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Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Aberrant (adj.)

A

Deviating from the norm (noun form: aberration)

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2
Q

Abscond (verb)

A

To depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide

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3
Q

Alacrity (noun)

A

Eager and enthusiastic willingness

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4
Q

Anomaly (noun)

A

Deviation from the normal order, form, or rule; abnormality (adj. form: anomalous)

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5
Q

Approbation (noun)

A

An expression of approval or praise

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6
Q

Arduous (adj.)

A

Strenuous, taxing; requiring significant effort

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7
Q

Assuage (verb)

A

To ease or lessen; to appease or pacify

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8
Q

Audacious (adj.)

A

Daring and fearless; recklessly bold (noun form: audacity)

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9
Q

Austere (adj.)

A

Without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic (noun form: austerity)

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10
Q

Axiomatic (adj.)

A

Taken as a given; possessing self-evident truth (noun form: axiom)

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11
Q

Canonical (adj.)

A

Following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standard (noun form: canon)

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12
Q

Capricious (adj.)

A

Inclined to change one’s mind impulsively; erratic, unpredictable

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13
Q

Censure (verb)

A

To criticize severely; to officially rebuke

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14
Q

Chicanery (noun)

A

Trickery or subterfuge

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15
Q

Connoisseur (noun)

A

An informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert

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16
Q

Convoluted (adj.)

A

Complex or complicated

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17
Q

Disabuse (verb)

A

To undeceive; to set right

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18
Q

Discordant (adj.)

A

Conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound

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19
Q

Disparate (adj.)

A

Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar

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20
Q

Effrontery (noun)

A

Extreme boldness; presumptuousness

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21
Q

Eloquent (adj.)

A

Well-spoken, expressive, articulate (noun form: eloquence)

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22
Q

Eloquent (adj.)

A

Well-spoken, expressive, articulate (noun form: eloquence)

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23
Q

Enervate (verb)

A

To weaken;to reduce in vitality

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24
Q

Ennui (noun)

A

Dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy

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25
Q

Equivocate (verb)

A

To use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent (adj. form: equivocal)

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26
Q

Erudite (adj.)

A

Very learned; scholarly (noun form: erudition)

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27
Q

Exculpate (verb)

A

To exonerate; to clear of blame

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28
Q

Exigent (adj.)

A

Urgent, pressing; requiring immediate action or attention

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29
Q

Extemporaneous (adj.)

A

Improvised; done without preparation

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30
Q

Filibuster (noun)

A

Intentional obstruction, especially using prolonged speech making to delay legislative action

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31
Q

Fulminate (verb)

A

To loudly attack or denounce

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32
Q

Ingenuous (adj.)

A

Artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication

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33
Q

Inured (adj.)

A

Accustomed to accepting something undesirable

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34
Q

Irascible (adj.)

A

Easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts

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35
Q

Laud (verb)

A

To praise highly (adj. form: laudatory)

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36
Q

Lucid (adj.)

A

Clear; easily understood

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37
Q

Magnanimity (noun)

A

The quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, especially in forgiving. (adj form: magnanimous)

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38
Q

Martial (adj.)

A

Associated with war and the armed forces

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39
Q

Mundane (adj.)

A

Of the world; typical of or concerned with the the ordinary

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40
Q

Nascent (adj.)

A

Coming into being; in early developmental stages

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41
Q

Nebulous (adj.)

A

Vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form

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42
Q

Neologism (noun)

A

A new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or sounds

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43
Q

Noxious (adj.)

A

Harmful, injurious

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44
Q

Obtuse (adj.)

A

Lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression

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45
Q

Obviate (verb)

A

To anticipate and make unnecessary

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46
Q

Onerous (adj.)

A

Troubling; burdensome

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47
Q

Paean (noun)

A

A song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving

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48
Q

Parody (noun)

A

A humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, especially in literature and art

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49
Q

Perennial (adj.)

A

Recurrent through the years or many years; happening repeatedly

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50
Q

Perfidy (noun)

A

Intentional breach of faith; treachery (adj. form: perfidious)

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51
Q

Perfunctory (adj.)

A

Cursory; done without care or interest

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52
Q

Perspicacious (adj.)

A

Acutely perceptive; having keen discernment (noun form: perspicacity)

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53
Q

Prattle (verb)

A

To babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner

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54
Q

Precipitate (adj.)

