Flashcards - 3
Implied
: to express (something) in an indirect way : to suggest (something) without saying or showing it plainly
: to include or involve (something) as a natural or necessary part or result
Full Definition
1 obsolete : enfold, entwine
2 : to involve or indicate by inference, association, or necessary consequence rather than by direct statement
3 : to contain potentially
4 : to express indirectly
synonyms see suggest
usage see infer
Other forms: im·plied; im·ply·ing
Examples
they may have implied that they’d help, but they didn’t actually say so
Origin: Middle English emplien, from Anglo-French emplier to entangle — more at employ.
Inflection
: a rise or fall in the sound of a person’s voice : a change in the pitch or tone of a person’s voice
grammar : a change in the form of a word that occurs when it has a particular use
: a form of a word that occurs when it has a particular use : an inflected form
Full Definition
1 : the act or result of curving or bending : bend
2 : change in pitch or loudness of the voice
3 a : the change of form that words undergo to mark such distinctions as those of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, or voice
b : a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation
c : accidence
4 a : change in curvature of an arc or curve from concave to convex or conversely
b : inflection point
Examples
the inflection of the river is even more obvious when viewed from the summit of the nearby mountain
First use: 1531
Synonyms: angle, arc, arch, bow, crook, curvature, curve, bend, turn, wind
Tenet
: a belief or idea that is very important to a group
Full Definition
: a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true; especially : one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession
Origin: Latin, he holds, from tenēre to hold.
First use: circa 1600
Stave off
1 : to fend off
2 : to ward off (as something adverse) : forestall
Examples
managed to stave off the invaders
the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies
First use: 1611
Disburse
dis·burse\dis-ˈbərs\
transitive verb
: to pay out (money) from a fund that has been created for a special purpose
Full Definition
1 a : to pay out : expend especially from a fund
b : to make a payment in settlement of
2 : distribute
Other forms: dis·bursed; dis·burs·ing
dis·burs·er noun
Examples
the foundation disburses money to many worthy causes
Origin: Middle French desbourser, from Old French desborser, from des- dis- + borse purse, from Medieval Latin bursa.
First use: 1530
Detract
transitive verb
1 archaic : to speak ill of
2 archaic : to take away
3 : divert
intransitive verb
: to diminish the importance, value, or effectiveness of something — often used with from <small>
de·trac·tor -ˈtrak-tər\ noun
Examples
numerous typos in the text detract the reader’s attention from the novel’s intricate plot
Origin: Middle English, from Latin detractus, past participle of detrahere to pull down, disparage, from de- + trahere to draw.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: abstract, call off, distract, divert, throw off</small>
Affliction
noun
: something (such as a disease) that causes pain or suffering
: the state of being affected by something that causes suffering
Full Definition
1 : the state of being afflicted
2 : the cause of persistent pain or distress
3 : great suffering
Examples
she listened with deep affliction as her daughter told her about the latest trouble she was in
felt such great affliction over the destruction of the beautiful old home
alcohol has been his affliction ever since he took his first drink at the age of 12
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: distress, agony, anguish, excruciation, hurt, misery, pain, rack, strait(s), torment, torture, travail, tribulation, woe
Antonyms: blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, delight, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, glee, gleefulness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, pleasure, rapture, rapturousness
Salve
: a creamy substance that you put on a wound to heal it or to make it less painful
Full Definition
1 : an unctuous adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores
2 : a remedial or soothing influence or agency <a>
Examples
a salve for rashes/sunburns
Origin: Middle English, from Old English sealf; akin to Old High German salba salve, Greek olpē oil flask.
