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literature vocab 5 Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

deflect

A
  1. cause to change direction; turn aside from a straight course e.g. the bullet was deflected harmlessly into the ceiling
  2. to deviate from original purpose
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2
Q

cede

A

give up (power or territory): in 1874, the islands were ceded to Britain

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3
Q

a whim

A

a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained: she bought it on a whim

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4
Q

arbitrary

A
  1. Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system e.g. an arbitrary decision.
    2 (of power or a ruling body) Unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority e.g. a country under arbitrary government. Calling a decision-maker arbitrary is usually a negative thing, suggesting the person is making rules based on whim rather than justice
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5
Q

untrammeled

A

completely free and unrestricted

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6
Q

obliterate

A
  1. destroy utterly; wipe out e.g. aliens obliterating a planet
  2. make invisible or indistinct; conceal or cover e.g. clouds were darkening, obliterating the sun.
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7
Q

exert

A
  1. apply (force or influence) e.g. the moon exerts a force on the Earth
  2. make great physical or mental effort e.g. exert influence to convince others (= to push)
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8
Q

a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained

A

whim

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9
Q
  1. cause to change direction; turn aside from a straight course
  2. to deviate from original purpose
A

deflect

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10
Q

give up (power or territory)

A

cede

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11
Q
  1. Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system
    2 (of power or a ruling body) Unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority
A

arbitrary

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12
Q

indisputable

A

unable to be challenged or denied

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13
Q

hackneyed

[hack-need]

A

having been overused; unoriginal and trite e.g. hackneyed romantic sayings

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14
Q

replete

A

full of, plenty

e.g. library replete with fresh books OR sensational popular fiction, replete with adultery and sudden death

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15
Q

completely free and unrestricted

A

untrammeled

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16
Q
  1. apply (force or influence)

2. make great physical or mental effort

A

exert

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17
Q
  1. destroy utterly; wipe out

2. make invisible or indistinct; conceal or cover

A

obliterate

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18
Q

crafty

A

clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful methods
synonyms: cunning, guile

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19
Q

pantheon

A
  1. all gods of a religion

2. a group of famous or important people

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20
Q

stray

A
  1. wander off without paying attention to where you’re going, and sometimes getting in trouble
  2. move idly or casually e.g. her eyes strayed to the telephone.
  3. be unfaithful to a spouse or partner
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21
Q

ample

A

enough or more than enough; plentiful:

2. (of a person’s figure) full or broad

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22
Q

unable to be challenged or denied

A

indisputable

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23
Q

hackneyed

A

having been overused; unoriginal and trite

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24
Q

full of, plenty

A

replete

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25
Q

clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful methods
synonyms: cunning, guile

A

crafty

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26
Q
  1. all gods of a religion

2. a group of famous or important people

A

pantheon

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27
Q
  1. wander off without paying attention to where you’re going
  2. move idly or casually
  3. be unfaithful to a spouse or partner
A

stray

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28
Q

enough or more than enough; plentiful:

2. (of a person’s figure) full or broad

A

ample

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29
Q

gruelling / grueling

A

extremely tiring and demanding to the point of exhaustion

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30
Q

upheaval

A

a violent or sudden change or disruption to something e.g. major upheavals in the financial markets

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31
Q

forlorn

A

1 pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely e.g. forlorn figures at bus stops OR forlorn childhood
2 (of an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled e.g. a forlorn attempt to escape.

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32
Q

divulge

A

make known (private or sensitive information) e.g. I am too much of a gentleman to divulge her age.

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33
Q

titbit

A
  1. a small piece of tasty food.

2. a small and particularly interesting item of gossip or information.

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34
Q

choky

A
  1. causing difficulty in breathing

2. breathless with emotion “Lirael,” she said, choky suddenly.

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35
Q

slab

A
  1. a large, thick, flat piece of stone or concrete (typically square or rectangular)
  2. a large and thick piece of chocolate, cake, bread etc.
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36
Q

sombre / somber

A
  1. glum, depressed, having deep seriousness

2. dark or dull in colour

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37
Q

fend for oneself

A

look after and provide for oneself, without any help from others

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38
Q

fend off /against smtg.

A

to protect from, ward, defend from a blow, withstand the force

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39
Q

vesper(s)

A

evening song/prayers

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40
Q

sere

A

dry

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41
Q

salvation

A

act of saving from sin or evil, or sometimes just from an unpleasant situation.

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42
Q
  1. causing difficulty in breathing

2. breathless with emotion

A

choky

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43
Q
  1. a small piece of tasty food.

2. a small and particularly interesting item of gossip or information.

A

titbit

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44
Q
  1. pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely

2. (of an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled

A

forlorn

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45
Q

extremely tiring and demanding to the point of exhaustion

A

gruelling / grueling

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46
Q

a violent or sudden change or disruption to something

A

upheaval

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47
Q

make known (private or sensitive information)

A

divulge

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48
Q

dry

A

sere / sear

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49
Q

evening song/prayer

A

vesper

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50
Q

look after and provide for oneself, without any help from others

A

fend for oneself

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51
Q

to protect from, ward, defend from a blow, withstand the force

A

fend off /against smtg.

