Perdido Street Station 2 Flashcards
1
Q
sardonic
A
mocking and scornful in a humorous way; ironically or disdainfully humorous e.g. her sardonic jokes in the late nighr show
2
Q
cant
A
trite talk that has lost its meaning from over-repetition
- also jargon
3
Q
moribund
A
almost dead
- moribund, she gasped “i love you”
- the DVD is moribund with present live streaming services
4
Q
shambolic
A
(british slang) disorderly, chaotic
5
Q
gullible
A
naive and easily tricked or deceived e.g.the trusting gullible granny was fooled by the thieves
6
Q
lewd
A
morally loose, lusty (salacious), dirty e.g. like lewd jokes
7
Q
garish
A
gaudy, tastelessly showy and vivid e.g. an outfit
8
Q
saunter
A
a careless leisurely gait, walk without aim
9
Q
burr
A
seed with thorns or prickles - the dog’s fur is full of burrs after a run in the meadow
10
Q
fatuous
A
lacking intelligence; inane
11
Q
teeter
A
waver or sway as of lack of balance; move unsteadily from side to side
- the piles of books teetered precariously
12
Q
embezzlement
A
a fraud or theft of money or property you manage for someone else e.g. club’s pocket money or in a company stealing some shipped goods
13
Q
crag (craggy)
A
rugged rock or cliff; a rock having a rough jagged face
14
Q
inexorable
A
stubborn or unavoidable; not to be placated, appeased or moved by entreaty (a plead) e.g. Russia’s inexorable move
15
Q
ponce
A
- ) an effeminate man, fussy about apparel
2. ) a pimp; one who procures sexual partners for a sex worker (UK word)
16
Q
procure
A
- ) get by special effort e.g. she procured cigarettes to prison
- ) arrange for sexual partners for others e.g. a pimp procures sex workers for clients
17
Q
chump
A
a gullible person easy to take advantage of e.g. ey felt like a chump after being cheated out of money
18
Q
skivvy
[skih-vy]
A
a female domestic worker for menial work
19
Q
menial
[mih-nial]
A
requiring little to no training or talent, especially of domestic (unskilled) work
20
Q
leeway
A
a permissible difference allowing some freedom e.g. ask you teacher if there is any leeway to hand the paper later
21
Q
forbearance
A
- ) a good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence; patience e.g. thank you for your forbearance in this mess
- ) a delay in acting or in rights enforcement e.g. his forbearance to reply astonished her
22
Q
expostulate
A
argue fervently against (strongly trying to convince) e.g. expostulate with your brother who was trying to jump off the roof blindfolded OR expostulate against meat consumption
23
Q
forestall
A
prevent from happening; preclude e.g. your job is to forestall the alternative failures of the project
24
Q
deprecate
[deh-preh-cate]
A
- ) to express strong disapproval of (deplore) e.g. i deprecate smoking in public
- ) to belittle disrespectfully e.g. seniour students deprecate youngsters
25
hutch
1. ) a cage (wood and metal) for animals
| 2. ) small crude shelter-dwelling
26
dejected
having given up hope; low spirited and melancholy depressed e.g. she roamed the streets dejcted from her loss
27
stevedore
| [stih-vih-dore]
a dock-worker who loads and unlods cargo
28
forsake
abandon or leave someone in need e.g. they forsook me and now i am a pariah
29
suffuse
spread or flood through and fill space like the smell of flowers in meadows
30
paltry
| [poh-ltry]
derisory-ish (contemptibly and rodiculously) small in content e.g. Oliver Twist got a paltry amount of gruel and asked for more
31
abstruse
difficult to grasp and understand; requiring extensive knowledge; deep and intelectually challenging
- almost like the opposite of obtuse
e. g. understanding how internet works is abstruse
32
obtuse
slow to learn, lacking intellectual insight
33
attenuate
weaken, fade
34
scrawny
(derogatory) thin and weak physically
35
oneiric
| [onai-ric]
relating to dreams
| greek: oneiros = dream
36
mocking and scornful in a humorous way; ironically or disdainfully humorous
sardonic
37
abandon or leave someone in need
forsake
38
almost dead
moribund
39
barb
a spiteful insult (like a barbed wire)
40
simper
to smile in a overaffected, articifial, coy way (coy = modest and shy in a provocative or playful way) e.g. his fake simper annoys me
41
trite talk that has lost its meaning from over-repetition
| - also jargon
a cant
42
(british slang) disorderly, chaotic
shambolic
43
gaudy, tastelessly showy and vivid e.g. an outfit
garish
44
naive and easily tricked or deceived e.g. the trusting granny who was fooled by the thieves
gullible
45
morally loose, lusty (salacious), dirty e.g. jokes
lewd
46
a careless leisurely gait, walk without aim
saunter
| n./v.
