment, or other items carried or worn by a person or used for a particular activity.

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103
Q

per annum

A

each year/per year/annually

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104
Q

wholesale

A

the selling of goods in large quantities to be retailed by others.

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105
Q

retail

A

the sale of goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use or consumption rather than for resale.

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106
Q

matrimonial

A

relating to marriage or married people.

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107
Q

unbecoming

A

(especially of clothing or a color) not flattering.

(of behavior) not fitting or appropriate; unseemly.

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108
Q

merit

A

the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward.

deserve or be worthy of (something, especially reward, punishment, or attention).

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109
Q

denote

A

be a sign of; indicate.

stand as a name or symbol for.

110
Q

garret

A

a top-floor or attic room, especially a small dismal one (traditionally inhabited by an artist).

111
Q

tongue in cheek

A

in an ironic, flippant, or insincere way.

112
Q

flippant

A

not showing a serious or respectful attitude.

113
Q

prudish

A

having or revealing a tendency to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity; excessively concerned with sexual propriety.

114
Q

upstanding

A

honest; respectable.

standing up; erect.

115
Q

caterwaul

A

make a shrill howling or wailing noise like that of a cat.

a shrill howling or wailing noise.

116
Q

pneumatic

A

containing or operated by air or gas under pressure.

117
Q

proliferate

A

increase rapidly in numbers; multiply.

118
Q

accreditation

A

the action or process of officially recognizing someone as having a particular status or being qualified to perform a particular activity.

an acknowledgment of a person’s responsibility for or achievement of something.

119
Q

uncouth

A

(of a person or their appearance or behavior) lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.

(especially of art or language) lacking sophistication or delicacy.

120
Q

ignominious

A

deserving or causing public disgrace or shame.

121
Q

installment

A

a sum of money due as one of several equal payments for something, spread over an agreed period of time.

any of several parts of something which are published, broadcast, or made public in sequence at intervals.

the process of installing something; installation.

122
Q

coin-operated

A

operated by inserting coins in a slot.

123
Q

vagary

A

an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone’s behavior.

124
Q

adulterate

A

render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one.

125
Q

diabolical

A

characteristic of the Devil, or so evil as to be suggestive of the Devil.

126
Q

nab

A

catch (someone) doing something wrong.

127
Q

avaricious

A

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

128
Q

maraud

A

roam in search of things to steal or people to attack.

129
Q

highwayman

A

a man, typically on horseback, who held up travelers at gunpoint in order to rob them.

130
Q

clime

A

a region considered with reference to its climate.

131
Q

degenerate

A

having lost the physical, mental, or moral qualities considered normal and desirable; showing evidence of decline.

132
Q

gimmick

A

a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.

133
Q

modus operandi

A

a particular way or method of doing something, especially one that is characteristic or well-established.

134
Q

pew

A

a long bench with a back, placed in rows in the main part of some churches to seat the congregation.

135
Q

ploy

A

a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one’s own advantage.

136
Q

exorbitant

A

(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high.

137
Q

gaggle

A

a flock of geese.

a disorderly or noisy group of people.

138
Q

percolate

A

(of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance.

139
Q

livery

A

special uniform worn by a servant or official.

140
Q

conglomeration

A

a number of different things, parts or items that are grouped together; collection.

141
Q

ilk

A

a type of people or things similar to those already referred to.

142
Q

pretext

A

a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason.

143
Q

savant

A

a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist.

144
Q

attest

A

provide or serve as clear evidence of.

145
Q

arduous

A

involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

146
Q

despondent

A

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

147
Q

oscillation

A

movement back and forth at a regular speed.

148
Q

imbue

A

inspire or permeate with (a feeling or quality).

149
Q

myriad

A

a countless or extremely great number.

150
Q

diphthong

A

a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves toward another (as in coin, loud, and side ).

151
Q

avant-garde

A

new and unusual or experimental ideas, especially in the arts, or the people introducing them.

favoring or introducing experimental or unusual ideas.

152
Q

volatile

A

(of a substance) easily evaporated at normal temperatures.

liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.

(of a person) liable to display rapid changes of emotion.

153
Q

undulation

A

the action of moving smoothly up and down.

154
Q

pitfall

A

a hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty.

155
Q

cull

A

select from a large quantity; obtain from a variety of sources.