A

To cause or happen before anticipated or required

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55
Q

Predilection (noun)

A

A disposition in favor of something; preference

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56
Q

Prescience (noun)

A

Foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring (adj. form: prescient)

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57
Q

Prevaricate (verb)

A

To deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead

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58
Q

Qualms (noun)

A

Misgivings; reservations; cause for hesitancy

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59
Q

Recant (verb)

A

To retract, especially a previously held belief

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60
Q

Refute (verb)

A

To disprove; to successfully argue against

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61
Q

Relegate (verb)

A

To forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position

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62
Q

Reticent (adj.)

A

Quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings

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63
Q

Solicitous (adj.)

A

Concerned and attentive; eager

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64
Q

Sordid (adj.)

A

Characterized by filth, grime, or squalor; foul

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65
Q

Sporadic (adj.)

A

Occurring only occasionally, or in scattered instances

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66
Q

Squander (verb)

A

To waste by spending or using irresponsibly

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67
Q

Static (adj.)

A

Not moving, active, or in motion; at rest

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68
Q

Stupefy (verb)

A

To stun, baffle, or amaze

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69
Q

Stymie (verb)

A

To block; to thwart

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70
Q

Synthesis (noun)

A

The combination of parts to make a whole (verb form: synthesize)

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71
Q

Torque (noun)

A

A force that causes rotation

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72
Q

Tortuous (adj.)

A

Winding, twisting; excessively complicated

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73
Q

Truculent (adj.)

A

Fierce and cruel; eager to fight

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74
Q

Veracity (noun)

A

Truthfulness, honesty

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75
Q

Virulent (adj.)

A

Extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic

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76
Q

Voracious (adj.)

A

Having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; ravenous

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77
Q

Waver (verb)

A

To move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion

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78
Q

Abate (verb)

A

To lessen in intensity or degree

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79
Q

Accolade (noun)

A

An expression of praise

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80
Q

Adulation (noun)

A

Excessive praise; intense adoration

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81
Q

Aesthetic (adj.)

A

Dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful

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82
Q

Ameliorate (verb)

A

To make better or more tolerable

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83
Q

Ascetic (noun)

A

One who practices rigid self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion

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84
Q

Avarice (noun)

A

Greed, especially for wealth (adj. form: avaricious)

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85
Q

Burgeon (verb)

A

To grow rapidly or flourish

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86
Q

Bucolic (adj.)

A

Rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants

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87
Q

Cacophony (noun)

A

Harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance (adj. form: cacophonous)

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88
Q

Canon (noun)

A

An established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature (adj. form: canonical)

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89
Q

Castigation (noun)

A

Severe criticism or punishment (verb form: castigate)

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90
Q

Catalyst (noun)

A

A substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes change

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91
Q

Caustic (adj.)

A

Burning or stinging; causing corrosion

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92
Q

Chary (adj.)

A

Wary; cautious; sparing

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93
Q

Cogent (adj.)

A

Appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing

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94
Q

Complaisance (noun)

A

The willingness to comply with the wishes of others (adj. form: complaisant)

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95
Q

Contentious (adj.)

A

Argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement

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96
Q

Contrite (adj.)

A

Regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness (noun form: contrition)

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97
Q

Culpable (adj.)

A

Deserving blame (noun form: culpability)

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98
Q

Dearth (noun)

A

Smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack

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99
Q

Demur (verb)

A

To question or oppose

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100
Q

Didactic (adj.)

A

Intended to teach or instruct

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101
Q

Discretion (noun)

A

Cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions (adj. form: discreet)

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102
Q

Disinterested (adj.)

A

Free of bias or self-interest; impartial

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103
Q

Dogmatic (adj.)

A

Expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improbable principles (noun form: dogma)

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104
Q

Ebullience (noun)

A

The quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings (adj. form: ebullient)

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105
Q

Eclectic (adj.)

A

Composed of elements drawn from various sources

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106
Q

Elegy (noun)

A

A mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead (adj. form: elegiac)

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107
Q

Emollient (adj./noun)

A

Soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smoothes the skin

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108
Q

Empirical (adj.)

A

Based on observation or experiment

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109
Q

Enigmatic (adj.)

A

Mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand (noun form: enigma)

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110
Q

Ephemeral (adj.)

