Princeton2k12 book vocabs - 2 Flashcards
Filigree
ornamental work of fine (typically gold or silver) wire formed into delicate tracery
“filigree earrings”
Tautology
the saying of the same thing twice over in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style
(eg. they arrived one after the other in succession)
Similar: repetition
Quandary
1) a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation
“Kate was in a quandary”
2) a difficult situation; a practical dilemma
“a legal quandary”
Peregrination
a journey, especially a long or meandering one
“she kept Aunt Betty company on her
peregrinations”
Meandering
mee.aan.dr.ing
1) Adj - following a winding course
“meandering rivers flow at vastly different rates”
2) Noun - an act of following a winding course
“ox-bow lagoons left by the river’s meandering”
Lagoons
A lagoon is a shallow body of water protected from a larger body of water (usually the ocean) by sandbars, barrier islands, or coral reefs
Tracery
ornamental stone openwork, typically in the upper part of Gothic window
“the rose designs were divided by tracery”
Prestidigitation
conjuring tricks performed as entertainment
Peroration
the concluding part of a speech, typically intended to inspire enthusiasm in the audience
“he again invoked the theme in an emotional peroration”
Quotidian
of or occurring every day; daily
“the car sped nosily off through the quotidian traffic”
Medicine - denoting the malignant form of malaria
Malignant
1) evil in nature or effect; malevolent
“in the hands of malignant fate”
2) (of a disease) very virulent or infectious
Virulent
1) marked by a rapid, severe, and destructive course of virulent infection
2) extremely poisonous or venomous
Amorphous
1) without a clearly defined shape or form
2)lacking a clear structure or focus
“an amorphous and leaderless legislature”
Pernicious
having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle manner
“the pernicious influences of the mass media”
Invoke
1) call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration
2) cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument
“the antiquated defense of insanity is rarely invoked in England”
Antiquated
old-fashioned or outdate
“tis antiquated central heating system”
Complaisant
willing to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest
“there are too many complaisant doctors signing sick notes”
Disposition
1) a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character
“your sunny disposition has a way of rubbing on those around you”
2) the way in which something is placed or arranged, especially in relation to other things
“the plan shows the disposition of the rooms”
Rubbing off on someone
Become transferred to another, influence through close contact, as in We hoped some of their good manners would rub off on our children
Homonym
each of two or more words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings and origins
Smug
having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one’s achievements
“he was feeling smug after his win”
1 : highly self-satisfied. 2 : trim or smart in dress : spruce. 3 : scrupulously clean, neat, or correct : tidy.
Mercurial
subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
“his mercurial temperament”
Prescient
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place
“a prescient warning”
Temperament
1) a person’s or animal’s nature, especially as it permanently affects their behavior
“she had an artistic temperament”
2)the adjustment of intervals in tuning a piano or other musical instrument so as to fit the scale for use in different keys; in equal temperament, the octave consists of twelve equal semitones.
“the temperament became standard tuning for all the new organs”
