general words and phrases Flashcards
define salient
MOST important
define ostentatious
pretentious
define appraise
set the value of or quality of something
define insidious
something unpleasant that develops gradually w/o notice
define unequivocal
no doubt
define corollary
proposition
define incontrovertible
indisputable
define conjecture
acknowledge
define ostensibly
seemingly
define penchant
a strong likeness to something
define elicit
bring out/obtain
define raison d’être
the reason for the existence of presence of something
define objet d’art
ornamental work of art
define pièce de résistance
the most important or remarkable feature
define chic
to be stylish and elegant
define idyllic
picturesque, perfect
define panacea
a universal cure, cure-all
define inconceivable
unbelievable
define irrevocably
irreversibly
define inadvertently
accidentally
forlornly
regretfully, hopelessly (emotion or situation)
define extortionate
way too high of a price, exorbitant
define axiomatic
unquestionable
define confluence
merging
define zeitgeist
the general set of beliefs, ideas and moral values typical of a certain historical era
define denigration
the action of unfairly criticizing someone or something
define indubitably
absolutely, certainly
define pragmatic
practical and realistic
define ardent (supporter)
devoted
define (this argument) holds water
still reasonable, valid and sound
define prosaic
ordinary, commonplace
define litmus tests
a decisively indicative test
define efficacy
effectiveness to produce a desired result
define relinquish (something)
to voluntarily give up
define engender
to cause/give rise to
define multifarious
many and diverse types
define takes a backseat
to become secondary or less important
define verbatim
word for word
define befitting
appropriate, suitable
define callous
heartless, showing a cruel disregard for others
define espouse
adopt or support a view
define harbingers
someone or something that signals something is to come
define emblematize
to represent an idea or concept (almost like 象征)
define phantasmagorical
something that seems out of a dream, strange yet wonderful
define bereft
deprived/lack of
define vapid
insipid, bland
define posit
to propose an argument
define burgeoning
growing rapidly
define modicum (of veracity)
a little bit of truth
define ipso facto
because of (an earlier) fact
define amalgamation
combination
define halcyon
denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. (adj)
define resplendent
bright, attractive and impressive in appearance
define serendipitous
coincidental, lucky
define scrupulous
very attentive to detail
define pedantic
very attentive to detail
define fastidious
attentive to detail
define stentorian
loud and powerful (voice)
define litany
a tedious repetition of sth
define iniquitous
grossly unfair and morally wrong
define propensity
tendency to do sth
define trepidation
a feeling of fear or anxiety
define ad nauseum
so exceesively (discussed), that it makes one sick of it
define cognizant
to have awareness or knowledge of something
define insinuate
imply in an unpleasant manner
define portend
foreshadows
define impecunious
financially poor
define renege
go back on a promise or honor
define bucolic
rustic/rural
define esoteric
obscure, only understood by a small amount of people, abstruse
define vindictive
vengeful
define ad hominem
criticism/attacks against another person rather than what they say in an argument
define hegemony
absolute instituional and ideological control of a state by one particular organization/party
define illiberalism
undemocratic practices done in a seemingly democratic state (e.g. having elections but curtailing civil rights)
define aleatory (adj.)
random, spontaneous
define adulatory (adj.)
adulation (n.)
excessive flattery or admiration
define ameliorate
to improve and make something bad better
define geriatric
an old person
define opulence
great luxury and lavishness
define elucubrate
to burn the midnight oil
define supposition
a belief without proof / an assumption
define troglodyte
a hermit or an ancient cavedweller
define dispensation
exemption from a usual requirement/rule
define besotted (with)
infatuated with sth
define reprobate (n.)
a deprave, unprincipled person
define indefatigable
determined and untiring
define lypophrenia
sadness or sorrow from no particular source
define accismus
the pretended refusal of something one keenly desires
define superfluous
redundant, unncessary and extra
define asinine
extremely stupid or foolish
define fatuous
silly, not carefully thought out, or foolish
define incredulous
unbelievable
define pejorate
to make something worse/deteriorate
deifne hyponym
a word whose meaning is included in the meaning of another word
e.g. “horse” is a hyponym of “animal” (which is a hypernym)
define languish
to lose vitality, to weaken and rot
define tussle
a vigorous struggle to obtain or achieve sth.
define affront (can be used as a noun or verb)
an action or a remark that causes outrage or offense
define incongruous
out of place
define disputatious (adj.)
fond of arguing and disputing
define chthonic /tho-nik/
relating to the underworld/infernal
define quixotic
overly idealistic, impractical and unrealistic
define dearth
scarcity or lack of something
define perspicacity
perceptiveness
define ramifications
a complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event.
define putative
commonly accepted or supposed
define acquiesce
accept something reluctantly, but without protest
define (at an) inflection point
a moment when significant change occurs or may occur
define mercurial
subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
define tacit
understood or implied without being stated.
define ascendant
rising in power or influence
define expediency
the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral
define inexorable
impossible to stop or to prevent
OR
(a person) impossible to persuade
define spectre
something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence. (threat)
define calumny
slander
define inscrutable
impossible to understand or interpret
define misanthropic
antisocial, unsociable
define ceteris paribus
if all other relevant things, factors, or elements remain unaltered
- commonly used in an economic context such as
“This will have the effect of raising the demand and, ceteris paribus, the price.”
define undercurrent
an underlying feeling or influence contrary to the prevailing one, not expressed openly
define effectuate
to cause or bring about (something) : to put (something) into effect or operation (formal)
define inter alia
among other things
