List B3 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

embellish

A

v. to decorate; to add ornamental or fictitious details to

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

convalesce

A

v. to recover from illness; to recuperate

adj. covalescent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

truckle

A

v. to submit in a subservient manner to a superior; fawn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

acerbic

A

adj. sharp in smell and taste; harsh in a tone

n. acerbity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

avarice

A

n. excessive desire for wealth

adj. avaricious

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

waver

A

v. to be uncertain of something; to sway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

rationalize

A

v. to come up with self-satisfying but incorrect excuses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

garner

A

v. to get or earn; to collect or gather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

vindictive

A

adj. seeking revenge; marked by a desire to hurt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

cantakerous

A

adj. bad-tempered; quarrelsome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

dissuade

A

v. to discourage from a course of action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

troupe

A

n. a group of touring actors, singers or performers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

careen

A

v. to lean to one side or serve while in motion (of a vehicle)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

imposing

A

adj. impressive by virtue of size, power, or manner

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

boisterous

A

adj. noisy and wild; unruly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

ostensible

A

adj. outwardly appearing as such

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

abse

A

v. to lower in rank or prestige

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

immerse

A

v. to cover completely in a liquid; to engage wholly

n. immersion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

tenet

A

n. a belief

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

revel

A

v. to delight, to enjoy (used with “in”)

n. revelry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

quirk

A

n. a rapid twist and turn; an individual mannerism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

trove

A

n. a collection of valuable items

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

holistic

A

adj. dealing with something as a whole rather than by its individual parts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

calamity

A

n. an event causing extreme trouble and misery

adj. calamitous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

partisan

A

n. a strong, often militant, supporter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

prototype

A

n. the original model, someone or something that serves to illustrate the typical qualities of a class

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

transcend

A

v. to exceed; to go beyond or above the limits

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

disarming

A

adj. reducing or preventing criticism with charm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

vigilant

A

adj. alert and watchful, esp. for what is dangerous

n. vigilance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

brevity

A

n. briefness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

bereaved

A

adj. suffering the loss of a loved one

v. bereave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

perennial

A

adj. lasting through the years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

carous

A

n. to participate in a loud, drunken party

n. carousal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

underscore

A

v. to emphasize

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

dubious

A

adj. causing doubt; questionable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

delve

A

v. to look for; to search; to investigate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

accost

A

v. to approach and speak to, usually aggressively

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

arrogate

A

v. to claim for one’s self unjustly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

engross

A

v. to occupy completely

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

vitiate

A

v. to make faulty or impure; to spoil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

undermine

A

v. to weaken

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

adamant

A

adj. stubbornly unyielding; impervious to pleas, appeals, or reason

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

encomium

A

n. high praise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

posit

A

v. to assume as a fact or principle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

euphoria

A

n. a feeling of great happiness

adj. euphoric

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

vacuous

A

adj. lacking substance or intelligence

n. vacuity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

dogma

A

n. a specific set of ideas or beliefs, esp. religious or asserted to be absolutely true
adj. dogmatic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

turpitude

A

n. immoral behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

venturesome

A

adj. adventurous, risky, daring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

cultivate

A

v. to promote growth, to nurture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

corrborate

A

v. to strengthen; to confirm; to support

n. corroboration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

expound

A

v. to explain in detail

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

bivouac

A

n. temporary encampment, often in an unsheltered area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

hapless

A

adj. unfortunate; unlucky

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

wallow

A

v. to roll about lazily, in or as if in water, snow or mud; to revek

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

corps

A

n. a group of persons working together or related by a common association

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

elated

A

adj. in high spirits; joyful

n. elation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

catastrophe

A

n. disaster; sudden misfortune

adj. catastrophic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

unwieldy

A

adj. hard to handle or manage, esp. because of size or weight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

realm

A

n. a region; a kingdom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

gargantuan

A

adj. of huge size or capacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

watershed

A

n. a critical point that marks a diversion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

impending

A

adj. about to happen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

defunct

A

adj. having ceased to exist or live

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

fabricate

A

v. to make, build; to lie

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

finite

A

adj. measurable; having an end

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

captivate

A

v. to capture the attention or affection of, as by beauty, excellence, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
68
Q

livitate

A

v. to rise or cause to rise and float in the air

n. levitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
69
Q

allure

A

n. the power to attract with something desirable

adj. alluring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
70
Q

coterie

A

n. a small, often exclusive group of people who associate with one another frequently

