Magoosh New Flashcards
Subsume
to include or absorb into
preface
introduce something
inscrutability
person’s writing is really, really difficult to understand (inscrutable)
palatable
agreeable and satisfactory for
transcendent
something that goes beyond the normal
topical
relevant to current events
moot
having little or no practical relevance, typically because the subject is too uncertain to allow a decision.
“the whole matter is becoming increasingly moot”
debatable
retroactive
starting from a point in the past.
geniality
friendly
foreboding
sense of something bad
blithely
in a way that shows a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.
“they blithely ignored any evidence that did not support their theory”
foment
instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).
“they accused him of fomenting political unrest”
smother
make (someone) feel trapped and oppressed by acting in an overly protective or possessive manner towards them.
subvert
undermine power of
thrall
the state of being in someone’s power, or of having great power over someone.
“the town in thrall to a villain”
evocative
bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.
“powerfully evocative lyrics”
unpropitious
(of a circumstance) not giving or indicating a good chance of success; unfavourable.
“his reports were submitted at a financially unpropitious time”
antipathy
a deep-seated feeling of aversion.
“his fundamental antipathy to capitalism”
contemplative
trait of thinking carefully before acting
confound
cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by not according with their expectations.
“the inflation figure confounded economic analysts”
bleak
of a building or room) charmless and inhospitable; dreary.
“he looked round the bleak little room in despair”
(of the weather) cold and miserable.
“a bleak midwinter’s day”
grim
very serious or gloomy.
“his grim expression”
(especially of a place) unattractive or forbidding.
“rows of grim, dark housing developments”
embellish
make (a statement or story) more interesting by adding extra details that are often untrue.
“followers often embellish stories about their heroes”
crony
a close friend or companion.
“he went gambling with his cronies”
unassuming
not pretentious or arrogant; modest.
“he was an unassuming and kindly man”
dilapidated
(of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.
“old, dilapidated buildings”
snub
rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully.
“he snubbed faculty members and students alike”
slight
insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention.
“he was desperate not to slight a guest”
tribulation
a cause of great trouble or suffering.
“the tribulations of being a megastar”
tabled
postpone consideration of.
“I’d like the issue to be tabled for the next few months”