A

Brief; fleeting

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111
Q

Esoteric (adj.)

A

Intended for or understood by a small, specific group

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112
Q

Eulogy (noun)

A

A speech honoring the dead (verb form: eulogize)

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113
Q

Exonerate (verb)

A

To remove blame

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114
Q

Facetious (adj.)

A

Playful; humorous

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115
Q

Fallacy (noun)

A

An invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief (adj. form: fallacious)

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116
Q

Furtive (adj.)

A

Marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious

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117
Q

Gregarious (adj.)

A

Sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people

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118
Q

Harangue (verb/noun)

A

To deliver a forceful or angry speech; ranting speech or writing

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119
Q

Heretical (adj.)

A

Violating accepted dogma or convention (noun form: heresy)

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120
Q

Hyperbole (noun)

A

An exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech (adj. form: hyperbolic)

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121
Q

Impecunious (adj.)

A

Lacking funds; without money

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122
Q

Incipient (adj.)

A

Beginning to come into being or to become apparent

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123
Q

Inert (adj.)

A

Unmoving; lethargic; sluggish

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124
Q

Innocuous (adj.)

A

Harmless; causing no damage

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125
Q

Intransigent (adj.)

A

Refusing to compromise (noun form: intransigence)

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126
Q

Inveigle (verb)

A

To obtain by deception or flattery

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127
Q

Morose (adj.)

A

Sad; sullen; melancholy

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128
Q

Odious (adj.)

A

Evoking intense aversion or dislike

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129
Q

Opaque (adj.)

A

Impenetrable by light; not reflecting light

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130
Q

Oscillation (noun)

A

The act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm (verb form: oscillate)

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131
Q

Penurious (adj.)

A

Penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous

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132
Q

Pernicious (adj.)

A

Extremely harmful in a way that is not easily seen or noticed

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133
Q

Peruse (verb)

A

To examine with great care (noun form: perusal)

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134
Q

Pious (adj.)

A

Extremely reverent or devout; showing strong religious devotion (noun form: piety)

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135
Q

Precursor (noun)

A

One that precedes and indicates or announces another

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136
Q

Preen (verb)

A

To dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care

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137
Q

Prodigious (adj.)

A

Abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary

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138
Q

Prolific (adj.)

A

Producing large volumes or amounts; productive

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139
Q

Putrefy (verb)

A

To rot; to decay and give off a foul odor (adj. form: putrid)

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140
Q

Quaff (verb)

A

To drink deeply

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141
Q

Quiescence (noun)

A

Stillness; motionless; quality of being at rest (adj. form: quiescent)

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142
Q

Redoubtable (adj.)

A

Awe-inspiring; worthy of honor

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143
Q

Sanction (noun/verb)

A

Authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance; to give permission or authority

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144
Q

Satire (noun)

A

A literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision (adj. form: satirical)

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145
Q

Squalid (adj.)

A

Sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect (noun form: squalor)

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146
Q

Stoic (adj.)

A

Indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast (noun form: stoicism)

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147
Q

Supplant (verb)

A

To take the place of; to supersede

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148
Q

Torpid (adj.)

A

Lethargic; sluggish; dormant (noun form: torpor)

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149
Q

Ubiquitous (adj.)

A

Existing everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread

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150
Q

Urbane (adj.)

A

Sophisticated; refined; elegant (noun form: urbanity)

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151
Q

Vilify (verb)

A

To defame; to characterize harshly

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152
Q

Viscous (adj.)

A

Thick; sticky (noun form: viscosity)

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153
Q

Acumen (noun)

A

Keen, accurate judgement or insight

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154
Q

Adulterate (verb)

A

To reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients

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155
Q

Amalgamate (verb)

A

To combine several elements into a whole (noun form: amalgamation)

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156
Q

Archaic (adj.)

A

Outdated; associated with an earlier, perhaps more primitive time

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157
Q

Aver (verb)

A

To state as a fact; to declare or assert

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158
Q

Bolster (verb)

A

To provide support or reinforcement

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159
Q

Bombastic (adj.)

A

Pompous; grandiloquent (noun form: bombast)

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160
Q

Diatribe (noun)

A

A harsh denunciation

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161
Q

Dissemble (verb)

A

To disguise or conceal; to mislead

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162
Q

Eccentric (adj.)