47
seed with thorns or prickles e.g. in the dog's fur after a run in the meadow
burr
48
waver or sway as of lack of balance; move unsteadily from side to side
teeter
49
lacking intelligence; inane
fatuous
50
a fraud or theft of money or property you manage for someone else e.g. club's pocket money or in a company stealing some shipped goods
embezzlement
51
rugged rock or cliff; a rock having a rough jagged face
crag
52
stubborn or unavoidable; not to be placated, appeased or moved by entreaty (a plead)
inexorable
53
spread or flood through and fill space like the smell of flowers in meadows
suffuse
54
1. ) an effeminate man, fussy about apparel
| 2. ) a pimp; one who procures sexual partners for a sex worker (UK word)
ponce
55
1. ) get by special effort
| 2. ) arrange for sexual partners for others e.g. like a pimp
procure
56
a gullible person easy to take advantage of e.g. ey felt like a ... after being cheated out of money
chump
57
derisorily (contemptiibly and rodiculously) small in content
paltry
| [poh-ltry]
58
a female domestic worker for menial work
skivvy
| [skih-vy]
59
requiring little to no training or talent, especially of domestic (unskilled) work
menial
| [mih-nial]
60
a permissible difference allowing some degree of freedom
leeway
61
1. ) a good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence; patience
2. ) a delay in acting or in rights enforcement
forbearance
62
difficult to grasp and understand; requiring extensive knowledge; deep and intelectually challenging
(almost like the opposite of obtuse)
e.g. understanding how internet works
abstruse
63
argue fervently against (strongly trying to convince) e.g. against meat consumption
expostulate
64
prevent from happening; preclude
forestall
65
1. ) to express strong disapproval of (deplore) e.g. about smoking in public
2. ) to belittle disrespectfully e.g. seniour students to youngsters
deprecate
| [deh-preh-cate]
66
1. ) a cage (wood and metal) for animals
| 2. ) small crude shelter-dwelling
hutch
67
having given up hope; low spirited and melancholy depressed
dejected
68
a dock-worker who loads and unlods cargo
stevedore
| [stih-vih-dore]
69
slow to learn, lacking intellectual insight
obtuse
70
weaken, fade, reduce the force
- also reduce the virulency of a virus/infection/epidemic
- reduce in thickness, make thin
attenuate
71
(derogatory) thin and weak physically
scrawny
72
relating to dreams
oneiric
| [onai-ric]
73
retaliate
take revenge (for a perceived wrong)
74
flounder
walk with great difficulty; stagger
75
dissolution
1. ) separation into parts
| 2. ) unrestrained morally or comventionally (debauchery)
76
dale
a valley in a hilly area typically with a river
77
contrition
the feeling of pain or sorrow or rueful guilt for one's wrongdoings or sins
(used to be related to religion)
78
behest
| [b-hest]
an auhoritative request or command e.g. at the officer's behest, he gave up
79
mawkish
effusively or insicerely emotional
| e.g. the accidental and mawkish meetings with your former classmates or friends on the street
80
effusive
bubbly emotional like Aunt Sally kissing you 30 times
81
garrulous
a person full of trivial conversation who won't stop talking and talking and chattering... like auntie Sally
82
take revenge (for a perceived wrong)
retaliate
83
1. ) separation into parts
| 2. ) unrestrained morally or comventionally (debauchery)
dissolution
84
the feeling of pain or sorrow or rueful guilt for one's wrongdoings or sins
(used to be related to religion)
contrition
85
a valley in a hilly area typically with a river
dale
86
walk with great difficulty; stagger
flounder
87
ramify
branch out; spead; draw complex consequences e.g. the subway or ideas
88
impassive
poker-faced, not easily aroused
89
obstreperous
boisterously and stubbornly defiant e.g. the mum was dragging her obstreperous daughter out of the sweets aisle
90
nonplussed
bewildered (perplexed by a conflicted situation), puzzled and often speechless e.g. nonplussed, they exchange an agreeing stare
91
deracinate
move (people) forcibly into a foreign environment e.g. war deracinates people
92
immaculate
free from stain or blemish; completely clean and neat; spotless and pure like fresh snow on a mountain top e.g. an immaculate home we all wish we had
93
welter
| n/v
a confused multitude of things
94
grotty
1. ) very unpleasant or offensive e.g. a smell or film
| 2. ) torn, frayed and worn, shabby e.g. a jacket
95
poxy
informal: petty, unimportant, small e.g. how come it takes so much effort to make a poxy change in the society?