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52
Q

act of saving from sin or evil, or sometimes just from an unpleasant situation.

A

salvation

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53
Q
  1. glum, depressed, having deep seriousness

2. dark or dull in colour

A

sombre / somber

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54
Q
  1. a large, thick, flat piece of stone or concrete

2. a large and thick piece of chocolate, cake, bread etc.

A

slab

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55
Q

complacent / complacency

A

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements (negative, scornful connotation)

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56
Q

conspire

A

collaborate with others to do harm

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57
Q

plight

A

a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation: we must direct our efforts towards relieving the plight of children living in poverty.

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58
Q

painstaking

A

done with or employing great care and thoroughness e.g. painstaking attention to detail

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59
Q

lurid

A
  1. unpleasantly shining or bright in colour

2. horrible in savagery or fierceness

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60
Q

gory

A

involving violence and bloodshed

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61
Q

dew

A

SK: rosa

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62
Q

blasé

A

the thrill is gone:
unimpressed, uninterested because one has seen or experienced it often before also because of frequent exposure or indulgence

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63
Q

corpulent

A

fat

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64
Q

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements (negative, scornful connotation)

A

complacent / complacency

65
Q

a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation

A

plight

66
Q

maim

A

permanently wound, injure or damage

67
Q

prodigious

A

remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree e.g. a memory

68
Q

succint

[suk - xint]

A

briefly and clearly expressed e.g. use short, succinct sentences

69
Q

valiant

A

heroically courageous and determined

70
Q

valor

A

great courage in the face of danger or battle

71
Q

done with or employing great care and thoroughness

A

painstaking

72
Q

fat

A

corpulent

73
Q

the thrill is gone:
unimpressed, uninterested because one has seen or experienced it often before also because of frequent exposure or indulgence

A

blasé

74
Q

permanently wound, injure or damage

A

maim

75
Q

SK: rosa

A

dew

76
Q

collaborate with others to do harm

A

conspire

77
Q
  1. unpleasantly shining or bright in colour

2. horrible in savagery or fierceness

A

lurid

78
Q

involving violence and bloodshed

A

gory

79
Q

revere

A

deeply respect or admire

80
Q

set store by (or on)

also put or lay store by

A

consider to be of a particular degree of importance or value e.g. many people set much store by privacy.

81
Q

plaintive

A

sounding sad, pleading or mournful in tone

82
Q

remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree e.g. a memory

A

prodigious

83
Q

briefly and clearly expressed

A

succint

84
Q

heroically courageous and determined

A

valiant

85
Q

great courage in the face of danger or battle

A

valor

86
Q

lest

[conjunction]

A

“in case” with

  1. the intention of preventing something undesirable e.g. he spent whole days in his room, wearing headphones lest he disturb anyone.
  2. (after a clause indicating fear) because of the possibility of something undesirable happening e.g. she sat up late worrying lest he be murdered on the way home.
87
Q

retaliate

A

make an attack in return for a similar attack

88
Q

sounding sad, pleading or mournful in tone

A

plaintive

89
Q

consider to be of a particular degree of importance or value

[phrase]

A

set store by (or on)

also put or lay store by

90
Q

impervious

A
  1. not allowing fluid to pass through e.g. a layer

2. unable to be affected by e.g. he worked, apparently impervious to the heat.

91
Q

“in case” with

1. the intention of preventing something undesirable

A

lest

92
Q

deeply respect or admire

A

revere

93
Q

curfew

A

a rule or law that sets a time that certain people have to be off the streets.

94
Q

shrill

[v. / adj.]

A

[adj.] high-pitched and piercing

[v.] make a shrill noise

95
Q

fugitive

A

a person who flees police to avoid capture or who has escaped from captivity

96
Q

ameliorate

meliorate

A

make better

97
Q

magnanimous

A

generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person

98
Q
  1. not allowing fluid to pass through e.g. a layer

2. unable to be affected by

A

impervious

99
Q

a rule or law that sets a time that certain people have to be off the streets.

A

curfew

100
Q

[adj.] high-pitched and piercing

[v.] make a piercing noise

A

shrill

101
Q

make better

A

ameliorate

meliorate

102
Q

a person who flees police to avoid capture or who has escaped from captivity

A

fugitive

103
Q

generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person

A

magnanimous

104
Q

inept

A

showing no skill, clumsy

105
Q

relinquish

A

voluntarily cease to keep

give up, let go

106
Q

upshot

A

the final or eventual outcome or conclusion of a discussion, action, or series of events e.g. the upshot of the meeting was that he was on the next plane to New York.

107
Q

allegiance

A

loyalty or commitment to a superior or to a group or cause e.g. those wishing to receive citizenship must swear allegiance to the republic

108
Q

tutelage

A

protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship e.g. the organizations remained under firm government tutelage.

