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Vocab > Essential words > Flashcards

Essential words Flashcards

1
Q

solvent

A

adj. able to meet financial obligations

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2
Q

sordid

A

filthy; contemptible and corrupt

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3
Q

spendthrift

A

person who spends money recklessly

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4
Q

squalor

A

filthy; wretched condition”The family lives in squalor in the slums.”

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5
Q

stanch

A

to stop or check the flow of”… to stanch the flow of money out of the country.”

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6
Q

stentorian

A

extremely loud”The stentorian speaker prefers not to use a microphone…”

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7
Q

stint

A

v. to be sparing”Stinting on funding for education strikes many people as shortsighted.n. a period of time spent doing something”…did a short stint in the army”

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8
Q

stratified

A

adj. arranged in layersn. stratum (layers)stratification: hierarchical arrangement of individuals in a society into classes

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9
Q

stricture

A

something that restrains; negative criticism”…a set of ethical strictures in their practice of the law.”

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10
Q

strident

A

loud; harsh”Call for the prime minister’s resignation became more strident after it was discovered that he had strong connections to organised crime.”

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11
Q

strut

A

to swagger; display to impress others

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12
Q

stultify

A

to impair or reduce to uselessness”…overreliance on rote learning stultifies students’ creativity.”

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13
Q

stupefy

A

to dull the senses of; stun; astonish

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14
Q

stygian

A

dark and gloomy; hellish

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15
Q

subpoena

A

n. notice ordering someone to appear in court

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16
Q

subside

A

to settle down; grow quiet”… to wait for the violence to subside”

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17
Q

substantive

A

essential; pertaining to the substance”… should present evidence that was substantive to the case.”

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18
Q

subversive

A

intended to undermine or overthrow, e.g. a governmentv. subvert

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19
Q

succor

A

relief; help in time of distress or want”The woman was accused of providing succour to the enemy in the form of food and medical help.”

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20
Q

sundry

A

various”…safely returns after his sundry adventures.”

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21
Q

supine

A

lying on the back; marked by lethargy”… the suspects were held supine on the floor.”

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22
Q

supplant

A

to replace; substitute

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23
Q

suppliant

A

beseeching”The worshippers raised their suppliant voices to god”

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24
Q

supplicant

A

one who asks humbly and earnestly”…appeared as a supplicant before the governor.”

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25
Q

syllogism

A

a form of deductive reasoning that has a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion

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26
Q

sylvan

A

related to the woods or forest

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27
Q

talisman

A

charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune

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28
Q

tenet

A

belief; doctrine”… based on the tenets of a behavioural psychology ..”

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29
Q

theocracy

A

government by priests representing a god

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30
Q

thespian

A

actor/ actress

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31
Q

timbre

A

the characteristic quality of sound produced by an instrument or voice

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32
Q

toady

A

flatterer; yes-man

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33
Q

tome

A

book, usually large and academic

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34
Q

torque

A

twisting force

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35
Q

tout

A

to promote or praise energetically”The critic touted Moby Dick…”

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36
Q

travail

A

work, esp arduous work; tribulation; anguish

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37
Q

travesty

A

parody; exaggerated imitation; caricature

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38
Q

treatise

A

article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly”The thesis of the philosopher’s treatise is…”

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39
Q

tremulous

A

trembling; frugal; timid

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40
Q

trepidation

A

fear and anxiety

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41
Q

tryst

A

agreement between lovers to meet; rendezvous

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42
Q

tumid

A

swollen; distended”The prose of writers can sometimes becomes tumid.”

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43
Q

turbid

A

muddy; opaque; in a state of confusion

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44
Q

tutelary

A

serving as a guardian or protector”Tutelary spirits”

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45
Q

uncanny

A

strange

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46
Q

undulating

A

moving in waves”The undulating terrain of the area has made it difficult for engineers to build roads there.”

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47
Q

unfeigned

A

not false; genuine

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48
Q

untoward

A

not favorable; troublesome adverse; unruly”Police investigated whether anything untoward had happened to the missing man.”

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49
Q

usury

A

practice of lending money at exorbitant rates… the state’s usury laws.”“usurious”

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50
Q

turgid

A

swollen; pompous

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51
Q

valedictory

A

pertaining to a farewell”The retiring actor gave a valedictory performance.”

