p17 Flashcards
rococo
Very elaborate and ornate (in decorating or metaphorically, as in speech and writing)
With its rococo details of life in a New York doorman, the second season of the comedy show is as strong as ever in its outing
rudimentary
Elementary, relating to the basics; undeveloped, primitive
Speaking of things being rudimentary, so from the earliest days, YouTube did have content moderation.
rue
Regret, remorse (noun); to feel regret or remorse (verb)
I rue the day I agreed to this stupid plan.
ruminate
Turn over in the mind, reflect on; to chew repeatedly for an extended period
He ruminated over the implications of their decision.
rustic
Relating to country life, unsophisticated; primitive; made of rough wood (adj); a rural or uncultured person (noun)
The inn has a rustic atmosphere.
sacrosanct
Sacred, inviolable, not to be trespassed on or violated; above any criticism
Somehow, defense spending is treated in Washington as sacrosanct, while the support of seniors, those with disabilities and their families is a threat to the national wealth.
sagacious
Wise; showing good judgment and foresight
a sagacious critique of the current social climate in our nation
salient
Obvious, standing out; projecting, protruding, jutting out
The fear of war is especially salient during a sensitive year in which leader Xi Jinping is expected to break with recent precedent and secure a third term in power
salubrious
Healthful, promoting health
The growth in American interest has had a salubrious effect on Formula 1’s business side.
sanguine
Cheerfully optimistic, hopeful; reddish, ruddy (as in rosy-red cheeks indicting health or vitality)
Privately, other congressional Democrats have been less sanguine about Mr. Biden’s age and his overall performance in office.
sardonic
Scornfully or ironically mocking, cynically derisive
… a sardonic little jab that made her visitor quiet and subdued for the rest of the night
satiate or
sate
To fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying to the point of excess (possibly inducing disgust, tiredness, etc.)
But after a few queries, the app’s functionality only offers a refund, which doesn’t satiate you or solve the problem.
savant
Learned person, scholar, someone admitted to membership in a scholarly field; a person with amazing mental abilities despite having a cognitive difference or disability
The test-taking savant who helped rich kids cheat their way into elite colleges was sentenced Friday.
With roles at brands such as Sony and Facebook on her résumé, Randolph is something of an advertising and business-development savant.
savor
Appreciate fully, taste or smell with pleasure
He savored the memories of his vacation.
scant
Not enough or barely enough
Details are scant, but the title, Blade Runner 2099, hints at a story set 50 years after the previous film.
scathing
Severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical (as a remark)
The move to give more power to the advisory board, in addition to a host of other changes, came from recommendations laid out by consulting firm SNA International in a scathing review of the agency.
scintilla
A tiny bit or trace
there is not a scintilla of evidence for your outrageous claims
The judge sentenced him to life without a scintilla of a chance of parole
scurvy
Contemptible, mean
after winning the lottery, she was beset by a whole scurvy swarm of con artists
secular
Not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things
The number of nuclear powers in the world continues to go up — slowly, but the secular trend is clear.
sedition
Inciting rebellion against a government, esp. speech or writing that does this
Ten people have been found guilty of endangering national security by committing sedition, with penalties ranging from being committed to a rehabilitation center to 40 months in jail.
sedulous
Persevering, persistent, diligent in one’s efforts
an impressively sedulous suitor, he was constantly sending her flowers and other tokens of his affection
sentient
Conscious; experiencing sensation or perceiving with the senses
Dogs were the first to be sentient of the danger posed by the approaching hurricane
seraphic
Like an angel; serene, spiritually carried off or transported
… seraphic beauty
shard
Fragment of some brittle substance, esp. a sharp fragment of pottery, glass, etc.
sinecure
A job or position that pays while requiring little or no work
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country, after apparently looting the Afghan treasury, and will likely live a life of resplendent exile—possibly with a sinecure at one of our nation’s Ivy League universities or prestigious think tanks.
skittish
Shy, fickle, uncertain, or prone to act suddenly due to nervousness; lively in a restless or excessive way
Yet Democrats remain skittish to promote these programs in what seems to be a strange side effect of the party’s refusal to fully embrace progressivism.
As inflation continues to soar, investors get more reluctant to invest and consumers get more skittish about spending.
slake
Satisfy (esp. thirst), cool, or refresh; make less active
a harrowing experience while mountain climbing has largely slaked my desire for high adventure
slew
A large number or quantity
we still have a slew of work to do on this project
sobriquet
A nickname
Many, in interviews, decline to give their full names or offer a street sobriquet, for reasons that are probably obvious.
solecism
Nonstandard use of grammar or words; mistake, esp. in etiquette
the solecism of asking one’s hosts how much something in their house cost them
solicitous
Concerned or anxious (about another person), expressing care; eager or desirous; very careful
Even as its diplomatic approach to China has become more solicitous, the US has continued to sound the alarm on the rising threat that China poses to Europe.
I appreciated his solicitous inquiry about my health.
