Great Expectations Flashcards
1
Q
Whittle
A
to make something from a piece of wood by cutting off small, thin pieces:
2
Q
Bramble
A
a wild bush with thorns, that produces blackberries:
3
Q
Larceny
A
stealing, especially (in the US) the crime of taking something that does not belong to you, without illegally entering a building to do so
4
Q
Premise
A
an idea or theory on which a statement or action is based:
5
Q
Exertion
A
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.
6
Q
To badger
A
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.
7
Q
Damp
A
slightly wet, especially in a way that is not pleasant or comfortable:
8
Q
Obstinately
A
unreasonably determined, especially to act in a particular way and not to change at all, despite what anyone else says:
9
Q
Rivet
A
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.
10
Q
Lame
A
(especially of animals) not able to walk correctly because of physical injury to or weakness in the legs or feet
11
Q
Hoarse
A
(of a voice or a person) having a rough voice, often because of a sore throat or a cold:
12
Q
Timidly
A
shy and nervous; without much confidence; easily frightened:
13
Q
Torch
A
a stick that burns at one end and is held at the other end and is used esp. as a light:
14
Q
Chafe
A
to make or become damaged or sore by rubbing:
Annoyed
15
Q
Prodigious
A
extremely great in ability, amount, or strength:
She wrote a truly prodigious number of novels.
16
Q
Vicariously
A
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.
17
Q
Congregation
A
a group of people who have come together in a religious building for worship and prayer:
18
Q
Merit
A
the quality of being good and deserving praise:
19
Q
Retort
A
to answer someone quickly in an angry or funny way:
20
Q
Feeble
A
weak and without energy, strength, or power:
He was a feeble, helpless old man.
21
Q
Abhor (abhorrence)
A
to hate a way of behaving or thinking, often because you think it is not moral:
I abhor all forms of racism.
22
Q
Consternation
A
a feeling of worry, shock, or confusion:
23
Q
Vivaciously
A
in a way that is attractively energetic and enthusiastic:
She chatted vivaciously while he remained sulky and morose
24
Q
blurt
A
to say something suddenly, and without thinking of the results
25
shrill
having a loud and high sound that is unpleasant or painful to listen to
26
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.
27
Seclusion
quiet, private, and not near people, roads, or buildings:
a secluded beach
a secluded house in the forest
28
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.
29
Sullen
angry and unwilling to smile or be pleasant to people:
| His daughters stared back at him with an expression of sullen resentment.
30
Timid
shy and nervous; without much confidence; easily frightened:
Kieran is a timid child.
My dog is a little timid - especially around other dogs.
31
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.
32
Beam
a line of light that shines from a bright object:
33
Preposterous
very silly or stupid:
| The very idea is preposterous!
34
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
35
apparition
the spirit of a dead person appearing in a form that can be seen
36
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
37
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
38
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.
39
blurt
to say something suddenly, and without thinking of the results
40
shrill
having a loud and high sound that is unpleasant or painful to listen to
41
pathetic
causing feelings of sadness, sympathy, or sometimes lack of respect, especially because a person or an animal is suffering:
42
Frantic
almost out of control because of extreme emotion, such as worry:
Where on earth have you been? We've been frantic with worry.
43
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.
44
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.
45
Humbug
dishonest talk, writing, or behaviour that is intended to deceive people:
the usual political humbug
46
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.
47
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.
48
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.
49
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.
50
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
51
Scramble
to move or climb quickly but with difficulty, often using your hands to help you:
She scrambled up the steep hillside and over the rocks.
He scrambled into his clothes (= put them on quickly) and raced to get help.
to compete with other people for something there is very little of:
52
Prowl
to move around quietly in a place trying not to be seen or heard, such as an animal does when hunting:
There have been reports of a masked man prowling in the neighbourhood.
53
Dexterous
having the ability to perform a difficult action quickly and skilfully with the hands:
a dexterous movement
East Asians are generally dexterous, in part because they grow up eating with chopsticks.
54
Trepidation
fear or worry about what is going to happen:
We view future developments with some trepidation.
After graduation, I have been unemployed for long thinking about future with great trepidation.
55
Condescend
If you condescend to do something, you agree to do something that you do not consider to be good enough for your social position:
56
Discern
to see, recognize, or understand something that is not clear:
I could just discern a figure in the darkness.
It is difficult to discern any pattern in these figures
57
Ostentatiously
in a way that is very obvious and is an attempt to make people notice you, especially to notice your money or expensive possessions:
The room was ostentatiously decorated in white and silver.
He took out his gold watch and laid it ostentatiously on the table in front of him.
58
Shove
to push someone or something forcefully:
She was jostled and shoved by an angry crowd as she left the court.
Just wait your turn - there's no need to shove.
59
Excrescences
something considered to be very ugly:
| The new office development is an excrescence on the face of the city.
60
Contrive
to arrange a situation or event, or arrange for something to happen, using clever planning:
Couldn't you contrive a meeting between them? I think they'd really like each other.
61
Queer
strange, unusual, or not expected:
What a queer thing to say!
