literature vocab 3 Flashcards
take someone aback
shock or surprise
disabuse
persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken: he quickly disabused me of my fanciful notions.
fey
1 giving an impression of vague unworldliness or mystery: a rather fey romantic novelist.
2 having supernatural powers of clairvoyance.
furtive
attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive: they spent a furtive day together | he stole a furtive glance at her.
• suggestive of guilty nervousness: the look in his eyes became furtive.
offing
the more distant part of the sea in view
pretence
an attempt to make something untrue appear true,
something giving false appearance
torpor
a state of mental and physical inactivity.
“After a huge Thanksgiving meal, my family members fall into a torpor; no one can even pick up the TV remote.”
- also deep animal sleep
extrapolate
- use specific details to make a general comment
- extend the application of (a method or conclusion) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue
persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken: he quickly disabused me of my fanciful notions.
disabuse
shock or surprise
take someone aback
the more distant part of the sea in view
offing
a state of mental and physical inactivity.
- also deep animal sleep
torpor
attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive
• suggestive of guilty nervousness
furtive
- use specific details to make a general comment
- extend the application of (a method or conclusion) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue
extrapolate
an attempt to make something untrue appear true,
something giving false appearance
pretence
1 giving an impression of vague unworldliness or mystery: a rather fey romantic novelist.
2 having supernatural powers of clairvoyance.
fey
dapper
(of a man) neat and trim in dress and appearance
trot
run at moderate pace with short steps
- (informal) walk briskly
wry
characterised by sarcastic (or dry and mocking) humour
solemn
having deep sincerity
formal and dignified
tantalize
torment or tease someone with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable
- excite the senses or desires of someone
deprecate
- express disapproval of
- make someone feel unimportant by speaking to them disrespectfully e.g. senior students deprecate juniors
- diminish or oppose (also self-deprecate)
sleight (n.)
the use of clever cunningness in the sense of deceit or trickery
feat
an achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength
