Go over Advanced 5/6 Flashcards
phlegmatic
phlegmatic
adjective: showing little emotion
Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply phlegmatic: he doesn’t have the energy or inclination to care about anything.
inanity
inanity
noun: total lack of meaning or ideas
Bill’s poem was nothing more than a list of impressive sounding words, so there was no point in trying to take meaning from the inanity.
recrudesce
recrudesce
verb: to break out or happen again
After years of gamblers anonymous, Tony thought he’d broken his compulsive slot machine playing, but it took only one trip to the Atlantic City for a full recrudescence–he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.
objurgate
objurgate
verb: express strong disapproval of
The manager spent an hour objurgating the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.
appurtenant
appurtenant
adjective: supplying added support
In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.
solicitude
solicitude
noun: a feeling of excessive concern
I walked to his house in the rain to make sure he had enough to eat while he was sick, but he seemed not to appreciate my solicitude.
brook
brook
verb: put up with something or somebody unpleasant
While she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not brook any form of talking–even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
untrammelled
untrammeled
adjective: not confined or limited
The whole notion of living untrammeled inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
arrogate
arrogate
verb: seize and control without authority
Arriving at the small town, the outlaw arrogated the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.
philistine
philistine
adjective: smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values
Jane considered Al completely philistine, because he talked almost exclusively about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was.
reprisal
reprisal
noun: a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime
The Old Testament doctrine of “an eye for an eye” would seem to justify an immediate physical reprisal for any injury, but that interpretation neglects the many passages that value mercy and loving-kindness over revenge.
turgid
turgid
adjective: (of language) pompous and tedious
The amount of GRE vocabulary he used increased with his years–by the time he was 60, his novels were so turgid that even his diehard fans refused to read them.
stultify
stultify
verb: cause one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm
As an undergraduate Mark felt stultified by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge.
inequity
inequity
noun: injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standards
After decades of racial inequity, the “separate but equal” doctrine was successfully overturned.
panegyric
panegyric
noun: a formal expression of praise
Dave asked Andrew to do just a simple toast, but Andrew launched into a full panegyric, enumerating a complete list of Dave’s achievements and admirable qualities.
impugn
impugn
verb: attack as false or wrong
Though many initially tried to impugn Darwin’s theory, in scientific circles today, the idea is taken as truth.
assiduously
assiduously
adverb: with care and persistence
The top college football program recruits new talent assiduously, only choosing those who were the top in their county.
coterminous
coterminous
adjective: being of equal extent or scope or duration
The border of the state is coterminous with geographic limits on travel; the east and north are surrounded by a nearly uncrossable river and the south by a desert.
mendicant
mendicant
noun: a pauper who lives by begging
Tolstoy was an aristocrat, but he strove to understand the Christianity of the Russian peasants by wandering among them as a mendicant.
discursive
discursive
adjective: (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point
Many readers find it tough to read Moby Dick since the author is discursive, often cutting the action short to spend 20 pages on the history of a whale.
inviolable
inviolable
never to be broken infringed or dishonoured
internecine
internecine
destructive to both sides (of conflict) within a group or organization
“the region’s history of savage internecine warfare”
solicitous
solicitous
showing hovering atttentitivness
pontificate
pontificate
talk in a dogmatic and pompest manner
demonstrative
demonstrative
adjective: given to or marked by the open expression of emotion
When Sally told James that she wanted to break up with him, she expected he would react demonstratively, but he quietly nodded his head and left without saying a word.
dissemble
dissemble
verb: conceal one’s true motives, usually through deceit
To get close to the senator, the assassin dissembled his intentions, convincing many people that he was a reporter for a well-known newspaper.
canard
canard
noun: a deliberately misleading fabrication
The public will always be fooled by the media’s canards.
palaver
palaver
verb: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
During the rain delay, many who had come to see the game palavered, probably hoping that idle chatter would make the time go by faster.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
oblique
oblique
adjective: not straightforward; indirect
Herbert never explicitly revealed anything negative about Tom’s past, but at times he would obliquely suggest that Tom was not as innocent as he seemed.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
bereft
bereft
adjective: unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love
After 64 years of marriage, William was bereft after the death of his wife.
adjective: sorrowful through loss or deprivation
“You are not bereft if you haven’t played on your Xbox in the past week,” his mother said.
surfiet
surfeit
noun: an excessive amount of something
There was no such thing as a surfeit of shopping for Nancy–she could stay at the outlet stores from opening to closing time.
graft
graft
noun: corruption, usually through bribery
In countries with rampant graft, getting a driver’s license can require no more than paying an official.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
pillory
pillory
verb: ridicule or expose to public scorn
After the candidate confessed, the press of the opposing party took the opportunity to pillory him, printing editorials with the most blatantly exaggerated accusations.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
obtain
obtain
verb: be valid, applicable, or true
The custom of waiting your turn in line does not obtain in some countries, in which many people try to rush to front of the line at the same time.
promulgate
promulgate
verb: state or announce
The President wanted to promulgate the success of the treaty negotiations, but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement.
exiguity
exiguity
noun: the quality of being meager
After two months at sea, the exiguity of the ship’s supplies forced them to search for fresh water and food.
Abrogate
Abrogate
revoke formally
Adjudicate
Adjudicate
to serve as a judge in a competition, to arrive at a judgment or conclusion
Trenchant
Trenchant
characterized by full force or vigour
Splenetic
Splenetic
very irritable
Ineluctable
Ineluctable
impossible to avoid or evade
Officious
Officious
intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
infelicitous
infelicitous
inappropriate
dissolution
dissolution
living a life of debauchary and indulgence in sensual pleasures