First use: before 12th century
2salve
transitive verb
1 : to remedy (as disease) with or as if with a salve
2 : quiet, assuage
Other forms: salved; salv·ing
First use: before 12th century
3salve\ˈsalv\
transitive verb
: salvage
Other forms: salved; salv·ing
sal·vor \ˈsal-vər, -ˌvȯr\ noun</a>
Maladaptive
1 : marked by poor or inadequate adaptation
2 : not conducive to adaptation
Dour
dour\ˈdu̇r, ˈdau̇(-ə)r\ adjective \: serious and unfriendly : silent and gloomy Full Definition 1 : stern, harsh 2 : obstinate, unyielding 3 : gloomy, sullen dour·ly adverb dour·ness noun Examples a dour politician a dour manner She had a dour expression on her face. Origin: Middle English, from Latin durus hard — more at during. First use: 14th century Synonyms: austere, grim, fierce, flinty, forbidding, gruff, intimidating, lowering (also louring), rough, rugged, severe, stark, steely, stern, ungentle Antonyms: benign, benignant, gentle, mild, nonintimidating, tender
Buoyant
: able to float
: able to cause things to float
: happy and confident
Full Definition
: having buoyancy: as
a : capable of floating
b : cheerful, gay
c : capable of maintaining a satisfactorily high level <a>
buoy·ant·ly adverb
Examples
all the fans were buoyant the day after the big win in the play-offs
gave him a buoyant hug and kiss upon meeting him at the airport
First use: 1578
Synonyms: blithe, blithesome, bright, cheerful, canty [British dialect], cheery, chipper, eupeptic, gay, gladsome, lightsome, sunny, upbeat, winsome
Antonyms: dour, gloomy, glum, morose, saturnine, sulky, sullen</a>
Concierge
con·cierge\kōⁿ-ˈsyerzh, ˌkän-sē-ˈerzh\
noun
: a person in an apartment building especially in France who takes care of the building and checks the people who enter and leave
: an employee at a hotel whose job is to provide help and information to the people staying at the hotel
Full Definition
1 : a resident in an apartment building especially in France who serves as doorkeeper, landlord’s representative, and janitor
2 : a usually multilingual hotel staff member who handles luggage and mail, makes reservations, and arranges tours; broadly : a person employed (as by a business) to make arrangements or run errands
Other forms: plural con·cierges -ˈsyerzh, -ˈsyer-zhəz; -sē-ˈer-zhəz\
Origin: French, from Old French, probably from Vulgar Latin *conservius, alteration of Latin conservus fellow slave, from com- + servus slave.
First use: circa 1697
Agronomy
: a science that deals with the methods used by farmers to raise crops and care for the soil
Full Definition
: a branch of agriculture dealing with field-crop production and soil management
ag·ro·nom·ic \ˌa-grə-ˈnä-mik\ adjective
ag·ro·nom·i·cal·ly -mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
agron·o·mist \ə-ˈgrä-nə-mist\ noun
Origin: probably from French agronomie, from agro- + -nomie -nomy.
Curator
: a person who is in charge of the things in a museum, zoo, etc.
Full Definition
: one who has the care and superintendence of something; especially : one in charge of a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit
cu·ra·to·ri·al \ˌkyu̇r-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl\ adjective
cu·ra·tor·ship \ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər-ˌship, kyu̇-ˈrā-, ˈkyu̇r-ə-\ noun
Origin: Latin, from curare to care, from cura care.
Serpentine
: having many bends and turns
Full Definition
1 : of or resembling a serpent (as in form or movement)
2 : subtly wily or tempting
3 a : winding or turning one way and another <a>
b : having a compound curve whose central curve is convex
ser·pen·tine·ly adverb
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French serpentin, from Late Latin serpentinus, from Latin serpent-, serpens.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: bending, crazy, curled, curling, curved, curving, curvy, devious, crooked, sinuous, tortuous, twisted, twisting, winding, windy
Antonyms: straight, straightaway</a>
Thewy
1 a : muscular power or development
b : strength, vitality
2 : muscle, sinew — usually used in plural
Examples
a prizefighter of unparalleled thew in the boxing world
Origin: Middle English, personal quality, virtue, from Old English thēaw; akin to Old High German thau custom.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: beef, brawn, main, muscle
Sinewy
sin·ewy\ˈsin-yə-wē also ˈsi-nə-\ adjective \: having strong and lean muscles \: tough and difficult to cut or chew Full Definition 1 : full of sinews: as a : tough, stringy b : strong 2 : marked by the strength of sinews <a> Examples the lithe, sinewy body of the ballet company's leading male dancer the sinewy arms of the weight lifter First use: 14th century Synonyms: brawny, muscular, rugged, strong, stalwart, stout Antonyms: delicate, feeble, frail, weak, weakling, wimpy
Superfluous
: beyond what is needed : not necessary
Full Definition
1a : exceeding what is sufficient or necessary : extra
b : not needed : unnecessary
2 obsolete : marked by wastefulness : extravagant
su·per·flu·ous·ly adverb
su·per·flu·ous·ness noun
Examples
cleared off all the superfluous stuff on his desk to make room for the new computer
Origin: Middle English, from Latin superfluus, literally, running over, from superfluere to overflow, from super- + fluere to flow — more at fluid.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: excess, extra, redundant, supererogatory, spare, supernumerary, surplus
Pneumatic
: using air pressure to move or work
: filled with air
of a woman : having a body with full, pleasing curves
Full Definition
1 : of, relating to, or using gas (as air or wind):
a : moved or worked by air pressure
b (1) : adapted for holding or inflated with compressed air (2) : having air-filled cavities
2 : of or relating to the pneuma : spiritual
3 : having a well-proportioned feminine figure; especially : having a full bust
pneu·mat·i·cal·ly -ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
pneu·ma·tic·i·ty \ˌnü-mə-ˈti-sə-tē, ˌnyü-\ noun
Examples
a movie star who is remembered mainly as a pneumatic sex symbol of the 1950s
Origin: Latin pneumaticus, from Greek pneumatikos, from pneumat-, pneuma air, breath, spirit, from pnein to breathe — more at sneeze.
