Random Encounters Flashcards

Master these words encountered from readings, articles, books, etc.

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1
Q

Tumultuous

ex. Exploring the pangs of this tumultuous relationship is what most attracted Kent to this project.

A
  1. Making a loud, confused noise, uproarious

2. Excited, confused, or disorderly

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2
Q

Underscore

ex: They underscore the extent to which our ideas of normality are tied closely to socioeconomic status.

A

Verb:

  1. to mark with a line or lines underneath; underline, as for emphasis.
  2. to stress; emphasize:

Noun:

  1. a line drawn beneath something written or printed.
  2. music for a film soundtrack; background for a film or stage production.
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3
Q

Providental

ex: Many readers understood all manner of news in providential terms.

A
  1. of, relating to, or resulting from divine providence:
    providential care.
  2. opportune, fortunate, or lucky:
    a providential event.
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4
Q

Prevarication

A

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

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5
Q

Histrionics

A

Theatrics

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6
Q

Labyrinthine

A

a good word to describe a place that feels like an enormous maze.

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7
Q

Contemporary

A

Modern and relates to present time

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8
Q

Terse

A

Brief and unfriendly

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9
Q

Ignominy

A

Shame or public disgrace

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10
Q

Notion

A

Idea or belief

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11
Q

Paucity

A

Not enough of

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12
Q

Subsume

A

Included with or absorbed into

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13
Q

Belie

A

Hide, disguise

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14
Q

Mercurial

A

Frequently change

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15
Q

Torrid

A

Extremely hot and dry

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16
Q

Overstates

A

Describing in a way to make it seem more important

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17
Q

Furtively

A

In secret

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18
Q

Volatile

A

Liable to change rapidly and unpredictability

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19
Q

Incendiary

A

Causing likely to make people upset and create conflict

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20
Q

Astute

A

Ability to assess situations and people

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21
Q

Abrogate

A

Repeal, overturn

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22
Q

Promulgate

A

Publicly declare

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23
Q

Verisimilitude

A

Appearance of truth

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24
Q

Subvert

A

Destroy, cause downfall of

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25
Q

Inured

A

Cause to accept or become hardened to, habituate

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26
Q

Stultified

A

Limited in growth

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27
Q

Assuaged

A

Placated, make less angry

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28
Q

Galvanized

A

Excite someone into taking action

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29
Q

Schmooze

A

Talk intimately and cozily

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30
Q

Machinate

A

Engage in plots and intrigues

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31
Q

Hobnob

A

Mix socially

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32
Q

Cravenness

A

Cowardiness

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33
Q

Eclectic

A

Drawn from a variety of sources

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34
Q

Recondite

A

Knowledge very few people know

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35
Q

Ephemeral

A

Short-lived

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36
Q

Prosaic

A

Dull, unoriginal

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37
Q

Topical

A

Relevant

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38
Q

Protracted

A

Lengthy

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39
Q

Sordid

A

Disgraceful and scandalous

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40
Q

Ambivalent

A

Mixed feelings

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41
Q

Pauper

A

Poor person

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42
Q

Curmudgeon

A

Grumpy person

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43
Q

Steadfast

A

Loyal

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44
Q

Brusque

A

Rude

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45
Q

Perfunctory

A

Going through the motions, routine

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46
Q

Muted

A

Quiet

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47
Q

Abstract

A

Vaque

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48
Q

Polemical

A

Passionate verbal attack

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49
Q

Timorous

A

Fearful, timid

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50
Q

Bellicose

A

Aggressive and eager to start fights/wars

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51
Q

Vigorous

A

Full of physical strength or energy

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52
Q

Accommodate

A

Provide for

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53
Q

Circumscribe

A

Restrict, confine

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54
Q

Aberrant

A

Different from normal

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55
Q

Slight

A

Insult

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56
Q

Hauteur

A

Arrogant

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57
Q

Vitriol

A

Harsh, bitter criticism

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58
Q

Dash

A

Flair

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59
Q

Misanthropic

A

Ill-will towards humanity

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60
Q

Garruity

A

Talkativeness

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61
Q

Obsequiousness

A

Fawning

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62
Q

Perennial

A

Occurs over the seasons, constant throughout the years

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63
Q

Lachrymose

A

Sad, tearful

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64
Q

Penurious

A

Having no money

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65
Q

Vernacular

A

Language, or dialect spoken by a population

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66
Q

Lexicon

A

Vocabulary of a person

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67
Q

Novelties

A

New or original

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68
Q

Debate

A

Formal discussion

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69
Q

Zeitgeist

A

The defining spirit or mood of a particular time in history as shown by ideas and beliefs

