Non-Fiction Flashcards
1
Q
Noun) contortion
A
the act of twisting or deforming the shape of something
2
Q
Noun) Symbiosis
A
the relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other
3
Q
Adj) Fervent
A
characterized by intense emotion
4
Q
Noun) impotency
A
- the quality of lacking strength or power; being weak and feeble
- Inability to copulate (erectile dysfunction)
5
Q
Adj) Putative
A
Adj) Supposed; generally considered or reputed to be.
6
Q
Verb) Muse(ed)
A
be absorbed in thought.
7
Q
Adj) Precipitous
A
- extremely steep
2. done with very great haste and without due deliberation
8
Q
Verb) Buttress
A
increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce.
9
Q
Noun) Writ
A
a form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority to act, or abstain from acting, in a particular way.
10
Q
Verb) Assuage
A
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.
11
Q
Herald
A
Noun) something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
12
Q
Noun) Plutocracy
A
a state or society governed by the wealthy.
13
Q
Noun) Purview
A
Anything inside a range of interest or activity is within a purview. A supervisor is in charge of certain workers — other workers are outside her purview.
14
Q
Verb) Squander
A
spend thoughtlessly; throw away
15
Q
Adj) Orthogonal
A
- having a set of mutually perpendicular axes; meeting at right angles
- extraneous; statistically unrelated
16
Q
Noun) Castigation
A
verbal punishment
17
Q
Adj) Piecemeal
A
one thing at a time
18
Q
Adj) Venal
A
capable of being corrupted
19
Q
Noun) Philanderer
A
Womanizer
20
Q
Noun) Voyeurism
A
the practice of gaining sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity.
21
Q
Noun) Alma mater
A
the university, school, or college that one formerly attended.
22
Q
Adj) Internecine
A
characterized by bloodshed and carnage for both sides
23
Q
Noun) Platitude
A
a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
24
Q
Noun) Sabbatical
A
Negotiated time away from work for whatever reason; this is different from an annual holiday entitlement
25
Noun) Pupillage
State of being a pupil
26
Verb) Intercede
act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
S - Mediate; Intermediate
27
Verb) Besmirch
To besmirch means to dirty or tarnish, particularly someone's reputation
28
Adj) Penurious
extremely poor; poverty-stricken.
29
Adj) Adversarial
Anything that's adversarial is full of intense disagreement and conflict
30
Adj) Ornate
elaborately or highly decorated.
31
Noun) Riposte
a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
32
Noun) Compunction
a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
33
Adj) Effusive
uttered with unrestrained enthusiasm
34
Noun) Patsy
a person who is easily taken advantage of, especially by being cheated or blamed for something.
35
Noun) Temerity
excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
36
Adj) Judicious
having, showing, or done with good judgement or sense.
S - Wise; Sensible; Shrewd
37
Verb) Filibuster
an action such as prolonged speaking which obstructs progress in a legislative assembly in a way that does not technically contravene the required procedures.
38
Adj) Peripatetic
travelling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods.
39
Noun) Catharsis
| Adj) Cathartic
Noun) the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
40
Adj) Salacious
having or conveying undue or inappropriate interest in sexual matters.
Obscene; Indecent; Crude
41
Noun) Paucity
an insufficient quantity or number
42
Noun) Brinkmanship
Brinkmanship is pushing a situation to the point of disaster without quite going over the edge. Brinkmanship is mainly a political policy.
43
Noun) Litigation
the process of taking legal action.
44
Noun) Dereliction
Dereliction is a word for neglecting responsibilities.
45
Adj) Canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgement,
46
Adj) Cavalier
Someone who has a dismissive attitude and regards other people as inferior.
47
Adj) Dilapidated
Run-Down
48
Noun) Demagoguery
Demagoguery is an appeal to people that plays on their emotions and prejudices rather than on their rational side.
