List A2 Flashcards
0
Q
elude
A
v. to escape from, as by daring or skill; to escape the understanding of
adj. elusive
1
Q
scrutiny
A
n. close examination; minute inspection; a careful watch
v. scrutinize
2
Q
nuance
A
n. variation of meaning; subtlety
3
Q
cosmopolitan
A
adj. having worldwide scope; so sophisticated as to be at home in all parts of the world
4
Q
avocation
A
n. a hobby
5
Q
degenerate
A
v. to decline to an inferior state, often in mental or moral quality
6
Q
germane
A
adj. fitting and appropriate
7
Q
mnemonic
A
adj. pertaining to or assisting the memory
8
Q
breach
A
n. some sort of violation; a gap
9
Q
adage
A
n. a familiar saying; a proverb
10
Q
nadir
A
n. the lowest point; the bottom
11
Q
denouement
A
n. conclusion; resolution; the falling action of a story after its climax
12
Q
heterogeneous
A
adj. not similar; very different; mixed together
13
Q
eclipse
A
v. to overshadow
14
Q
rococo
A
adj. elaborate or overdone
15
Q
distend
A
v. to stretch out; to expand
n. distention
16
Q
astute
A
adj. showing clever awareness, esp. with respect to one’s own concerns
17
Q
kindred
A
adj. related or similar in origin or nature
18
Q
neophyte
A
n. a beginner; an immature person who is learning
19
Q
sublime
A
adj. of high spiritual or moral worth
n. sublimity
20
Q
tepid
A
adj. moderately warm; lacking force or enthusiasm
21
Q
equivocal
A
adj. capable of multiple interpretations; unclear
v. equivocate
n. equivocation
22
Q
versatile
A
adj. competent in many things
n. versatility
23
Q
procure
A
v. to obtain or acquire
n. procurement
24
paradox
n. a statement or situation that appears contradictory
| adj. paradoxical
25
heed
v. to pay attention to
26
relish
v. to enjoy
27
forebear
n. a person from whom one is descended; an ancestor (usually plural)
28
hegemony
n. strong influence; domination
29
onus
n. an unpleasant task or duty; a burden or obligation
30
affinity
n. a natural attraction or feeling of kinship; an inherent similarity
31
mundane
adj. typical of this world; commonplace
32
atrophy
n. a wasting away, esp. of body tissue
| v. atrophy
33
duplicity
n. deception; deceitfulness; double-dealing
| adj. duplicitous
34
verisimilitude
n. resemblance to the truth
35
proliferate
v. to grow or reproduce rapidly
36
shibboleth
n. a custom or phrase distinction of a particular group, class, etc.
37
congenital
adj. present since birth; being an essential characteristic
38
ensemble
n. a group, esp. of performers,working as a unified whole
39
cajole
v. to attempt to persuade with flattery or insincere talk
40
facile
adj. with effortless ease; without proper care; superficial
| n. facility
41
phenomenon
n. an occurrence that can be perceived by the senses; a remarkable person or event
pl. phenomena
42
civil
adj. observing accepted social customs; not rude
43
accede
v. to agree to something
44
periphery
n. a boundary line; perimeter; an outside surface
| adj. peripheral
45
wane
v. to decrease; lessen
46
capacious
adj. able to contain or hold much
47
ambivalence
n. simultaneous existence of opposing feelings; uncertainty as to what to do
adj. ambivalent
48
aloof
adj. distant or removed in attitude or manner
49
caveat
n. a warning
50
ineffable
adj. incapable of being expressed
51
revere
v. to honor
adj. reverent
n. reverence
52
forage
v. to search for food or provisions
53
scale
v. to climb
54
sect
n. a small group, esp. religious, united by a specific set of beliefs
adj. sectarian
55
vernacular
n. informal speech; native language
56
sanguine
adj. optimistic; cheerful
57
kindle
v. to set on fire; ignite
| n. kindling
58
ruminate
v. to ponder at length
| adj. ruminative
59
culpable
adj. deserving blame or punishment
| n. culpability
60
lummox
n. a clumsy person
61
idiosyncrasy
n. a particular, peculiar, or eccentric trait
| adj. idiosyncratic
62
dissemble
v. to deceive or conceal; to hide one's motives; to simulate
63
lugubrious
adj. sad or mournful, esp. in a way that seems exaggerated or ridiculous
64
internecine
