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Verbal Advantage > Level 6 > Flashcards

Level 6 Flashcards

1
Q
  1. LEGERDEMAIN (LEJ-ur-duh-MAYN)
A

Sleight of hand; a cleverly executed trick or deception. Synonyms: magic, prestidigitation, thaumaturgy.

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2
Q
  1. PUERILE (PYOOR-ul or PYOO-ur-ul)
A

Childish, immature; hence, foolish, silly. Synonyms: (“childish or immature”) infantile, juvenile; (“foolish or silly”) inane; frivolous, asinine, fatuous, sophomoric, callow (Level 4, Word 30). Corresponding nouns: puerilism, a psychiatric term for the abnormal appearance of childish behavior in an adult; puerility, childishness, immaturity, or in civil law, the status of a child between infancy and puberty.

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3
Q
  1. COMPLICITY (kuhm-PLIS-i-tee)
A

Conspiracy, partnership in wrongdoing, criminal participation, direct association in guilt, the state of being an accomplice. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words conspiracy, confederacy, collusion, and complicity, all of which refer to partnership or participation in disreputable or illegal activities. It also explores a usage problem concerning the words connivance, feigning ignorance of wrong doing, and connive, to feign ignorance of wrong doing.

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4
Q
  1. TRANSMUTE (tranz-MYOOT)
A

To transform; specifically, to change from one nature, form, or substance into another, especially to a higher, better, or more refined one.

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5
Q
  1. ABSTRUSE (ab-STROOS)
A

Difficult to understand, hard to grasp mentally, deep, profound, incomprehensible, unfathomable. Synonyms: inscrutable (Level 3, Word 48), esoteric (Level 5, Word 29), occult, cryptic, enigmatic, arcane, recondite, acroamatic. Antonyms: manifest, discernible (Level 3, Word 32), lucid (Level 3, Word 45), perspicuous.

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6
Q
  1. EDIFY (ED-i-fy)
A

To instruct, improve, teach, enlighten; especially, to instruct or improve intellectually, morally, or spiritually. Corresponding noun: edification, enlightenment; intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement.

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7
Q
  1. SUPERCILIOUS (SOO-pur-SIL-ee-us)
A

Haughty, proud, scornful, contemptuous, disdainful.

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8
Q
  1. DISSEMBLE (di-SEM-buul)
A

To disguise; conceal under a false appearance; speak or behave hypocritically; cover up the facts or one’s true feelings or motives; mask under a pretense or deceptive manner. Synonyms: feign, affect, simulate, camouflage, equivocate, prevaricate.

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9
Q
  1. VACUOUS (VAK-yoo-us)
A

Empty, vacant; devoid of substance, interest, intelligence, expression, or meaning. Synonyms: blank, unintelligent, shallow, stupid, senseless, inane, fatuous. Corresponding noun: vacuity, emptiness, an absence of matter or intellectual content. Vacuous usually applies to a figurative lack of content, meaning, or interest: vacuous eyes, a vacuous discussion, a vacuous mind, a vacuous remark, a vacuous proposal.

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10
Q
  1. CAPACIOUS (kuh-PAY-shus)
A

Roomy, spacious, ample, able to contain or hold a great deal. Synonyms: When used literally, capacious is a synonym of spacious and roomy: a capacious house; their capacious office. When used figuratively, capacious is a synonym of broad and comprehensive: a capacious intellect; a capacious view; a capacious treatment of a subject.

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11
Q
  1. MNEMONIC (ne-MAHN-ik)
A

Helping or pertaining to the memory, assisting or improving the ability to recall. A mnemonic device is a memory-aid, something that helps one to remember. Mnemonics refers to any technique or system for improving the memory.

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12
Q
  1. SONOROUS (suh-NOR-us or SAHN-uh-rus)
A

Resonant; deep, full, and rich in sound; having, or capable of producing, a powerful, impressive sound.

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13
Q
  1. ADMONISH (ad-MANN-ish)
A

To warn or notify of a fault or error, especially in conduct or attitude; to criticize or reprove gently but earnestly. Synonyms: advise, counsel, caution, apprise, exhort, expostulate. Corresponding noun: admonishment, a gentle warning or mild criticism.

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14
Q
  1. PARADIGM (PAR-uh-dim or PAR-uh-dym)
A

An example, model, or pattern. Corresponding Adjective: paradigmatic, exemplary, typical, serving as a model or pattern.

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15
Q
  1. CIRCUITOUS (sur-KYOO-i-tus)
A

Roundabout, indirect, not straightforward, following a roundabout and often extended course. Synonyms: devious, meandering, sinuous, tortuous, serpentine, labyrinthine (like a labyrinth or maze).