49
Adj) Banal
so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
50
Noun) Quango
a quasi nongovernmental organization; an organization that is financed by the government yet acts independently of the government
51
Verb) Extricate
release from entanglement or difficulty
52
Noun) Animosity
Enmity; Hostility
53
Verb) Anatomise
dissect in order to analyze
54
Noun) Quagmire
an awkward, complex, or hazardous situation.
55
Noun) Anthropocene
relating to or denoting the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment.
56
Verb) Anathematize
curse; condemn.
57
Verb) Protracted
Prolong
58
Noun) Duress
threats, violence, constraints, or other action used to coerce someone into doing something against their will or better judgement.
59
Adj) Contentious
causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
60
Adj) Permissive
A permissive person is a little more lenient or loosey-goosey with the rules.
S) Liberal; Open-minded; free
61
Adj) Steadfast
Resolute; Unwavering from a position
62
Noun) Myopia
The quality of being short-sighted
63
Adj) Languid
having or showing a disinclination for physical exertion or effort.
64
Adj) Morass
an area of muddy or boggy ground.
65
Adv) Verily
Archaic for of 'Certainly'
66
Adj) Cardinal
of the greatest importance; fundamental; chief.
67
Adj) Bona fide
Genuine; real
68
Noun) Guise
The noun guise refers to an outward appearance that conceals the true nature of someone or something.
69
Noun) Maverick
an unorthodox or independent-minded person.
70
Noun) Cabal
a secret political clique or faction
71
Verb) Chastise
rebuke or reprimand severely.
72
Noun) Misnomer
a wrong or inaccurate name or designation
73
Adj) Palpable
- (of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible.
- plain to see or comprehend [noticeable; perceptible]
74
Adj) Putative
generally considered or reputed to be. [assumed; supposed]
75
Adj) Sycophantic
The adjective sycophantic is perfect for describing someone who uses flattery to get what they want.
76
Noun) Temerity
excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
Use the noun temerity to mean the quality of being unafraid of danger or punishment.
77
Adj) Rapacious
aggressively greedy or grasping.
78
Noun) Farrago
a motley assortment of things
79
Adj) Slavish
servile or submissive.
blindly imitative; unoriginal
80
Adj) Purgatory
having the quality of cleansing or purifying.
81
Adj) Emeritus
(of the former holder of an office, especially a university professor) having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honour.
82
Adj) Baleful
threatening harm; menacing.
83
Adj) Buccaneering
(especially in a business context) high-risk and adventurous.
84
Adj) Mendacious
not telling the truth; lying.
85
Noun) Adulation
excessive admiration or praise.
86
Verb) Repudiate
refuse to accept; reject.
87
Verb) Decry
publicly denounce.
88
Noun) Ruction
a disturbance or quarrel.
89
Noun) Salariat
salaried white-collar workers.
90
Verb) Lampoon
publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm.
91
Noun) Contrarian
a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion, especially in stock exchange dealing.
S) Iconoclast
92
Adj) Officious
Though officious sounds like official, it means being annoyingly eager to do more than is required.
intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
93
Adj) Ineluctable
Ineluctable means impossible to avoid.
94
Adj) Donnish
'Wry donnish wit'
having a pedantic, scholarly manner.
95
Adj) Manifold
many and various.
(The reasons are) manifold
96
Noun) Provenance
the place of origin or earliest known history of something.
S) Source; Origin
(investigate their) provenance,
97
Adj) Flagrant
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
98
Adj) Bucolic
relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
Rural; Rustic
99
Adjective: Invidious
likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others; unpleasant
100
Noun) Solipsism
A view that the self is all that can be known to exist.
101
Noun) Bohemian
a socially unconventional person
Nonconformist
102
Verb) Expedite
Speed up things
103
Adjective) Chauvinistic
feeling or displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.
104
Adjective) Sequacious
lacking independence or originality of thought.
105
Adjective) Heady
having a strong or exhilarating effect.
106
Verb) Expound
present and explain
