Enrich your Vocabulary Flashcards
1
Q
blithesome
A
- carefree, lighthearted [adj.]
- p: blyth-sum
- ex: the beauty of the first snow put us in a blithesome mood
2
Q
augury
A
- a sign or omen used to predict future events [n.]
- p: aug-er-ee
- ex: the cheerful anticipation in my dad’s expression as he carried the Christmas tree in was an augury of joyful celebrations to come
3
Q
floe
A
- a sheet of ice drifting on the sea [n.]
- p: like “flow”
- ex: the penguins hopped from floe to floe
4
Q
preternatural
A
- outside of the usual limits of the natural world
- p: pre-ter-natural
- ex: the superhero did that with preternatural ability
- different than supernatural in that the person can be real but have ridiculously good abilities
5
Q
insaturation
A
- act of restoring or renewing after lapse or decay [n.]
- p: in-stor-ration
- ex: our instauration of the vintage vanity I bought at a garage sale will include replacing the broken mirror
- how to get something back
6
Q
irrupt
A
- enter suddenly or burst in [v.]
- p: eer-rupt
- Tim irrupted into his friend’s room
7
Q
gadfly
A
- person who persistently annoys or provokes with questions or criticism [n.]
- p: gad-fly
- usually used to describe journalists
8
Q
apposite
A
- highly appropriate, suitable, or fitting [adj.]
- p: ah-po-sit
- ex: it was apposite, an appropriate decision
9
Q
phlegmatic
A
- having a calm and steady disposition; not easily moved to anger or excitement [adj.]
- p: fleg-matic
- ex: the phlegmatic mother juggled her online meetings and responsibilities
10
Q
magnanimous
A
- displaying generosity and benevolence [adj.]
- ex: Ira’s magnanimous leadership style
11
Q
arbitrary
A
- choice based on random or person whim RATHER THAN LOGIC
- something that is based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason or system
- often implies a lack of clear rules or principles guiding a decision
- an arbitrary decision might be one made without careful consideration or justification
12
Q
inane
A
- silly, pointless
- lacking sense or meaning
13
Q
unflappable
A
- showing calmness in a crisis
- unexcitable, collected, cool
14
Q
pugilistic
A
- involving fighting with fists
- pugilist = fighter
15
Q
arpeggio
A
when you play the notes of a chord one after another, rather than all at once to create a flowing sound
16
Q
emblematic
A
- something that represents or symbolizes a particular idea or quality
- dove is emblematic of peace
17
Q
disseminate
A
- spread or distribute information, ideas, or knowledge widely
- when you share news or teach others, you are disseminating information
18
Q
exorbitant
A
- unreasonably high [adj.]
- ex. of a price or amount charged
19
Q
aphorism
A
- observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
- “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
“Live to fight another day.”
“Never interrupt your enemy when they’re making a mistake.”
20
Q
regal
A
- suitable for a king or queen, because it is very impressive or beautiful
21
Q
countenance
A
[v]: admit as acceptable or possible (ex. “he was reluctant to countenance the use of force”)
22
Q
inscrutable
A
- impossible to understand or interpret
- ex: you might describe someone’s smile, silence, or gaze as inscrutable
23
Q
expediency
A
- the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral
- ex: “an act of political expediency” or “Instead of carefully packing all the boxes, Jane decided to use expediency and just tossed everything in, so she could finish moving quickly”
- when you do something the fastest way possible, even if it’s not the best or neatest way
24
Q
primatology
A
study of primates, including monkeys and apes
25
opulence
- Opulence is extreme wealth, luxury, and abundant richness or grandeur
- ex: The palace was filled with opulence, from golden chandeliers to velvet curtains
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animatronics
robotic figures that simulate lifelike movement and behaviour
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stupefied
being shocked, amazed, or unable to think clearly
28
venetian
anything related to Venice, its people, or style
29
vocational
training or education for a specific trade or career
- ex. vocational school, vocational activities
30
azure
bright blue colour, often like a clear sky (legit colour)
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connotation
additional meaning or feeling a word evokes
- ex: The word "home" has a positive connotation, suggesting warmth, safety, and comfort, while "house" is neutral, just referring to a building
32
combustion
chemical reaction where something burns, producing heat and light. It happens when a substance, like wood or gasoline, reacts with oxygen from the air. This reaction often creates smoke, flames, and sometimes even explosions!
33
hasten
to hurry or do something more quickly. (ex. if you hasten your steps, you walk faster)
34
erroneous
something that is wrong or incorrect. (ex. an erroneous answer is an answer that is not right)
35
diabolical
something evil, cruel, or wicked. It’s often used to describe something that seems really bad or sinister, like a "diabolical plan" being one that's very wicked or harmful
36
laudatory
praising or showing approval. For example, a laudatory comment is one that compliments or admires someone or something.
37
prodigious
something very large, impressive, or remarkable. For example, a prodigious effort is one that takes a lot of skill or strength, or a prodigious amount of food is a huge amount
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