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52
Q

vaunt

A

to boast; brag

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53
Q

venal

A

bribable; mercenary; corruptible

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54
Q

vertigo

A

dizziness

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55
Q

vexation

A

irritation; annoyance; confusion; puzzlement

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56
Q

vindictive

A

spiteful; vengeful; unforgiving”The Treaty of Versailles was deliberately vindictive, imposing tremendous penalties on Germany.”

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57
Q

visage

A

countenance; appearance aspect”The infant studied its mother’s visage intently.”

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58
Q

vivisection

A

dissection; surgery; experiments on living animal for scientific research … used in animal rights context

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59
Q

vogue

A

prevailing fashion or practice

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60
Q

warranted

A

justified

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61
Q

wary

A

careful; cautious

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62
Q

welter

A

to wallow or roll; be in turmoil”The pigs weltered about happily in the mud.”

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63
Q

wistful

A

vaguely longing; sadly thoughtful

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64
Q

simian

A

apelike

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65
Q

sinecure

A

well-playing job or office that requires little or no work

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66
Q

sinuous

A

winding; intricate; complex”…sinuous line of reasoning.”

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67
Q

sobriety

A

seriousness

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68
Q

sodden

A

thoroughly soaked; saturated

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69
Q

sedition

A

behaviour prompting rebellion”… an act of sedition”

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70
Q

sedulous

A

diligent

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71
Q

seismic

A

relating to earthquakes; earthshaking”The study of seismic waves…”

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72
Q

servile

A

submissive; obedient”None of the dictator’s servile citizens dared question his decree.”

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73
Q

sextant

A

navigation tool that determines latitude and longitude

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74
Q

shard

A

a piece of broken glass or pottery

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75
Q

sidereal

A

relating to the stars

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76
Q

sardonic

A

cynical; scornfully mocking”Nature that is too sardonic often loses its effectiveness.”

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77
Q

saturnine

A

gloomy”… the mood in the room was saturnine.”

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78
Q

satyr

A

half-man half-beast with horns etc.

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79
Q

savor

A

to enjoy

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80
Q

reverent

A

expressing deep respect; worshipfulv. revere

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81
Q

riposte

A

a retaliatory action or retort

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82
Q

rococo

A

excessively ornate; highly decorated, a form of architecture”… the Rococo period/ style”

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83
Q

rubric

A

title or heading; category; protocol”.. to design a new rubric to organise it.”

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84
Q

rue

A

respect”… to rue his decision to commit the crime.”

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85
Q

ruse

A

trick; crafty stratagem

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86
Q

salacious

A

lascivious; lustful”… the book is too salacious to be in the school library.”

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87
Q

reparation

A

amends; compensation”… pay full reparation to the family hurt by his crime.”

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88
Q

repine

A

fret; complain

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89
Q

reprise

A

repetition; esp of a music

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90
Q

reproach

A

to find fault with; blame

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91
Q

presage

A

to foretell; indicate in advance

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92
Q

preternatural

A

beyond the normal course of nature; supernatural

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93
Q

primordial

A

original; existing from the beginning”…a primordial monotheism”

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94
Q

provident

A

providing for future needs; frugal

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95
Q

puissant

A

powerful

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96
Q

punctilious

A

careful in observing rules of behaviour or ceremony”…must be punctilious in following protocol”

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97
Q

purport

A

to profess; suppose; claim”…nearly everyone purports to believe in God”

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98
Q

pusillanimous

A

cowardly

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99
Q

quagmire

A

marsh; difficult situation

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100
Q

quail

A

to cower; lose heart”The defendant quailed when the judge entered the room to announce the sentence.”

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101
Q

qualm

A

sudden feeling of faintness or nausea

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102
Q

quibble

A

to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details

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103
Q

raconteur

A

witty; skillful storyteller

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104
Q

rail

A

to scold with bitter or abusive language”The critic railed against…”

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105
Q

raiment

A

clothing

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106
Q

ramification

A

implication; outgrowth; consequence

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107
Q

rebus

A

puzzle in which pictures or symbols represent words”Egyptian writing uses the principle of the rebus.”

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108
Q

recluse

A

person who lives in seclusion and often in solitude

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109
Q

redoubtable

A

formidable; arousing fear; worthy of respect”…a redoubtable attorney.”

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110
Q

refulgent

A

brightly shining; resplendent”…a large, refulgent diamond”

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111
Q

regale

A

to entertain”…often regaled visitors with amusing political anecdotes.”

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112
Q

remonstrate

A

to object or protest”…the committee remonstrated with the majority members.”

