FEBRUARY IN WORDS Flashcards
fait accompli
A fait accompli is something that’s already done. If your dad warns you not to play an April Fool’s Day trick on your sister, but you’ve already put a giant inflatable Godzilla in the shower, that’s a fait accompli.
lair
A lair is a wild animal’s den. If you ever find yourself in a forest and face to face with a bear trying to lure you into his lair, beware! He may be plotting to eat you.
capacious
When something is really big and holds a lot it is capacious, like a capacious purse that is so big, people mistake it for a piece of luggage.
efficacious
When you really want to do something right, really nail it, really get at what you were going for — you’re trying to be efficacious, or produce the effect you intended.
yaw
A yaw is a swerve off course. On a sailboat, an unexpected yaw can make you lurch to one side — and it might also make you seasick.
legerdemain
When a magician waves his hands over a hat and pulls out a rabbit, he is performing an act of legerdemain or trickery.
chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro is an Italian artistic term used to describe the dramatic effect of contrasting areas of light and dark in an artwork, particularly paintings. It comes from the combination of the Italian words for “light” and “dark.”
querulous
Querulous means “having a tendency to complain” or, more directly put, “whiny.” Sure, no one can be happy all the time, but that’s no excuse for being querulous.
varmint
Varmint is an informal word that means “wild animal” or “critter.” Your uncle Bob might see a mouse and yell loudly, “Get out of my kitchen, you varmint!”
lackluster
Lackluster is a compound adjective that means what it sounds like: if something is lackluster it lacks luster; in other words, it is without brilliance, shine, or vitality. Think dull.
elope
When you elope, you run away with the person you love. Usually, you elope to get married without anyone knowing in advance.
gingham
Checked cotton cloth is called gingham. If you’re planning on eating lunch at the beach, you might want to bring your gingham picnic blanket — and plenty of sunscreen.
gyre
Use the word gyre when you describe the spiral shape that petals make in the face of a flower.
diadem
A diadem is a crown, or something on a crown. If you’ve just won the Miss America pageant, reach up your hand — that’s right — that rhinestone encrusted circlet on your head? That’s a diadem.
invigorate
Invigorate means to give strength or energy to something or someone. If you’re the new cheerleading coach, you can invigorate the team by bringing them your exciting new cheers, and the team’s growing popularity will invigorate them even more.
peckish
Find yourself craving Doritos or a chunk of cheese, then you can say you’re peckish. If you’re peckish, you’re a tad hungry (not starving, but hungry enough to poke around the kitchen cabinets).
buoyant
Something that is buoyant floats in water. Since floating is happier than sinking, buoyant also refers to things are fun and upbeat.