A

Departing from norms or conventions

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163
Q

Endemic (adj.)

A

Characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region, or people

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164
Q

Evanescent (adj.)

A

Tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing

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165
Q

Exacerbate (verb)

A

To make worse or more severe

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166
Q

Fervent (adj.)

A

Greatly emotional or zealous (noun form: fervor)

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167
Q

Fortuitous (adj.)

A

Happening by accident or chance

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168
Q

Germane (adj.)

A

Relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter

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169
Q

Grandiloquence (noun)

A

Pompous speech or expression (adj. form: grandiloquent)

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170
Q

Hackneyed (adj.)

A

Rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage

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171
Q

Halcyon (adj.)

A

Calm and peaceful

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172
Q

Hedonism (noun)

A

Devotion to pleasurable pursuits, especially to the pleasures of the senses (a hedonist is someone who pursues pleasure)

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173
Q

Hegemony (noun)

A

The consistent dominance of one state or group over others

174
Q

Iconoclast (noun)

A

One who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions

175
Q

Idolatrous (adj.)

A

Given to intense or excessive devotion to something (noun form: idolatry)

176
Q

Impassive (adj.)

A

Revealing no emotion

177
Q

Imperturbable (adj.)

A

Marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness

178
Q

Implacable (adj.)

A

Not capable of being appeased or significantly changed

179
Q

Impunity (noun)

A

Immunity from punishment or penalty

180
Q

Inchoate (adj.)

A

In an initial stage; not fully formed

181
Q

Infelicitous (adj.)

A

Unfortunate; inappropriate

182
Q

Insipid (adj.)

A

Lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge

183
Q

Loquacious (adj.)

A

Extremely talkative (noun form: loquacity)

184
Q

Luminous (adj.)

A

Characterized by brightness and the emission of light

185
Q

Malevolent (adj.)

A

Having or showing often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred (noun form: malevolence)

186
Q

Malleable (adj.)

A

Capable of being shaped or form; tractable; pliable

187
Q

Mendacity (noun)

A

The condition of being untruthful; dishonesty (adj. form: mendacious)

188
Q

Meticulous (adj.)

A

Characterized by extreme care and precision; attentive to detail

189
Q

Misanthrope (noun)

A

One who hates all other humans (adj form: misanthropic)

190
Q

Mitigate (verb)

A

To make or become less severe or intense; to moderate

191
Q

Obdurate (adj.)

A

Unyielding; hardhearted; intractable

192
Q

Obsequious (adj.)

A

Exhibiting a fawning attentiveness

193
Q

Occlude (verb)

A

To obstruct or block

194
Q

Opprobrium (noun)

A

Disgrace; contempt; scorn

195
Q

Pedagogy (noun)

A

The profession or principles of teaching or instructing

196
Q

Pedantic (adj.)

A

Overly concerned with the trivial details of learning or education; show-offish about one’s knowledge

197
Q

Penury (noun)

A

Poverty; destitution

198
Q

Pervasive (adj.)

A

Having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout

199
Q

Pine (verb)

A

To yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor

200
Q

Pirate (verb)

A

To illegally use or reproduce

201
Q

Pith (noun)

A

The essential or central part

202
Q

Pithy (adj.)

A

Precise and brief

203
Q

Placate (verb)

A

To appease; to calm by making concessions

204
Q

Platitude (noun)

A

A superficial remark, especially one offered as meaningful

205
Q

Plummet (verb)

A

To plunge or drop straight down

206
Q

Polemical (adj.)

A

Controversial; argumentative

207
Q

Prodigal (adj.)

A

Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish

208
Q

Profuse (adj.)

A

Given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant

209
Q

Proliferate (verb)

A

To grow or increase swiftly and abundantly

210
Q

Queries (noun)

A

Questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind; reservations

211
Q

Querulous (adj.)

A

Prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish

212
Q

Rancorous (adj.)

A

Characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment (noun form: rancor)

213
Q

Recalcitrant (adj.)

A

Obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage

214
Q

Repudiate (verb)

A

To refuse to have anything to do with; to disown

215
Q

Rescind (verb)

A

To invalidate; to repeal; to retract

216
Q

Reverent (adj.)

A

Marked by, feeling, or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect (noun form: reverence)

217
Q

Rhetoric (noun)

A

The art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion

218
Q

Salubrious (adj.)