156
Q

blustery

A

(of weather or a period of time) characterized by strong winds.

157
Q

as opposed to

A

distinguished from or in contrast with.

158
Q

poignant

A

evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

159
Q

juxtaposition

A

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

160
Q

penultimate

A

last but one in a series of things; second last.

161
Q

mallet

A

a hammer with a large, usually wooden head, used especially for hitting a chisel.

162
Q

effervescence

A

bubbles in a liquid; fizz.

vivacity and enthusiasm.

163
Q

epistolary

A

(of a literary work) in the form of letters.

164
Q

dearth

A

a scarcity or lack of something.

165
Q

obstinate

A

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.

166
Q

prosaic

A

having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty.

commonplace; unromantic.

167
Q

contrite

A

feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt.

168
Q

pathos

A

a quality that evokes pity or sadness.

169
Q

bathos

A

(especially in a work of literature) an effect of anticlimax created by an unintentional lapse in mood from the sublime to the trivial or ridiculous.

170
Q

rapt

A

completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing.

171
Q

affectation

A

behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress.

172
Q

socialite

A

a person who is well known in fashionable society and is fond of social activities and entertainment.

173
Q

tryst

A

a private romantic rendezvous between lovers.

174
Q

emancipation

A

the fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberation.

175
Q

irascible

A

having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.

176
Q

dissemination

A

the action or fact of spreading something, especially information, widely.

177
Q

sumptuous

A

splendid and expensive-looking.

178
Q

gauze

A

a thin translucent fabric of silk, linen, or cotton.

179
Q

promenade

A

a paved public walk, typically one along a waterfront at a resort.

take a leisurely public walk, ride, or drive so as to meet or be seen by others.

180
Q

primeval

A

of or resembling the earliest ages in the history of the world.

181
Q

antagonistic

A

showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or something.

182
Q

incisive

A

(of a person or mental process) intelligently analytical and clear-thinking.

183
Q

splay

A

thrust or spread (things, especially limbs or fingers) out and apart.

184
Q

renegade

A

a person who deserts and betrays an organization, country, or set of principles.

185
Q

puma

A

a large American wild cat with a plain tawny to grayish coat, found from Canada to Patagonia.

186
Q

toupee

A

a small wig or artificial hairpiece worn to cover a bald spot.

187
Q

virtually

A

nearly; almost.

188
Q

redneck

A

a working-class white person, especially a politically reactionary one from a rural area.

189
Q

racketeering

A

dishonest and fraudulent business dealings.

190
Q

garner

A

gather or collect (something, especially information or approval).

191
Q

placid

A

(of a person or animal) not easily upset or excited.

(especially of a place or stretch of water) calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity.

192
Q

calibrated

A

(of an instrument) marked with a scale of readings.

mark (a gauge or instrument) with a standard scale of readings.

193
Q

impetuous

A

acting or done quickly and without thought or care.

194
Q

ethereal

A

extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.

195
Q

syntax

A

the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

196
Q

cusp

A

a point of transition between two different states.

197
Q

redolent

A

strongly reminiscent or suggestive of.

strongly smelling of.

fragrant or sweet-smelling.

198
Q

talcum

A

a cosmetic or toilet preparation consisting of the mineral talc in powdered form, typically perfumed.

199
Q

milieu

A

a person’s social environment.

200
Q

hallucinogenic

A

(of a drug) causing hallucinations.

resembling the hallucinatory effect produced by taking a psychedelic drug.

a drug that causes hallucinations, such as LSD.

201
Q

engender

A

cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition).

202
Q

snuffer

A

a small hollow metal cone on the end of a handle, used to extinguish a candle by smothering the flame.

203
Q

parlance

A

a particular way of speaking or using words, especially a way common to those with a particular job or interest.

204
Q

compatriot

A

a fellow citizen or national of a country.

205
Q

supernal

A

relating to the sky or the heavens; celestial.

of exceptional quality or extent.

206
Q

derisive

A

expressing contempt or ridicule.

207
Q

beguile

A

charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way.

208
Q

intimation

A

an indication or hint.

209
Q

incremental

A

relating to or denoting an increase or addition, especially one of a series on a fixed scale.

210
Q

languorous

A

characterized by tiredness or inactivity, especially of a pleasurable kind.

characterized by an oppressive stillness.

211
Q

plangent

A

(of a sound) loud, reverberating, and often melancholy.