96
carrion
| [kah-rion or keh-rion]
dead and rotting flesh of an animal
97
strident
being shraply insistent on getting heard; shrill; raucous e.g. strident demands during a protest
98
fitful
1. ) occurring in abrupt periods/bursts/spells e.g. fitful rays of light
2. ) intermittently stopping and starting e.g. a fitful sleep
99
ponderous
heavy, lumbering, slow due to weight e.g. the ponderous soldiers thumped in the hallway
100
parochial
1. ) insular, narrowminded, not open
| 2. ) related to a restricted religious area - a parish (diocese subsivision)
101
succour
| [sucker]
assitance or help in time of difficulty e.g. i am dependant on you, i am in great succour
102
pall
| n/v
```
nouns:
1.) sudden umbing dread (fearful apprehension) e.g. a pall settled in the room
2.) burial garment
verbs:
1.) become dull or less effective
2.) cause to lose courage
```
103
chancer
| British slang
a crafty (scheming) opportunist
104
offal
viscera (internal organs) of butchered animal considered inedible for humans
(root in middle english and swedish is waste and refuse)
105
pestilential
plaguey; likely to spread infectiously and cause epidemic
106
desquamate
| [des-qua-mate]
peel off in scales like with skin or old paint
107
unruly
indocile; unwilling to submit to authority e.g. unruly teenagers
108
parlour
1. ) a reception room where visitors are received (inns or clubs)
2. ) a livingroom where people sit, talk, relax
109
dainty
1. ) pleasing to taste (a cake) or delicately beautiful (an ornamental cup or also a cake actually)
2. ) overnice; excessively fastidious
3. ) prissy; excessively proper or affectedly neat and fussy; twee = mincing e.g. a dainty Queen
110
gilded
1. ) based on pretence; deceptively pleasing e.g. the perfumed and gilded nobility
2. ) rich and superiour = grand or sumptuous e.g. a decorated armchair
111
abattoir
| [french pronunciation aba-tu-a]
animal slaughterhouse
112
seditious
in opposition to government or civil authority, arousing rebellion e.g. sedicious newspapers are needed for a revolution to happen
= roughly the same meaning for insurgent and subversive
113
gore
1. ) coagulated blood
| 2. ) to wound by piercing
114
charnel
gruesomely indicative of death (= ghastly or sepulchral)
115
sanguinary
1. ) related to blooshed = gory, butcherly e.g. this bitter sanguinary war
2. ) a bloodthirsty person
116
peremptory
1. ) not allowing contradiction; putting an end to all debate e.g. a decree
2. ) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way
3. ) offensively self-assured, bossy or exercising unwarranted (unjustified) power e.g. a lady at študíjne oddelenie
117
wail
1. ) weakly cry
| 2. ) a cry of sorrow and grief, lamentation
118
lance
a surgical double-edged knife used for small incisions
119
penury
extreme poverty or destitution (poverty with no prospects and no friends)
120
lackadaisical
indolent or idle in a dreamy way e.g. Luna Lovehood was annoyingly lackadaisical sometimes but when needed would rise to fight
121
languorous
| [lang-rous]
idle, lacking in spirit or liveliness e.g. a languorous steamy day
122
insouciant
nonchalant; blithely unconcerned e.g. she relished in her insouciance not wanting to be troubled
123
glower
| n/v
look angry and disapproving e.g. the principal glowered at her insouciance
an angry, disapproving stare
124
aghast
terrified, showing signs of horror e.g. she stared at them and their weapons aghast as she screamed in defence
125
interminable
