Quiz #5 Flashcards
Agnostic
a person who does not believe or is unsure of something; a person who does not have a definite belief about whether God exists or not
Acclaim
To praise (someone or something) in a very strong and enthusiastic way
anomaly
a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form
articulate
expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness
aversion
a strong feeling of dislike, opposition, repugnance, or antipathy
bucolic
of, pertaining to, or suggesting an idyllic rural life; of or pertaining to shepherds; pastoral
catharsis
the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music
clandestine
characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, especially for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious
contiguous
in close proximity; touching; near; close but not actually touching
debacle
a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout; a complete collapse or failure
deride
to laugh at in scorn or contempt; scoff or jeer at; moc
diffuse
to spread or scatter widely or thinly; disseminate
dissipate
to become scattered or dispersed; be dispelled; disintegrate
edify
to teach (someone) in a way that improves the mind or character
enervate
to lessen the vitality or strength of
euphemism
a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive
extol
to praise highly
flout
to break or ignore (a law, rule, etc.) without hiding what you are doing or showing fear or shame
garner
to collect, gather, get, or receive something
heretic
someone who believes or teaches something that goes against accepted or official beliefs
immutable
unable to be changed
inadvertent
not intended or planned
infer
to form (an opinion) from evidence : to reach (a conclusion) based on known facts; to hint or suggest something
intemperate
having extreme conditions; having or showing a lack of emotional calmness or control; often drinking too much alcohol
lackluster
lacking excitement or interest
lucid
very clear and easy to understand; able to think clearly
misanthropic
marked by a hatred or contempt for humankind
nihilism
the belief that traditional morals, ideas, beliefs, etc., have no worth or value
ostentatious
displaying wealth, knowledge, etc., in a way that is meant to attract attention, admiration, or envy
pejorative
a word or phrase that has negative connotations or that is intended to disparage or belittle
placid
not easily upset or excited; not moving much : calm and steady
prerogative
a right or privilege; especially : a special right or privilege that some people have
provincial
a person who lives in or comes from a place that is far away from large cities: a person lacking urban polish or refinement
rebuff
to refuse (something, such as an offer or suggestion) in a rude way
repine
to feel or express dejection or discontent: to long for something
rhetoric
the art or skill of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people
scoff
to show contempt by derisive acts or language
specious
falsely appearing to be fair, just, or right : appearing to be true but actually false
substantiate
to prove the truth of; to establish by proof or competent evidence
susceptible
capable of being affected; easily affected, influenced, or harmed by something
tentative
not definite; still able to be changed; not done with confidence : uncertain and hesitant
ubiquitous
seeming to be seen everywhere
urbane
fashionable and somewhat formal; polite and confident
vicarious
experienced or felt by watching, hearing about, or reading about someone else rather than by doing something yourself
voluminous
very full; having many words or pages; using large amounts of fabric; very large : containing a lot of space
