lit vocab 8 Flashcards
ribald
[rih-bald]
vulgar, perverted, but still kind of funny, makes dirty jokes
confound
v.
be confusing and perplexing, mistake one for another e,g. twins
e.g. the inflation figure confounded economic analysts.
mendacious
telling lies habitually
remember like mentir
cleft
split, divided
meagre
(of something provided) lacking in quantity or quality e.g. they were forced to supplement their meagre earnings.
(of a person, animal, or part of the body) lean; thin. a tall
unfurl
spread out from a rolled state e.g. a yoga mat
guile
[gaa-il]
sly or cunning intelligence
duplicity
deceitfulness
artless
without guile or deception, natural, simple
e.g. an artless naive girl
perusal
the activity of carefully examining, reading, poring over, or studying something with the intent of remembering it.
sanctimonious
Making a show of being morally superior to other people.
Usually means hypocritical.
A sanctimonious person might think they’re holy, but their attitude comes across more like “holier-than-thou.”
e.g. preaching to a friend about the evils of drugs, while drinking one beer after another
e.g. what happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first?
split, divided
cleft
vulgar, perverted, but still kind of funny, makes dirty jokes
ribald
be confusing and perplexing, mistake one for another e,g. twins
confound
v.
spread out from a rolled state e.g. a yoga mat
unfurl
sly or cunning intelligence
guile
[gaa-il]
without guile or deception, natural, simple
artless
the activity of carefully examining, reading, poring over, or studying something with the intent of remembering it.
perusal
(of something provided) lacking in quantity or quality
(of a person, animal, or part of the body) lean; thin. a tall
meagre
deceitfulness synonym
duplicity
telling lies habitually
mendacious
Making a show of being morally superior to other people.
e.g. preaching to a friend about the evils of drugs, while drinking one beer after another
sanctimonious
forfeit
[for-fet]
lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing e.g. If you don’t finish your homework and eat all your broccoli, you’ll most likely forfeit your right to watch TV before going to bed.
liable
responsible by law
commonplace
ordinary, uninteresting, not unusual
ere
[literary/archaic]
before [in time]
e.g. we hope you will return ere long.
furrow
[fuh-row]
a trench, ditch in the ground
a wrinkle on a face
wane
grow smaller, decline e.g. my initial enthusiasm waned when i saw the paperwork
to wax and wane = grow bigger and smaller e.g. the Moon
lorn
adj.
[literary]
lonely and abandoned, forlorn, while pitifully sad
feign
pretend to be affected by e.g. she feigned nervousness
incisive
decisive, sharp and direct - like a knife that cuts right to the bone
intelligently analytical and clear-thinking
accretion
gradual growth or natural increase of additional matter or layers e.g. the accretion of lime stalactites
thereafter
after that time
droop
v.
bend or hang downwards limply e.g. a long black cloak drooped from his shoulders.
sag
v.
sink, subside, or bulge downwards under weight or pressure or through lack of strength
e. g. she let her head sag lower and lower
e. g. sagging shelves bearing rusty paint tins.
pretend to be affected by
feign
inveigh
speak or write about (something) with great hostility,
to rail against something with hostility and passion.
e.g. he liked to inveigh against all forms of academic training
decisive, sharp and direct - like a knife that cuts right to the bone
intelligently analytical and clear-thinking
incisive
wrest
- forcibly pull (something) from a person’s grasp, take forcibly e.g. Leila tried to wrest her arm from his hold.
- take (something, especially power or control) after considerable effort or difficulty e.g. they wanted people to wrest control of their lives from impersonal bureaucracies.
brood
n.
a family of birds or other young animals produced at one hatching or birth e.g. a brood of chicks.
conciliate
stop (someone) being angry or discontented; placate, pacify
e.g. concessions were made to conciliate the peasantry.
concession
a thing that is granted especially in response to demands
e.g. the government was unwilling to make any further concessions.
eminent
famous and respected within a particular sphere e.g. one of the world’s most eminent statisticians.
2. {of a positive quality} present in a notable degree e.g. the books eminent readability
gradual growth or natural increase of additional matter or layers
accretion
after that time
thereafter
bend or hang downwards limply
droop
v.
