I Flashcards
Idealist
noun
1 a person who is guided more by ideals than by practical considerations: he came to power with the reputation of a left-wing idealist.
2 Philosophy a person who believes in the theory of idealism.
ignominiously
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame
impale
pierce or transfix with a sharp instrument: his head was impaled on a pike and exhibited for all to see.
Heraldry display (a coat of arms) side by side with another on the same shield, separated by a vertical line: (as adj. impaled) : the impaled arms of her husband and her father.
Heraldry display (a coat of arms) side by side with another on the same shield, separated by a vertical line: (as adj. impaled) : the impaled arms of her husband and her father.
impasse
a situation in which no progress is possible, esp. because of disagreement; a deadlock: the current political impasse.
impassive
not feeling or showing emotion: impassive passersby ignore the performers.
impeccable
(of behavior, performance, or appearance) in accordance with the highest standards of propriety; faultless: a man of impeccable character.
• Theology, rare not liable to sin.
imperil
put at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed: white-band disease imperils coral reefs.
imperious
assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering: his imperious demands.
impertinent
1 not showing proper respect; rude: an impertinent question.
2 formal not pertinent to a particular matter; irrelevant: talk of “rhetoric” and “strategy” is impertinent to this process.
impinge
have an effect or impact, esp. a negative one: Nora was determined that the tragedy would impinge as little as possible on Constance’s life.
• advance over an area belonging to someone or something else; encroach: the site impinges on a greenbelt area.
• (impinge on/upon) Physics strike: the gases impinge on the surface of the liquid.
implode
1 collapse or cause to collapse violently inward: [ no obj. ] : the windows on both sides of the room had imploded | [ with obj. ] : these forces would implode the pellet to a density 100 times higher than that of lead.
2 [ with obj. ] Phonetics utter or pronounce (a consonant) with a sharp intake of air.
impoverished
make (a person or area) poor: they discourage investment and impoverish their people | (as adj. impoverished) : impoverished peasant farmers.
• exhaust the strength, vitality, or natural fertility of: the soil was impoverished by annual burning | (as adj. impoverished) figurative : an impoverished and debased language.
in concert
in concert 1 acting jointly: he made his decision in concert with his son and son-in-law. 2 (of music or a performer) giving a public performance; live: they saw Pink Floyd in concert.
in extremis
in an extremely difficult situation: they suddenly find themselves in extremis 20 miles out to sea.
• at the point of death.
incantation
a series of words said as a magic spell or charm: an incantation to raise the dead.
• the use of such words: there was no magic in such incantation | incantations of old slogans.
