May Vocabulary Flashcards
1
Q
laudanum
A
an alcoholic solution containing morphine, prepared from opium, and formerly used as a narcotic painkiller.
2
Q
invariably
A
in every case or on every occasion
3
Q
hireling
A
- a person employed to undertake menial work
- a person who works only for material reward
4
Q
devolve
A
transfer or delegate power to a lower level
5
Q
moiety
A
each of two parts into which a thing is or can be divided
6
Q
sanguine
A
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation
7
Q
propriety
A
the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behaviors or morals
8
Q
caricature
A
a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect
9
Q
disposition
A
a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character
10
Q
prudent
A
acting with or showing care and thought for the future.
11
Q
sensibility
A
the ability to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences
12
Q
imbibe
A
drink (alcohol)
-absorb or assimilate ideas or knowledge
13
Q
smolder
A
- burn slowly with smoke but no flame
- show or feel barely suppressed anger, hatred, etc
- exist in suppressed or concealed state
14
Q
buffet
A
- strike repeatedly and violently
- knock someone off course
- afflict or harm someone repeatedly over long time
15
Q
encampment
A
a place with temporary accommodations consisting of tents or huts
16
Q
riotous
A
- marked by or involving public disorder; characterized by wild and uncontrolled behavior
- having a vivid, varied appearance
- hilariously funny
17
Q
sprawl
A
sit, lie, or fall with one’s arms and legs spread out in an ungainly or awkward way
18
Q
unfazed
A
not disconcerted or perturbed
19
Q
clamber
A
climb, move, or get in or out of something in an awkward and laborious way
20
Q
vicissitude
A
a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
21
Q
mellifluous
A
sweet or musical; pleasant to hear
22
Q
tumbril
A
an open cart that tilted backward to empty out its load
23
Q
alloy
A
a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements
24
Q
indecorous
A
not in keeping with good taste and propriety; improper
25
firmament
the heavens or the sky; a sphere of people
26
indefatigable
persisting tiredlessly
27
diffident
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence
28
barouche
a four wheeled horse drawn carriage
29
cur
an agressive or unkempt dog
30
sullen
bad-tempered and sulky
31
elude
escape from or avoid, typically in a skillful or cunning way
32
bewilder
cause someone to become perplexed and confused
33
agrarian
of or relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land.
34
xenophobia
intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries
35
philodendron
a tropical american climbing plant that is widely grown as a greenhouse or indoor plant
36
slapstick
comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events
37
anvil
a heavy steel or iron block with a flat top, concave sides, and typically a pointed end, on which metal can be hammered and shaped
38
spurn
reject with disdain or contempt
39
pensive
engaged in, involved, or reflecting deep or serious thought
40
sunder
split apart
41
spangle
a small thin piece of glittering material, typically used in quantity to ornament a dress; a sequin
42
presentiment
an intuitive feeling about the future, especially one of foreboding
43
eclat
brilliant display or effect
| -social distinction or conspicuous success
44
penurious
extremely poor; poverty stricken
| -parsimonious; mean
45
poignant
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
46
anodyne
not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive
47
saunter
walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort
| -a leisurely stroll
48
bobolink
a north american songbird of the american blackbird family
49
tailsome
involving hard or tedious work
50
circumspect
wary and unwilling to take risks
51
sagacious
having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; shrewd
52
portentous
of or like a portent
| -done in a pompously or over solemn manner so as to impress
53
inviolable
never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored
54
notoriety
the state of being famous or well known for some bad quality or deed
55
exigency
an urgent need or demand
56
beryl
a transparent pale green, blue, or yellow mineral consisting of a silicate of beryllium and aluminum
57
repudiate
refuse to accept or be associated with
| -deny the truth or validity of
58
balk
- hesitant or unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking
- thwart or hinder (a plan or person)
- prevent a person or animal from having something
59
circumvent
find a way around; overcome
60
reticent
not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily
61
stalactite
a tapering structure hanging like an icicle from the root of a cave
62
soliloquy
an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers
63
subterfuge
deceit used in order to achieve one's goals
64
syntax
the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language
65
coterie
a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people
66
ambuscade
an ambush
67
brier
any of a number of prickly scrambling shrubs
68
damask
a figured woven fabric with a pattern visible on both sides
69
badinage
humorous or witty conversation
70
emolument
a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office
71
plume
a long, soft feather or arrangement of feathers used by a bird for display or worn by a person for ornament
72
bereave
be deprived of a love one through a profound absence, especially due to the loved one's death