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
71
Q

debunk

A

v. to expose the falsehood of

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
72
Q

vignette

A

n. a small design or portrait; a brief scene (as from a movie) or literary sketch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
73
Q

tumult

A

n. a great commotion or uproar

adj. tumultous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
74
Q

exculoate

A

v. to clear from blame or guilt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
75
Q

allude

A

v. to refer to indirectly

n. allusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
76
Q

predilection

A

n. a preference

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
77
Q

epitome

A

n. a representative example of a type

v. epitomize

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
78
Q

conceit

A

n. a fanciful idea of image, esp. an exaggerated poetic comparison; an extravagant construction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
79
Q

baleful

A

adj. harmful or threatening harm or evil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
80
Q

ameliorate

A

v. to improve; to become better

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
81
Q

orient

A

v. to establish one’s location; n. the east

82
Q

vex

A

v. to disturb; to distress
n. vexation
adj. vexatious

83
Q

variegated

A

adj. distinctly marked with different colors; diverse

84
Q

vertiginous

A

adj. causing dizziness, as from spinning or heights

85
Q

anesthesia

A

n. unawareness of pain or other sensation; drugs that cause this state

86
Q

upshot

A

n. the decisive or final result

87
Q

effervescent

A

adj. giving off gas bubbles; showing high spirits or excitement
v. effervesce
n. effervescence

88
Q

retrospect

A

n. the consideration of past events

adj. retrospective

89
Q

laity

A

n. all the people not belonging to a given profession, esp. the clergy

90
Q

benediction

A

n. blessing

91
Q

bifurcate

A

v. to divide into two parts

n. bifurcation

92
Q

affable

A

adj. friendly; easy to talk to

n. affability

93
Q

verity

A

n. a widely-accepted truth

94
Q

verbatim

A

adj. word for word

95
Q

abrogate

A

v. to cancel or repeal by authority

n. abrogation

96
Q

discreet

A

adj. careful about what one says or does; prudent

n. discretion

97
Q

altercation

A

n. a heated or noisy argument

98
Q

outmoded

A

adj. no longer in fashin

99
Q

feud

A

n. a bitter, prolonged quarrel

100
Q

delude

A

v. to make someone believe something that is untrue; to deceive
adj. deluded
n. delusion

101
Q

metaphysical

A

adj. highly abstract or theoretical; lacking physical form

n. metaphysics

102
Q

kudos

A

n. glory; fame

103
Q

implacable

A

adj. unable to be pacified; relentless

104
Q

autocracy

A

n. rule by one person with unlimited power
n. autocrat
adj. autocratic

105
Q

pinnacle

A

n. the highest point; summit

106
Q

succulent

A

adj. full of juice; highly enjoyable

107
Q

vain

A

adj. not producing the desired outcome; worthless’ proud or conceited
n. vanity

108
Q

obeisance

A

n. a gesture, such as a curtsy, that expresses respect or obedience

109
Q

havoc

A

n. great destruction and devastation

110
Q

infatuated

A

adj. experiencing an unreasonable passion or attraction

n. infatuation

111
Q

maudlin

A

adj. excessively sentimental

112
Q

discrete

A

adj. individually distinct or separate

113
Q

foreboding

A

n. a sense of impending evil, esp. one without definite cause

114
Q

attrition

A

n. gradual reduction

115
Q

devour

A

v. to eat up greedily

116
Q

impetuous

A

adj. characterized by sudden emotion, energy, etc.; impulsive and passionate
n. impetuousity

117
Q

imminent

A

adj. impending; threatening; likely to happen

118
Q

ephemeral

A

adj. lasting for a short time; fleeting

119
Q

fledgling

A

n. a young inexperienced person; a young bird just growing feathers

120
Q

dispatch

A

v. to send off promptly; n. efficient speed; a message, esp. official or from a journalist

121
Q

firebrand

A

n. one who stirs up trouble or revolt

122
Q

privation

A

n. lack of basic necessities

123
Q

garish

A

adj. marked by unpleasantly bright colors or excessive ornamentation

124
Q

feral

A

adj. existing in a wild or untamed state

125
Q

compendium

A

n. a short, complete summary

adj. compendious

126
Q

disheveled

A

adj. disarranged; untidy; rumpled

127
Q

dispense

A

v. to administer; to distribute; (with prep. “with) to do without

128
Q

dispirited

A

adj. sad

v. dispirit

129
Q

icon

A

n. an image; a symbol; a representation of a holy person, esp. in the Orthodox Christian churches
adj. iconic

130
Q

malleable

A

adj. able to be pounded; capable of being molded; adaptable

131
Q

heyday

A

n. a time of success or popularity

132
Q

meander

A

v. to follow a winding course; to wander without any fixed destination

133
Q

sanctuary

A

n. a holy place; a place of refuge

134
Q

patina

A

n. a thin greenish layer that forms on copper as a result of corrosion; the sheen on any surface produced by age or use

135
Q

cherish

A

v. to hold in great affection

136
Q

sparse

A

adj. thinly spread or distributed; not dense or crowded

137
Q

narcissistic

A

adj. excessively interested in one’s own appearance, comfort, importance, etc.
n. narcissism