I'm feeling rather queer (= ill), may I sit down?
62
Swindle
to get money dishonestly from someone by deceiving or cheating them:
They swindled local businesses out of thousands of dollars.
The wealthy banker was ultimately convicted of swindling investors
Swindling Pumblechook
63
Exalt
to raise someone to a higher rank or more powerful position
| He felt an exalted sense of power now that he was in line to run the company.
64
periphery
the outer edge of an area:
Houses have been built on the periphery of the factory site.
the less important part of a group or activity:
Many women feel they are being kept on the periphery of the armed forces.
65
curtly
in a way that is very quick and slightly rude:
| Steve answered curtly and turned his back on me.
66
Rant
to speak or shout in a loud or angry way:
| I got really wound up and started ranting and raving.
67
Flee
```
to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear:
She fled (from) the room in tears.
```
68
Preposterous
very silly or stupid:
The very idea is preposterous!
a preposterous suggestion
69
Slouch
to stand, sit, or walk with the shoulders hanging forward and the head bent slightly over so that you look tired and bored:
Straighten your back - try not to slouch.
A couple of boys were slouched over the table reading magazines.
A group of teenagers were slouching around outside the building.
70
Shrew
an unpleasant woman who is easily annoyed and who argues a lot
Mrs.Joe is a shrew woman!
71
Denounce
to criticize something or someone strongly and publicly:
The government's economic policy has been denounced on all sides.
We must denounce injustice and oppression.
72
Latent
present but needing particular conditions to become active, obvious, or completely developed:
Recent developments in the area have brought latent ethnic tension out into the open.
We're trying to bring out the latent artistic talents that many people possess without realizing it.
Discriminating black people has been a latent issue in America, and Floyd's death was a tipping point of yearslong oppression.
73
Vexation
worry or anger:
The lack of a clear timetable is dangerous: the existence of two systems operating side by side will cause enormous vexation and unhappiness.
74
Ferociously
frightening and violent:
a ferocious dog
a ferocious battle
She's got a ferocious (= very bad) temper.
The president came in for some ferocious criticism.
75
Pious
strongly believing in religion, and living in a way that shows this belief:
She is a pious follower of the faith, never missing her prayers.
76
Render
1) to cause someone or something to be in a particular state:
His rudeness rendered me speechless.
2) to give something such as a service, a personal opinion or expression, or a performance of a song or poem, etc. to people:
The singers rendered the song with enthusiasm.
We see that freight railroads make good profits while rendering excellent service.
3) to represent something in a work of art or a performance:
The drawing was rendered in muted pastels.
77
To exult
to express great pleasure or happiness, especially at someone else's defeat or failure:
They exulted at/over their victory.
She seems to exult in her power.
78
To exult
to express great pleasure or happiness, especially at someone else's defeat or failure:
They exulted at/over their victory.
She seems to exult in her power.
79
to Remunerate
to pay someone for work or services:
| He is poorly remunerated for all the work he does.
80
fervent
used to describe beliefs that are strongly and sincerely felt or people who have strong and sincere beliefs:
a fervent supporter of the communist party
It is his fervent hope that a peaceful solution will soon be found.
81
confound
to confuse and very much surprise someone, so that they are unable to explain or deal with a situation:
An elderly man from Hull has confounded doctors by recovering after he was officially declared dead.
82
perusal
the action of reading through something, especially to find the part you are interested in:
He sent a copy of the report to the governors for their perusal.
a brief perus
83
to relinguish
to give up something such as a responsibility or claim:
He has relinquished his claim to the throne.
She relinquished control of the family investments to her son
84
fetch
to go to another place to get something or someone and bring it, him, or her back:
Could you fetch me my glasses/fetch my glasses for me from the other room, please?
I have to fetch my mother from the station.
When Mr.Pocket was setting up Pip in his room, showing the room and before leaving him to rest he told him that if he needs anything he will go and FETCH it!
85
Acquiesce
to accept or agree to something, often unwillingly:
| Harvey Specter makes his enemies acquiesce to his terms if you wants to.
86
Haughty
unfriendly and seeming to consider yourself better than other people:
She has a rather haughty manner.
Most kazakhs whom you meet abroad behave haughtily.
In the first sight, Bereke seemed like a haughty guy.
87
to propitiate
to please and make calm a god or person who is annoyed with you:
In those days people might sacrifice a goat or sheep to propitiate an angry god.
The radicals in the party were clearly sacked to propitiate the conservative core
88
Surly
ften in a bad mood, unfriendly, and not polite:
We were served by a very surly waiter.
He gave me a surly look.
89
Obtuseness
the quality of being stupid and slow to understand, or unwilling to try to understand:
He shook his head at his own obtuseness.
Amy's obtuseness is difficult to understand.
Shaken’s obtuseness is a hard one to handle.
90
conscientious
putting a lot of effort into your work:
a conscientious student
Hanai Sadaka was conscientious teacher.
91
lamentation
sadness and feeling sorry, or something that expresses these feelings:
For all the lamentations that schools do not teach the game, it is still played in some areas.
