List 4 Flashcards
apotheosis
N. elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something. The apotheosis of a Roman emperor was designed to insure his eternal greatness: people would worship at his altar forever. The hero of the musical How to Succeed in Business…was the apotheosis of yuppieness: he was the perfect upwardly-bound young man on the make.
apposite
ADJ. appropriate; fitting. He was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion.
apprise
inform
approbation
acquire
aquiline
curved
armada
fleet of warships. Queen Elizabeth’s navy defeated the mighty armada that threatened the English coast.
arraign
V. charge in court; indict. After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court.
arrears
N. being in debt. He was in arrears with his pay- ments on the car.
artifice
N. deception; trickery. The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effec- tive than military might.
ascendancy
N. controlling influence; domination. Leaders of religious cults maintain ascendancy over their followers by methods that can verge on brainwashing.
asinine
stupid
askew
crookedly
asperity
N. sharpness (of temper). These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed.
aspersion
N. slander; slur; derogatory remark. Unscrupu- lous politicians practice character assassination as a politi- cal tool, casting aspersions on their rivals.
assail
V. assault. He was assailed with questions after his lecture.