First use: 1659
Synonyms: curvy, curvaceous, shapely
Flocculent
floc·cu·lent\ˈflä-kyə-lənt\
adjective
1 : resembling wool especially in loose fluffy organization
2 : containing, consisting of, or occurring in the form of loosely aggregated particles or soft flakes <a>
Origin: Latin floccus + English -ulent.
First use: 1800</a>
Exact
: to demand and get (something, such as payment or revenge) especially by using force or threats
—used in phrases like and to say that something has caused a lot of suffering, loss, etc.
Full Definition
1 : to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain
2 : to call for as necessary or desirable
synonyms see demand
ex·act·able -ˈzak-tə-bəl\ adjective
ex·ac·tor also ex·act·er -ˈzak-tər\ noun
Examples
the exact time
an exact copy/duplicate/replica/reproduction
Those were his exact words.
Origin: Middle English, to require as payment, from Latin exactus, past participle of exigere to drive out, demand, measure, from ex- + agere to drive — more at agent.
First use: 1564
2exact
adjective
: fully and completely correct or accurate
: very careful and accurate
Full Definition
1 : exhibiting or marked by strict, particular, and complete accordance with fact or a standard
2 : marked by thorough consideration or minute measurement of small factual details
synonyms see correct
ex·act·ness -ˈzak(t)-nəs\ noun
Examples
They would not rest until they had exacted revenge.
He was able to exact a promise from them.
The war has exacted a terrible toll.
Origin: Latin exactus.
First use: 1533
Synonyms: accurate, bang on [chiefly British], dead-on, correct, good, on-target, precise, proper, right, so, spot-on, true, veracious
Formidable
for·mi·da·ble\ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl; fȯr-ˈmi-, fər-ˈmi-\
adjective
: very powerful or strong : deserving serious attention and respect
: very difficult to deal with
: large or impressive in size or amount
Full Definition
1 : causing fear, dread, or apprehension <a>
2 : having qualities that discourage approach or attack
3 : tending to inspire awe or wonder : impressive
for·mi·da·bil·i·ty \ˌfȯr-mə-də-ˈbi-lə-tē; fȯr-ˌmi-, fər-ˌ\ noun
for·mi·da·ble·ness \ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl-nəs; fȯr-ˈmi-, fər-ˈ\ noun
for·mi·da·bly -blē\ adverb
Examples
a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children
running a marathon is a formidable undertaking
Origin: Middle English, from Latin formidabilis, from formidare to fear, from formido terror, bogey; akin to Greek mormō bogey.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearsome, forbidding, fearful, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying
Antonyms: cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding</a>
Dissent
: to publicly disagree with an official opinion, decision, or set of beliefs
Full Definition
1 : to withhold assent
2 : to differ in opinion
Origin: Middle English, from Latin dissentire, from dis- + sentire to feel — more at sense.
First use: 15th century
2dissent
noun
: public disagreement with an official opinion, decision, or set of beliefs
law : a statement by a judge giving reasons why the judge does not agree with the decision made by the other judges in a court case
Full Definition
: difference of opinion : as
a : religious nonconformity
b : a justice’s nonconcurrence with a decision of the majority —called also dissenting opinion
c : political opposition to a government or its policies
Examples
Church leaders permitted no dissent from church teachings.
He did everything in his power to suppress political dissent.
These dissents come from prominent scientists and should not be ignored.
First use: 1585
Synonyms: conflict, disaccord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension (also dissention), discord, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, war, warfare
Antonyms: accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, peace
Exscind
ex·scind\ek-ˈsind\ transitive verb \: to cut off or out : excise Origin: Latin exscindere, from ex- + scindere to cut, tear — more at shed. First use: 1662
Evince
: to show (something) clearly
Full Definition
1 : to constitute outward evidence of
2 : to display clearly : reveal
synonyms see show
Other forms: evinced; evinc·ing
evinc·ible -ˈvin(t)-sə-bəl\ adjective
Examples
She evinced an interest in art at an early age.
the teenager caught shoplifting seemed to evince no remorse
Origin: Latin evincere to vanquish, win a point, from e- + vincere to conquer — more at victor.
