Quiz #7 Flashcards
allusion
N a statement that refers to something without mentioning it directly
acquiesce
V to accept, agree, or allow something to happen by staying silent or by not arguing
antagonism
N a strong feeling of dislike or hatred; a desire to oppose something you dislike or disagree with
assiduous
ADJ showing great care, attention, and effort
banal
ADJ boring or ordinary; not interesting
cache
N a group of things that have been hidden in a secret place because they are illegal or have been stolen
celestial
ADJ of or relating to the sky or heaven
coalesce
V to come together to form one group or mass
corroborate
V to support or help prove (a statement, theory, etc.) by providing information or evidence
debilitate
V to make weak or reduce the strength of someone or something
desecrate
V to damage or treat a holy place or object with disrespect
discerning
ADJ/V able to see and understand people, things, or situations clearly and intelligentsia
distraught
ADJ very upset; so upset that you are not able to think clearly or behave normally
effervescent
ADJ characteristic of something which bubbles, foams, or hisses as gas escapes; showing liveliness or exhilaration
enigma
N someone or something that is difficult to understand or explain
exacerbate
V to make something worse
facilitate
V to make something easier or run more smoothly and efficiently
formidable
ADJ very powerful and strong; difficult to deal with; deserving serious attention and respect
grandiloquent
ADJ lofty, extravagantly colorful, pompous, or bombastic style, manner, or quality especially in language
histrionic
ADJ too emotional or dramatic
impassive
ADJ not showing emotion
incipient
ADJ beginning to develop or exist
ingratiate
V to gain favor or approval for (yourself) by doing or saying things that people like
intransigent
ADJ completely unwilling to change; very stubborn
lampoon
V to publicly criticize (someone or something) in a way that causes laughter; to mock or make fun of
machination
N a scheming or crafty action or artful design intended to accomplish some usually evil end
mollify
V to soothe or calm someone down; to make someone less angry
obfuscate
V to make (something) more difficult to understand; to make obscure
painstaking
ADJ showing or done with great care and effort
perfidy
N the act of betraying someone or something : the state of not being loyal
plebeian
ADJ/N crude or coarse in manner or style; a common person; a member of the common people of ancient Rome
prodigious
ADJ amazing or wonderful : very impressive : very big
pugnacious
ADJ showing a readiness or desire to fight or argue
reciprocal
ADJ used to describe a relationship in which two people or groups agree to do something similar for each other
reprove
V to criticize or correct (someone) usually in a gentle way
ruminate
V to think carefully and deeply about something; in animals, to chew something again which has already been swallowed
scrutinize
V to examine (something) carefully especially in a critical way
spurious
ADJ not genuine, sincere, or authentic; based on false ideas or bad
succinct
ADJ using few words to state or express an idea
taciturn
ADJ tending to be quiet : not speaking frequently
threadbare
ADJ very thin and in bad condition from too much use
unequivocal
ADJ very strong and clear : not showing or allowing any doubt
utopian
ADJ having impossibly ideal conditions especially of social organization; impossibly ideal
vilify
V to say or write very harsh and critical things about
wanton
ADJ showing no thought or care for the rights, feelings, or safety of others; not limited or controlled; causing sexual excitement