A

Promoting health or well-being

219
Q

Solvent (adj.)

A

Able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance

220
Q

Specious (adj.)

A

Seeming true, but actually being fallacious; misleadingly attractive; plausible but false

221
Q

Spurious (adj.)

A

Lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit

222
Q

Subpoena (noun)

A

A court order requiring appearance and/or testimony

223
Q

Succinct (adj.)

A

Brief; concise

224
Q

Superfluous (adj.)

A

Exceeding what is sufficient or necessary

225
Q

Surfeit (verb/noun)

A

An overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply to excess

226
Q

Tenacity (noun)

A

The quality of adherence or persistence to something valued; persistent determination (adj. form: tenacious)

227
Q

Tenuous (adj.)

A

Having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak

228
Q

Tirade (noun)

A

A long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation

229
Q

Transient (adj.)

A

Fleeting; passing quickly; brief

230
Q

Zealous (adj.)

A

Fervent; ardent; impassioned, devoted to a cause (a zealot is a zealous person)

231
Q

Acerbic (adj.)

A

Having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting

232
Q

Aggrandize (verb)

A

To increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige

233
Q

Alchemy (noun)

A

A medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, especially base metals into gold (an alchemist is one who practices alchemy)

234
Q

Amenable (adj.)

A

Agreeable; responsive to suggestion

235
Q

Anachronism (noun)

A

Something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context

236
Q

Astringent (noun/adj.)

A

Having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe; something with a tightening effect on tissue

237
Q

Contiguous (adj.)

A

Sharing a border; touching; adjacent

238
Q

Convention (noun)

A

A generally agreed-upon practice or attitude

239
Q

Credulous (adj.)

A

Tending to believe too readily; gullible (noun form: credulity)

240
Q

Cynicism (noun)

A

An attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness (adj. form: cynical)

241
Q

Decorum (noun)

A

Polite or appropriate conduct or behavior (adj. form: decorous)

242
Q

Derision (noun)

A

Scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment (adj. form: derisive; verb form: deride)

243
Q

Desiccate (verb)

A

To dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull

244
Q

Dilettante (noun)

A

One with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge

245
Q

Disparage (verb)

A

To slight or belittle

246
Q

Divulge (verb)

A

To disclose something secret

247
Q

Fawn (verb)

A

To flatter or praise excessively

248
Q

Flout (verb)

A

To contempt for, as in a rule or convention

249
Q

Garrulous (adj.)

A

Pointlessly talkative; talking too much

250
Q

Glib (adj.)

A

Marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial

251
Q

Hubris (noun)

A

Overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance

252
Q

Imminent (adj.)

A

About to happen; impending

253
Q

Immutable (adj.)

A

Not capable of change

254
Q

Impetuous (adj.)

A

Hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive vehement

255
Q

Indifferent (adj.)

A

Having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice

256
Q

Inimical (adj.)

A

Damaging; harmful; injurious

257
Q

Intractable (adj.)

A

Not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate

258
Q

Intrepid (adj.)

A

Steadfast and courageous

259
Q

Laconic (adj.)

A

Using few words; terse

260
Q

Maverick (noun)

A

An independent individual who does not get along with a group or party

261
Q

Mercurial (adj.)

A

Characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood

262
Q

Mollify (verb)

A

To calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity

263
Q

Neophyte (noun)

A

A recent convert; a beginner; a novice

264
Q

Obfuscate (verb)

A

To deliberately obscure; to make confusing

265
Q

Obstinate (adj.)

A

Stubborn; hard-headed; uncompromising

266
Q

Ostentatious (adj.)

A

Characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy

267
Q

Pervade (verb)

A

To permeate throughout (adj. form: pervasive)

268
Q

Phlegmatic (adj.)

A

Calm; sluggish; unemotional

269
Q

Plethora (noun)

A

An overabundance; a surplus

270
Q

Pragmatic (adj.)

A

Practical rather than idealistic

271
Q

Presumptuous (adj.)

A

Overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or curtesy); taking liberties

272
Q

Pristine (adj.)

A

Pure; uncorrupted; clean

273
Q

Probity (noun)

A

Adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness

274
Q

Proclivity (noun)

A

A natural predisposition or inclination

275
Q

Profligate (adj.)

