English Vocabulary (1/28 Quiz) Flashcards
adept - two definitions (adj. and n.)
(adj. ) thoroughly skilled
(n. ) an expert
aspire (v.)
to have ambitious hopes or plans, strive toward a higher goal, desire earnestly; to ascend
bleak (adj.)
bare, dreary, dismal
chide (v.)
to blame; scold
despicable (adj.)
worthy of scorn, contemptible
diminutive (adj.)
small, smaller than most others of the same type
emancipate (v.)
to free from slavery; to release or liberate (e.g., ◾He felt the only way to emancipate himself from his parents was to move away.)
erroneous (adj.)
incorrect, containing mistakes (e.g., ◾an erroneous diagnosis/theory)
exploit (v.) - two definitions
1) to make use of; develop (e.g., ◾He has never fully exploited his talents.) 2) to make improper use of for personal profit (e.g., exploit children at sweatshops)
extemporaneous (adj.)
made or delivered on the spur of the moment (e.g., extemporaneous )
impair (v.)
to make imperfect, damage, harm (e.g., ◾Smoking can impair your health.)
invincible (adj.)
not able to be defeated, unbeatable (e.g., Napolean I was invincible).
languid (adj.)
without energy; drooping (e.g., A big lunch makes me feel languid for the rest of the day.)
mire (n. and v.) - three definitions
1) mud; wet, swampy ground
2) a tough situation
3) to get stuck
obtrusive (adj.)
forward; undesirably prominent; thrust out (e.g., I don’t blame you for being put off by his obtrusive attempt to dominate the conversation)
preamble (n.)
an introduction to a speech or piece of writing (e.g., The preamble to the Constitution describes the purpose of our national government.)
render (v.) - three definitions
1) to cause someone to become (e.g., ◾Depression can render a person helpless.)
2) to perform (e.g., ◾The novel renders a portrait of life in ancient Rome.)
3) to deliver officially; to process, extract (e.g.,render an apology)
rugged (adj.)
rough, irregular; severe, stern; strong; stormy (e.g., Settlers had a rough time crossing the rugged Appalachian Mountains)
skeptical (adj.)
inclined to doubt; slow to accept something as true (e.g., I am skeptical of promises made by politicians when they are running for office.)
slipshod (adj.)
untidy in dress, personal habits, etc.; careless, sloppy (e.g., slipshod construction, ◾He did a slipshod job.)
brevity (n.)
shortness (e.g., The speech was notable more for its brevity than for its clarity).
comport (v.)
1) to behave in a certain way (e.g., ◾He comported himself with dignity.◾She comported herself well during the crisis.)
2) to be in agreement (e.g., ◾Her actions comport with [=match] her ideals.)
concise (adj.)
expressing much in a few words (e.g., ◾a concise summary)
demure (adj.)
sober or serious in manner (e.g., ◾She was wearing a demure gray suit.)
depreciation (n.) - two definitions
1) a lessening in value (e.g., The value of the car depreciated)
2) belittling (e.g., ◾the depreciation of the role of art in our schools)
deteriorate (v.)
to become worse as time passes (e.g., ◾The weather gradually deteriorated [=worsened] as the day went on.)
divulge (v.)
to tell, reveal; to make public (e.g., ◾She refused to divulge [=reveal, tell] the name of her informant.)
enlightened (adj.)
free from ignorance and false ideas (e.g., ◾an enlightened people/attitude/society)
forestall (v.)
to prevent by acting first (e.g., ◾Negotiations failed to forestall the conflict.)
garble (v.)
to distort in such a way as to make not understandable (e.g., ◾He was so nervous he garbled her name [=he said her name incorrectly] when he introduced her.)
proponent (n.) - two definitions
1) one who puts forward a proposal
2) one who supports a cause or belief(e.g., ◾a civil rights proponent)
quaver (v.)
to shake, tremble (e.g., ◾Her voice quavered during the speech.)
recoil (v. and n.)
to spring back, shrink (e.g., ◾Her voice quavered during the speech.)
recoup (v.)
to make up for, regain (e.g., ◾It will be hard for us to recoup the loss.)
reek (n and v..) - two definitions
1) (n.) an unpleasant smell (v.) to give off unpleasant smells
2) to give a strong impression (e.g., ◾a neighborhood that reeks of poverty)
relentless (adj.)
unyielding, hard, without pity (e.g., ◾Her relentless optimism held the team together.)
rivulet (n.)
a small stream (e.g., rivulets of water/sweat)
squander (v.)
to spend foolishly, waste (e.g., ◾She squandered her inheritance/allowance.)
staccato (adj.)
disconnected in sound or style (e.g., staccato notes/chords)
statute (n.)
a law (e.g., ◾The state legislature passed the statute by an overwhelming margin.)
appreciable (adj.)
sufficient to be noticed or measured (e.g., ◾Researchers found that the chemical made no appreciable [=noticeable, perceptible] difference in the results.)
autocratic (adj.)
absolute in power or authority (e.g., ◾The country is run by an autocratic government/ruler.)
blanch (v.) - two definitions
1) to remove the color from; to make or turn pale
(e. g., ◾She blanched and remained silent when the store owner accused her of taking the money.)
2) too cook halfway (e.g., Blanch the potatoes before slicing them)
blasphemy (n.)
an act, utterance, or writing showing contempt for something sacred (e.g., ◾She was condemned by the church for uttering blasphemies.)
brawny (adj.)
strong, muscular (e.g., ◾When it comes to men, she prefers brains over brawn. [=she likes smart men better than muscular ones])
concerted (adj.)
planned or performed in cooperation with others (e.g., ◾They made a concerted effort to make her feel welcome.
contend (v.)
to fight, struggle; to compete; to argue (e.g., ◾These people contend that they have earned the right to the land.)
humane (adj.)
kind, merciful (e.g., ◾a humane prison guard)
illustrious (adj.)
very famous, distinguished (e.g., ◾He has had an illustrious military career.)
intolerable (adj.)
unbearable (e.g., ◾The situation was totally intolerable [=unacceptable] to us.)
irreverent (adj.)
disrespectful (e.g., irreverent portrayals of nuns)
laborious (adj.)
not easy, requiring hard work (e.g., ◾Removing mildew stains is a laborious [=difficult, painstaking] task.)
lithe (adj.)
bending easily, timber (e.g., ◾a lithe, muscular athlete)
maltreat (v.)
to abuse, use roughly or crudely (e.g., ◾He claims that he was maltreated [=(more commonly) mistreated, abused] by the prison guards.)
ponder (v.)
to consider carefully, reflect on (e.g., ◾He pondered the question before he answered.)
subversive (adj. and n.)
(adj.) intended to undermine or overthrow; (n.) one who advocates or attempts to undermine a political system (e.g., ◾The government blamed a subversive organization for the riots.)
synthetic (adj.)
made or put together by people, something artificial (e.g., synthetic drugs/chemicals/rubber)
temperate (adj.)
mild, moderate (e.g, temperate climates/forests/regions/zones)
venomous (adj.) - two definitions
1) poisonous (e.g., ◾The cobra is a venomous snake.)
2) spiteful, mean (e.g., ◾a venomous attack on his character)
wily (adj.)
sly, shred, cunning (e.g., ◾She turned out to be a wily negotiator.)
