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Vocab > Miscellaneous > Flashcards

Miscellaneous Flashcards

1
Q

apoplectic

A

extremely enraged

of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke

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2
Q

supercilious

A

coolly and patronizingly haughty

reacted to their breach of etiquette with a supercilious smile

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3
Q

vapid

A

lacking flavor, zest, interest, animation, or spirit

flat, dull

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4
Q

pejorative

A

a word or phrase that has negative connotations or that is intended to disparage or belittle

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5
Q

veracity

A

conformity with truth or fact; accuracy

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6
Q

misconstrued

A

interpret (something, especially a person’s words or actions) wrongly

my intentions were deliberately misconstrued

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7
Q

posit

A

put forward as a fact or as a basis for an argument

postulate (put forward, suggest)

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8
Q

ameliorate

A

improve

relieve

rectify

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9
Q

ancillary

A

providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, system, etc.

in addition to something else, but not as important

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10
Q

derelict

A
  1. in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect
  2. shamefully negligent of one’s duties or obligations
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11
Q

dilapidated

A

in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect; run down

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12
Q

adjudicate

A

make a formal judgement on a disputed matter

act as a judge in a competition

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13
Q

emolument

A

a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office

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14
Q

ex parte

A

with respect to or in the interests of one side only or of an interested outside party

(adj. or adv.)

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15
Q

perpetrate

A

commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral action)

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16
Q

inundate

A

overwhelm with things or people to be dealt with

flood

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17
Q

enervate

A

make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality

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18
Q

prosaic

A

commonplace; unromantic

(think prose as opposed to poetry)

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19
Q

proselytize

A

convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another

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20
Q

paroxysm

A

a sudden attack or outburst of a particular emotion or activity

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21
Q

flibbertigibbet

A

a frivolous, flighty, or excessively talkative person

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22
Q

sanguine

A

optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation

(literary), blood-red

23
Q

blithe

A

showing a casual and carefree indifference considered to be callous or improper

24
Q

phlegmatic

A

having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition

25
Q

stolid

A

calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation

impassive

26
Q

pablum

A

bland or insipid intellectual matter, entertainment, etc.

27
Q

insipid

A

lacking flavor; weak or tasteless

28
Q

capitulate

A

cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; yield

29
Q

ornery

A

bad-tempered or difficult to deal with; grouchy, stubborn

30
Q

visceral

A

based on deep feeling and emotional reactions rather than on reason or thought

intuitive, instinctive, emotional, etc. rather than intellectual

visceral is used to describe things that are felt deeply, as if in our physical bodies.

31
Q

onerous

A

(of a task or responsibility) involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty

32
Q

assuage

A

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

33
Q

preternatural

A

beyond what is normal or natural

“autumn had arrived with preternatural speed”

34
Q

facsimile

A

an exact copy, especially of written or printed material

35
Q

adroit

A

clever or skillful

having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations

36
Q

progenitor

A

ancestor, originator

a person or thing from which a person, animal, or plant is descended originates

37
Q

proselytize

A

convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another

38
Q

eschew

A

deliberately avoid using; abstain from

39
Q

prevail upon

A

to ask or persuade (someone) to do something

40
Q

reeling

A

stagger, be shaken by

41
Q

scion

A

a descendant of a notable family

a young shoot of a twig of a plant, esp. one cut for grafting or rooting

42
Q

presage

A

be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an unwelcome one)

also, portend

43
Q

de minimis

A

too trivial or minor to merit consideration, esp. in law

44
Q

diminution

A

a reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something

45
Q

pulpit

A

a raised platform or lectern in a church or chapel from which the preacher delivers a sermon

46
Q

despondent

A

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage

47
Q

tabernacle

A
48
Q

perennial

A
49
Q

reticence

A
50
Q

cavalier

A
51
Q

idiosyncrasy

A

a strange or unusual habit, way of behaving, or feature that someone or something has

52
Q

capricious

A
53
Q

cogniferous

A
54
Q

atavistic

A

relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.

Vocab (3 decks)

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