Manhattan Prep Reading Comprehension Flashcards
unpropitious
unfavourable
nuanced
balanced
virulence
severity
bevy
a large group of people or things of a particular kind
marshal
assemble and arrange (a group of people, especially troops) in order; methodically assemble and arrange (facts, ideas, objects, etc.); direct the movement of (an aircraft) on the ground at an airport
ex post facto
after the fact
escapade
an act or incident involving excitement, daring, or adventure, exploit, caper
bigot
someone who is intolerant towards those holding different opinions, dogmatist
purblind
obtuse, dim-witted, slow to understand; partially blind
astigmatic
relating to astigmatism
bemused
bewildered, puzzled, confused
resigned
having accepted something unpleasant that one cannot do anything about
“a resigned shrug of the shoulders”
portentous
ominous, of or like a portent, of momentous significance; pompous, bombastic, pontifical
impetus
the force or energy with which a body moves, propulsion, impulsion; catalyst
supercilious
arrogant, conceited
prim
feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper, stiffly correct
bereft
deprived from;
(of a person) sad and lonely, especially through someone’s death or departure
screed
a long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious; a levelled layer of material (e.g. cement) applied to a floor or other surface; level (a floor or layer of concrete) with a straight edge using a back and forth motion while moving across the surface
impugn
challenge, dispute, call into question
peculiar
unique
naysayer
a person who criticizes, objects to, or opposes something
shore up
to stop a building from falling down; to support or improve an organization, agreement, or system that is not working effectively or that is likely to fail
subsistence
the state of having what you need in order to stay alive, but no more
vernacular
the form of a language that a particular group of speakers use naturally, especially in informal situations
insurgent
someone who fights the government on their own country; someone resistant to political authority
sui generis
unique
relief
a method of raising shapes above a flat surface so that they appear to stand out slightly from it
level
to aim or direct something at someone or something
“Rothbard levels the criticism that…”
eclipse
to make another person or thing seem much less important, good, or famous
epitome
the typical or highest example of a stated quality, as shown by a particular person or thing, pinnacle
courtesan
a woman, usually with a high social position, who in the past had sexual relationships with rich or important men in exchange for money
littoral
near the coast
arboreal
of or living in trees
levy
tax
ken
area of knowledge
embroil
to cause someone to become involved in an argument or a difficult situation (e.g. embroiled in the conflict/war/lawsuit)
ensconced
positioned firmly and comfortably in something
“he is ensconced in his new home”
formative
relating to the time when someone or something is starting to develop in character (e.g. formative years, formative influences)
curtail
reduce or limit
stamp out
to stop or destroy (something bad)