A

Excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant (noun form: profligacy)

276
Q

Propensity (noun)

A

A natural inclination or tendency; penchant

277
Q

Prosaic (adj.)

A

Dull; lacking in spirit or imagination

278
Q

Pungent (adj.)

A

Characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste

279
Q

Quixotic (adj.)

A

Foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals

280
Q

Quotidian (adj.)

A

Occurring or recurring daily; commonplace

281
Q

Rarefy (verb)

A

To make or become thin; less dense; to refine

282
Q

Recondite (adj.)

A

Hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure

283
Q

Refulgent (adj.)

A

Radiant; shiny; brilliant

284
Q

Renege (verb)

A

To fail to honor commitment; to go back on a promise

285
Q

Sedulous (adj.)

A

Diligent; persistent; hard working

286
Q

Shard (noun)

A

A piece of broken pottery or glass

287
Q

Soporific (adj.)

A

Causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep

288
Q

Sparse (adj.)

A

Thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals

289
Q

Spendthrift (noun)

A

One who spends money wastefully

290
Q

Subtle (adj.)

A

Not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern

291
Q

Tactic (adj.)

A

Implied; not explicitly stated

292
Q

Terse (adj.)

A

Brief and concise in wording

293
Q

Tout (verb)

A

To publicly praise or promote

294
Q

Trenchant (adj.)

A

Sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating

295
Q

Unfeigned (adj.)

A

Genuine; not false or hypocritical

296
Q

Untenable (adj.)

A

Indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable

297
Q

Vacillate (verb)

A

To waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another

298
Q

Variegated (adj.)

A

Multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color

299
Q

Vexation (noun)

A

Annoyance; irritation (verb form: vex)

300
Q

Vigilant (adj.)

A

Alertly watchful (noun form: vigilance)

301
Q

Vituperate (verb)

A

To use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate

302
Q

Volatile (adj.)

A

Readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive (noun form: volatility)

303
Q

Alloy (verb)

A

To commingle; to debase by mixing with something inferior; unalloyed means pure

304
Q

Appropriate (verb)

A

To take for one’s own use; to confiscate

305
Q

Arrest/arresting (verb/adj.)

A

To suspend; to engage; holding one’s attention: as in an arresting portrait

306
Q

August (adj.)

A

Majestic, venerable

307
Q

Bent (noun)

A

Leaning, inclination, proclivity, tendency

308
Q

Broach (verb)

A

To bring up; to announce; to begin to talk about

309
Q

Brook (verb)

A

To tolerate; to endure; to countenance

310
Q

Cardinal (adj.)

A

Major; as in a cardinal sin

311
Q

Chauvinist (noun)

A

A blindly devoted patriot

312
Q

Color (verb)

A

To change as if by dyeing, i.e., to distort, gloss, or affect (usually the first)

313
Q

Consequential (adj.)

A

Pompous, self-important (primary definitions are logically following; important)

314
Q

Damp (verb)

A

To diminish the intensity or check the vibration of a sound

315
Q

Die (noun)

A

A tool used for shaping, as in a tool-and-die shop

316
Q

Essay (verb)

A

To test or try; to attempt; to experiment

317
Q

Exact (verb)

A

To demand; to call for; to require; to take

318
Q

Fell (verb)

A

To cause to fall by striking

319
Q

Fell (adj.)

A

Inhumanly cruel

320
Q

Flag (verb)

A

To sag or droop; to become spiritless; to decline

321
Q

Flip (adj.)

A

Sarcastic, impertinent, as in flippant: a flip remark

322
Q

Ford (verb)

A

To wade across the shallow part of a river or stream

323
Q

Grouse (verb)

A

To complain or grumble

324
Q

Guy (noun/verb)

A

A rope, cord, or cable attached to something as a brace or guide; to steady or reinforce using a guy: think guide. (Verb form: guyed, guying)

325
Q

Intimate (verb)

A

To imply, suggest, or insinuate

326
Q

List (verb)

A

To tilt or lean to one side

327
Q

Lumber (verb)

A

To move heavily and clumsily

328
Q

Meet (adj.)

A

Fitting, proper

329
Q

Milk (verb)

A

To exploit; to squeeze every last ounce of

330
Q

Mince (verb)

A

To pronounce or speak affectedly; to euphemize, to speak too carefully; to take tiny steps, to tiptoe

331
Q

Nice (adj.)

