Princeton Hit Parade 2 Flashcards
to supplant
to take the place of; to supersede
cacophony
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
(to) harangue
ranting speech or writing; (to deliver a forceful or angry speech)
ebullience
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
heretical
violating accepted dogma or convention
facetious
playful, humorous
heresy
something that violates an accepted dogma or convention
didactic
intended to teach or instruct
exonerate
to remove blame
aesthetic
dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
fallacy
an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief
canon
an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
catalyst
a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction; a person or thing that causes change
emollient
soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh; mollify; an agent that softens or smoothes the skin
axiom
a universally recognized principle
esoteric
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
prodigious
abundant in size, force or extent; extraordinary
empirical
based on observation or experiment
intransigent
refusing to compromise
incipient
in an initial stage
elegiac
having a mournful quality
satire
a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
to abate
to lessen in intensity or degree
impecunious
lacking funds; without money
gregarious
sociable, fond of company, outgoing
hyperbole
an exaggerated statement
ubiquitous
existing everywhere at the same time
precursor
one that precedes and indicates or announces another
ascetic
one who practices rigid self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
viscous
thick; sticky
pernicious
having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
sanction
penalty intended to enforce compliance
quiescence
stillness; motionlessness
inert
unmoving; lethargic; sluggish
to peruse
to examine with great care
opaque
not able to be seen through; hard to understand
to preen
to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care
bucolic
rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas their inhabitants
ephemeral
brief, lasting for a short time
discretion
cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions
redoubtable
formidable, especially as an opponent
chary
wary; cautious; sparing
stoic
indifferent or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast
prolific
producing large volumes or amounts; productive
enigmatic
mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand
cogent
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
castigation
severe criticism or punishment
to inveigle
to obtain by deception or flattery
to demur
to question or oppose
to quaff
to drink deeply
to ameliorate
to make better or more tolerable
piety
the state of showing strong religious devotion
elegy
a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead
dogmatic
expressing a rigid opinion based in unproved or improvable principles
disinterested
free of bias or self-interest; impartial
to putrefy
to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor
eclectic
composed of elements drawn from various sources
squalid
sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect
adulation
excessive praise; intense adoration
contrition
the state of feeling regretful and penitent
vilify
to defame; to characterize harshly
caustic
burning or stinging; causing corrosion
contenious
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
innocuous
harmless; causing no damage
furtive
secretive, attempting to avoid notice or attention
to burgeon
to grow rapidly or flourish
penurious
penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous; extremely poor
