Pride and Prejudice Flashcards
censure
verb or noun
express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement.
“the company was heavily censured by inspectors from the Department of Trade”
incredulity
noun
the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something.
“he stared down the street in incredulity”
contempt
noun
the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.
“Pam stared at the girl with total contempt”
disregard for something that should be considered.
“this action displays an arrogant contempt for the wishes of the majority”
scruples
noun
a feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of a course of action.
“I had no scruples about eavesdropping”
disapprobation
noun
strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds.
“she braved her mother’s disapprobation and slipped out to enjoy herself”
verdure
noun
lush green vegetation.
haughty
adjective
arrogantly superior and disdainful.
“a look of haughty disdain”
repugnant
noun
intense disgust.
“our repugnance at the bleeding carcasses”
propriety
noun
conformity to conventionally accepted standards of behaviour or morals.
“he always behaved with the utmost propriety”
remonstrance
noun
a forcefully reproachful protest.
“angry remonstrances in the Commons”
propensity
noun
an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
“his propensity for violence”
pecuniary
adjective
relating to or consisting of money.
“he admitted obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception”
dissipation
noun
overindulgence in sensual pleasures; dissipated living.
“a descent into drunkenness and sexual dissipation”
he squandering of money, energy, or resources.
“the dissipation of the country’s mineral wealth”
reproach
verb
express to (someone) one’s disapproval of or disappointment in their actions.
“her friends reproached her for not thinking enough about her family”
accuse someone of.
“his wife reproached him with cowardice”
connivance
noun
willingness to allow or be secretly involved in an immoral or illegal act.
“this infringement of the law had taken place with the connivance of officials”
penitent
adjective
feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant.
“a penitent expression”
insolence
noun
rude and disrespectful behaviour.
“she was sacked for insolence”
duplicity
noun
deceitfulness.
“he was accused of duplicity and branded a traitor”
contrivance
noun
the use of skill to create or bring about something, especially with a consequent effect of artificiality.
“the requirements of the system, by happy chance and some contrivance, can be summed up in an acronym”
profligacy
noun
reckless extravagance or wastefulness in the use of resources.
“his financial prudence corrected the profligacies of Nero”
licentious or dissolute behaviour.
“the emperor’s sexual profligacy”
obeisance
noun
deferential respect.
“they paid obeisance to the Prince”
diminution
noun
a reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something.
“a permanent diminution in value”
upbraided
verb
find fault with (someone); scold.
“he was upbraided for his slovenly appearance”
chagrin
noun or verb
annoyance or distress at having failed or been humiliated.
“to my chagrin, he was nowhere to be seen”
eel distressed or humiliated.
“he was chagrined when his friend poured scorn on him”
imprudent
adjective
not showing care for the consequences of an action; rash.
“it would be imprudent to leave her winter coat behind”
replete
adjective
filled or well-supplied with something.
“sensational popular fiction, replete with adultery and sudden death”
very full of or sated by food.
“I went out into the sun-drenched streets again, replete and relaxed”
felicity
noun
intense happiness.
“domestic felicity”
consternation
noun
a feeling of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected.
“to her consternation her car wouldn’t start”
congenial
adjective
(of a person) pleasing or liked on account of having qualities or interests that are similar to one’s own.
“his need for some congenial company”
(of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one’s taste or inclination.
“he went back to a climate more congenial to his cold stony soul”
profusion
noun
an abundance or large quantity of something.
“a rich profusion of flowers”
dejection
noun
a sad and depressed state; low spirits.
“he was slumped in deep dejection”
anew
adjective
in a new or different and typically more positive way.
“her career had begun anew, with a lucrative Japanese modelling contract”
once more; again.
“tears filled her eyes anew”
rapture
noun
a feeling of intense pleasure or joy.
“Leonora listened with rapture”
repine
verb
feel or express discontent; fret.
“you mustn’t let yourself repine”
disposition
noun
a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character.
“your sunny disposition has a way of rubbing off on those around you”
an inclination or tendency.
“the Prime Minister has shown a disposition to alter policies”
deign
verb
do something that one considers to be beneath one’s dignity.
“she did not deign to answer the maid’s question”
imputed
verb
represent (something, especially something undesirable) as being done or possessed by someone; attribute.
“the crimes imputed to Richard”
assign (a value) to something by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes.
“by imputing the interest rates they potentially introduce a measurement error”
conjugal
adjective
relating to marriage or the relationship between a married couple.
“conjugal loyalty”
reprehensible
adjective
deserving censure or condemnation.
“his complacency and reprehensible laxity”
querulous
adjective
complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner.
“she became querulous and demanding”
acquiesce
verb
accept something reluctantly but without protest.
“Sara acquiesced in his decision”
affable
adjective
friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.
“an affable and agreeable companion”
trifling
adjective
unimportant or trivial.
“a trifling sum”
construed
verb interpret (a word or action) in a particular way. "his words could hardly be construed as an apology"
reproofs
noun
an expression of blame or disapproval.