A

Exacting, fastidious, extremely precise

332
Q

Occult (adj.)

A

Hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension

333
Q

Pedestrian (adj.)

A

Commonplace, trite, unremarkable, quotidian

334
Q

Pied (adj.)

A

Multicolored, usually in blotches

335
Q

Pine (verb)

A

To lose vigor (as through grief); to yearn

336
Q

Plastic (adj.)

A

Moldable, pliable, not rigid

337
Q

Pluck (noun)

A

Courage, spunk, fortitude

338
Q

Prize (verb)

A

To pry, to press or force with a lever; something taken by force, spoils

339
Q

Rail (verb)

A

To complain bitterly

340
Q

Rent (verb/noun)

A

Torn (past tense of rend); an opening or tear caused by such

341
Q

Quail (verb)

A

To lose courage; to turn frightened

342
Q

Qualify (verb)

A

To limit

343
Q

Sap (verb)

A

To enervate or weaken the vitality of

344
Q

Sap (noun)

A

A fool or nitwit

345
Q

Scurvy (adj.)

A

Contemptible, despicable

346
Q

Singular (adj.)

A

Exceptional, unusual, odd

347
Q

Stand (noun)

A

A group of trees

348
Q

Steep (verb)

A

To saturate or completely soak, as in to let a tea bag steep

349
Q

Strut (noun)

A

The supporting structural cross-part of a wing

350
Q

Table (verb)

A

To remove (as a parliamentary motion) from consideration

351
Q

Tender (verb)

A

To proffer or offer

352
Q

Waffle (verb)

A

To equivocate; to change one’s position

353
Q

Wag (noun)

A

Wit, joker

354
Q

Abjure (verb)

A

To renounce or reject solemnly; to recant; to avoid

355
Q

Adumbrate (verb)

A

To foreshadow vaguely or intimate; to suggest or outline sketchily; to obscure or overshadow

356
Q

Anathema (noun)

A

A solemn or ecclesiastical (religious) curse; accursed or thoroughly loathed person or thing

357
Q

Anodyne (adj./noun)

A

Soothing; something that assuages or allays pain or comforts

358
Q

Apogee (noun)

A

Farthest or highest point; culmination; zenith

359
Q

Apostate (noun)

A

One who abandons long-held religious or political convictions

360
Q

Apotheosis (noun)

A

Deification; glorification to godliness; an exalted example; a model of excellence or perfection

361
Q

Asperity (noun)

A

Severity, rigor; roughness, harshness; acrimony, irritability

362
Q

Asseverate (verb)

A

To aver, allege, or assert

363
Q

Assiduous (adj.)

A

Diligent, hard-working, sedulous

364
Q

Augury (noun)

A

Omen, portent

365
Q

Bellicose (adj.)

A

Belligerent, pugnacious, warlike

366
Q

Calumniate (verb)

A

To slander, to make false accusation; calumny means slander, aspersion

367
Q

Captious (adj.)

A

Disposed to point out trivial faults; calculated to confuse or entrap in argument

368
Q

Cavil (verb)

A

To find fault without good reason

369
Q

Celerity (noun)

A

Speed, alacrity; think accelerate

370
Q

Chimera (noun)

A

An illusion; originally, an imaginary fire-breathing she-monster

371
Q

Contumacious (adj.)

A

Insubordinate, rebellious; contumely means insult, scorn, aspersion

372
Q

Debacle (noun)

A

Rout, fiasco, complete failure

373
Q

Denouement (noun)

A

An outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot

374
Q

Descry (verb)

A

To catch sight of

375
Q

Desuetude (noun)

A

Disuse

376
Q

Desultory (adj.)

A

Random; aimless; marked by a lack of plan or purpose

377
Q

Diaphanous (adj.)

A

Transparent, gauzy

378
Q

Diffident (adj.)

A

Reserved, shy, unassuming; lacking in self-confidence

379
Q

Dirge (noun)

A

A song of grief or lamentation

380
Q

Encomium (noun)

A

Glowing and enthusiastic praise; panegyric, tribute, eulogy

381
Q

Eschew (verb)

A

To shun or avoid

382
Q

Excoriate (verb)

A

To censure scathingly, to upbraid

383
Q

Execrate (verb)

A

To denounce, to feel loathing for, to curse, to declare to be evil

384
Q

Exegesis (noun)

A

Critical examination, explication

385
Q

Expiate (verb)

A

To atone or make amends for

386
Q

Extirpate (verb)

A

To destroy, to exterminate, to cut out, to exscind

387
Q

Fatuous (adj.)