tiresomely long; seemingly without an end e.g. a long-haul flight or a night when you cannot fall asleep staring at the ceiling
126
aplomb
| [aplom]
great composure and coolness under strain e.g. she regained her admirable aplomb during the judicial interrogation
127
eldritch
uncanny, unearthly, supernatural
128
supplicate
ask humbly, pray, beseech humbly
129
prance
a proud stiff pompous gait; swagger, a lofty gait to inpress other e.g. she pranced proudly through the streets
130
etiolated
pale or sickly e.g. light
| bleach e.g. etiolated plants without chlorophyll
131
bicker
squabble; quarrel over petty things e.g. bickering like crows
132
priapic
1. ) overly concerned with maleness, male sexuality, masculinity e.g. the priapic gay club culture
2. ) resembling a phallus, erect shape
133
clandestine
marked by hidden plans or methods; surreptitious; cloak-and-dagger e.g. a clandestine government resistance
134
dogged
stubbornly unyielding; tenacious e.g. she was dogged to finish the race whatever the costs to her health
135
valedictory
a farewell (leaving) speech, especially a graduation one
136
perfidy
```
deliberate betrayal, treachery.
per fidem (latin) = through trust
(so a perfidious act breaks an pre-established faith)
```
137
iniquity
an extremely immoral, wicked act; an absence of spiritual or moral values e.g. the iniquity of the darkness OR a journalist uncovered a terrible iniquity that turned down a politician
138
debutante
| [french pron.]
usually a wealthy girl whose parents want to introduce her to the society in a BIG way; a woman making a debut
139
sough
| [sof]
an air breeze, a waft, a whispering wind sound or a deep sigh
140
gibbous
| [gi-buh-s]
(of a moon) more than half full
141
wan
| [one; uAan]
pale and sickly, visibly unwell lacking energy e.g. after a severe fever she stood up from the bed looking very wan
142
slobber / slabber
drool saliva from mouth
| dribble
143
rapacious
1. ) extremely greedy; voracious e.g. paying taxes to a rapacious government
2. ) predatory; raptorial; living by preying
144
branch out; spead; draw complex consequences e.g. the subway or ideas
ramify
145
poker-faced, not easily aroused
impassive
146
boisterously and stubbornly defiant
obstreperous
147
bewildered (perplexed by a conflicted situation), puzzled and often speechless
nonplussed
148
move (people) forcibly into a foreign environment e.g. via war
deracinate
149
free from stain or blemish; completely clean and neat; spotless and pure like fresh snow on a mountain top
immaculate
150
a confused multitude of things
welter
151
1. ) very unpleasant or offensive e.g. a smell or film
| 2. ) torn, frayed and worn, shabby e.g. a jacket
grotty
152
informal: petty, unimportant, small
poxy
153
dead and rotting flesh of an animal
carrion
| [kah-rion or keh-rion]
154
being shraply insistent on getting heard; shrill; raucous
strident
155
1. ) occurring in abrupt periods/bursts/spells e.g. rays of light
2. ) intermittently stopping and starting e.g. a sleep
fitful
156
heavy, lumbering, slow due to weight
ponderous
157
1. ) insular, narrowminded, not open
| 2. ) related to a restricted religious area - a parish (diocese subsivision)
parochial
158
assitance or help in time of difficulty e.g. i am dependant on you, i am in great succour
succour
| [sucker]
159
```
nouns:
1.) sudden umbing dread (fearful apprehension)
2.) burial garment
verbs:
1.) become dull or less effective
2.) cause to lose courage
```
pall
| n./v.