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113
Q

renege

A

to go back on one’s word

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114
Q

pallid

A

lacking colour or liveliness

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115
Q

panegyric

A

elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise”Many panegyrics were written to Lincoln “

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116
Q

patois

A

a regional dialect; jargon

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117
Q

peregrination

A

a wandering from place to place”…his peregrinations took him all over India.”

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118
Q

peremptory

A

imperative; leaving no notice”…in a peremptory tone”

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119
Q

perennial

A

present throughout the years; persistent

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120
Q

perigee

A

point in an orbit that is closest to the Earth

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121
Q

petulant

A

rude; peevish”the petulant child”

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122
Q

physiognomy

A

facial features

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123
Q

piquant

A

appealing stimulating; pleasantly pungent; attractive”…the piquant barbecue sauce”

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124
Q

placid

A

calm

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125
Q

plaintive

A

melancholy; mournful

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126
Q

plumb

A

to determine the depth; to examine deeply”…plumbs the depths of despair”

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127
Q

plutocracy

A

a society ruled by the wealthy

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128
Q

poseur

A

person who affects an attitude or identity to impress others

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129
Q

prate

A

to talk idly; chatter

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130
Q

prattle

A

meaningless; foolish talk

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131
Q

preamble

A

preliminary statement (noun)

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132
Q

precept

A

principle; law

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133
Q

preempt

A

to supersede appropriate for oneself

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134
Q

prehensile

A

capable of grasping”…animals with prehensile tails”

135
Q

fracas

A

a loud quarrel; brawl

136
Q

fresco

A

a painting done on plaster

137
Q

frieze

A

ornamental band on a wall

138
Q

froward

A

stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient

139
Q

fulsome

A

so excessive as to be disgusting

“…embarrassed by the fulsome praise”

140
Q

gambol

A

to frolic; leap playfully

“The children gambled on the lawn…”

141
Q

gauche

A

coarse; clumsy

142
Q

geniality

A

cheerfulness; kindliness

143
Q

gerrymander

A

to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favours a political party

144
Q

goad

A

to prod; urge on

“Goaded by his friends into trying out for the football team…”

145
Q

gossamer

A

sheer; light and delicate

146
Q

gouge

A

to tear out; scoop out

147
Q

grouse

A

to complain

“stop grousing about the policy”

148
Q

guise

A

outward appearance; pretense

149
Q

gustatory

A

affecting the sense of taste

150
Q

halcyon

A

calm and peaceful; happy

151
Q

hallowed

A

holy; sacred

152
Q

harrowing

A

extremely distressing; terrifying

153
Q

hermetic

A

tightly sealed; magical

154
Q

hieroglyphics

A

a system of writing in which pictorial symbols represent meaning or sounds

155
Q

hirsute

A

covered with hair

156
Q

imbroglio

A

complicated situation; an entanglement

157
Q

impecunious

A

poor; having no money

“…an impecunious students…”

158
Q

impede

A

to hinder; block

159
Q

exact

A

verb: to force the payment of; demand

160
Q

exhort

A

to urge by strong appeals

161
Q

exorcise

A

to expel evil spirits

162
Q

expatiate

A

to speak or write at length

“…a speaker to expatiate on the art of writing”

163
Q

expatriate

A

to send into exile

164
Q

expiate

A

to atone for

165
Q

explicate

A

to explain; interpret; clarify

166
Q

expository

A

explanatory

167
Q

extemporaneous

A

unrehearsed

“….the speaker’s extemporaneous remarks…”

168
Q

extirpate

A

to root up; to destroy

“…extirpate corruption in the state”

169
Q

factotum

A

a person who does all sorts of work; a handyman

170
Q

fallow

A

slowed but not sowed; uncultivated

“… a fallow field…”

171
Q

fauna

A

animals of a period or region

172
Q

fawning

A

seeking favour by flattering

“…fawning employees.”

173
Q

feral

A

existing in a wild or untamed state

“Feral dogs…”

174
Q

fetid

A

having a bad smell

175
Q

fetter

A

to bind; combine

”..fetter his natural instincts and spirit”

176
Q

fiat

A

arbitrary order; authorisation

177
Q

filibuster

A

use of obstructive tactics in a legislature to block passage of a law

178
Q

finesse

A

to handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy

“…the problem can be finessed by…”

179
Q

fissure

A

crevice

“…the width of the fissure”

180
Q

flag

A

to droop; grow weak

181
Q

flora

A

plants of a region or era

182
Q

florid

A

ruddy; reddish; flowery

183
Q

flout

A

to treat scornfully

184
Q

forbearance

A

patience

185
Q

formidable

A

menacing; threatening

186
Q

forswear

A

renounce; repudiate

187
Q

founder

A

to sink; fail; collapse

188
Q

ethnocentric

A

based on the attitude that one’s group is superior

189
Q

etiology

A

causes or origins

190
Q

etymology

A

origin and history of a word

191
Q

eulogy

A

high praise

192
Q

euphoria

A

a feeling of extreme happiness

193
Q

evince

A

to show plainly; be an indication of

“The student’s response to the question evinced his ignorance of the subject.”

