Miscellaneous Flashcards
apoplectic
extremely enraged
of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke
supercilious
coolly and patronizingly haughty
reacted to their breach of etiquette with a supercilious smile
vapid
lacking flavor, zest, interest, animation, or spirit
flat, dull
pejorative
a word or phrase that has negative connotations or that is intended to disparage or belittle
veracity
conformity with truth or fact; accuracy
misconstrued
interpret (something, especially a person’s words or actions) wrongly
my intentions were deliberately misconstrued
posit
put forward as a fact or as a basis for an argument
postulate (put forward, suggest)
ameliorate
improve
relieve
rectify
ancillary
providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, system, etc.
in addition to something else, but not as important
derelict
- in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect
- shamefully negligent of one’s duties or obligations
dilapidated
in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect; run down
adjudicate
make a formal judgement on a disputed matter
act as a judge in a competition
emolument
a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office
ex parte
with respect to or in the interests of one side only or of an interested outside party
(adj. or adv.)
perpetrate
commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral action)
inundate
overwhelm with things or people to be dealt with
flood
enervate
make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality
prosaic
commonplace; unromantic
(think prose as opposed to poetry)
proselytize
convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another
paroxysm
a sudden attack or outburst of a particular emotion or activity
flibbertigibbet
a frivolous, flighty, or excessively talkative person
sanguine
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation
(literary), blood-red
blithe
showing a casual and carefree indifference considered to be callous or improper
phlegmatic
having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition
stolid
calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation
impassive
pablum
bland or insipid intellectual matter, entertainment, etc.
insipid
lacking flavor; weak or tasteless
capitulate
cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; yield
ornery
bad-tempered or difficult to deal with; grouchy, stubborn
visceral
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.
onerous
(of a task or responsibility) involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty
assuage
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense
preternatural
beyond what is normal or natural
“autumn had arrived with preternatural speed”
facsimile
an exact copy, especially of written or printed material
adroit
clever or skillful
having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations
progenitor
ancestor, originator
a person or thing from which a person, animal, or plant is descended originates
proselytize
convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another
eschew
deliberately avoid using; abstain from
prevail upon
to ask or persuade (someone) to do something
reeling
stagger, be shaken by
scion
a descendant of a notable family
a young shoot of a twig of a plant, esp. one cut for grafting or rooting
presage
be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an unwelcome one)
also, portend
de minimis
too trivial or minor to merit consideration, esp. in law
diminution
a reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something
pulpit
a raised platform or lectern in a church or chapel from which the preacher delivers a sermon
despondent
in low spirits from loss of hope or courage
tabernacle
perennial
reticence
cavalier
idiosyncrasy
a strange or unusual habit, way of behaving, or feature that someone or something has
capricious
cogniferous
atavistic
relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.