138
Q

persevere

A

v. to remain constant despite obstacles

139
Q

fiat

A

n. an authoritative order; an arbitrary decree

140
Q

inscutable

A

adj. hard to understand; enigmatic

141
Q

palliate

A

v. to lessen the pain or severity

adj. palliative

142
Q

haggard

A

adj. appearing tired and thin, as from anxiety, disease, hunger, etc,

143
Q

pandemonium

A

n. a situation of great confusion, esp. because of fear or anger

144
Q

benign

A

adj. kindly; creating a favorable influence; (in medicine) not dangerous to one’s health
n. benignity

145
Q

flaccid

A

adj. lacking firmness

146
Q

gesticulate

A

v. to make gestures, esp. while speaking

n. gesticulation

147
Q

myopic

A

adj. near-sighted

n. myopia

148
Q

chic

A

adj. smartly elegant in style and manner

149
Q

melancholy

A

adj. sad, esp. a lingering or habitual state of mind; n. persistent sadness

150
Q

berate

A

v. to scold severely and at length

151
Q

quaint

A

adj. odd, esp, in an old-fashioned way

152
Q

mores

A

n. accepted rules of behavior

153
Q

perfunctory

A

adj. done without care or interest merely as a form or routine

154
Q

civic

A

adj. pertaining to a city or citizen

155
Q

fraternize

A

v. to associate in a friendly manner

156
Q

deprive

A

v. to take or keep something away from someone

n. deprivation

157
Q

manifold

A

adj. of many kinds; numerous and varied

158
Q

redolent

A

adj. aromatic; fragrant; suggestive

n. redolence

159
Q

prescribe

A

v. to set down as a rule

n. prescription

160
Q

obstruse

A

adj. slow in understanding; dull; stupid

n. obstruseness

161
Q

ignominy

A

n. shame; dishonor

adj. ignominious

162
Q

erratic

A

adj. inconsistent, unpredicatble

163
Q

convivial

A

adj. sociable; festive

n. conviviality

164
Q

mercurial

A

adj. easily changeable; erratic

165
Q

disspate

A

v. to scatter; to spend wastefully

166
Q

shear

A

v. to cut hair or wool from

167
Q

largess

A

n. generosity in giving gifts

168
Q

invective

A

n. language that abuses or denounches

169
Q

dote

A

v. to show excessive love or fondness

170
Q

cornucopia

A

n. an abundance

171
Q

mellifluous

A

adj. smooth and sweet; flowing with sweetness

172
Q

innuendo

A

n. an indirect suggestion about someone or something, esp. of a negative nature

173
Q

penitent

A

adj. feeling regret

n. penitence

174
Q

malediction

A

n. evil talk about someone; slander; a curse

175
Q

toady

A

n. a person who flatters others for self-serving reasons; a sycophant

176
Q

expedite

A

v. to speed up

adj. expeditious

177
Q

unruly

A

adj. difficult to control; disobedient

178
Q

caliber

A

n. degree of worth or value

179
Q

solicitous

A

adj. showing anxious concern

180
Q

oppugn

A

v. to oppose with argument; to contradict or call into question

181
Q

hidebound

A

adj. narrow-minded

182
Q

inchoate

A

adj. at an early stage of development; not well developed

183
Q

monolithic

A

adj. massive, solid and uniform in appearance

n. monolith

184
Q

nonchalant

A

adj. seemingly unconcerned or indifferent

n. nonchalance

185
Q

reproach

A

v. to express disapproval for a fault, usually out of a sense of disappointment
n. reproach
adj. reproachful

186
Q

haven

A

n. a safe place

187
Q

placate

A

v. to make less angry

188
Q

gamut

A

n. an entire range or series

189
Q

feign

A

v. to pretend; to fake

190
Q

decor

A

n. a decorative style or scheme, as of a room

191
Q

tentative

A

adj. experimental; not sure

192
Q

poignant

A

adj. sharply painful to the feelings

n. poignancy

193
Q

memento

A

n. a reminder or a souvenir

194
Q

patronize

A

v. to sponsor or support; to be ind or helpful in a snobbish way, as if dealing with an inferior
adj. patronizing

195
Q

sumptuous

A

adj. of a size or splendor suggesting great expense; lavish

196
Q

filibuster

A

v. to use a prolonged speech to delay legislative action; n. a speech that delays legislative action

197
Q

hysteria

A

n. a sudden outburst of uncontrolled emotion such as fear, excitement, etc.
adj. hysterical

198
Q

imbecile

A

n. a stupid or silly person

adj. imbecilic

199
Q

dwindle

A

v. to decrease gradually until little remains

200
Q

purvey

A

v. to supply

n. purveyor