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English Vocalbulary > General Vocabulary 18 > Flashcards

General Vocabulary 18 Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

Conspectus (n)

A

A summary or overview.

A few of his works give a rich conspectus of his body of work.

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2
Q

Nescience (n)

A

Lacking knowledge or understanding.

I ventured into the business with equally nescient partners.

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3
Q

Thaumaturgy (n)

A

The working of magic or miracles.

He attracts crowds by his thaumaturgy.

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4
Q

Unwitting (adv)

A

Without being aware or not knowing - unintentional.

Let him then not remain unwitting of the fact but deliver himself.

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5
Q

Aphelion (n)

A

The point in the orbit of a planet when it is furthest from the Sun.

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6
Q

Perihelion (n)

A

The point at which a planet in its orbit is closest to the Sun.

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7
Q

Felicity (n)

A

A feeling of intense happiness.

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8
Q

Plaint (n)

A

An accusation or charge.

Show enough willpower to overthrow the plaints of a tired and sick body.

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9
Q

Hierophant (n)

A

A person especially a priest who interprets the sacred mysteries or esoteric principles.

He makes no claims to occult powers and hierophantic knowledge to impress his countrymen.

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10
Q

Nonce (n)

A

For the time being.

Work on the bridge has been stopped for the nonce.

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11
Q

Supervened (v)

A

Occur as an interruption or change to a situation.

As complications supervened on his appendicitis he stayed away from work.

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12
Q

Bruited (v)

A

Spread widely.

The holiest things in life are not bruited abroad in public.

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13
Q

Welter (n)

A

A confused mass.

I searched through a welter of crass superstitions.

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14
Q

Cimmerian (adj)

A

A mythical people always living in mist and darkness.

I delved into subjects which always have been wrapped in Cimmerian mystery.

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15
Q

Sacerdotal (adj)

A

A doctrine that ascribes sacrificial duties and supernatural powers to priests.

The Brahmin pundits in native centres of learning waste their useless years splitting sacerdotal hairs.

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16
Q

Drawling (v)

A

To speak in a slow prolongation way.

He begins in a thin, drawling voice and with the air of one about to make a hierophantic revelation:

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17
Q

Clammy (adj)

A

Unpleasantly damp or sticky to touch.

Clammy fingers of depression strive hard to grip my failing heart.

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18
Q

Anent (proposition)

A

Concerning about.

I’ll say a few words anent the books subject.

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19
Q

Metempsychosis (n)

A

The supposed transmigration of a human or animal soul at the time of death into another body of the same species.

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20
Q

Daemon (n)

A

A supernatural being of a nature in between Gods and humans.

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21
Q

Servitor (n)

A

A person who attends to another who’s socially superior.

If those thirty or more mysterious servitors of his really exist, then one is back in the medieval period.

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22
Q

Hamper (n)

A

A basket with a carry handle and lid to store food etc.

They collect a large hamper of these commodities on my behalf.

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23
Q

Osculation (n)

A

Kissing.

Some are so overwrought with pious emotion that they prolong the act of osculation to a full minute!

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24
Q

Entrain (v)

A

To board a train.

No sooner we entrained we realised our tickets were missing.

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25
Q

Patronymic (adj) (n)

A

The naming derived from the name of a father or ancestor.

The patronymic naming of children.

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26
Q

Anchorite (n)

A

A religious recluse.

But there is something else which is closer to my heart than strange powers of the flesh which I confide in the anchorite.

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27
Q

Cataleptic (adj)

A

A muscular condition marked by rigidity and fixity of posture without regard to external stimuli.

I watch the Sage steadily but can find no room for doubt that he is in a cataleptic trance.

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28
Q

Sublunary (adj)

A

Belonging to this world as contrasted with a better or more spiritual one.

The concept was irrational to sublunary minds

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29
Q

Importunity (n)

A

Persistence, especially to the point of annoyance.

You urged me on with untiring importunity.

