Magoosh Basic - III Flashcards
degrade
verb: reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy’s faults in front of their friends, publicly degrading the poor girl.
ornate
adjective: having a lot of complicated decoration:
example: a room with an ornate ceiling and gold mirrors
adjective: Language that is ornate contains too many complicated words or phrases:
example: Some students are put off studying his work because of the ornate language of the poetry.
resolve
verb: reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation
After much thought, Ted resolved not to travel abroad this summer because he didn’t have much money in his bank account.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
meander
verb: to wander aimlessly
A casual observer might have thought that Peter was meandering through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited.
robust
adjective: (of a person or animal) strong and healthy, or (of an object or system) strong and unlikely to break or fail:
Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust flavor.
thwart
verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
I wanted to spend a week in New York this autumn, but the high costs of travel and lodging thwarted my plans.
jocular
adjective: characterized by jokes and good humor
My uncle was always in a jocular mood at family gatherings, messing up people’s hair and telling knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.
fete
verb: to celebrate a person
After World War II, war heroes were feted at first but quickly forgotten.
autonomously
adverb: Acting independently; self-governing (of a country)
Many of the factory workers are worried about being replaced by machines and computers that will work completely autonomously.
archaic
adjective: so old as to appear to belong to a different period
Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic English that was right out of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice–needless to say, she didn’t have many friends.
renege
verb: fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
We will no longer work with that vendor since it has reneged on nearly every agreement.
malleable
adjective: capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
The clay became malleable and easy to work with after a little water was added.
adjective: easily influenced
My little brother is so malleable that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me.
muted
adjective: softened, subdued
Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
disheartened
adjective: made less hopeful or enthusiastic
After the visiting team scored nine times, the home team’s fans were disheartened, some leaving the game early.
apprehension
noun: Apprehension is a feeling of fear that something bad may happen.
I tensed every muscle in my body in apprehension.
noun: The apprehension of someone who is thought to be a criminal is their capture or arrest by the police.
noun: The apprehension of something is awareness and understanding of it.
example: A full apprehension of all that is involved is utterly beyond us.
entice
verb: get someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises
Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.
appreciable
adjective: large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount)
There is an appreciable difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done.
discriminate
verb: recognize or perceive the difference
Sarah couldn’t discriminate between a good wine and a bad wine, so she avoided wine tastings.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
dearth
noun: a lack or shortage
I am surprised by the dearth of fast food chains; this is America and I assumed they were on every street.
quandary
noun: If you are in a quandary, you have to make a decision but cannot decide what to do.
I’ve had two job offers, and I’m in a real quandary about/over which one to accept.
impermeable
adjective: does not allow fluids to pass through
The sand bags placed on the river formed an impermeable barrier, protecting the town from flooding.
disenfranchise
verb: deprive of voting rights
The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote.
proponent
noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents.
pithy
adjective: concise and full of meaning
I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about.
endemic
adjective: native; originating where it is found
Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland.
flounder
verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties
Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has to deal with taxes, she flounders.
patronize
verb: treat condescendingly
She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she patronized me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
consummate
adjective: You use consummate to describe someone who is extremely skilful.
example: Those familiar with Sanders call him a consummate politician.
verb: to make something complete or perfect
stolid
adjective: (of a person) calm and not showing emotion or excitement :
adj: (of a thing) not interesting or attractive:
Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives.
incessant
adjective: An incessant process or activity is one that continues without stopping.
I don’t mind small children in brief doses, but I think the incessant exposure that their parents have to them would quickly wear me down.
raffish
adjective: Raffish people and places are not very respectable but are attractive and stylish in spite of this.
The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.
inclement
adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy
After a week of inclement weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.
adjective: used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy
Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was inclement to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.
ingenuity
noun: the power of creative imagination
Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together.
elusive
adjective: difficult to capture or difficult to remember
Many first time skydivers say that describing the act of falling from the sky is elusive.
transitory
adjective: lasting a very short time
If we lived forever and life was not transitory, do you think we would appreciate life less or more?
impede
verb: If you impede someone or something, you make their movement, development, or progress difficult.
Since the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was impeded.
malady
noun: a disease or sickness
The town was struck by a malady throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks.
plodding
adjective: slow, continuous, and not exciting:
example: I’ll try not to bore you with lots of plodding details.
deter
verb: prevent someone from doing something by persuasion
His mother tried to deter him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen.
verb: try to prevent; show opposition to
The government’s primary job should involve deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start them.
snide
adjective: A snide comment or remark is one which criticizes someone in an unkind and often indirect way.
The chairman interpreted Taylor’s question about promotions as a snide remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company’s process.
fledgling
adjective: young and inexperienced
noun: any new participant in some activity
Murray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a fledgling in surgery.
moot
verb: to suggest something for discussion:
example: His name was mooted as a possible successor.
adjective:
1) often discussed or argued about but having no definite answer:
2) not important or not relevant, therefore not worth discussing:
example:
- It’s a moot point whether building more roads reduces traffic congestion.
- We don’t have enough money to go, so it’s all moot anyway.
morose
adjective: ill-tempered and not inclined to talk
example: a morose expression.
guffaw
verb: laugh boisterously
Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth.
ascendancy
noun: a position of power, strength, or success:
example:
- They are in danger of losing their political ascendancy (= controlling power).
- Supporters of the proposal are currently in the ascendancy over its opponents (= are more powerful than them).
boon
noun: something that is very helpful and improves the quality of life:
Modern technology has been a boon to the travel industry.
adjective: very close and convivial
He was a boon companion to many, and will be sadly missed.
respite
noun: a pause from doing something (as work)
Every afternoon, the small company has a respite in which workers play foosball or board games.
advocate
verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of
While the senator privately approved of gay marriage, he was unwilling to advocate for the cause in a public venue.
noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for the rights of African-Americans in the United States.
This word has other definitions, but these are the most important ones to study
avid
adjective: marked by active interest and enthusiasm
Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle.
obdurate
adjective: unable to be persuaded or moved emotionally; stubborn; unyielding.
No number of pleas and bribes would get him to change his obdurate attitude.
