english vocabulary Flashcards
tout
to publically brag
extol
to praise highly
quell
to calm, pacify
brawn
muscular strength
efface
to erase
plaintive
sounding sad or mournful
veneration
great respect
brazenly
in a bold or shameless way
copious
abundant, plentiful
artisan
someone skillful with their hands
furtive
attempting to avoid notice or attention
glutton
someone who consumes too much food or drinks
ardent
enthusiastic, passionate
engender
to create or cause
delineate
to describe accurately
nefarious
extreme wickedness
querulous
grumbling, grumpy
labyrinthine
irregular and twisting
vernacular
everyday speech
pugnacious
eager to fight
entreat
ask someone earnestly to do something
assail
attack with words or force
fecund
fertile; productive
deride
to ridicule
idyllic
naturally peaceful
distend
to swell; to extend
beguile
to charm or enchant, often in a deceptive way
expedite
to speed up the progress of
decorous
proper; in good taste
vacuous
lacking ideas or intelligence
didactic
intended to teach; morally instructive
conjecture
to form an opinion or conclusion reached on limited information
penitent
repentant or showing sorrow or regret for something
histrionic
overly dramatic
discordant
lacking harmony or agreement
exasperate
to annoy thoroughly
upbraid
to scold
benevolent
generous; kind
corroborate
to confirm; to back up with evidence
incandescent
very lively and impressive; giving off heat or light
laud
to praise or applaud
derision
contemptuous ridicule or mockery
servile
having or showing an excessive willingness to serve others
bucolic
charmingly rural
belabor
to go over repeatedly
insolent
showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect
sycophantic
behavior or done in a servile way in order to gain an advantage
poignant
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
despondent
in low spirits from loss of hope or courage
strident
shrill; high pitched
soporific
causing sleep, very boring
stupefied
to become unable to think clearly
convivial
fond of partying
fabricate
to lie
malleable
easy to shape or bend
affronted
to be offended
nonchalant
not showing any concern or worry
pretentious
making ridiculous claims of importance
gesticulate
to make gestures, especially when speaking
conflagration
a huge fire; inferno
exalt
to glorify
exult
to celebrate
lugubrious
looking or sounding sad and dismal
insatiable
incapable of being satisfied
assuage
to sooth; to relieve
avarice
greed; excessive desire for riches
lampoon
publically criticize using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm
ravenous
extremely hungry
lethargy
sluggish; laziness
recondite
hard to understand; over one’s head
cajole
to persuade or coax by using flattery or compliments
coerce
to compel using force and power
assiduous
hardworking; busy
litany
a long list often presented through rote memorization