General Vocabulary Flashcards
Hypnagogic
(adjective) (psychology)
relating to the state immediately before falling asleep.
relating to the state between being AWAKE -> ASLEEP
Hypna-GO-Ji-berry-to-sleep!
Hypnopompic
(adjective - PSYCHOLOGY)
relating to the state immediately preceding waking up.
From ASLEEP -> AWAKE
Wake up! To POMP and circumstance.
Imbrication
noun. im·bri·ca·tion ˌim-brə-ˈkā-shən. :
an overlapping of edges (as of tiles or scales) : a decoration or pattern showing imbrication.
Ona’ah
(Hebrew: אוֹנָאָה or Hebrew: הוֹנָאָה, lit. overreaching)
refers to the Jewish laws surrounding monetary deception. The word is used in modern Hebrew to describe fraud or embezzlement, while in halachic terms it describes unfair pricing.
“OH N’AH, you did not just commit fraud or embezzlement!”
Propitious
(adjective)
2
: being a good omen : AUSPICIOUS
propitious sign
1
: favorably disposed : BENEVOLENT
3
: tending to favor : ADVANTAGEOUS
Auspicious usually applies to a sign or omen that promises success before or at the start of an event (“an auspicious beginning”). Propitious may also apply to beginnings, but it often suggests a continuing promising condition (“propitious conditions for an alliance”).
Antinomian
noun and adjective
1 : one who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace (see GRACE entry 1 sense 1a) the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation
2 : one who rejects a socially established morality
Fou Rire
Noun (informal) - French
uncontrollable laughter, hysterical laughter, fit of laughter, giggles
“The giggles”
Inveterate
adjective
1 : confirmed in a habit : HABITUAL
//an inveterate liar
2 : firmly established by long persistence
//the inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious
//he has an inveterate tendency to tell some very tall tales
Languid
Adjective
1 : drooping or flagging from or as if from exhaustion : WEAK
//arms too languid with happiness to embrace him
— John Galsworthy
2 : sluggish in character or disposition : LISTLESS
//proceeded at a languid pace
3 : lacking force or quickness of movement : SLOW
Lugubrious
Adjective
1 : MOURNFUL
especially : exaggeratedly or affectedly (see AFFECTED entry 2 sense 1a) mournful
//dark, dramatic and lugubrious brooding
— V. S. Pritchett
//the tour de force of lugubrious cliche is ten times longer than this review
— Martin Amis
2 : DISMAL
//a lugubrious landscape
//lugubrious cello music
firmament
1
: the vault or arch of the sky : HEAVENS
Stars twinkled in the firmament.
2
: the field or sphere of an interest or activity
“the international fashion firmament”
Turpitude
: inherent baseness : DEPRAVITY
//moral turpitude
also : a base act
ambisextrous
Tullulah Bankhead’s word for bisexual
“codeine … bourbon”
Tullulah Bankhead’s last words
Arrogate
1a : to claim or seize without justification
b : to make undue claims to having : ASSUME
2 : to claim on behalf of another : ASCRIBE
faute de mieux
(Foat duh myuh)
adverb
for want of a better alternative.
“the show is, faute de mieux, the most eagerly anticipated musical of the season to come”
Waive
Refrain from insisting on or using (a right or claim)
Syn. Relinquish, Disregard
Reticent
—-
Reticence
Definition
1 : inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech : RESERVED
2 : restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance
//the room has an aspect of reticent dignity
— A. N. Whitehead
3 : RELUCTANT
—-
1 : the quality or state of being reticent : RESERVE, RESTRAINT
2 : an instance of being reticent
3 : RELUCTANCE sense 1
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
disinclination, hesitance, hesitancy, reluctance, unwillingness
Obviate
to anticipate and prevent (something, such as a situation) or make (an action) unnecessary
//The new medical treatment obviates the need for surgery.
Eclipse Plumage
Eclipse plumage, typical of ducks but found in other birds as well, is dull, female-like plumage worn by the male for a month or more in summer after breeding
Stabilimentum
A stabilimentum, also known as a web decoration, is a conspicuous silk structure included in the webs of some species of orb-web spider. Its function is a subject of debate.
