Misc May 13 Flashcards
inimical (adj.)
Injurious or harmful in effect; adverse; Unfriendly, hostile
Feindlich, schaedlich
rudimentary (adj.)
adj. Basic; minimal; with less than, or only the minimum, necessary. being in the earliest stages of development
ansatzweise, unentwickelt, nicht ausgebildet
assiduous (adj.)
showing great care and perseverance. Synonyms: diligent, careful, meticulous, thorough
Example: “The assiduous carpenter sat at his bench with his chisel, shaving micrometers of wood from the table legs, ignoring the world and all its chaos.”
Eifrig, emsig, fleissig
the cacophony (noun)
a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds .Synonyms: din, racket, noise, clamor, discord, dissonance, discordance, uproar. Example: “As I lay in my hammock, night in the jungle wrapped me in darkness. No sky and no stars. Claustrophobic. Lost in a cacophony of life.
Der Missklang, die Katzenmusik
the curmudgeon (noun)
a bad-tempered or surly person. Synonyms: grouch, scrooge.
Der Griesgram, der Brummbaer
ephemeral (adj.)
lasting for a very short time. Synonyms: transitory, transient, fleeting, passing, short-lived, momentary
Example: “If life weren’t ephemeral, if life had no end and continued indefinitely, people would probably waste it even more, appreciate it even less.
Fluechtig, kurzlebig, vergaenglich
the harbinger (noun)
a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner of something. Synonyms: herald, sign, indication, signal, portent, omen, augury, Example: “The birds will sing when they see the Acony Bell because they know this little brave flower is a harbinger of spring.”
Der Vorbote, Das Omen, der Vorlaeufer
nebulous (adj.)
in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy. (Of a concept or idea) unclear, vague, or ill-defined. Synonyms: indistinct, indefinite, unclear, vague, hazy, cloudy, fuzzy, misty, blurred, blurry, foggy; faint, shadowy, obscure, formless, amorphous
verworren, unklar
the penumbra (noun)
the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object. Astronomy the shadow cast by the earth or moon over an area experiencing a partial eclipse.
No synonyms! Example: He lived in the penumbra of society—not quite rejected and forgotten yet certainly not a full member of the culture he was born into.”
Der Halbschatten, der Halbschattenbereich
to prevaricate (verb)
speak or act in an evasive way. Synonyms: be evasive, beat around the bush, hedge, fence, shilly-shally, dodge (the issue), sidestep (the issue), equivocate
Ausfluechte machen
idiosyncratic (adj.)
Peculiar to a specific individual; eccentric.
Eigentuemlich, eigenartig, eigenwillig
quixotic (adj.)
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. Synonyms: idealistic, romantic, visionary, utopian, extravagant, starry-eyed, unrealistic. Example: “Although quixotic, he deserves respect. Rarely do we see a person so dedicated to something so small.” - Remember: Don Quixote
edelmuetig, idealistisch, ritterlich
verdant (adj.)
(of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation; of the bright green color of lush grass. Synonyms: green, leafy, grassy; lush, rich; Verde in Italian –> green
gruen, gruenend, unreif
the ambit (noun)
The sphere or area of control and influence of something.
A span of actions, thoughts, or words.
Die Umgebung, der Umkreis, der Bereich
hirsute (adj.)
Covered with hair; hairy.; Rough with hair; set with bristles; shaggy
Behaart, borstig