[literary]
lonely and abandoned, forlorn, while pitifully sad
lorn
speak or write about (something) with great hostility,
to rail against something with hostility and passion
inveigh
sink, subside, or bulge downwards under weight or pressure or through lack of strength
sag
v.
- forcibly pull (something) from a person’s grasp, take forcibly
- take (something, especially power or control) after considerable effort or difficulty
to wrest
grow smaller, decline
wane
a family of birds or other young animals produced at one hatching or birth e.g. a brood of chicks.
a brood
stop (someone) being angry or discontented; placate, pacify
conciliate
famous and respected within a particular sphere
2. {of a positive quality} present in a notable degree
eminent
a thing that is granted especially in response to demands
a concession
haul
[hól]
pull or drag with effort or force e.g. he hauled his bike out of the shed
induce
- [ with obj. and infinitive ] succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do something e.g. the pickets induced many workers to stay away.
- bring about or give rise to e.g. none of these measures induced a change of policy.
lieu
(in lieu of)
[lú]
instead of e.g. the company issued additional shares to shareholders in lieu of a cash dividend.
schooner
[skúner]
a sailing ship with two masts, typically with foremast smaller than the main mast
yank
pull with a jerk e.g. her hair was yanked, and she screamed
fearmongering
the action of deliberately arousing public fear or alarm about a particular issue e.g. his campaign for re-election was based on fearmongering and deception.
bushel
[buh-shel]
a measure of capacity equivalent to around 36 litres
entomb
- place in a tomb (or a grave) e.g. mummies were entombed in the Pyramids
- bury or trap within e.g. many were entombed in the ruins of the building
instead of
in lieu of
- [ with obj. and infinitive ] succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do something
- bring about or give rise to
induce
pull with a jerk
yank
a sailing ship with two masts, typically with foremast smaller than the main mast
a schooner
[skúner]
pull or drag with effort or force
haul
[hól]
a measure of capacity equivalent to around 36 litres
a bushel
[buh-shel]
- place in a tomb (or a grave)
2. bury or trap within
entomb
the action of deliberately arousing public fear or alarm about a particular issue
fearmongering
interloper
a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.
turmoil
a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty e.g. he endured years of inner turmoil.
temerity
audacity, excessive confidence or boldness
stringent
(of rules, conditions, requirements) strict, precise and exacting
demanding strict attention to rules
e.g. stringent guidelines on air pollution, teacher’s stringent demands
tepid
lukewarm or half-hearted e.g. a tepid applause
galore
[postpositive adj., after the noun] in abundance, so much it is unbelievable e.g. cupcake galore
forbear
politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain from doing
e.g. he modestly forbears to include his own work.
revolting
intensely disgusting
to revolt: rebel against, take violent action against e.g. a ruler
gripe
- complain about something in a persistent, irritating way e.g. it’s no use griping about your boss or your pay
- a complaint
- gatric or intestinal pain
insular
Having a narrow view of the world,” like insular people who never leave their small town.
Ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience.
outlay
an amount of money spent on something e.g. a modest outlay on local advertising
haulage
[how-ledge]
- The commercial transport of goods e.g. road haulage.
2. The act of hauling (pulling, dragging, propelling)
feasible
- possible and practical to do easily or conveniently e.g. the Dutch have demonstrated that it is perfectly feasible to live below sea level.
- likely, probable
defile
damage the purity or appearance of; mar or spoil e.g. the land was defiled by a previous owner.
debase
reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade e.g. the love episodes debase the dignity of the drama.
desecrate
treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect: more than 300 graves were desecrated.
a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.
interloper
- The commercial transport of goods
2. the action of pulling, propelling
haulage
intensely disgusting
revolting
politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain from doing
forbear
Having a narrow view of the world, like people who never leave their small town.
Ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience.
insular
an amount of money spent on something
outlay
- possible and practical to do easily or conveniently
2. likely, probable
feasible
damage the purity or appearance of; mar or spoil
defile
- complain about something in a persistent, irritating way
- a complaint
- gatric or intestinal pain
gripe
reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade
debase
treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect
desecrate
[deh-secrate]
[postpositive adj., after the noun] in abundance, so much it is unbelievable
galore
lukewarm or half-hearted
tepid
strict, precise and exacting
demanding strict attention to rules
stringent
audacity, excessive confidence or boldness
temerity
a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty
turmoil
fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail e.g. she dressed with fastidious care.
