literature vocab 5 Flashcards
1
Q
deflect
A
- cause to change direction; turn aside from a straight course e.g. the bullet was deflected harmlessly into the ceiling
- to deviate from original purpose
2
Q
cede
A
give up (power or territory): in 1874, the islands were ceded to Britain
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
4
Q
arbitrary
A
- 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
5
Q
untrammeled
A
completely free and unrestricted
6
Q
obliterate
A
- destroy utterly; wipe out e.g. aliens obliterating a planet
- make invisible or indistinct; conceal or cover e.g. clouds were darkening, obliterating the sun.
7
Q
exert
A
- apply (force or influence) e.g. the moon exerts a force on the Earth
- make great physical or mental effort e.g. exert influence to convince others (= to push)
8
Q
a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained
A
whim
9
Q
- cause to change direction; turn aside from a straight course
- to deviate from original purpose
A
deflect
10
Q
give up (power or territory)
A
cede
11
Q
- 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
12
Q
indisputable
A
unable to be challenged or denied
13
Q
hackneyed
[hack-need]
A
having been overused; unoriginal and trite e.g. hackneyed romantic sayings
14
Q
replete
A
full of, plenty
e.g. library replete with fresh books OR sensational popular fiction, replete with adultery and sudden death
15
Q
completely free and unrestricted
A
untrammeled
16
Q
- apply (force or influence)
2. make great physical or mental effort
A
exert
17
Q
- destroy utterly; wipe out
2. make invisible or indistinct; conceal or cover
A
obliterate
18
Q
crafty
A
clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful methods
synonyms: cunning, guile
19
Q
pantheon
A
- all gods of a religion
2. a group of famous or important people
20
Q
stray
A
- wander off without paying attention to where you’re going, and sometimes getting in trouble
- move idly or casually e.g. her eyes strayed to the telephone.
- be unfaithful to a spouse or partner
21
Q
ample
A
enough or more than enough; plentiful:
2. (of a person’s figure) full or broad
22
Q
unable to be challenged or denied
A
indisputable
23
Q
hackneyed
A
having been overused; unoriginal and trite
24
Q
full of, plenty
A
replete
25
clever at achieving one's aims by indirect or deceitful methods
synonyms: cunning, guile
crafty
26
1. all gods of a religion
| 2. a group of famous or important people
pantheon
27
1. wander off without paying attention to where you're going
2. move idly or casually
3. be unfaithful to a spouse or partner
stray
28
enough or more than enough; plentiful:
| 2. (of a person's figure) full or broad
ample
29
gruelling / grueling
extremely tiring and demanding to the point of exhaustion
30
upheaval
a violent or sudden change or disruption to something e.g. major upheavals in the financial markets
31
forlorn
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.
32
divulge
make known (private or sensitive information) e.g. I am too much of a gentleman to divulge her age.
33
titbit
1. a small piece of tasty food.
| 2. a small and particularly interesting item of gossip or information.
34
choky
1. causing difficulty in breathing
| 2. breathless with emotion "Lirael," she said, choky suddenly.
35
slab
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.
36
sombre / somber
1. glum, depressed, having deep seriousness
| 2. dark or dull in colour
37
fend for oneself
look after and provide for oneself, without any help from others
38
fend off /against smtg.
to protect from, ward, defend from a blow, withstand the force
39
vesper(s)
evening song/prayers
40
sere
dry
41
salvation
act of saving from sin or evil, or sometimes just from an unpleasant situation.
42
1. causing difficulty in breathing
| 2. breathless with emotion
choky
43
1. a small piece of tasty food.
| 2. a small and particularly interesting item of gossip or information.
titbit
44
1. pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely
| 2. (of an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled
forlorn
45
extremely tiring and demanding to the point of exhaustion
gruelling / grueling
46
a violent or sudden change or disruption to something
upheaval
47
make known (private or sensitive information)
divulge
48
dry
sere / sear
49
evening song/prayer
vesper
50
look after and provide for oneself, without any help from others
fend for oneself
51
to protect from, ward, defend from a blow, withstand the force
fend off /against smtg.
52
act of saving from sin or evil, or sometimes just from an unpleasant situation.
salvation
53
1. glum, depressed, having deep seriousness
| 2. dark or dull in colour
sombre / somber
54
1. a large, thick, flat piece of stone or concrete
| 2. a large and thick piece of chocolate, cake, bread etc.
slab
55
complacent / complacency
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements (negative, scornful connotation)
56
conspire
collaborate with others to do harm
57
plight
a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation: we must direct our efforts towards relieving the plight of children living in poverty.
