Hit Parade 2 Flashcards
abate
(verb) to lessen in intensity or degree
accolade
(noun) an expression of praise
adulation
(noun) excessive praise; intense adoration
aesthetic
(adj.) dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
ameliorate
(verb) to make better or more tolerable
ascetic
(noun) one who practices rigid self-denial, esp. as an act of religious devotion
avarice (adj. form: avaricious)
(noun) greed, esp. for wealth
axiom (adj. form: axiomatic)
(noun) a universally recognized principle
bucolic
(adj.) rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
burgeon
(verb) to grow rapidly or flourish
cacophony (adj. form: cacophonous)
(noun) harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
canon (adj. form: canonical)
an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
castigation (verb form: castigate)
(noun) severe criticism or punishment
catalyst
(noun) reaction without itself changing; a person r thing that causes change
caustic
(adj.) burning or stinging; causing corrosion
chary
(adj.) wary; cautious; sparing
cogent
(adj.) appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
complaisance (adj. form: complaisant)
(noun) the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
contentious
(adj.) argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
contrite (noun form: contrition)
(adj.) regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
culpable (noun form: culpability)
(adj.) deserving blame
dearth
(noun) smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack
demur
(verb) to question or oppose
didactic
(adj.) intended to teach or instruct
discretion (adj. form: discrete)
(noun) cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions
disinterested
(adj.) free of bias or self-interest; impartial
dogmatic (noun form: dogma)
(adj.) expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles
ebullience (adj. form: ebullient)
(noun) the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
eclectic
(adj.) composed of elements drawn from various sources
elegy (adj. form: elegiac)
(noun) a mournful poem, esp. one lamenting the dead