A

Silly, inanely foolish

388
Q

Fractious (adj.)

A

Quarrelsome, rebellious, unruly, refractory, irritable

389
Q

Gainsay (verb)

A

To deny, to dispute, to contradict, to oppose

390
Q

Heterodox (adj.)

A

Unorthodox, heretical, iconoclastic

391
Q

Imbroglio (noun)

A

Difficult or embarrassing situation

392
Q

Indefatigable (adj.)

A

Not easily exhaustible; tireless, dogged

393
Q

Ineluctable (adj.)

A

Certain, inevitable

394
Q

Inimitable (adj.)

A

One of a kind, peerless

395
Q

Insouciant (adj.)

A

Unconcerned, carefree, heedless

396
Q

Inveterate (adj.)

A

Deep rooted, ingrained, habitual

397
Q

Jejune (adj.)

A

Vapid, uninteresting, nugatory; childish, immature, puerile

398
Q

Lubricious (adj.)

A

Lewd, wanton, greasy, slippery

399
Q

Mendicant (noun)

A

A beggar, supplicant

400
Q

Meretricious (adj.)

A

Cheap, gaudy, tawdry, flashy, showy; attracting by false show

401
Q

Minatory (adj.)

A

Menacing, threatening (reminds you of the Minotaur, a threatening creature indeed)

402
Q

Nadir (noun)

A

Low point, perigee

403
Q

Nonplussed (adj.)

A

Baffled, bewildered, at a lost for what to do or think

404
Q

Obstreperous (adj.)

A

Noisily and stubbornly defiant, aggressively boisterous

405
Q

Ossified (adj.)

A

Tending to become more rigid, conventional, sterile, and reactionary with age; literally, turned into bone

406
Q

Palliate (verb)

A

To make something seem less serious, to gloss over, to make less severe or intense

407
Q

Panegyric (noun)

A

Formal praise, eulogy, encomium; panegyrical means expressing elaborate praise

408
Q

Parsimonious (adj.)

A

Cheap, miserly

409
Q

Pellucid (adj.)

A

Transparent, easy to understand, limpid

410
Q

Peroration (noun)

A

The concluding part of a speech; flowery, rhetorical speech

411
Q

Plangent (adj.)

A

Pounding, thundering, resounding

412
Q

Prolix (adj.)

A

Long-winded, verbose; prolixity means verbosity

413
Q

Propitiate (verb)

A

To appease; to conciliate; propitious means suspicious, favorable

414
Q

Puerile (adj.)

A

Childish, immature, jejune, nugatory

415
Q

Puissance (noun)

A

Power, strength; puissant means powerful, strong

416
Q

Pusillanimous (adj.)

A

Cowardly, craven

417
Q

Remonstrate (verb)

A

To protest, to object

418
Q

Sagacious (adj.)

A

Having sound judgement; perceptive, wise; like a sage

419
Q

Salacious (adj.)

A

Lustful, lascivious, bawdy

420
Q

Salutary (adj.)

A

Remedial, wholesome, causing improvement

421
Q

Sanguine (adj.)

A

Cheerful, confident, optimistic

422
Q

Saturnine (adj.)

A

Gloomy, dark, sullen, morose

423
Q

Sententious (adj.)

A

Aphoristic or moralistic; epigrammatic; tending to moralize excessively

424
Q

Stentorian (adj.)

A

Extremely loud and powerful

425
Q

Stygian (adj.)

A

Gloomy, dark

426
Q

Sycophant (noun)

A

Toady; servile, self-seeking flatterer; parasite

427
Q

Tendentious (adj.)

A

Biased; showing marked tendencies

428
Q

Timorous (adj.)

A

Timid, fearful, diffident

429
Q

Tyro (noun)

A

Novice, greenhorn, rank amateur

430
Q

Vitiate (verb)

A

To corrupt, to debase, to spoil, to make ineffective

431
Q

Voluble (adj.)

A

Fluent, verbal, having easy use of spoken language

Vocab Words (5 decks)

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