58
painstaking
done with or employing great care and thoroughness e.g. painstaking attention to detail
59
lurid
1. unpleasantly shining or bright in colour
| 2. horrible in savagery or fierceness
60
gory
involving violence and bloodshed
61
dew
SK: rosa
62
blasé
the thrill is gone:
unimpressed, uninterested because one has seen or experienced it often before also because of frequent exposure or indulgence
63
corpulent
fat
64
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements (negative, scornful connotation)
complacent / complacency
65
a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation
plight
66
maim
permanently wound, injure or damage
67
prodigious
remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree e.g. a memory
68
succint
| [suk - xint]
briefly and clearly expressed e.g. use short, succinct sentences
69
valiant
heroically courageous and determined
70
valor
great courage in the face of danger or battle
71
done with or employing great care and thoroughness
painstaking
72
fat
corpulent
73
the thrill is gone:
unimpressed, uninterested because one has seen or experienced it often before also because of frequent exposure or indulgence
blasé
74
permanently wound, injure or damage
maim
75
SK: rosa
dew
76
collaborate with others to do harm
conspire
77
1. unpleasantly shining or bright in colour
| 2. horrible in savagery or fierceness
lurid
78
involving violence and bloodshed
gory
79
revere
deeply respect or admire
80
set store by (or on)
| also put or lay store by
consider to be of a particular degree of importance or value e.g. many people set much store by privacy.
81
plaintive
sounding sad, pleading or mournful in tone
82
remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree e.g. a memory
prodigious
83
briefly and clearly expressed
succint
84
heroically courageous and determined
valiant
85
great courage in the face of danger or battle
valor
86
lest
| [conjunction]
"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
retaliate
make an attack in return for a similar attack
88
sounding sad, pleading or mournful in tone
plaintive
89
consider to be of a particular degree of importance or value
| [phrase]
set store by (or on)
| also put or lay store by
90
impervious
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
"in case" with
| 1. the intention of preventing something undesirable
lest
92
deeply respect or admire
revere
93
curfew
a rule or law that sets a time that certain people have to be off the streets.
94
shrill
| [v. / adj.]
[adj.] high-pitched and piercing
| [v.] make a shrill noise
95
fugitive
a person who flees police to avoid capture or who has escaped from captivity
96
ameliorate
| meliorate
make better
97
magnanimous
generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person
98
1. not allowing fluid to pass through e.g. a layer
| 2. unable to be affected by
impervious
99
a rule or law that sets a time that certain people have to be off the streets.
curfew
100
[adj.] high-pitched and piercing
| [v.] make a piercing noise
shrill
101
make better
ameliorate
| meliorate
102
a person who flees police to avoid capture or who has escaped from captivity
fugitive
103
generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person
magnanimous
104
inept
showing no skill, clumsy
105
relinquish
voluntarily cease to keep
| give up, let go
106
upshot
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
allegiance
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
tutelage
protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship e.g. the organizations remained under firm government tutelage.
109
scourge
1. cause great suffering
| 2. whip [historical]
110
ailment
minor or persistent illness
111
virulent
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
voluntarily cease to keep
| give up, let go
relinquish
113
the final or eventual outcome or conclusion of a discussion, action, or series of events
upshot
114
protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship
tutelage
115
showing no skill, clumsy
inept
116
minor or persistent illness
ailment
117
1. cause great suffering
| 2. whip [historical]
scourge
118
loyalty or commitment to a superior or to a group or cause
allegiance
119
1 (of a disease, virus or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects
2 bitterly hostile or spiteful in tone
virulent
120
adversary
one's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute e.g. Davis beat his old adversary in the quarter-finals.
121
bemuse
puzzle or confuse
122
elate
make (someone) ecstatically happy, fill with happiness
123
aggravate
make worse or more serious e.g. military action would only aggravate the situation.
[informal] annoy
124
placid
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
one's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute
adversary
126
make (someone) ecstatically happy, fill with happiness
elate
127
provisional
temporary; made for present to be changed later
128
tentative
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
puzzle or confuse
bemuse
130
1. make worse or more serious
| 2. [informal] annoy
aggravate
131
1. not easily upset or excited
| 2. calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity
placid
132
confide
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
revulsion
intense disgust, loathing, aversion
| from latin "revellere" = to pull back
134
temporary; made for present to be changed later
provisional
135
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
tentative
136
copse
a small group of trees or thicket of bushes
137
grime
dirt
| usually ingrained dirt on the surface of something e.g. the windows were thick with grime
138
gait
a person's manner of walking or running
| also types of horses' running pattern (trop, gallop ...)
139
croon
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
implore
beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something
141
hanker
| after/for/to do something
feel a strong desire for or to do something e.g. he hankered after a lost golden age
142
dirt
| usually ingrained dirt on the surface of something
grime
143
a small group of trees or thicket of bushes
copse
144
a person's manner of walking or running
| also types of horses' running pattern (trop, gallop ...)
gait
145
1. hum or sing in a soft, low voice, especially in a sentimental manner
2. [direct speech] say in a soft, low voice
croon
146
beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something
implore
147
distraught
very worried and upset
148
frantic
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
brandish
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
indiscriminate
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
squalor
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
squander
waste in a reckless or foolish manner
153
1. distraught with fear or anxiety or other emotion
| 2. conducted in a hurried, excited, and disorganized way
frantic
154
wave (something, especially a weapon) or exhibit as a threat or in anger or excitement
brandish
155
1. done at random, unsystematically or without careful judgement
2. not exercising discrimination; failing to recognise distinctions
indiscriminate
156
the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect
(a dungeons full of roaches)
squalor
157
waste in a reckless or foolish manner
squander
158
whiny
habitually complaining