73
cochineal
a scarlet dye used chiefly for coloring food
74
avowedly
1. To acknowledge or declare openly and unashamedly: avowed their faith in the electoral process.
2. To state positively; declare: "Various church councils have avowed that evolution poses no threat to supernatural belief" (Frederick C. Crews).
75
stolidity
Having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; impassive: "the incredibly massive and stolid bureaucracy of the Soviet system" (John Kenneth Galbraith).
76
dilettantism
1. One who dabbles in an art or a field of knowledge.
2. Archaic A lover of the fine arts.
adj.
77
impasse
a situation in which no progress seems possible
78
dovetailed
a type of joint that is used to connect two pieces of wood together
79
decadence
behavior that shows low morals and a great love of pleasure, money, fame, etc.
80
claqueurs
a member of: : a group hired to applaud at a performance
2
: a group of sycophants
81
svelte
thin in an attractive or graceful way
82
vociferously
expressing feelings or opinions in a very loud or forceful way : expressed in a very loud or forceful way
83
virility
having or suggesting qualities (such as strength and sexual energy) that are associated with men and that are usually considered attractive in men
84
amuck
a murderous frenzy that has traditionally been regarded as occurring especially in Malaysian culture
85
metier
something that a person does very well
86
cloistered
a place where monks or nuns live : a monastery or convent
: a covered path or hall with arches that is on the side of a building (such as a monastery or church) and that has one open side usually facing a courtyard
87
regaled
: to entertain sumptuously : feast with delicacies
2
: to give pleasure or amusement to
88
pedantic
: of, relating to, or being a pedant(see pedant)
2
: narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned
3
: unimaginative, dull
89
coy
having a shy or sweetly innocent quality that is often intended to be attractive or to get attention
: not telling or revealing all the information that could be revealed
90
defunct
no longer existing or being used
91
prig
thief
92
calisthenics
physical exercises that are done without special equipment
93
preponderant
greater in number, force, or importance
94
dearth
the state or condition of not having enough of something
95
puerile
silly or childish especially in a way that shows a lack of seriousness or good judgment
96
guilelessly
very innocent
97
append
: attach, affix
2
: to add as a supplement or appendix (as in a book)
98
immemorial
: very old or ancient : from a time so long ago that it cannot be remembered
99
ripply
to move in small waves
| : to pass or spread through or over (someone or something)
100
prosy
lacking in qualities that seize the attention or strike the imagination : commonplace; especially : tediously dull in speech or manner
101
prosaic
a : characteristic of prose as distinguished from poetry : factual
b : dull, unimaginative
2
: everyday, ordinary
102
indignantly
feeling or showing anger because of something that is unfair or wrong : very angry
103
pallor
paleness especially of the face that is caused by illness
104
priggish
thiefish
105
virile
having or suggesting qualities (such as strength and sexual energy) that are associated with men and that are usually considered attractive in men
106
sardonically
showing that you disapprove of or do not like someone or something : showing disrespect or scorn for someone or something
107
divan
: a long, low seat that has no back or arms or only part of a back and one arm
: a bed that has a thick base and usually no footboard
108
cornice
the decorative top edge of a building or column
| : a decorative strip of wood or some other material used at the top of the walls in a room
109
turbid
of a liquid : not clean or clear : cloudy or muddy
110
torrents
: a large amount of water that moves very quickly in one direction
: a large amount of something that is released suddenly
