Exam 3 Flashcards
enigmatic
mysterious
canonize
to raise to the highest rank of honor and glory
elicit
to deduce through reason or argument
feudal
of or having to do with land held in a feud
analect
a literary fragment
didactic
used for teaching
osprey
the fish-hawk, a bird of prey
mallow
any of a family of plants with large flowers and sticky juice in their stems
zither
a musical instrument that has thirty to forty strings stretched across a flat soundboard, played with a plectrum
rushes
a species found in moist, boggy areas, used to make baskets or mats
turmoil
disturbance
plight
a dangerous or awkward situation
vexation
the act of irritating
to haver
to talk in a silly and incoherent way
millet
a cereal grass whose grain used for food in Europe and Asia
to deign
to accept with condescension
to ebb
to flow back
to plough
to cut and turn up soil with a plow
oriole
yellow and black bird
aster
plants with composite leaves and purple slowers
shrike
bird with a shrill voice
milkwort
plant supposed to increase milk flow in women
ailanthus
trees that silkworms eat
hemp
tall Asiatic plant used as annual herbaceous plant
shrewd
keen-witted, clever
staunch
sound, strong, watertight
hale
welfare
vouchsafed
gracious enough to grant
boon
a favor or request
viand
an article of food
thronging
a crowd
verdure
fresh green color of growing things
beck
a small brook with a rocky bottom
plumed
to pick and adjust plumage
to gloam
to grow dark
scepter
staff or rod held by sovereigns
jade
hard ornamental stone
greaves
sediment of skin formed when animal fat is melted
barrows
a frame or box with handles used for transporting heavy loads
doughty
brave, valiant, noble
blazon
a technical description or illustration of a coat of arms
emblem
visible symbol of a thing, class of people, idea
pious
showing religious devotion
flout
to show disdain
verdant
green with vegetation
hoarfrost
a deposit of needle-like ice crystals formed on ground by condensation at temperatures below freezing
disavowed
claiming to have no knowledge of
explicate
to make plain or clear through explanation
to foment
promote the growth of
filial
the relation of child to parents
piety
dutiful respect
polestar
something that serves as a guiding principle
zealous
diligent, devoted
destitute
deprived of, lacking
desist
to cease
tribulation
severe suffering
trial
act of trying, testing
parti pris
position taken in advance
expedient
object described is suitable for the purpose it was made for
to remonstrate
plead in protest
to trowel
to dig, shape, or smooth
steadfast
firm in purpose
hamlet
small village
hovel
small hut, usually dirty
pedant
a “by the book” sort of person who disregards common sense
venerable
worthy of reverence, commands great respect
fervent
great enthusiasm
circumspection
action of caution
penury
extreme poverty
affluence
abundance of wealth, property, or thoughts
finicky
excessively particular
emulate
to equal or surpass with effort
to eschew
shun, avoid
capriciousness
to be guided by sudden change
dogmatism
assertion of opinions as true
admonition
counsel, advice, caution
assent
to concede
boorish
unmannered, crude, insensitive
rectification
the act of making things right
autere
severely moral
cypress
evergreen coniferous trees
artifice
clever trick
illusory
causing illusion
scrims
cotton or linen fabric for curtains
cyclorama
curved wall at the back of the stage used for creating illusion of unlimited space
coalesced
to unite so as to form one community
treatises
formal exposition in writing of principles of subject
progenitor
person or thing that first indicates a direction
indissoluble
firm or stable
prowess
exceptional valor, bravery, or ability in battle
tutelage
act of guarding
demurred
make an objection
alcove
recess or small room adjacent to another room
apex
top, point, summit
ineffable
incapable of being expressed or described in words
aspirant
person who seeks a career
intractable
not easily controlled
profane
not devoted to holy or religious purposes
austereties
harsh quality
verisimilitude
appearance or semblance of truth
dolorous
full of pain or sorrow
punning
humorous use of a word or phrase to emphasize different meanings
expository
nature to explain
entr’acte
interval between two consecutive acts
riveted
to fasten with metal pin
repertoire
list of parts, pieces, etc. that a company, actor, singer is prepared to perform
felicitous
well-suited for occasion
astringency
harshly biting
nuance
a subtle different in expression, meaning
placating
to appease or pacify
brocade
fabric woven with an elaborate design
animistic
belief that natural objects possess souls
bereavement
period of mourning after a loss
efflorescence
state of flowering
regents
person who exercises the ruling power in a kingdom during absence of sovereign
Noh Plays
celebratory “god plays” - human turns into god
ghosts doomed to eternal battle unless priest prays for them
wig plays - spirit of angry woman, obsessed with unhappy love
mundane - derangement (women driven mad by loss of lover or child, husband distraught by death of wife)
demon - supernatural creatures who threaten to overwhelm forces of good
denizens
inhabitant, resident
tonsure
act of cutting hair, shaving head
