H-English Flashcards
schadenfreude
n. satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune.
eg) The sadistic student’s schadenfrude against the victim raises my neck hairs and chills to my back.
meticulous
adj. showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise
eg. ) The designs are hand-glazed with meticulous care.
deplore
v. feel or express strong condemnation of (something).
eg. ) We deplore all violence.
engender
v. cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition).
eg. ) The issue engendered continuing controversy
controversy
n. prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion
eg. ) The design of the building has caused controversy
dissident
n. a person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.
eg. ) A dissident who had been jailed by a military regime
archaic
adj. very old or old-fashioned
eg. ) Prisons are run on archaic methods
docile
adj. ready to accept control or instruction; submissive.
eg. ) A cheap and docile workforce
pacify
v. to soothe, calm down, quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of.
eg. ) he had to pacify angry spectators
gregarious
adj. friendly, (of a person) fond of company; sociable.
eg. ) he was a popular and gregarious man
haughty
adj. arrogantly superior and disdainful.
eg. ) A look of haughty disdain
conceited
adj. excessively proud of oneself; vain.
eg. ) Fred’s so conceited he’d never believe anyone would refuse him
disdain
n. the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one’s consideration or respect.
eg. ) Her upper lip curled in disdain
surmise
v. to guess
eg. ) he surmised that something must be wrong
consolidate (2)
v. 1.) make (something) physically stronger or more solid.
eg. ) the first phase of the project is to consolidate the outside walls
2. ) combine (a number of things) into a single more effective or coherent whole, to unify
eg. ) all manufacturing activities have been consolidated in new premises
conjure (2)
v. 1.) cause (a spirit or ghost) to appear by means of a magic ritual.
eg. ) they hoped to conjure up the spirit of their dead friend
2. ) [archaic] implore (someone) to do something.
eg. ) she conjured him to return
glum
adj. looking or feeling dejected; morose.
eg. ) the princess looked glum but later cheered up
quell
v. put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force.
eg. ) extra police were called to quell the disturbance
burly
adj. (of a person) large and strong; heavily built.
eg. ) I saw a burly figure approaching
reverence (2)
n. deep respect for someone or something
eg. ) rituals showed honour and reverence for the dead
v. regard or treat with deep respect.
eg. ) the many divine beings reverenced by Hindu tradition
ventured (2)
v. 1.) undertake a risky or daring journey or course of action.
eg. ) she ventured out into the blizzard
2. ) dare to do or say something that may be considered audacious (often used as a polite expression of hesitation or apology).
eg. ) may I venture to add a few comments?
superficial (2)
adj. 1.) existing or occurring at or on the surface.
eg. ) the building suffered only superficial damage
2. ) appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely.
eg. ) the resemblance between the breeds is superficial
paradigm
n. a typical example or pattern of something; a pattern or model.
eg. ) society’s paradigm of the ‘ideal woman’
profoundly
adv. to a profound extent; extremely.
eg. ) a profoundly disturbing experience
undermine
v. 1.) erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation).
eg. ) the flow of water had undermined pillars supporting the roof
2. ) lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously
eg. ) this could undermine years of hard work
jester
n. a professional joker or ‘fool’ at a medieval court, typically wearing a cap with bells on it and carrying a mock sceptre.
fluctuate
v. rise and fall irregularly in number or amount.
eg) trade with other countries tends to fluctuate from year to year
camaraderie
n. mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.
eg. ) the enforced camaraderie of office life
trough
n. 1.) a long, narrow open container for animals to eat or drink out of
eg. ) a water trough
2. ) a channel used to convey a liquid.
v. [informal] eat greedily.
mediocre
adj. of only average quality; not very good.
eg. ) Mediocre construction makes that building dangerous
subjugate
v. bring under domination or control, especially by conquest.
eg. ) the invaders had soon subjugated most of the population
derrick
n. a large crane
eg. ) The oil field was crowded with derricks
zinnia
n. a colourful flower that blooms once a year
eg. ) By late summer, Mom’s garden is bright with zinnias.
maverick
n. someone who doesn’t go along with a group’s thinking
eg. ) She is very original and something of a maverick in her field.
boycott
v. to stop using something
eg. ) People threatened to boycott the store because of its policies.
saturnine
adj. gloomy
eg. ) The main character in the movie seemed glum and saturnine to the viewers
laconic
adj. (of a person) uses few words
eg. ) Devon’s response to the question was short and laconic.
