I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou Flashcards
immaterial
adj. lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other
musty
adj. stale and unclean smelling
calamitous
adj. having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences
ply
v. keep offering or supplying something desirable to someone
renege
v. fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
fiscal
adj. involving financial matters
troubadour
n. a singer of folk songs
staple
n. a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
bridle
n. the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
lye
n. a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide
sparse
adj. not dense or plentiful
staggering
adj. so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm
inordinate
adj. beyond normal limits
rancor
n. a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
affliction
n. a condition of suffering or distress due to ill health
covenant
n. an agreement between a god and the people
rakish
adj. marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness
nonchalance
n. the trait of remaining calm and seeming not to care
abomination
n. an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence
condone
v. excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
lynch
v. kill without legal sanction
heinous
adj. extremely wicked or deeply criminal
hamlet
n. a community of people smaller than a village
anachronism
n. a person who seems to be displaced in time
apt
adj. mentally quick and resourceful
sage
n. aromatic fresh or dried gray-green leaves used as seasoning
segregation
n. a social system that provides different facilities for minority groups
opulent
adj. rich and superior in quality
impudent
adj. marked by casual disrespect
clabber
n. raw milk that has soured and thickened
appellation
n. identifying words by which someone or something is called
apparition
n. a ghostly appearing figure
servile
adj. submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
smidgen
n. a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
indignity
n. an affront to one’s self-esteem
incur
v. make oneself subject to
ordain
v. order by virtue of superior authority; decree
pulpit
n. a platform raised to give prominence to the person on it