adj. pertaining to conflict within a group; mutually destrcutive
65
imprudent
adj. rude, shameless
| n. imprudence
66
abolish
v. to put an end to
| n. abolition
67
acquiesce
v. to agree without protest
| n. acquiescence
68
rural
adj. relating to the country or farming
69
chimerical
adj. created by or as if by a fanciful imagination
| n. chimera
70
odyssey
n. a long, adventurous journey
71
rail
v. to speak bitterly or reproachfully
72
gratuitous
adj. unnecessary or inappropriate
73
inherent
adj. included as an essential part; intrinsic
74
saga
n. a long prose narrative, often telling of adventure or heroism; a long, detailed report
75
primeval
adj. relating to the beginning of the first world ages
76
mammoth
adj. very large; of clumsy or unwieldy size
77
marquee
n. a sign over the entrance to a public building
78
intimate
v. to make known subtly; to hint
| n. intimation
79
revery
v. to return to a former condition
80
ulterior
adj. lying beyond what is evident, revealed, or claimed
81
sedentary
adj. sitting down most of the time
82
quell
v. to ease; to calm down
83
forsenic
adj. related to the law or debate
84
clique
n. exclusive group of people
85
clandestine
adj. done in secret, esp. to conceal something improper
86
surmount
v. to overcome (e.g., an obstacle); to climb to the top of
87
pilfer
v. to steal a small amount
88
sweltering
adj. oppressively hot and humid
| v. swelter
89
subterfuge
n. a sneaky or devious method for avoiding difficulty or unpleasantness
90
respite
n. temporary relief
91
endorse
v. to give approval or support to
92
niche
n. a place or situation suited for a person or thing; a recess in a wall
93
ellipsis
n. in a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods
94
apt
adj. appropriate; having a natural tendency
95
ersatz
adj. artificial; not genuine; fake
96
serence
adj. calm and peaceful
| n. serenity
97
instigate
v. to stir up or arouse; to foment
| n. instigation
98
predominant
adj. surpassing all others; most common
| v. predominate
99
valedictory
n. a farewell speech
100
blunder
v. to move carelessly
101
foolhardy
adj. reckless; bold without judgment
102
abundant
adj. in great supply
| n. abundance
103
haphazard
adj. mere chance; accident
104
toxic
adj. poisonous; dangerous
| n. toxin
105
bow
n. forward part of a ship; prow
106
conspire
v. to plan secretly together
| n. conspiracy
107
erode
v. to wear away slowly
n. erosion
adj. erosive
108
persist
v. to continue despite difficulty
| adj. persisting
109
apex
n. the highest point
110
diction
n. word choice in speech or writing; degree of clarity in speaking
111
mentor
n. a counselor or teacher
112
bravura
n. a showy display
113
segue
n. an easy, effective, or uninterrupted transition
114
brazen
adj. showing shameless, insolent boldness; made of brass
115
jingoism
n. an extreme patriotism
116
extradite
v. to deliver someone (e.g., a fugitive) to the authority of another government or jurisdiction
n. extradition
117
dappled
adj. spotted
118
abridge
v. to reduce in scope
119
jaundice
n. prejudice; bias; a yellowish discoloration of the skin
| adj. jaundiced
120
eloquent
adj. articulate; convincing and effective in speech
| n. eloquence
121
clairvoyant
adj. having the supposed power to see objects or events that cannot be perceived by the senses
n. clairvoyance
122
derive
v. to obtain from a specified source
123
onerous
adj. burdensome, hard to bear
124
dovetail
v. to combine or interlock into a unified whole
125
carcass
n. the dead body of an animal, esp. one slaughtered for food (also used figuratively)
126
earshot
n. the distance within which a sound can be heard
127
feisty
adj. irritable; quarrelsome; full of spirit
128
retort
v. to reply, esp. in a quick or witty manner
129
consort
v. to associate; to keep company
130
parrot
v. to blindly repeat or copy
131
extraneous
adj. not an essential part of; unimportant
132
interdict
v. to forbid or stop the activities or entry of
133
belie
v. to picture falsely; to contradict
134
solemn