sequioia
n. giant redwood tree
eg. ) A national park in California is noted for its stands of sequoia trees.
bacitracin
n. an antibiotic ointment
eg. ) The nurse applied bacitracin to Ziggy’s cut
mesmerize
v. to hypnotize
eg. ) The children were mesmerized by the musician and sat there listening for hours.
dissent
n. the holding or expression of opinions at variance with those commonly or officially held.
eg. ) there was no dissent from this view
v. hold or express opinions that are at variance with those commonly or officially held.
eg. ) two members dissented from the majority
consent
n. permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.
eg. ) no change may be made without the consent of all the partners
v. give permission for something to happen
eg. ) he consented to a search by a detective
relent
v. abandon or mitigate a severe or harsh attitude, especially by finally yielding to a request.
eg. ) she was going to refuse his request, but relented
mitigate
v1. make (something bad) less severe, serious, or painful.
eg. ) drainage schemes have helped to mitigate this problem
v2. lessen the gravity of (an offence or mistake).
eg. ) he would have faced a prison sentence but for mitigating circumstances
hail
v. have one’s home or origins in (a place).
eg. ) “they hail from Turkey”
pariah
n. an outcast
eg. ) they were treated as social pariahs
condemnation
n. the expression of very strong disapproval; censure.
eg. ) there was strong international condemnation of the attack
integrity
n. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
eg. ) a gentleman of complete integrity
cynical
adj. believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.
eg. ) he was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun
conjugate
v. give the different forms of (a verb in an inflected language such as Latin) as they vary according to voice, mood, tense, number, and person.
eg. ) conjugating verbs forms part of language study
regime
n1. a government, especially an authoritarian one.
eg. ) ideological opponents of the regime
n2. a system or ordered way of doing things.
eg. ) detention centres with a very tough physical regime
sardonic
adj. characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering.
eg. ) This person is sadistic and sardonic. Not many will come near her. Instead, they would walk away in disgust.
submissive
adj. ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive.
eg. ) a submissive, almost sheeplike people
conform
v. comply with rules, standards, or laws.
eg. ) the kitchen does not conform to hygiene regulations
comply
v. act in accordance with a wish or command.
eg. ) we are unable to comply with your request
detrimental
adj. tending to cause harm.
eg. ) recent policies have been detrimental to the interests of many old people
sidelong
adj. directed to or from one side; sideways.
“Steve gave her a sidelong glance”
apprehension
n. anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
“he felt sick with apprehension”
whopper
n. a big lie
secular
adj. not bound to religious rules
eg. ) …whether to allow schools to appoint secular welfare workers or not…
welfare workers
n. social workers
chaplains
n. a member of the clergy attached to a private chapel, institution, ship, regiment, etc
sack
[informal] v. dismiss from employment.
procession
n. a number of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly fashion, especially as part of a ceremony.
eg. ) “a funeral procession”
indifferent
adj. having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned.
eg. ) “he gave an indifferent shrug”
permeating
v. spread throughout (something)
eg. ) “the aroma of soup permeated the air”
thwart
v. prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.
eg. ) “he never did anything to thwart his father”
sovereginty
n. supreme power or authority.
eg. ) “how can we hope to wrest sovereignty away from the oligarchy and back to the people?”
pendant
adj. hanging downward; pendent.
eg. ) “Here was loop of creeper with a tendril pendant from a node.”
oppressive
adj. unjustly inflicting hardship and constraint, esp. on a minority or other subordinate group.
eg. ) “The silence of the forest was more oppressive than the heat”
rouse
v. to bring out of sleep; awaken
eg. ) “Only when Jack himself roused a gaudy bird from a primitive nest of sticks was the silence shattered”
gaudy
adj. extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless.
eg. ) “Only when Jack himself roused a gaudy bird from a primitive nest of sticks was the silence shattered”
furtive
adj. attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive.
eg. ) “…became less of a hunter than a furtive thing”
avidly
adv. with having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something.
eg. ) “He searched through the forest avidly.”
pallor
n. an unhealthy pale appearance.
eg. ) “there was an even passing pallor in his face”
trodden
v. (past participle of tread) walk in a specified way.
eg. ) “The trodden ground at his feet”
inscrutable
adj. impossible to understand or interpret; fathomless, incomprehensible
eg. ) “He stared at the inscrutable masses of creeper that lay across the trail.”
