Last Basic/Common Flashcards
calumny
calumny
noun: making of a false statement meant to injure a person’s reputation
With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with calumny, and the mud already waist-high.
impertinent
impertinent
adjective: being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold
Dexter, distraught over losing his pet dachshund, Madeline, found the police officer’s questions impertinent—after all, he thought, did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline’s favorite snack was?
commensurate
commensurate
adjective: to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount
The convicted felon’s life sentence was commensurate with the heinousness of his crime.
censure
censure
verb: to express strong disapproval
After being caught in bed with a mistress, the mayor was quickly censured by the city council.
inexorable
inexorable
adjective: impossible to stop or prevent
The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture.
tenacious
tenacious
adjective: stubbornly unyielding
Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms present.
ascetic
ascetic
characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
denigrate
denigrate
verb: charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to explain the observations.
temperance
temperance
noun: the trait of avoiding excesses
Welles wasn’t known for his temperance–he usually ate enough for two and drank enough for three.
inveterate
inveterate
adjective: habitual
He is an inveterate smoker and has told his family and friends that there is no way he will ever quit.
antithetical
antithetical
adjective: sharply contrasted in character or purpose
His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is, in fact, antithetical to the detachment Buddhism preaches.
tractable
tractable
adjective: readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed (controlled or taught or molded)
Compared to middle school students, who have an untamed wildness about them, high school students are somewhat more tractable.
subversive
subversive
adjective: in opposition to an established system or institution.
The ruling political party has begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites that it deems as a threat to “national safety.”
prodigious
prodigious
adjective: so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
After the relatively small homerun totals in the “dead ball” era, Babe Ruth’s homerun totals were truly prodigious: every year, he set a new all-time record.
pernicious
pernicious
adjective: exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden and injurious way
The most successful viruses are pernicious: an infected person may feel perfectly healthy for several months while incubating and spreading the virus.
repudiate
repudiate
verb: reject as untrue or unfounded
Many in the public believed the rumors of a UFO crash outside town, so the chief of police did everything he could to repudiate the rumors.
impurent
imprudent
adjective: not wise
Hitler, like Napoleon, made the imprudent move of invading Russia in winter, suffering even more casualties than Napoleon had.
lassitude
lassitude
noun: extreme tiredness, either mental or physical
Upon finishing a 6-hour standardized exam, Dahlia emerged from the testing center overcome by lassitude.
ascendancy
ascendancy
noun: the state that exists when one person or group has power over another
The ascendancy of the Carlsbad water polo team is clear—they have a decade of championships behind them.
consummate
consummate
adjective: having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
Tyler was the consummate musician: he was able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the drum at the same time.
verb: to make perfect and complete in every respect
The restoration of the ancient church was only consummated after a twenty years of labor.
genial
genial
adjective: agreeable, conducive to comfort
Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she meets is put at ease by her elegance and grace.
hamstrug
hamstrung
verb: made ineffective or powerless
The FBI has made so many restrictions on the local police that they are absolutely hamstrung, unable to accomplish anything.
assuage
assuage
verb: make something intense less severe
Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was assuaged when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line.
obstinate
obstinate
adjective: resistant to guidance or discipline; stubbornly persistent
The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained obstinate, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past.
destitute
destitute
adjective: poor enough to need help from others
Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through the grace of a priest, he makes something of his life.
adjective: completely wanting or lacking (usually “destitute of”)
Now that the mine is closed, the town is destitute of any economic activity.
travail
travail
noun: use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish
While they experienced nothing but travails in refinishing the kitchen, they completed the master bedroom in less than a weekend.
incumbent
incumbent
adjective: necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility
Middle managers at times make important decisions, but real responsibility for the financial well-being of the corporation is ultimately incumbent on the CEO.
provisional
provisional
adjective: under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
Until the corporate office hands down a definitive decision on use of the extra offices, we will share their use in a provisional arrangement.