212
Q

en masse

A

in a group; all together.

213
Q

make no bones about

A

have no hesitation in stating or dealing with (something), however unpleasant or awkward it is.

214
Q

inextricable

A

impossible to disentangle or separate.

215
Q

gait

A

a person’s manner of walking.

216
Q

stultifying

A

tending to stifle enthusiasm, initiative, or freedom of action.

217
Q

dusky

A

darkish in color.

218
Q

introspection

A

the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.

219
Q

narcotic

A

a drug or other substance that affects mood or behavior and is consumed for nonmedical purposes, especially one sold illegally.

220
Q

iridescent

A

showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.

221
Q

evocative

A

bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.

222
Q

clinch

A

confirm or settle (a contract or bargain).

223
Q

inflect

A

change the form of (a word) to express a particular grammatical function or attribute, typically tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender.

vary the intonation or pitch of (the voice), especially to express mood or feeling.

224
Q

induct

A

admit (someone) formally to a position or organization.

225
Q

inundate

A

overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with.

flood.

226
Q

ephemeral

A

lasting for a very short time.

227
Q

slavish

A

relating to or characteristic of a slave, typically by behaving in a servile or submissive way.

228
Q

credo

A

a statement of the beliefs or aims which guide someone’s actions.

229
Q

entrain

A

board a train.

230
Q

seminal

A

(of a work, event, moment, or figure) strongly influencing later developments.

231
Q

quaint

A

attractively unusual or old-fashioned.

232
Q

ineffable

A

too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.

233
Q

shantytown

A

a deprived area on the outskirts of a town consisting of large numbers of crude dwellings.

234
Q

shanty

A

a small, crudely built shack.

235
Q

tenement

A

a room or a set of rooms forming a separate residence within a house or block of apartments.

236
Q

bordello

A

a brothel.

237
Q

debauchery

A

excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

238
Q

emporium

A

a large retail store selling a wide variety of goods.

239
Q

buxom

A

(of a woman) plump, especially with large breasts.

240
Q

mulatto

A

a person of mixed white and black ancestry, especially a person with one white and one black parent.

241
Q

trite

A

(of a remark, opinion, or idea) overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness.

242
Q

cabaret

A

entertainment held in a nightclub or restaurant while the audience eats or drinks at tables.

243
Q

backwoods

A

remote uncleared forest land.

244
Q

virginal

A

being, relating to, or appropriate for a virgin.

an early spinet with the strings parallel to the keyboard, typically rectangular, and popular in 16th and 17th century houses.

245
Q

vaudeville

A

a type of entertainment popular chiefly in the US in the early 20th century, featuring a mixture of specialty acts such as burlesque comedy and song and dance.

246
Q

burlesque

A

an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody.

247
Q

rollick

A

act or behave in a jovial and exuberant fashion.

248
Q

chitterlings

A

the smaller intestines of a pig, cooked for food.

249
Q

new-fangled

A

different from what one is used to; objectionably new.

250
Q

filigree

A

ornamental work of fine (typically gold or silver) wire formed into delicate tracery.

251
Q

centrifugal

A

moving or tending to move away from a center.

252
Q

pyrotechnics

A

a fireworks display.

a brilliant performance or display, especially of a specified skill.

253
Q

delineate

A

describe or portray (something) precisely.

254
Q

tour de force

A

an impressive performance or achievement that has been accomplished or managed with great skill.

255
Q

gentile

A

not Jewish.

a person who is not Jewish.

256
Q

inoculate

A

treat (a person or animal) with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease.

257
Q

billow

A

a large undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam.

258
Q

quintessence

A

the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.

259
Q

respite

A

a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.

260
Q

scintillating

A

sparkling or shining brightly.

261
Q

presage

A

(of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen.

262
Q

diaphanous

A

(especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent.

263
Q

fastidious

A

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.

264
Q

suffuse

A

gradually spread through or over.

265
Q

insouciance

A

casual lack of concern; indifference.

266
Q

epoch

A

a period of time in history or a person’s life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics.

267
Q

immanent

A

existing or operating within; inherent.

268
Q

omniscient

A

knowing everything.

269
Q

slink

A

move smoothly and quietly with gliding steps, in a stealthy or sensuous manner.

come or go unobtrusively or furtively.

270
Q

metaphysics

A

the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space.

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