Great Expectations Flashcards
Whittle
to make something from a piece of wood by cutting off small, thin pieces:
Bramble
a wild bush with thorns, that produces blackberries:
Larceny
stealing, especially (in the US) the crime of taking something that does not belong to you, without illegally entering a building to do so
Premise
an idea or theory on which a statement or action is based:
Exertion
the use of a lot of mental or physical effort:
I get out of breath with any kind of physical exertion.
We were exhausted after our exertions.
To badger
to persuade someone by telling them repeatedly to do something, or to question someone repeatedly:
Stop badgering me - I’ll do it when I’m ready.
Damp
slightly wet, especially in a way that is not pleasant or comfortable:
Obstinately
unreasonably determined, especially to act in a particular way and not to change at all, despite what anyone else says:
Rivet
to fasten parts together with a rivet:
to not be able to stop looking at something because it is so interesting or frightening:
It was an amazing film - I was absolutely riveted.
Lame
(especially of animals) not able to walk correctly because of physical injury to or weakness in the legs or feet
Hoarse
(of a voice or a person) having a rough voice, often because of a sore throat or a cold:
Timidly
shy and nervous; without much confidence; easily frightened:
Torch
a stick that burns at one end and is held at the other end and is used esp. as a light:
Chafe
to make or become damaged or sore by rubbing:
Annoyed
Prodigious
extremely great in ability, amount, or strength:
She wrote a truly prodigious number of novels.
Vicariously
in a vicarious way (= experienced through the activities of other people, rather than by doing something yourself):
Aidar has a habit of joining pot smoking only vicariously
People like to vicariously experience that kind of danger.
Congregation
a group of people who have come together in a religious building for worship and prayer:
Merit
the quality of being good and deserving praise:
Retort
to answer someone quickly in an angry or funny way:
Feeble
weak and without energy, strength, or power:
He was a feeble, helpless old man.
Abhor (abhorrence)
to hate a way of behaving or thinking, often because you think it is not moral:
I abhor all forms of racism.
Consternation
a feeling of worry, shock, or confusion:
Vivaciously
in a way that is attractively energetic and enthusiastic:
She chatted vivaciously while he remained sulky and morose
blurt
to say something suddenly, and without thinking of the results
shrill
having a loud and high sound that is unpleasant or painful to listen to
Erudition
the state of having or containing a lot of knowledge that is known by few people:
a work of great erudition
She was known for her wit and erudition.
Seclusion
quiet, private, and not near people, roads, or buildings:
a secluded beach
a secluded house in the forest
Barred
If a door is barred, a bar of wood or metal has been put across it so that it cannot be opened:
They arrived at the house to find the door locked and barred.
Sullen
angry and unwilling to smile or be pleasant to people:
His daughters stared back at him with an expression of sullen resentment.
Timid
shy and nervous; without much confidence; easily frightened:
Kieran is a timid child.
My dog is a little timid - especially around other dogs.
Recluse (n)
a person who lives alone and avoids going outside or talking to other people:
He is a millionaire recluse who refuses to give interviews.
Beam
a line of light that shines from a bright object:
Preposterous
very silly or stupid:
The very idea is preposterous!
Obliterate
to remove all signs of something, either by destroying it or by covering it so that it cannot be seen:
The missile strike was devastating - the target was totally obliterated.
District 13 was obliterated
apparition
the spirit of a dead person appearing in a form that can be seen
apprehension
worry about the future, or a fear that something unpleasant is going to happen:
It’s normal to feel a little apprehension before starting a new job
to cock
1) to move a part of your body upwards or in a particular direction:
2) to prepare a gun so that it is ready for firing
to execrate
to have or show feelings of hate towards someone or something:
I execrate any policy that interferes with the rights and freedoms of others.
blurt
to say something suddenly, and without thinking of the results
shrill
having a loud and high sound that is unpleasant or painful to listen to
pathetic
causing feelings of sadness, sympathy, or sometimes lack of respect, especially because a person or an animal is suffering:
Frantic
almost out of control because of extreme emotion, such as worry:
Where on earth have you been? We’ve been frantic with worry.
Penitence
the feeling of being sorry for something you have done because you feel it was wrong, or the act of showing this:
He expressed penitence for what he had done.
Toady
a person who praises and is artificially pleasant to people in authority, usually in order to get some advantage from them:
Everywhere he goes he is surrounded by an entourage of toadies.
Pumblechook was a toady asshole.
Shostakovich was often seen as a political toady to Stalin.
Humbug
dishonest talk, writing, or behaviour that is intended to deceive people:
the usual political humbug
Propriety
correct moral behaviour or actions:
The director insisted that there was no question as to the propriety of how the funds were raised.
She was careful always to behave with propriety.
Consolation
something that makes someone who is sad or disappointed feel better:
If it’s (of) any consolation (to you), you’re not the only one he was nasty to.
I didn’t know what to say - I just offered a few words of consolation.
Rebuff
to refuse to accept a helpful suggestion or offer from someone, often by answering in an unfriendly way:
She rebuffed all suggestions that she should resign.
Obnoxious
very unpleasant or rude:
Some of his colleagues say that he’s loud and obnoxious.
When she’s in a bad mood she’s obnoxious to everyone.
Decay
to become gradually damaged, worse, or less; to cause something to do this:
Sugar makes your teeth decay.
The role of the extended family has been decaying for some time.
Pollution has decayed the surface of the stonework on the front of the cathedral.
the smell of decaying meat