194
Q

evocative

A

tending to call to mind or produce a reaction

195
Q

epistemology

A

branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge

196
Q

equable

A

steady; unvarying; serene

“Throughout the crisis he remained equable.”

197
Q

errant

A

mistaken; straying form the proper course

198
Q

essay

A

to make an attempt; subject to a test

“He began to work on a music form that he had not previously essayed.”

199
Q

estimable

A

admirable; possible to estimate

200
Q

emollient

A

soothing; mollifying

201
Q

encomium

A

a formal expression of praise

202
Q

engender

A

to cause; produce

“…traumatic events of infancy often engender person that creates neuroses.”

203
Q

entomology

A

study of insects

204
Q

enunciate

A

to pronounce clearly

205
Q

elixir

A

a substance believed to have the power to cure ills

206
Q

Elysian

A

blissful; delightful (in Greek/ Roman mythology, refers to an otherworld where spirits of the virtuous and heroic dwell)

207
Q

emaciated

A

thin and wasted

“The prisoner was emaciated…”

208
Q

doggerel

A

poor verse

209
Q

dross

A

waste; worthless matter; trivial matter

210
Q

dupe

A

to deceive; trick

“The mind is always duped by the heart.”

211
Q

effervescence

A

state of high spirits or liveliness; the process of bubbling as gas escapes

212
Q

dissident

A

person who disagrees about beliefs

213
Q

distend

A

to expand; swell out

“People in an advanced stage of starvation often have distended bellies.”

214
Q

distrait

A

inattentive; preoccupied

215
Q

divest

A

to strip; deprive; rid

216
Q

divulge

A

to make known something that is secret

“…forced to divulge information”

217
Q

discretion

A

quality of showing self-restraint in speech or actions; circumspection; freedom to act on one’s own

218
Q

disjointed

A

lacking order or coherence; dislocated

219
Q

discomfit

A

to make uneasy; disconcert

220
Q

digression

A

act of straying from the main point

221
Q

dirge

A

funeral hymn

222
Q

discerning

A

perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgement

223
Q

deride

A

to mock

224
Q

desuetude

A

state of disuse

“…a program fallen into desuetude.”

225
Q

deterrent

A

something that discourages or hinders

226
Q

detraction

A

the act of taking away

227
Q

diaphanous

A

transparent; fine-textured; vague

“…diaphanous dreams of glory”

228
Q

default

A

to fail to act

229
Q

defunct

A

no longer existing

230
Q

denizen

A

an inhabitant; a regular visitor

231
Q

defame

A

to malign; harm someone’s reputation

232
Q

debauchery

A

corruption

233
Q

dearth

A

scarcity

“…a dearth of resources”

234
Q

credo

A

statement of belief or principle; creed

235
Q

cozen

A

to mislead by trick or fraud; deceive

236
Q

covetous

A

desiring something owned by another

“The astronomer is covetous of the time that …”

237
Q

convivial

A

sociable

238
Q

copious

A

abundant; plentiful

239
Q

coquette

A

woman who flirts

240
Q

cornucopia

A

horn overflowing with fruit and grain; state of abundance

241
Q

contumacious

A

disobedient; rebellious

242
Q

contrite

A

very sorrowful for a wrong

“…he is contrite about his crime”