160
a crafty (scheming) opportunist
chancer
| British slang
161
viscera (internal organs) of butchered animal considered inedible for humans
(root in middle english and swedish is waste and refuse)
offal
| [oh-fl]
162
plaguey; likely to spread infectiously and cause epidemic
pestilential
163
peel off in scales like with skin or old paint
desquamate
| [des-qua-mate]
164
indocile; unwilling to submit to authority e.g. teenagers
unruly
165
1. ) a reception room where visitors are received (inns or clubs)
2. ) a livingroom where people sit, talk, relax
parlour
166
1. ) pleasing to taste (a cake) or delicately beautiful (an ornamental cup or also a cake actually)
2. ) overnice; excessively fastidious
3. ) prissy; excessively proper or affectedly neat and fussy; twee = mincing (for a man)
dainty
167
1. ) based on pretence; deceptively pleasing e.g. the perfumed nobility
2. ) rich and superiour = grand or sumptuous e.g. a decorated armchair
gilded
168
animal slaughterhouse
abattoir
169
in opposition to government or civil authority, arousing rebellion e.g. newspapers are needed for a revolution to happen
= roughly the same meaning for insurgent and subversive (subvert = undermine the power of an authority)
seditious
170
1. ) coagulated blood
| 2. ) to wound by piercing
gore
171
gruesomely indicative of death (= ghastly or sepulchral)
charnel
172
1. ) related to blooshed = gory, butcherly e.g. this bitter war
2. ) a bloodthirsty person
sanguinary
173
1. ) not allowing contradiction; putting an end to all debate e.g. a decree
2. ) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way
3. ) offensively self-assured, bossy or exercising unwarranted (unjustified) power e.g. a lady at študíjne oddelenie
peremptory
174
wail
1. ) weakly cry
| 2. ) a cry of sorrow and grief, lamentation
175
a surgical double-edged knife used for small incisions
lance
176
extreme poverty or destitution (poverty with no prospects and no friends)
penury
177
indolent or idle in a dreamy way e.g. Luna Lovehood
lackadaisical
178
idle, lacking in spirit or liveliness
languorous
| [lang-rous]
179
nonchalant; blithely unconcerned
insouciant
180
- look angry and disapproving
| - an angry, disapproving stare
glower
181
terrified, showing signs of horror e.g. she stared at them and their weapons aghast as she screamed in defence
aghast
182
tiresomely long; seemingly without an end e.g. a long-haul flight or a night when you cannot fall asleep staring at the ceiling
interminable
183
great composure and coolness under strain, pressure
aplomb
| [aplom]
184
uncanny, unearthly, supernatural
eldritch
185
ask humbly, pray, beseech humbly
supplicate
186
a proud stiff pompous gait; swagger, a lofty gait to inpress other
prance
187
pale or sickly e.g. light
| bleach e.g. plants without chlorophyll
etiolated
188
squabble; quarrel over petty things
bicker
189
1. ) overly concerned with maleness, male sexuality, masculinity e.g. the gay club culture
2. ) resembling a phallus, erect shape
priapic
190
marked by hidden plans or methods; surreptitious; cloak-and-dagger e.g. a government resistance
clandestine
191
stubbornly unyielding; tenacious e.g. finishing the race whatever the costs to health
dogged
192
a farewell (leaving) speech, especially a graduation one
valedictory
193
deliberate betrayal, treachery.
perfidy
194
an extremely immoral, wicked act; an absence of spiritual or moral values
iniquity
195
usually a wealthy girl whose parents want to introduce her to the society in a BIG way; a woman making a debut
debutante
196
an air breeze, a waft, a whispering wind sound or a deep sigh
sough
| [sof]
197
(of a moon) more than half full
gibbous
| [gi-buh-s]
198
pale and sickly, visibly unwell lacking energy
wan
| [one; uAan]
199
drool saliva from mouth
| dribble
slobber / slabber
200
1. ) extremely greedy; voracious
| 2. ) predatory; raptorial; living by preying
rapacious