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16
Q
  1. VINDICATE (VIN-di-kayt)
A

To clear from blame, free from suspicion of wrongdoing or dishonor; uphold or maintain the truth or innocence of something or someone in the face of criticism or imputations of guilt. Corresponding noun: vindication. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the verbs vindicate, exonerate, and acquit, which mean to free from blame.

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17
Q
  1. BUCOLIC (byoo-KAHL-ik)
A

Rural, rustic, of or pertaining to country life. Synonyms: pastoral, provincial, agrarian, idyllic, Arcadian. Antonyms: urban, municipal, civic, metropolitan, cosmopolitan.

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18
Q
  1. OSTRACIZE (AHS-truh-syz)
A

To banish, send into exile, expel from a place; to bar, exclude, or reject from a group or from acceptance by society. Corresponding noun: ostracism, banishment. Ostracism and petalism were forms of banishment employed by the ancient Greeks. Ostracism was practiced by the ancient Athenians; citizens would vote by writing the name of the person to be expelled on a potsherd or earthenware tablet, and banishment was for ten years.

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19
Q
  1. PLETHORA (PLETH-uh-ruh)
A

An excess, surplus, overabundance, oversupply. Synonyms: superabundance, profusion, superfluity, surfeit (Level 8, Word 49). Antonyms: scarcity, insufficiency, dearth (Level 3, Word 12), paucity (Level 10, Word 2). Corresponding adjective: plethoric.

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20
Q
  1. PROCLIVITY (pro-KLIV-i-tee)
A

An inclination, liking, leaning; a strong natural bent or tendency, often toward something disagreeable, objectionable, or wicked. Synonyms: partiality, penchant (Level 3, Word 9), predisposition, predilection (Level 8, Word 42), propensity.

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21
Q

At this point in the program there is a discussion of several interesting and useful words derived from Greek names and Greek place names:

A
  1. Procrustean: producing conformity by cruel or violent means. To place someone on a Procrustean bed means to use ruthless measures to make the person conform. 2. draconian: ruthlessly severe. 3. epicure: a person with fastidious tastes, especially in food or wine; also, someone devoted to sensual pleasure. The adjective epicurean means devoted to or appreciating the comforts of life, especially good food and drink. The doctrine of epicureanism is distinguished from hedonism, the pursuit of self-indulgent pleasure-colloquially, “living for the moment.” Additional useful phrase: summum bonum, (Latin) “greatest good.” 4. Pyrrhonism: absolute skepticism, universal doubt. 5. Pyrrhonist: a person who doubts everything. 6. Boeotian: (noun) a dull, ignorant person; (adjective) stupid, boring, obtuse. Boeotian ears: ears unable to appreciate music or rhetoric. 7. Arcadian: of or pertaining to the simplicity and innocence of rustic life. 8. solecism: a gross grammatical error or a social impropriety. 9. Laodicean: (noun) an indifferent or complacent person; (adjective) indifferent or lukewarm, especially in matters of religion.
22
Q
  1. COMMENSURATE (kuh-MEN-shur-it)
A

Proportionate, corresponding in amount, measure, or degree; also, equal, of the same size or extent.

23
Q
  1. INCESSANT (in-SES-int)
A

Constant, uninterrupted, continuous, unceasing. Synonyms: interminable, relentless, unremitting, continuous. Antonyms: occasional, irregular, intermittent, incidental, sporadic, fitful, erratic. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words continuous and continual, Continual means happening again and again at short intervals: continual reminders, continual attempts, continual laughter, the continual ringing of the telephone. Continuous means uninterrupted or unbroken: continuous noise, continuous rain, a continuous effort, the continuous rotation of the earth.

24
Q
  1. SYCOPHANT (SIK-uh-fint)
A

A flatterer, parasite, toady, fawning follower, hanger-on. Corresponding adjective: sycophantic (SIK-uh-FAN-tik).

25
Q
  1. TANGENTIAL (tan-JEN-shul)
A

Not closely related, only slightly connected, digressive, divergent. Related word: tangent, (geometry) a line that touches a curve but does not intersect it; the phrase to go off on a tangent means to make an abrupt change of course (usually in speech), diverge, digress.

26
Q
  1. TENABLE (TEN-uh-buul)
A

Defensible, reasonable; able to be defended, maintained, or upheld (as, a tenable law, a tenable reason). Related words: tenaculum, a pointed, hooked instrument used in surgery for lifting and holding parts, such as blood vessels; tenacious, holding firmly (a tenacious grip, a tenacious memory). Antonym: untenable, indefensible.