“she welcomed him with a mild reproof for leaving her alone”
acceded
verb
agree to a demand, request, or treaty.
“the authorities did not accede to the strikers’ demands”
assume an office or position.
“Elizabeth I acceded to the throne in 1558”
tete-a-tete
noun
a private conversation between two people.
“it so happened that their tête-à-tête was in earshot”
whimsical
adjective
playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.
“a whimsical sense of humour”
acting or behaving in a capricious manner.
“the whimsical arbitrariness of autocracy”
capricious
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour.
“it’s terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious boss”
changing according to no discernible rules; unpredictable.
“a capricious climate”
tincture
verb
be tinged or imbued with a slight amount of.
“Arthur’s affability was tinctured with faint sarcasm”
complaisant
adjective
willing to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest.
“there are too many complaisant doctors signing sick notes”
diffidence
noun
modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence.
“I say this with some diffidence”
petulance
noun
the quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
“a slight degree of petulance had crept into his voice”
acrimony
noun
bitterness or ill feeling.
“the AGM dissolved into acrimony”
brevity
noun
concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
“the staff will edit manuscripts with a view to brevity and clarity”
shortness of time.
“the brevity of human life”
exigency
noun
an urgent need or demand.
“women worked long hours when the exigencies of the family economy demanded it”
impetuous
adjective
acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
“she might live to rue this impetuous decision”
moving forcefully or rapidly.
“an impetuous but controlled flow of water”
frivolous
adjective not having any serious purpose or value. "frivolous ribbons and lacy frills" (of a person) carefree and superficial. "the frivolous, fun-loving flappers of the twenties"
invectives
noun
insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.
“he let out a stream of invective”
contrive
verb
create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice.
“his opponents contrived a cabinet crisis”
manage to do something foolish or create an undesirable situation.
“he contrived to flood the flat three times”
repose
noun or verb a state of rest, sleep, or tranquillity. "in repose her face looked relaxed" be situated or kept in a particular place. "the diamond now reposes in the Louvre"
dilatory
adjective
slow to act.
“he had been dilatory in appointing a solicitor”
intended to cause delay.
“they resorted to dilatory tactics, forcing a postponement of peace talks”
sanguine
adjective
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
“he is sanguine about prospects for the global economy”
licentious
adjective
promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.
“the ruler’s tyrannical and licentious behaviour”
tidings
noun
news; information.
“the bearer of glad tidings”
on a sixpence
on a sixpence — used to refer to a manoeuvre that can be performed by a moving vehicle or person within a small area or short distance.
“the car stops on a sixpence”
requite
verb make appropriate return for (a favour, service, or wrongdoing). "they are quick to requite a kindness" return a favour to (someone). "to win enough to requite my friends" respond to (love or affection). "she did not requite his love"
gaily
adverb in a cheerful or light-hearted way. "he waved gaily to the crowd" without thinking of the consequences. "she plunged gaily into speculation on the stock market" with a bright or attractive appearance. "gaily coloured sailing boats"
cogent
adjective
(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.
“they put forward cogent arguments for British membership”
impertinence
noun
lack of respect; rudeness.
“they gasped at the impertinence of the suggestion”
racked
verb
cause extreme pain, anguish, or distress to.
“he was racked with guilt”
gallantry
noun
courageous behaviour, especially in battle.
“a medal awarded for outstanding gallantry during the raid”
polite attention or respect given by men to women.
“no young man offers to carry this burden for her: such gallantry is out of fashion”
prodigious
adjective
remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree.
“the stove consumed a prodigious amount of fuel”
lustre
noun a gentle sheen or soft glow. "the lustre of the Milky Way" glory or distinction. "a celebrity player to add lustre to the line-up"
deaden
verb
make (a noise or sensation) less strong or intense.
“ether was used to deaden the pain”
deprive of the power of sensation.
“diabetes can deaden the nerve endings”
deprive of force or vitality; stultify.
“the syllabus has deadened the teaching process”
make (someone) insensitive to something.
“laughter might deaden us to the moral issue”
rapacity
noun
aggressive greed.
“the rapacity of landowners seeking greater profit from their property”
panegyric
noun
a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something.
“a panegyric on the pleasures of malt whisky”
hither
adverb or adjective to or towards this place. "I little knew then that such calamity would summon me hither!" situated on this side. "the hither side of Severn"
tacit
adjective
understood or implied without being stated.
“your silence may be taken to mean tacit agreement”
importune
verb
harass (someone) persistently for or to do something.
“reporters importuned him with pointed questions”
approach (someone) to request or offer sexual services, especially as a prostitute.
“the girl is charged with loitering in a public place with intent to solicit or importune another person”
thither
adverb
to or towards that place.
“no trickery had been necessary to attract him thither”
sagacity
noun
the quality of being sagacious.
“a man of great political sagacity”
vehemence
noun
great forcefulness or intensity of feeling or expression.
“the vehemence of his reaction”
obsequious
adjective
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
“they were served by obsequious waiters”