- fussy (hard to please, detailist)
2. concerned about cleanliness
imperious
arrogant and domineering: his imperious demands.
from latin: to command, empire
hitherto
until now or until the point in time under discussion:
fraught (with)
filled with something undesirable
middle english: fraughten = fill with cargo
freight
goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft. a decline in the amount of freight carried by rail
ruddy
(of a person’s face) having a healthy red colour: a cheerful pipe-smoking man of ruddy complexion.
tantrum
an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child (or a politician) e.g. he has temper tantrums if he can’t get his own way.
doff
remove a piece of clothing
take off or raise (one’s hat) as a greeting or token of respect e.g. the manager doffed his hat to her.
rebuff
[reh-buff]
reject (someone or something) in an abrupt or ungracious manner, to snub e.g. I asked her to be my wife, and was rebuffed
snub
rebuff, ignore, or spurn (reject with contempt) disdainfully e.g. they snubbed his invitation to a meeting of foreign ministers.
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
2. concerned about cleanliness
fastidious
until now or until the point in time under discussion:
hitherto
arrogant and domineering
imperious
filled with something undesirable
fraught
(of a person’s face) having a healthy red colour
ruddy
goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.
freight
remove a piece of clothing
take off or raise (one’s hat) as a greeting or token of respect
doff
an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child
tantrum
ignore, or spurn (reject with contempt) disdainfully
snub
reject (someone or something) in an abrupt or ungracious manner
rebuff
revoke
officially cancel e.g. the men appealed and the sentence was revoked.
swoop
(especially of a bird) move rapidly downwards through the air e.g. the barn owl can swoop down on a mouse in total darkness
aggrieved
feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated e.g. they were aggrieved at the outcome.
reprimand
a formal expression of disapproval e.g. the golfer received a reprimand for a breach of rules.
gruff
(of a voice) rough and low in pitch e.g. she spoke with a gruff, masculine voice.
clamber
climb or move in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet e.g. I clambered out of the trench.
upholstery
soft, padded textile covering that is fixed to furniture such as armchairs and sofas.
canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters e.g. canny investors will switch banks if they think they are getting a raw deal.
afoul
into conflict or difficulty e.g. to run afoul, to go afoul of the law
baleful
- threatening harm; menacing e.g. Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction.
- foreshadowing of tragic or evil events
(especially of a bird) move rapidly downwards through the air
swoop
soft, padded textile covering that is fixed to furniture such as armchairs and sofas.
upholstery
officially cancel
revoke
feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated
adj.
aggrieved
(of a voice) rough and low in pitch
gruff
a formal expression of disapproval
reprimand
n./v.
climb or move in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet
clamber
having or showing shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters
canny
into conflict or difficulty, ussualy used with “run” or “fall”
afoul
- threatening harm; menacing
- foreshadowing of tragic or evil events
baleful
falter
lose momentum, weaken e.g. the music has faltered
enact
- ) make a law / a proposal e.g. legislation was enacted to attract new investors
- ) put into practice e.g. the new rules were enacted
taunt
n.
an insulting or provocative comment made to anger someone; has a contemptuous connotation e.g. the pupils taunted her for being overweight
also verb: to provoke, insult
a premise
a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion; a basis of a theory e.g. he called the police on the premise of seeing a thief in his backyard
profligate
- ) recklessly extravagant (lacking restraint in terms of spending money; excessive) or wasteful with resources e.g. the profligate countries of the West
- ) dissolute, debauched e.g. a profligate lifestyle
- ) make a law / a proposal
2. ) put into practice
enact
an insulting or provocative comment made to anger someone; has a contemptuous connotation
also verb: to provoke, insult
taunt
a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion; a basis of a theory
premise
- ) recklessly extravagant (lacking restraint in terms of spending money; excessive) or wasteful with resources
- ) dissolute, debauched e.g. a lifestyle
profligate
lose momentum, weaken
falter
indelible
cannot be removed or erased like that indelible tattoo - you better like it!
sacrosanct
inviolable, must be kept sacred
e.g. Teery’s sacrosanct veggie garden with chickens and barn owls
unruly
not submitting to authority, boisterous, lacking in discipline
e.g. an unruly coil of wire or children running around not willing to go home