accustomed
adj. customary, usual
castanet
n. small concave pieces of wood, ivory, or plastic, joined in pairs by a cord and clicked together by the fingers as a rhythmic accompaniment to Spanish dancing.
trotters
n. foot (esp pig’s foot used in food)
eg. ) “…pig’s trotters”
vissicitude
n. a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
eg. ) “stained by all of the vissicitudes of a day’s hunting”
contraption
n. a machine or device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often badly made or unsafe.
eg. ) “Ralph was standing by a contraption of palm trunks an leaves”
rude
adj. roughly made or done; lacking subtlety or sophistication.
eg. ) “A rude shelter”
contrite
adj. feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt.
eg. ) “Simon’s contrite face appeared in the hole”
gesticulated
v. to gesture in exaggerated way, instead of speaking or to emphasize one’s words.
compulsion
n. the action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint.
antagonism
n. active hostility or opposition.
eg. ) “Now the antagonism was audible.”
batty
adj. crazy; insane
eg. ) “They’re batty”
glamour
n. the attractive or exciting quality that makes certain people or things seem appealing or special.
eg. ) “…remembering the glamour on the first day”
intent
adj. resolved or determined to do (something).
indignant
adj. feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.
declivities
n. a downward slope.
eg. ) “Jack was pointing to the high declivities that led down from the mountain to the flatter part of the island”
bewildered
v. cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused.
eg. ) “Ralph gazed bewildered at his rapt face”
rapt
adj. completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing.
eg. ) “Ralph gazed bewildered at his rapt face”
queer
adj. strange, odd
eg. ) “He’s queer. He’s funny”
tacit
adj. understood or implied without being stated.
eg. ) “… by tacit consent they left the shelter”
consent
n. permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.
eg. ) “… by tacit consent they left the shelter”
trek
v. go on a long arduous (or hard) journey, typically on foot.
eg. ) “I’ll just trek over to the other side of the mountain”
baffled
adj. totally bewilder or perplex.
lugged
v. carry or drag (a heavy or bulky object) with great effort.
eg. ) “lugged him towards the trees”
amid
prep. surrounded by; in the middle of.
eg. ) “amid the roar of bees”
clamorously
adv. with making a loud and confused noise.
eg. ) “life went on clamorously”
flaunted
v. to display (something) ostentatiously, esp. in order to provoke envy or admiration or to show defiance.
eg. ) “a rapid climber flaunted red and yellow sprays right to the top”
ostentatiously
adv. showily
susurration
n. voicelessness, whisper, whispering
eg. ) “The deep sea breaking miles away on the reef made an undertone less perceptible than the susurration of the blood”
riotous
adj. marked by or involving public disorder.
eg. ) “The riotous colours died” or “a riotous crowd”
sepals
n. each of the parts of the calyx of a flower, enclosing the petals and typically green and leaflike.
abomination
n. a thing that causes disgust or loathing.
eg. ) concrete abominations masquerading as hotels
masquerade
v. pretend to be someone one is not.
eg. ) a journalist masquerading as a man in distress
condescending
adj. having or showing an attitude of patronizing superiority.
eg. ) she thought the teachers were arrogant and condescending
patronizing
v. to speak down to others, acting as though you are smarter, classier, or just plain better than anyone else.
obelisk
n. a tapering stone pillar, typically having a square or rectangular cross section, set up as a monument or landmark.
delegate
v. entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself.
eg. ) she must delegate duties so as to free herself for more important tasks
incongruous
adj. not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something.
eg. ) the duffel coat looked incongruous with the black dress she wore underneath
ballast
n. heavy material, such as gravel, sand, or iron, placed in the bilge of a ship to ensure its stability.
eg. ) the hull had insufficient ballast
chivalry
n1. the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.
eg. ) the age of chivalry
n2. knights, noblemen, and horsemen collectively.
eg. ) “I fought against the cream of French chivalry”
chasm
n1. a deep fissure in the earth’s surface.
eg. ) “a chasm a mile long”
n2. a profound difference between people, viewpoints, feelings, etc.
eg. ) “the chasm between rich and poor”
temperament
n1. a person’s or animal’s nature, especially as it permanently affects their behaviour.
eg. ) she had an artistic temperament
cessation
n. the fact or process of ending or being brought to an end.
eg. ) “the cessation of hostilities”
ventriloquy
n. an act of stagecraft in which a person (a ventriloquist) changes his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppeteered “dummy”