recreant
1 : crying for mercy : cowardly
2 : unfaithful to duty or allegiance
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from present participle of (se) recreire to give up, yield, from Medieval Latin (se) recredere to resign oneself (to a judgment), from Latin re- + credere to believe — more at creed.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, cowardly, spineless, unheroic, yellow
Antonyms: brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous
2recreant
noun
1 : coward
2 : apostate, deserter
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: apostate, defector, deserter, renegade
Redolent
: having a strong smell : full of a fragrance or odor
: causing thoughts or memories ofsomething
Full Definition
1 : exuding fragrance : aromatic
2 a : full of a specified fragrance : scented
b : evocative, suggestive <a>
synonyms see odorous
red·o·lent·ly adverb
Examples
my grandmother’s house always seemed to be redolent with the aroma of baking bread
Origin: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin redolent-, redolens, present participle of redolēre to emit a scent, from re-, red- + olēre to smell — more at odor.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: ambrosial, aromatic, perfumed, fragrant, savory (also savoury), scented, sweet
Antonyms: fetid, foul, malodorous, noisome, putrid, rancid, rank, reeking, reeky, skunky, smelly, stenchful, stenchy, stinking, stinky, strong</a>
Devious
de·vi·ous\ˈdē-vē-əs, -vyəs\
adjective
: willing to lie and trick people in order to get what is wanted
: not straight or direct : having many twists and turns
Full Definition
1 a : wandering, roundabout <a>
b : moving without a fixed course : errant
2 : out-of-the-way, remote
3 a : deviating from a right, accepted, or common course
b : not straightforward : cunning <a>; also : deceptive <a>
de·vi·ous·ly adverb
de·vi·ous·ness noun
Examples
we always left it to our most devious friends to find out the latest information
a devious trail through the swampland
her behavior is devious because of a developmental disorder
Origin: Latin devius, from de from + via way — more at de-, way.
First use: 1599
Synonyms: beguiling, cagey (also cagy), crafty, cunning, cute, designing, artful, dodgy [chiefly British], foxy, guileful, scheming, shrewd, slick, sly, subtle, tricky, wily
Antonyms: artless, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, undesigning</a></a></a>
Beguile
: to trick or deceive (someone)
: to attract or interest someone
Full Definition
transitive verb
1 : to lead by deception
2 : hoodwink
3 : to while away especially by some agreeable occupation; also : divert 2
4 : to engage the interest of by or as if by guileintransitive verb
: to deceive by wiles
synonyms see deceive
Other forms: be·guiled; be·guil·ing
be·guile·ment -ˈgī(-ə)l-mənt\ noun
be·guil·er -ˈgī-lər\ noun
be·guil·ing·ly -ˈgī-liŋ-lē\ adverb
Examples
the magician effortlessly beguiled and amazed the children
beguiled her into believing that yet another worthless item would enhance her life
was beguiled by the promise of easy money as a drug dealer
First use: 13th century
Synonyms: allure, charm, bewitch, captivate, enchant, fascinate, kill, magnetize, wile, witch [archaic]
Copious
: very large in amount or number
Full Definition
1 a : yielding something abundantly <a>
b : plentiful in number
2 a : full of thought, information, or matter
b : profuse or exuberant in words, expression, or style <a>
3 : present in large quantity : taking place on a large scale
synonyms see plentiful
co·pi·ous·ly adverb
co·pi·ous·ness noun
Examples
a copious rush of words just poured out of the two friends who hadn’t seen each other in years
Origin: Middle English, from Latin copiosus, from copia abundance, from co- + ops wealth — more at opulent.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: profuse, galore, gushing, lavish, riotous</a></a>
Verisimilitude
: the quality of seeming real
Full Definition
1 : the quality or state of being verisimilar
2 : something verisimilar
veri·si·mil·i·tu·di·nous -ˌmi-lə-ˈtüd-nəs, -ˈtyüd-; -ˈtü-də-nəs, -ˈtyü-\ adjective
Examples
the novel’s degree of verisimilitude is compromised by 18th-century characters who speak in very 21st-century English
Origin: Latin verisimilitudo, from verisimilis verisimilar, from veri similis like the truth.
First use: circa 1576
Synonyms: literalism, naturalism, realism, representationalism, verismo
Bovine
: relating to cows
: looking or acting like a cow
Full Definition
1 : of, relating to, or resembling bovines and especially the ox or cow
2 : having qualities (as placidity or dullness) characteristic of oxen or cows
bo·vine·ly adverb
bo·vin·i·ty \bō-ˈvi-nə-tē\ noun
Origin: Late Latin bovinus, from Latin bov-, bos ox, cow — more at cow.