adj. serious; grave
| n. solemnity
135
vigorous
adj. energetic
| n. vigor
136
mire
n. a swamp or bog
137
synthesis
n. the combination of separate parts into a unified whole
adj. synthetic
v. synthesize
138
gangly
adj. awkwardly tall
139
mausoleum
n. a huge tomb
140
maxim
n. a short saying expressing a general principle
141
regiment
n. a set of rules, usually followed for therapeutic effect
142
saturine
adj. of a gloomy temperament
143
stigma
n. a sign of disgrace; a mark that lowers a reputation
| v. stigmatize
144
histrionic
adj. overly dramatic, theatrical
145
innovative
adj. marked by a new or unusual way of doing things
v. innovate
n. innovation
146
bilious
adj. bad-tempered; cross
147
choleric
adj. easily angered; bad-tempered
148
rebuff
v. to refuse someone; to reject an offer
149
warp
v. to distort, as a twist or bend
150
abdicate
v. to willingly give up the position of king, queen, etc.; to choose not to fulfill a role or duty
n. abdication
151
nimble
adj. fast and light in motion
152
aftermath
n. a result or consequence
153
indict
v. to formally accuse of criminal activity
| n. indictment
154
amuck
adj. frenzied, esp. violently
| adj. amok
155
subsidy
n. monetary assistance
156
rear
v. to raise children
157
ingenious
adj. inventive, cunning, clever
| n. ingenuity
158
explicit
adj. fully revealed or made clear
159
juggernaut
n. a terrible, irresistible force
160
jurisdiction
n. the extent of authority or control; the right and power to interpret and apply the law
161
woebegone
adj. affected with great sadness, esp. as reflected in one's appearance
162
valiant
adj. courageous, brave, as in battle
163
polemic
n. a controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion
adj. polemic
164
peccadillo
n. a minor sin
165
saturate
v. to soak or fill to capacity
| n. saturation
166
edict
n. an authoritative order issued publicly; a decree
167
hiatus
n. an interruption in activity or progress
168
constitute
v. to make up the parts of; to compose
169
estuary
n. the part of a river that meets a sea
170
mettle
n. courage; strength of character
| adj. mettlesome
171
phlegmatic
adj. having a calm, sluggish temperament; unemotional
172
ad hoc
adj. for a specific purpose and no other; improvised
173
extemporaneous
adj. done with little or no preparation
174
trek
v. to travel or migrate, esp. slowly or with great difficulty
175
ensue
v. to happen subsequently
176
palette
n. a board which an artist can hold while painting and on which colors can be mixed; the range of colors used in a particular painting or by a particular artist
177
gallant
adj. brave and noble
| n. gallantry
178
bazaar
n. a market consisting of a street lined with shops; a place where miscellaneous items are sold
179
diurnal
adj. daily; occurring during the daytime
180
ridicule
v. to make fun of
| adj. ridiculous
181
postscript
n. additional information added to the end of a letter or other document
182
pallet
n. a narrow, hard bed or straw-filled mattress
183
decorum
n. polite behavior
| adj. decorous
184
illuminate
v. to light up
| n. illumination
185
eon
n. a long period of time
186
effrontery
n. bold and insulting behavior
187
dictum
n. an authoritative, often formal pronouncement
188
cordial
adj. warm and friendly; hearty
189
impalpable
adj. that which cannot be felt by touching; not easily understood
190
ovation
n. enthusiastic and lengthy applause
191
exhaustive
adj. thorough
192
confide
v. to tell something in secret
adj. confidential
n. confidant
193
pittance
n. a small amount, esp. of money
194
dual
adj. composed of two parts
195
manuscript
n. a book or other document written by hand; an author's original copy of a document submitted for publication
196
knell
v. to ring in a slow, solemn way
| n. the sound of a bell, esp. of one rung at a funeral; an omen of death, failure, etc.
197
de factor
adj. actual or effective, esp. when without legal authority; in fact
198
scour
v. to wash by scrubbing vigorously
199
agape
adv. wide open