92
incongruous
unusual or different from what is around or from what is generally happening:
The new computer looked incongruous in the dark book-filled library.
It seems incongruous to have a woman as the editor of a men's magazine.
93
contempt
a strong feeling of disliking and having no respect for someone or something:
At school she had complete contempt for all her teachers.
You should treat those remarks with the contempt that they deserve.
She's beneath contempt (= I have no respect for her)!
Pip held Drummle in contempt from Joe.
94
pernicious
having a very harmful effect or influence:
| The cuts in government funding have had a pernicious effect on local health service
95
Elicit
to get or produce something, especially information or a reaction:
Have you managed to elicit a response from them yet?
The questionnaire was intended to elicit information on eating habits.
They were able to elicit the support of the public.
96
Wretched
unpleasant or of low quality:
a wretched childhood
The people live in wretched conditions, with no running water.
97
Extort
to get something by force or threats, or with difficulty:
He had been extorting money from the old lady for years.
Police have not so far been able to extort a confession from the people accused of the bombing.
98
Miscreant
someone who behaves badly or does not obey rules:
We need to discourage miscreants.
Trabb’s boy is a miscreant
99
Meek
quiet, gentle, and not willing to argue or express your opinions in a forceful way:
She seemed so very meek and mild.
100
rueful
feeling sorry and wishing that something had not happened:
| He turned away with a rueful laugh
101
Exuberant
(especially of people and their behaviour) very energetic:
| Young and exuberant, he symbolizes Italy's new vitality.
102
Conceited
too proud of yourself and your actions and abilities:
| Without wishing to sound conceited, I am the best salesperson in the company.
103
Deliberate
often of something bad) intentional or planned:
a deliberate attack/insult/lie
We made a deliberate decision to live apart for a while.
104
Repugnance
a feeling of disgust caused by behaviour or beliefs, etc. which are very unpleasant:
The thought of eating meat fills me with repugnance.
Overcoming his physical repugnance, he reached out to touch the wound.
105
Supercilious
behaving as if you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs, or ideas are not important:
He spoke in a haughty, supercilious voice.
106
assiduity
great care and attention to detail:
They researched the subject with great assiduity.
The reputation and usefulness of the company will depend on the skill and assiduity with which the members of the board manage its concerns.
107
earnestness
determination and seriousness, especially when this is without humour:
Sincerity and earnestness are his strong points.
The affectionate earnestness of his manner gave the child confidence in him
108
maul
to physically attack and badly hurt a person or animal:
A jogger was mauled by a huge bear
criticize
109
stroll
to walk in a slow relaxed way, especially for pleasure:
We could stroll along the beach after dinner.
An elderly couple strolled hand in hand in the park.
110
growl
to make a low, rough sound, usually in anger:
The dog growled at her and snapped at her ankles.
[ + speech ] "Not now, I'm busy,"
111
cringe
to suddenly move away from someone or something because you are frightened
to feel very embarrassed:
I cringed at the sight of my dad dancing
112
Vacillate
to be uncertain what to do, or to change often between two opinions:
Her mood vacillated between hope and despair.
113
Forfeiture
the loss of rights, property, or money, especially as a result of breaking a legal agreement:
He was deep in debt and facing forfeiture of his property.
114
Sly
deceiving people in a clever way in order to get what you want:
He's a sly old devil - I wouldn't trust him with my money.
115
Remonstrate
to complain to someone or about something:
I went to the boss to remonstrate against the new rules.
The editor remonstrated with him about the inaccuracies in the story.
116
Perplexity
a state of confusion or a complicated and difficult situation or thing:
She stared at the instruction booklet in complete perplexity.
the perplexities of life
117
Exasperating
annoying, especially because you can do nothing to solve a problem:
It's so exasperating when he won't listen to a word that I say.
118
Eloquent
giving a clear, strong message:
She made an eloquent appeal for action.
The pictures were an eloquent reminder of the power of the volcano.
119
Clairvoyance
the power to see the future or to see things that other people cannot see:
He believed in clairvoyance and magnetic healers.
He was struck by a moment of clairvoyance. "You're going to have a great game," he said to his roommate.
120
Jubilation
a feeling of great happiness, especially because of a success:
There was jubilation in the crowd as the winning goal was scored.
121
Delirious
unable to think or speak clearly because of fever or mental confusion:
She had a high temperature and was delirious.
122
Parole
permission for a prisoner to be released before their period in prison is finished, with the agreement that they will behave well:
He's been released on parole.
She hopes to be eligible for parole in three years.
Reynolds was sentenced to life without parole.
123
Insinuation
the action of suggesting, without being direct, that something unpleasant is true:
[ + that ] We resent these insinuations that we are not capable of leading the company forward.
I reject the insinuation behind your question.
124
Mock
to laugh at someone, often by copying them in a funny but unkind way:
They were mocking him because he kept falling off his bike.
She made fun of him by mocking his limp.
to make something appear stupid or not effective:
The wind mocked their attempts to reach the shore by pushing the boat further and further out to sea.
125
Lugubrious
sad and serious:
| a lugubrious face