First use: 1776
2bovine
noun
: any of a subfamily (Bovinae) of bovids including oxen, bison, buffalo, and their close relatives
First use: 1852
Mephitic
: of, relating to, or resembling mephitis : foul-smelling
Putsch
: a secretly plotted and suddenly executed attempt to overthrow a government
Tutelage
: the teaching of an individual student by a teacher
: an act of guarding or protecting something
: helpful influence or guidance
Full Definition
1 a : an act or process of serving as guardian or protector : guardianship
b : hegemony over a foreign territory : trusteeship 2
2 : the state of being under a guardian or tutor
3 a : instruction especially of an individual
b : a guiding influence <a>
Examples
a governess overseeing the tutelage of the family’s children
Origin: Latin tutela protection, guardian (from tutari to protect, frequentative of tueri to look at, guard) + English -age.
First use: 1605
Synonyms: instruction, schooling, teaching, training, tuition, education, tutoring</a>
Semitic
: of or relating to the language family that includes Hebrew and Arabic
: of or relating to the Semites
Full Definition
1 : of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Amharic
2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Semites
3 : jewish
Origin: German semitisch, from Semit, Semite Semite, probably from New Latin Semita, from Late Latin Sem Shem.
First use: 1813
2Semitic
noun
: any or all of the Semitic languages
Renaissance
: the period of European history between the 14th and 17th centuries when there was a new interest in science and in ancient art and literature especially in Italy
: a situation or period of time when there is a new interest in something that has not been popular in a long time
: a period of new growth or activity
Full Definition
Usage: often attributive
1 capitalized
a : the transitional movement in Europe between medieval and modern times beginning in the 14th century in Italy, lasting into the 17th century, and marked by a humanistic revival of classical influence expressed in a flowering of the arts and literature and by the beginnings of modern science
b : the period of the Renaissance
c : the neoclassic style of architecture prevailing during the Renaissance
2 often capitalized : a movement or period of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity
3 : rebirth, revival
Examples
the 19th-century literary renaissance that prompted people to refer to Boston as the Athens of America
Origin: French, from Middle French, rebirth, from Old French renaistre to be born again, from Latin renasci, from re- + nasci to be born — more at nation.
First use: 1845
Synonyms: golden age, belle epoque
Pejorative
: a word or phrase that has negative connotations or that is intended to disparage or belittle : a pejorative word or phrase
Origin: (see 2pejorative ).
First use: 1882
2pe·jo·ra·tive\pi-ˈjȯr-ə-tiv, -ˈjär- also ˈpe-jə-rə-tiv or ˈpē- or -ˌrā- or ˈpej-rə- or ˈpēj-\
adjective
: insulting to someone or something : expressing criticism
Full Definition
: having negative connotations; especially : tending to disparage or belittle : depreciatory
pe·jo·ra·tive·ly adverb
Origin: Late Latin pejoratus, past participle of pejorare to make or become worse, from Latin pejor worse; akin to Sanskrit padyate he falls, Latin ped-, pes foot — more at foot.
First use: circa 1888
Synonyms: belittling, contemptuous, decrying, degrading, demeaning, denigrative, denigratory, deprecatory, depreciative, depreciatory, derisory, derogative, detractive, disdainful, disparaging, derogatory, scornful, slighting, uncomplimentary
Antonyms: commendatory, complimentary, laudative, laudatory
Alchemy
al·che·my\ˈal-kə-mē\
noun
: a science that was used in the Middle Ages with the goal of changing ordinary metals into gold
: a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way
Full Definition
1 : a medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy aiming to achieve the transmutation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for disease, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life
2 : a power or process of transforming something common into something special
3 : an inexplicable or mysterious transmuting
al·chem·i·cal -mi-kəl\ also al·chem·ic \al-ˈke-mik\ adjective
al·chem·i·cal·ly -mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
Origin: Middle English alkamie, alquemie, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French alkimie, from Medieval Latin alchymia, from Arabic al-kīmiyā’, from al the + kīmiyā’ alchemy, from Late Greek chēmeia.
First use: 14th century
Ambrosia
1 a : the food of the Greek and Roman gods
b : the ointment or perfume of the gods
2 : something extremely pleasing to taste or smell
3 : a dessert made of oranges and shredded coconut
am·bro·sial -zh(ē-)əl\ adjective
am·bro·sial·ly -zh(ē-)ə-lē\ adverb
Origin: Latin, from Greek, literally, immortality, from ambrotos immortal, from a- + -mbrotos (akin to brotos mortal) — more at murder.
