Lesson 16 Flashcards
linguistics (ling gwis´ tiks) n.
the scientific study of the structure, sounds, and meaning of language
The professor of linguistics explained how English evolved from a number of”“other languages.
pique (pēk) v.
to cause resentment; to provoke
The old gentleman was piqued because he was not given a seat at the head table.
syn: irritate ant: assuage
plebeian (pli bē´ ən) n.
a commoner; one from the lower class
adj. common or vulgar
(n. ) Seniors treated the freshmen as though they were plebeians.
(a. ) The baroness refused to do the plebian chores of cooking and cleaning.
(n. ) syn: peon; peasant ant: liege
(a. ) syn: base; lowly ant: refined; aristocratic
precocious (pri kō´ shəs) adj.
showing early development,”“especially mental
Anthony was such a precocious three-year-old that he could already play the violin well.
syn: advanced
predatory (pred´ ə tôr ē) adj.
nclined to prey on others
The buzzard is a scavenger, but the hawk is a predatory animal.
syn: pillaging; despoiling ant: nurturing
prowess (prow´ is) n.
superior skill or ability
Ty’s physical prowess was matched by his superior”“mental ability.
syn: strength; dominance; power ant: weakness
pugnacious (pug nā´ shəs) adj.
eager and ready to fight; quarrelsome
Because he was so pugnacious, he had few friends.
syn: combative; belligerent ant: placid; pacific
purloin (pər loin´) v.
to steal
They had not planned to purloin the jewels, but the temptation was too great.
syn: burglarize
pusillanimous (pyōō sə lan´”“ə məs)
cowardly; fearful
The Wizard of Oz granted the pusillanimous lion his wish to have
quell (kwel) v.
to put an end to; to allay or quiet
The police were called in to quell the riot.
syn: calm ant: foment; incite
quixotic (kwik sot´ ik) adj.
very idealistic; impractical; caught up in romantic notions
As a young man, he had the quixotic notion that he could”“single-handedly end poverty in the country.
ant: realistic; practical
rabble (rab´ əl) n.
disorderly crowd, a mob
The guards had to protect the president from the rabble in the streets.
syn: riffraff
rabid (rab´ id) adj.
raging; fanatical
After working out, Chrissy had a rabid thirst and drank two gallons of water.
syn: uncontrollable; fervid ant: placid”
raconteur (rak on tyûr´) n.
a person skilled at telling stories
An exceptional raconteur, Lorna held the whole audience spellbound with her stories.
vindictive (vin dik´ tiv) adj.
seeking revenge; bearing a grudge
Out of some vindictive urge, Steve slashed his ex-girlfriend’s tires.
syn: vengeful ant: forgiving”