27
Q
  1. IMPALPABLE (im-PAL-puh-buul)
A

Incapable of being felt or understood, not able to be perceived either by the sense of touch or by the mind. Synonyms: untouchable, imperceptible, intangible. Antonyms: palpable, perceptible, manifest, tangible. Related words: palpate, (medicine) to examine or explore by touch; palpation, the act of examining by touch.

28
Q
  1. ODIOUS (OH-dee-us)
A

Hateful, detestable, offensive, revolting, arousing strong dislike or aversion. Synonyms: disgusting, obnoxious, objectionable, disagreeable, contemptible,repellent, repugnant, loathsome, abominable, abhorrent, heinous, opprobrious, flagitious, execrable. Corresponding noun: odiousness, the state or quality of being odious. Usage tip: Be careful to distinguish the words odious and odorous both in spelling and usage. Odorous means emitting an odor, having a distinct aroma or smell. Odious means hateful, detestable, revolting. Odorous armpits or odorous garbage may be odious, but there is nothing odious about odorous flowers.

29
Q
  1. UBIQUITOUS (yoo-BIK-wuh-tus)
A

Existing or seeming to exist everywhere at the same time. Antonym: nonexistent. Synonyms: ever-present, universal, pervading, omnipresent. Corresponding noun: ubiquity, the state of being or seeming to be everywhere at once, omnipresence. Usage tip: Because few things other than the air we breathe can accurately be described as ubiquitous, existing everywhere at the same time, ubiquitous is often used to mean seeming to exist everywhere at once, extremely widespread. Ubiquitous is also often used to achieve an exaggerated effect.

30
Q
  1. RUMINATE (ROO-mi-nayt)
A

To turn over in the mind, think about again and again, consider carefully or at length. Synonyms: ponder, contemplate, meditate, deliberate, muse, cogitate, mull. Related words: ruminant, (zoology) an animal that chews its cud; (adjective) chewing the cud; rumen, the first chamber of the multi-chambered stomachs of ruminant animals. Additional useful word: mastication, the act of chewing. Usage tip: Just as we often say that we chew on something, we often say that we ruminate on something.

31
Q
  1. REMUNERATION (ri-MYOO-nuh-RAY-shin)
A

Payment, compensation, or reward. Synonyms: reimbursement, recompense, consideration, indemnification, emolument (Level 8, Word 3). Corresponding verb: remunerate, to pay or compensate for services rendered, trouble taken, or goods provided.

32
Q
  1. PECCADILLO (PEK-uh-DIL-oh)
A

A small sin, slight offense, minor fault or flaw. Related words: peccant, guilty, sinful, culpable; peccable, liable to sin or do wrong; and impeccable (Level 4, Word 40), incapable of sin, unable to do wrong-hence, free from all faults or imperfections. Synonyms: failing, frailty, foible (Level 3, Word 23). Spelling and usage tip: The plural may be spelled either peccadilloes or peccadillos.

33
Q
  1. SUPINE (soo-PYN)
A

Lying down on the back, with the face turned upward. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words supine, prone, prostrate, recumbent, which denote lying down in various ways. Usage tip: Be careful not to confuse the adjective prostrate with the noun prostate. Prostrate means lying flat, stretched out, either on the back (supine) or the belly (prone). Prostate denotes the gland in men that contributes to the production of semen and helps control urination.

34
Q
  1. BANAL (BAY-nul or buh-NAL)
A

Common, ordinary, unoriginal; flat, dull, and predictable; lacking freshness or zest. Synonyms: trite, commonplace, conventional, humdrum, hackneyed, shopworn, stereotyped, insipid, vapid, bromidic. Antonyms: creative, imaginative, unconventional, unorthodox, ingenious, innovative, novel, pithy. Corresponding noun: banality, the quality or state of being common, ordinary, and unoriginal.

35
Q
  1. HETERODOX (HET-ur-uh-dahks)
A

Having or expressing an opinion different from the accepted opinion; not in agreement with established doctrine or belief. Corresponding noun: heterodoxy, an opinion or belief contrary to what is accepted and established. Antonym: orthodox, agreeing with established opinion, adhering to accepted beliefs. Related words: doxy, an opinion or doctrine, especially a religious opinion; doxastic, pertaining to opinion or to the formation of an opinion doxology, (Christian worship) an expression of praise to God, usually in the form of a brief hymn or chant. Additional useful information: The prefix ortho- means right, upright, proper, or correct. It appears in orthodontics, the dental specialty c correcting irregularities of the teeth; orthoscopic, having normal or correct vision; orthography, correct spelling; and orthoepy, the study of the proper pronunciation of words (pronounced OR-thoh-ep-ee or or-THOH-uh-pee). N.B. This discussion concludes by distinguishing heterodox and heretical.

