Magoosh Set 3 Flashcards
perennial
lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring: his perennial distrust of the media | perennial manifestations of urban crisis.
lachrymose
tearful or given to weeping: she was pink-eyed and lachrymose.
penurious
extremely poor; poverty-stricken: a penurious old tramp.
• characterized by poverty or need: penurious years.
vernacular
(usu. the vernacular) the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region: he wrote in the vernacular to reach a larger audience.
• [ with modifier ] the terminology used by people belonging to a specified
enticement
something used to attract or to tempt someone; a lure: financial enticements.
• the quality of being attractive or tempting: despite the enticement of low prices, sales fell sharply from 2000’s record level.
loath
reluctant; unwilling: I was loath to leave.
rile
informal make (someone) annoyed or irritated: it was his air of knowing all the answers that riled her | he’s getting you all riled up
resolute
admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering: she was resolute and unswerving.
ennoble
give (someone) a noble rank or title.
stultify
(usu. as adj. stultifying) cause to lose enthusiasm and initiative, esp. as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine: the mentally stultifying effects of a disadvantaged home.
precarious
not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse: a precarious ladder.
contrive
create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice: his opponents contrived a crisis | you contrived to be alone with me despite the supervision.
sullen
bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy: a sullen pout.
persnickety
placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy: persnickety gardeners | she’s very persnickety about her food.
respite
a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant: the refugee encampments will provide some respite from the suffering | [ in sing. ] : a brief respite from a dire food shortage.
duress
threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment: confessions extracted under duress .
gambit
(in chess) an opening in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of some compensating advantage.
impudent
not showing due respect for another person; impertinent: he could have strangled this impudent upstart.
subversive
seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution: subversive literature.
obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree: they were served by obsequious waiters.
unscrupulous
having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
aboveboard
legitimate, honest, and open: [ as adj. ] : certain transactions were not totally aboveboard | [ as adv. ] : the accountants acted completely above board.
caviling
make petty or unnecessary objections: they caviled at the cost.
doting
extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring: she was spoiled outrageously by her doting father.
gloat
contemplate or dwell on one’s own success or another’s misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure: his enemies gloated over his death.
carping
difficult to please; critical: she has silenced the carping critics with a successful debut tour.
groveling
act in an obsequious manner in order to obtain someone’s forgiveness or favor: everyone expected me to grovel with gratitude | (as adj. groveling) : his groveling references to “great” historians and their “brilliant” works.
colossal
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
meek
quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive: I used to call her Miss Mouse because she was so meek and mild | the meek compliance of our politicians.
epiphyte
a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rain forests.