109
Q

scourge

A
  1. cause great suffering

2. whip [historical]

110
Q

ailment

A

minor or persistent illness

111
Q

virulent

A

1 (of a disease, virus or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects
2 bitterly hostile or spiteful in tone e.g. a virulent attack on liberalism.

112
Q

voluntarily cease to keep

give up, let go

A

relinquish

113
Q

the final or eventual outcome or conclusion of a discussion, action, or series of events

A

upshot

114
Q

protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship

A

tutelage

115
Q

showing no skill, clumsy

A

inept

116
Q

minor or persistent illness

A

ailment

117
Q
  1. cause great suffering

2. whip [historical]

A

scourge

118
Q

loyalty or commitment to a superior or to a group or cause

A

allegiance

119
Q

1 (of a disease, virus or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects
2 bitterly hostile or spiteful in tone

A

virulent

120
Q

adversary

A

one’s opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute e.g. Davis beat his old adversary in the quarter-finals.

121
Q

bemuse

A

puzzle or confuse

122
Q

elate

A

make (someone) ecstatically happy, fill with happiness

123
Q

aggravate

A

make worse or more serious e.g. military action would only aggravate the situation.
[informal] annoy

124
Q

placid

A
  1. not easily upset or excited e.g. a placid, contented man

2. calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity e.g. the placid waters of a small lake.

125
Q

one’s opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute

A

adversary

126
Q

make (someone) ecstatically happy, fill with happiness

A

elate

127
Q

provisional

A

temporary; made for present to be changed later

128
Q

tentative

A
  1. not certain or fixed; provisional, unsettled e.g. a plan in a mind
  2. done without confidence; hesitant e.g. first steps after surgery or first words in a public speech
129
Q

puzzle or confuse

A

bemuse

130
Q
  1. make worse or more serious

2. [informal] annoy

A

aggravate

131
Q
  1. not easily upset or excited

2. calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity

A

placid

132
Q

confide

A
  1. tell someone about a secret or private matter while trusting them not to repeat it to others {confide to)
  2. trust enough to tell secret matters (confide in e.g. her mother)
133
Q

revulsion

A

intense disgust, loathing, aversion

from latin “revellere” = to pull back

134
Q

temporary; made for present to be changed later

A

provisional

135
Q
  1. not certain or fixed; provisional, unsettled e.g. a plan in a mind
  2. done without confidence; hesitant e.g. first steps after surgery or first words in a public speech
A

tentative

136
Q

copse

A

a small group of trees or thicket of bushes

137
Q

grime

A

dirt

usually ingrained dirt on the surface of something e.g. the windows were thick with grime

138
Q

gait

A

a person’s manner of walking or running

also types of horses’ running pattern (trop, gallop …)

139
Q

croon

A
  1. hum or sing in a soft, low voice, especially in a sentimental manner e.g. she was crooning to the child
  2. [direct speech] say in a soft, low voice e.g. ‘Goodbye, you lovely darling,’ she crooned.
140
Q

implore

A

beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something

141
Q

hanker

after/for/to do something

A

feel a strong desire for or to do something e.g. he hankered after a lost golden age

142
Q

dirt

usually ingrained dirt on the surface of something

A

grime

143
Q

a small group of trees or thicket of bushes

A

copse

144
Q

a person’s manner of walking or running

also types of horses’ running pattern (trop, gallop …)

A

gait

145
Q
  1. hum or sing in a soft, low voice, especially in a sentimental manner
  2. [direct speech] say in a soft, low voice
A

croon

146
Q

beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something

A

implore

147
Q

distraught

A

very worried and upset

148
Q

frantic

A

distraught with fear or anxiety or other emotion e.g. frantic with worry
• conducted in a hurried, excited, and disorganized way e.g. frantic attempts to resuscitate the girl.

149
Q

brandish

A

wave (something, especially a weapon) or exhibit as a threat or in anger or excitement e.g. a man leaped out brandishing a knife.

150
Q

indiscriminate

A

done at random, unsystematically or without careful judgement e.g. the indiscriminate use of antibiotics can cause problems.
2. not exercising discrimination; failing to recognise distinctions e.g. a dog’s indiscriminate appetite

151
Q

squalor

A

the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect (a dungeons full of roaches) or e.g. they lived in squalor and disease.

152
Q

squander

A

waste in a reckless or foolish manner

153
Q
  1. distraught with fear or anxiety or other emotion

2. conducted in a hurried, excited, and disorganized way

A

frantic

154
Q

wave (something, especially a weapon) or exhibit as a threat or in anger or excitement

A

brandish

155
Q
  1. done at random, unsystematically or without careful judgement
  2. not exercising discrimination; failing to recognise distinctions
A

indiscriminate

156
Q

the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect
(a dungeons full of roaches)

A

squalor

157
Q

waste in a reckless or foolish manner

A

squander

158
Q

whiny

A

habitually complaining

English (13 decks)

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