36
Q
  1. GRANDILOQUENT (gran-DIL-uh-kwint)
A

Characterized by lofty, high-flown language; full of grand or high-sounding words. Synonyms: bombastic, grandiose, florid, turgid. Antonyms: plain-spoken, forthright, unaffected, candid. This discussion covers the following selection: magniloquent, speaking pompously, using grand or high-flown language (magniloquent and grandiloquent are virtually interchangeable); multiloquent, using many words, talking up a storm; breviloquent, speaking briefly; suaviloquent, speaking in an urbane, sophisticated manner; doctiloquent, speaking like a scholar or an expert on some subject; sanctiloquent, speaking solemnly or of sacred matters; somniloquent, talking in one’s sleep.

37
Q
  1. LUGUBRIOUS (luh-GOO-bree-us)
A

Mournful and gloomy; expressing sadness or sorrow, often in an exaggerated, affected, or ridiculous way. Synonyms: dismal, melancholy, dreary, funereal, doleful, dolorous, disconsolate, plaintive, woeful, lachrymose, saturnine. Antonyms: cheerful, jubilant, joyous, gleeful, mirthful, jovial (Level 5, Word 19), sanguine. Corresponding noun: lugubriousness. Corresponding adverb: lugubriously.

38
Q
  1. INFINITESIMAL (IN-fin-i-TES-i-mul)
A

Too small to be measured or calculated. Synonyms: tiny, minute, microscopic, minuscule. Usage tip: In precise usage, infinitesimal is not interchangeable with tiny, minute, and minuscule, which mean very small, and microscopic, which means too small to be seen without a microscope. Properly, infinitesimal means too small to be measured or calculated. Loose usage: Scientists detected an infinitesimal amount of mercury and lead in the city’s tap water. Precise usage: In a test of the city’s tap water, scientists determined that if mercury and lead were present, the amounts were infinitesimal.

39
Q
  1. GOAD (GOHD, rhymes with road)
A

To prod or urge to action, stimulate, arouse, stir up. Synonyms: egg on, spur, incite, impel, instigate. Antonyms: soothe, pacify, appease, assuage (Level 2, Word 37), mollify. Corresponding noun: goad, a pointed stick used to prod animals and get them to move; figuratively, a stimulus, spur, incitement, anything that urges or drives something on.

40
Q
  1. MALINGER (muh-LING-gur)
A

To pretend to be sick or incapacitated so as to avoid work or duty; to shirk or dodge responsibility by feigning illness or inability. Usage tip: Don’t be misled by the presence of the word linger in malinger, which does not mean to linger, loiter, or hang around in a shiftless or threatening way. Related word: malady, an illness or affliction. Corresponding noun: malingerer, a person who malingers.

41
Q
  1. AVER (uh-VUR)
A

To state positively, declare with confidence. Synonyms: assert, affirm, avow, profess, contend, asseverate. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the verbs to state, declare, assert, asseverate, affirm, and aver.

42
Q

N.B.

A
  1. Redundancy: This section advises that you should avoid the (common but) redundant and verbose phrases at the present time, at this point in time, and at this particular point in time. The preferred forms are at present, at this point, at this time, or now. 2. Commonly confused words: This section covers the proper distinctions between continual and continuous (also discussed under incessant, Level 6, Word 22); childish and childlike; immigrate and emigrate and eminent and imminent. 3. Commonly misused or misunderstood words: This section explains the traditional meanings and precise use of the words transpire, condone, and promiscuous. Other useful words noted: untoward, improper or inappropriate; erroneous, wrong, mistaken, based on error.
43
Q
  1. CACOPHONY (kuh-KAHF-uh-nee)
A

A harsh, jarring sound, especially a harsh and unpleasant blend of sounds. Synonyms: dissonance, discord, disharmony, stridency. Antonyms: silence, tranquility, serenity, placidity, quiescence. Corresponding adjective: cacophonous, having a harsh, unpleasant, jarring sound. Synonyms of cacophonous include dissonant, discordant, raucous, and strident.The Greek kakos, bad, is the source of the English prefix caco-, which appears in front of a number of English words to mean “bad” or “wrong.” Examples: cacography, bad writing; cacology, bad speaking or a bad choice of words; cacoepy, bad pronunciation (as opposed to orthoepy, good pronunciation); caconym, a bad or erroneous name; cacodoxy, a bad or unacceptable opinion (cacodoxy is a synonym of heterodoxy); cacoeconomy, bad economy or bad management; and cacoethes (KAK-oh-EE-theez), a bad habit, incurable itch, or an insatiable urge or desire.