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30
Q

Draught (adi)

A

A draft animal is an animal that has been trained to do work – specifically to pull heavy loads.

These charming creatures are very useful as draught animals.

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31
Q

Quondam (adj)

A

That once was; former.

Quondam dissidents joined the establishment.

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32
Q

Chromolithograph (n)

A

A colored picture printed by lithography, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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33
Q

Colonnades (n)

[Kawlonade]

A

A row of stone columns with equal spaces between them, usually supporting a roof.

The vast structure encloses a labyrinth of colonnades, cloisters and galleries.

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34
Q

Serried (adj)

A

(Of rows of people or things) standing close together.

Serried ranks of soldiers.

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35
Q

Ratiocination (n)

A

The process of logical reasoning.

I do not obtain it by any process of ratiocination, it just comes to my mind unbidden.

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36
Q

Disporting (v)

A

Enjoy oneself unrestrainedly; frolic.

A painting of ladies disporting themselves by a lake.

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37
Q

Espy (v)

A

To catch sight of.

She espied her daughter rounding the corner.

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38
Q

Flagstone (n)

A

A flat stone slab, typically rectangular or square, used for paving.

There was a carpet on the flagstones in the pillared hall.

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39
Q

Thaumaturgy (n)

A

The performance of miracles.

This man’s gaze was a like a thaumaturgic wand.

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40
Q

Quatrain (n)

A

A poem or a verse of a poem containing only four lines

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41
Q

Persiflage (n)

A

Light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter.

An air of light persiflage pervaded the room.

42
Q

Sapient (adj)

A

Possessing great knowledge and intelligence.

He raises his forefinger in the air and replies, with a sapient air.

43
Q

Mantilla (n)

A

A lace or silk scarf worn by women over the head and shoulders.

44
Q

Rubicund (adi)

A

Having a ruddy complexion.

He was more than a little rubicund.

45
Q

Bandying (v)

A

Pass on or discuss (an idea or rumour) in a casual or uninformed way.

£40,000 is the figure that has been bandied about.

46
Q

Attar (n)

A

A fragrant essential oil, typically made from rose petals.

The attar of roses.

47
Q

Matutinal (adj)

A

Of or occurring in the morning.

He was out on his matutinal jog.

48
Q

Empyrean (adj)

A

Relating to heaven or the sky.

The empyrean domain where human will and God’s will became as one.

49
Q

Funereal (v)

A

Having the mournful, somber character appropriate to a funeral.

Erika was moving at a funereal pace

50
Q

Betoken (v)

A

Be a warning or indication of (a future event).

The falling comet betokened the true end of Merlin’s powers.

51
Q

Preceptor (n)

A

A teacher or instructor

52
Q

Eyrie (n)

A

A high or inaccessible place from which someone can observe what is below them.

His 40th floor eyrie in the tallest office building in Portland.

53
Q

Hieratic (adj)

[Hire atic]

A

Of or concerning priests.

He raised both his arms in a hieratic gesture.

54
Q

Wraith (n)

A

A ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death.

Heart attacks had reduced his mother to a wraith

55
Q

Lineaments (n)

A

A distinctive feature or characteristic, especially of the face.

I recognized those haggard lineaments.

56
Q

Supposititious (adj)

A

Substituted for the real thing; not genuine.

The supposititious heir to the throne.

57
Q

Purlieus (n)

[Pur lius]

A

The area near or surrounding a place.

The Hindu woman knows little beyond the purlieus of culinary and domestic matters.

58
Q

Unwonted (adj)

A

Unaccustomed or unusual.

There was an unwonted gaiety in her manner.

59
Q

Efflux (n)

A

The flowing out of a substance or particle.

The same active efflux of sodium from the cytoplasm to the external medium.

60
Q

Labyrinth (n)

A

A complicated set of paths and passages, through which it is difficult to find your way.

The vast structure encloses a labyrinth of colonnades, cloisters and galleries.

61
Q

Acculturation (n)

A

Assimilation into a different culture - typically a dominant one.

62
Q

Exudation (n)

A

The act of exuding or oozing out.

63
Q

Plebian(n)

A

Somebody of the lower class.

Endure yourself to the plebs by wearing a balaclava.

64
Q

Iridescent (adj)

A

Showing many bright colours that seem to change in different lights

65
Q

Tenebrosity (n)

A

The quality of being dark or shadowy.

The tenebrosity was split by occasional strands of bright light.

66
Q

Cornucopia (n)

A

An abundant supply of good things of a certain kind.

The festival provides a cornucopia of pleasures.

67
Q

Coruscating (adj)

A

Sparkling brilliant.

68
Q

Dissidence (n)

A

Opposition to official policy.

69
Q

Taxidermy (n)

A

The art of preserving an animal’s body via mounting or stuffing.

70
Q

Recrudescence (n)

A

The reoccurence of an desirable condition.

The recrudescence of old age deseases is a distinct possibility.

71
Q

Slough (n)

A

A situation characterised by the lack of progress; inactivity.

The economic slough of the post war period.

72
Q

Asterism (n)

A

A prominant group of stars that is smaller than a constellation.

73
Q

Factotum (n)

A

An employee who does all kinds of odd jobs

He was employed as the general factotum.

74
Q

Sententious (adj)

A

Given to moralising in a pompous manner.

His sententious remarks were unbearable.

75
Q

Impedimenta (n)

A

Equipment for an activity generally considered as burdensome.

She gathered her tools and other impedimenta into a bag.

76
Q

Vespers (n)

A

A service of evening prayers.

Muhameddans gathered for their vespers at the town mosque.

77
Q

Cutlass (n)

A

A short sword with curved blades used by sailors.

78
Q

Couchant (adj)

A

Lying with the body resting on the legs and the head raised.

The couchant lions waiting for their prey.

79
Q

Arraignment (n)

A

An action of bringing someone to a court of law.

He’s scheduled for arraignment in London tomorrow.

80
Q

Weal (n)

A

A red swollen mark left on the face by a blow.

81
Q

Mephitic (adj)

A

Foul smelling

The cloud of mephitic vapors lingered around us.

82
Q

Expiatory (v)

A

To make amends for sins.

Their sins must be expiated by sacrifice.

83
Q

Educe (v)

A

To bring out or develop something that is latent.

Out of love obedience is to be educed.

84
Q

Sire (n)

A

A person of noble lineage.

85
Q

Assoilment (n)

A

To pardon or absolve.

86
Q

Deicide (n)

A

A killer of gods.

87
Q

Importunities (n)

A

Persistence to the point of annoyance.

You urged me on with untiring importunity.

88
Q

Sappers (n)

A

Soldiers responsible for building roads bridges and laying mines.

89
Q

Betrothal (n)

A

Formal engagement to be married.

90
Q

Plutocrat (n)

A

A rich person.

91
Q

Sequestration (n)

A

The act of legally taking pocession of assets.

If court injunctions are ignored sequestration of assets will follow.

92
Q

Starveling (adj)

A

An undernourished person

A starveling youth.

93
Q

Palsied (adj)

A

Suffering from paralysis with involuntary muscle spasms.

She feels as though the muscles on her face are palsied.

94
Q

Fortalice (n)

A

A small fort or fortified house.

95
Q

Lock-jaw

A

Spasm or contraxtion of the jaw muscles typically due to tetanus.

96
Q

Dovecote (n)

A

A structure intended to house or nest pigeons and doves.

97
Q

Votive (adj)

A

Offered in fulfillment of a vow.

The church congregation lead into votive prayers.

98
Q

Haberdasher (n)

A

A dealer in mens clothing accessories.

99
Q

Brigandage (n)

A

Life and practice of highway robbery.

100
Q

Ministrant (n)

A

A person giving assistance or care
OR
A minister of a church.

The kitchen was cleaned by the ministrations of caring lady.

English Vocalbulary (31 decks)

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