243
Q

continence

A

self-control; abstention from sexual activity

244
Q

contiguous

A

touching; neighbouring

245
Q

contend

A

to assert

contention (n): assertion

246
Q

conscript

A

person enrolled for military service

247
Q

conjugal

A

pertaining to marriage agreement

248
Q

congenial

A

similar in tastes and habits; friendly; suited to

249
Q

condone

A

to overlook voluntarily; forgive

250
Q

concoct

A

to invent

251
Q

compunction

A

uneasiness caused by guilt

252
Q

compliant

A

yielding

253
Q

coalesce

A

cause to become one

254
Q

codify

A

to systematize

255
Q

cognizant

A

informed; conscious

256
Q

clique

A

a small, exclusive group

257
Q

clamor

A

noisy outcry

258
Q

clairvoyant

A

one who can predict the future; psychic

259
Q

circuitous

A

roundabout

260
Q

churlish

A

rude; boorish

261
Q

chasten

A

to correct by punishment

262
Q

champion

A

to defend or support

263
Q

centripetal

A

moving or directed toward a center

264
Q

celestial

A

concerning the sky or heavens; sublime

265
Q

caustic

A

sarcastically biting; burning

“The columnist’s caustic comments…”

266
Q

caucus

A

smaller group within an organization

267
Q

cataclysm

A

a violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change

268
Q

cantankerous

A

irritable; ill-humoured

269
Q

captious

A

faultfinding; intended to entrap; as in an argument

270
Q

cardinal

A

of foremost importance

271
Q

carnal

A

of the flesh or body; related to physical appetites

272
Q

carping

A

to find fault; complain

273
Q

cartography

A

science of making maps

274
Q

caste

A

any of the hereditary social classes of hindu society; social stratification

275
Q

canon

A

an established principle

276
Q

bucolic

A

characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral

277
Q

cadge

A

to beg; sponge

278
Q

callous

A

thick-skinned; insensitive

279
Q

calumny

A

false and malicious accusation; slander

280
Q

canard

A

false; deliberately misleading story

281
Q

blandishment

A

flattery

282
Q

blase

A

bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned

283
Q

bolster

A

to give a boost to; support

284
Q

brazen

A

bold; shameless

285
Q

broach

A

to mention for the first time

“…to broach the subject”

286
Q

axiomatic

A

taken for granted

287
Q

bacchanalian

A

pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry

288
Q

bard

A

poet

289
Q

bawdy

A

obscene

290
Q

beatify

A

to sanctify; to bless

291
Q

bedizen

A

to dress in a vulgar, showy manner

292
Q

behemoth

A

huge creature; anything very large and powerful

293
Q

atavism

A

reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after absence; return of a trait

294
Q

avarice

A

greed

295
Q

avocation

A

secondary occupation

296
Q

avuncular

A

like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant

297
Q

argot

A

a specialized vocabulary used by a group

“…use the argot of criminals and detectives”

298
Q

asperity

A

severity; harshness

299
Q

assuage

A

to make less severe

300
Q

astringent

A

harsh; severe

301
Q

appellation

A

name

302
Q

apposite

A

strikingly appropriate and relevant

303
Q

apropos

A

relevant

“Apropos of nothing…”

304
Q

arabesque

A

ornate design featuring intertwined curves

305
Q

ardor

A

great emotion or passion

306
Q

appease

A

to calm

307
Q

apothegm

A

a terse, witty saying

308
Q

apogee

A

the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited

309
Q

antediluvian

A

prehistoric

“…knowlege of antediluvian times”

310
Q

antecedent

A

something that comes before

311
Q

anodyne

A

something that calms or soothes pain

312
Q

ambrosia

A

something delicious

313
Q

amenable

A

agreeable; cooperative; suited

314
Q

amenity

A

something that increases comfort

315
Q

amulet

A

ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

316
Q

analgesic

A

medication that reduces or eliminates pain

317
Q

aggrandize

A

to make larger or greater

318
Q

allay

A

to lessen; ease; soothe

319
Q

allure

A

the power to entice by charm

320
Q

affected

A

pretentious, phony

“…an unnatural and affected speech”

321
Q

adulterate

A

to corrupt or make impure

322
Q

abysmal

A

very bad

323
Q

accretion

A

growth in size or increase in amount

324
Q

accrue

A

to accumulate; grow by additions

“…to enjoy the advantages accruing from greater monopolies”

325
Q

adjunct

A

something added; attached

326
Q

admonish

A

to caution or reprimand

327
Q

abstinence

A

the giving up of certain pleasures

328
Q

abscond

A

to depart secretly

“… to have absconded with 3 million dollars”

329
Q

abscission

A

the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant

330
Q

abjure

A

to reject; abandon formally

“…to abjure the use of violence to settle disputes”

331
Q

abject

A

miserable; pitiful

332
Q

abdicate

A

to give up a position, right, or power

“…to abdicate the throne after 10 years”

333
Q

abate

A

to decrease; reduce

Vocab (2 decks)

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