44
Q
  1. REFRACTORY (ri-FRAK-tur-ee)
A

Stubborn and disobedient, actively resisting authority or control, unruly, impossible to work with or manage. Synonyms: willful, headstrong, ungovernable, rebellious, obstinate (Level 1, Word 34), intractable (Level 5, Word 12), perverse, recalcitrant, intransigent, contumacious. Antonyms: obedient, submissive, compliant, deferential, malleable (Level 2, Word 29), docile, tractable, acquiescent, obsequious. N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words refractory, intractable, contumacious, intransigent, and recalcitrant, all of which suggest stubborn resistance to control.

45
Q
  1. ICONOCLAST (eye-KAHN-uh-klast)
A

A person who attacks cherished or popular beliefs, traditions, or institutions; someone who destroys or denounces an established idea or practice. Synonyms: radical, extremist, insurgent, firebrand. Corresponding adjective: iconoclastic, attacking or opposing established or popular beliefs, customs, or institutions.

46
Q
  1. ENERVATE (EN-ur-vayt)
A

To weaken, drain of energy, deprive of force or vigor. Synonyms: exhaust, deplete, devitalize, debilitate. Antonyms: energize, invigorate, stimulate, revive, enliven, animate, vitalize, fortify. Take care to distinguish these words: to energize is to infuse with energy, invigorate; to enervate is to weaken, drain of energy. Corresponding adjective: enervated, lacking energy, drained of vitality or strength.

47
Q
  1. LEVITY (LEV-i-tee)
A

Lightness or gaiety of manner or expression; specifically, a lightness or lack of seriousness that is inappropriate or unbecoming. Synonyms: silliness, foolishness, frivolity, flippancy, tomfoolery, triviality, jocularity. Antonyms: seriousness, earnestness, sobriety, solemnity, gravity.

48
Q
  1. EQUANIMITY (EE-kwuh-NIM-i-tee)
A

Composure, calmness, evenness of mind and temper. Synonyms: poise, self-possession, serenity, tranquility, placidity, imperturbability, sangfroid (saw(n)-FWAH). N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words equanimity and composure.

49
Q
  1. STRICTURE (STRIK-chur)
A

A criticism, critical comment, especially an unfavorable or hostile observation or remark. Synonyms: reproof, censure, condemnation, disapprobation, castigation, objurgation, animadversion. Antonyms: praise, compliment, commendation, acclamation, plaudit. Additional useful information: Plaudit, applause, and applaud all come from the Latin plaudere, to clap the hands, express approval. A plaudit is an enthusiastic expression of approval or praise. Usage tip: Stricture is a noun, not a verb. You cannot stricture something, but if you have an unfavorable opinion of a person or a thing, you can express your strictures, sharp criticisms or hostile remarks.

50
Q
  1. OPULENT (AHP-yuh-lint)
A

Rich, wealthy, very well-to-do, having substantial means. Antonyms: indigent, destitute, impecunious. These words are distinguished in the discussion of indigent (Level 3, Word 39). N.B. This discussion distinguishes the adjectives opulent, affluent, and prosperous, which connote wealth and success. Corresponding noun: opulence, great wealth or a display of great wealth.

51
Q
  1. DISPARAGE (di-SPAR-ij)
A

To belittle, depreciate, discredit, lower in estimation or value, speak of or treat as inferior. Synonyms: abuse, ridicule, scorn, slander, defame, censure (Level 3, Word 28), denigrate, malign, vilify, traduce, calumniate. Disparage is related to the noun peer, an equal, a person of equal status. Corresponding adjective: disparaging. Corresponding noun: disparagement.

52
Q
  1. DISCURSIVE (dis-KUR-siv)
A

Rambling, roving, covering a wide range of topics, wandering from one subject to another. N.B. Don’t be confused by the presence of the word cursive in discursive. Discursive has nothing to do either with cursing or with cursive script, in which the letters are joined or flow together. In modern usage, discursive applies to speech or writing that runs to and fro or in many different directions. Synonyms: desultory (DES-ul-tor-ee), digressive. This discussion distinguishes these synonyms from the key word, discursive.

Verbal Advantage (6 decks)

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