July 9th Flashcards
inveterate
It describes old habits. It simply refers to something that is a signature habit with a person.
Inveterate reader -> A person who is reading books since a long time.
repudiate
It refers to rejecting something that has authority, such as a legal contract, doctrine, or claim.
To refuse to recognize or pay.
The woman repudiated the divorce settlement.
Today, segments of Western society publicly repudiate racism.
The ideal academic institution now takes a very different approach, repudiating all demographic limits on who is “fit” to be educated.
tractable
1) A tractable child, meaning he’s obedient, flexible, and responds well to directions.
2) Easily managed (controlled or taught or molded)
3) You can think of a tractable person as someone who can be dragged about easily, like a plow being dragged by a tractor.
insolent
Rude and arrogant.
I was offended, took it far too much to heart and was insolent and beastly to her, which, in turn, made her unhappy.
accolade
It is a form of praise or an award.
A performer or speaker might get an accolade in the form of applause from the audience.
His recklessness served him well in an environment where risk taking, and a willingness to break the rules, earned him accolades
constituent
1)A citizen
2)A part of something
The constituents of metal alloy are nickel, copper and tin.
resurgent
Something resurgent comes back to life or is reinvigorated.
And if people get bored with new technology and gadgets, there may be a resurgent interest in hardcover books and Polaroid cameras.
Its 20,000-square-foot store in a resurgent Midtown neighborhood will be the first new grocery store in the city in many years.
tempered
Moderated in effect
The wide eyed optimism of her youth was tempered after she had worked for many years in the criminal justice system.
poignant
1) Something that’s pungent pricks your sense of smell, whereas poignant refers to something that pricks your emotions, especially in a melancholy way.
2) Emotionally touching
austere
1) practicing self-denial
2) The adjective austere is used to describe something or someone stern or without any decoration.
sycophant
A person who tries to win favor from wealthy or influential people by flattering them. Also known as teacher’s pets or suck-ups.
reverent
1) When you have great awe and respect for someone or something, and you show it by respectfully worshiping that person, thing, deity, or musical group, you are being reverent.
2) Feeling or showing profound respect or veneration.
Soaked in sweat, keeping a reverent distance from the owners of the house, he spent several weeks shut up in the parlor with a dedication much like that of Aureliano in his silverwork.
foment
1) You may foment a revolution — foment means stirring up something undesirable, such as trouble.
2) Try to stir up public opinion.
This racism, and the hatred and fear it fomented, surely served as an accelerant for abuse of Allied prisoners.
In between, he lived and fought in cities and jungles, cleared fields, planted stems, smuggled weapons, fomented revolutions, advised presidents, built towns.
arbitrary
Arbitrary seems like it’s chosen at random instead of following a consistent rule.
People are also guided by seemingly arbitrary cultural preferences, such as considering fish either delicacies or taboo.
vacillate
Vacillate means to waver back and forth, unable to decide.
So use this verb to describe the staggering motions of a person who has had too much to drink, as well as the opinions of someone who can’t make up her mind.
Some students vacillate between schools when deciding which to attend, while others focus only on one school