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70
Q

Reticent

A

Reserved, restrained to act

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71
Q

Affable

A

Friendly and good natured

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72
Q

Guarded

A

Cautious, careful to avoid danger

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73
Q

Amiable

A

Friendly and pleasant

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74
Q

Contentious

A

More focused, certain of your argument

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75
Q

Equivocation

A

Intentionally vague or ambiguous

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76
Q

Candor

A

Honest, straightforward

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77
Q

Glibness

A

Smooth talker

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78
Q

Stridency

A

Timbre of a loud high-pitched sound

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79
Q

Brazenness

A

bold and shameless behavior

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80
Q

Abstruse

A

incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding

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81
Q

Pedantic

A

Narrow focus

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82
Q

Largesse

A

Gift or money given

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83
Q

Stricture

A

Criticism

Abnormal Narrowing of a bodily canal

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84
Q

Nonplussed

A

Mystery or bewildering

Surprise, Confusion

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85
Q

Imperil

A

Pose a threat

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86
Q

Peripheral

A

On, near edge

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87
Q

Marginalized

A

Relegate to lower/outer edge

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88
Q

Forlorn

A

Very sad

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89
Q

Arbitrary

A

Random, without purpose

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90
Q

Ostentatious

A

Showing off

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91
Q

Exaltation

A

Praise

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92
Q

Gregarious

A

Social

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93
Q

Edifice

A

Large Imposing Building

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94
Q

Melancholia

A

Sad

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95
Q

Stopgap

A

Measure, substitute

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96
Q

Desultory

A

Random, unplanned

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97
Q

Fortuitous

A

Happening by accident, usually pleasant

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98
Q

Churlishly

A

Rude, unmannered

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99
Q

Hapless

A

Unfortunate

100
Q

Sycophantic

A

Kissing up

101
Q

Preeminent

A

Foremost, top

102
Q

Congenial

A

Friendly

103
Q

Ostensibly

A

Apparently

104
Q

Disenfranchised

A

deprive of right to vote

105
Q

Openhanded

A

Giving free, generous

106
Q

Garrulous

A

Talkative

107
Q

Parsimonious

A

Not generous

108
Q

Tactless

A

Doesn’t behave appropriately

109
Q

Admonitory

A

Warn or caution

110
Q

Immutable

A

Fixed

111
Q

Tantamount

A

Equal

112
Q

Shiftless

A

Doesn’t change

113
Q

Fertile

A

Give rise to

114
Q

Plastic

A

Not fixed, changeable

115
Q

Consummate

A

Highly accomplished

116
Q

Amalgam

A

Mixture or blend

117
Q

Caricature

A

Poking fun at

118
Q

Repudiation

A

Denial

119
Q

Implacable

A

Unable to make less angry, not affected

120
Q

Intransigent

A

Impervious to pleas and request

121
Q

Debonair

A

Charming, cheerful, self-confident

122
Q

Stolid

A

Revealing little emotions

123
Q

Libertine

A

Unrestrained by morals

124
Q

Presumptuous

A

Excessively forward

125
Q

Intrepid

A

Invulnerable to fear or intimidation

126
Q

Capricious

A

Unpredictable

127
Q

Soporific

A

Sleep-inducing

128
Q

Plodding

A

Slow and laborious

129
Q

Ascendancy

A

Position of power over another

130
Q

Primacy

A

First in importance

131
Q

Sullen

A

Depressed, sulky

132
Q

Truculence

A

Aggressiveness

133
Q

Retiring

A

Reluctant to draw attention to oneself

134
Q

Pugnacity

A

Natural disposition to be hostile

135
Q

Spuriously

A

In way that is false or counterfeit

136
Q

Spasmodically

A

Irregularly

137
Q

Carousing

A

Engaging in merryment, revelry

138
Q

Singular

A

Great, outstanding

139
Q

Galvanize

A

Excite someone into action

140
Q

Serendipitous

A

Occuring by chance in a beneficial way

141
Q

Effect

A

Act so as to bring into a existence

142
Q

Poignant

A

Arousing effect, emotionally touching

143
Q

Impugn

A

Attack as false or wrong, dispute truth

144
Q

Equivocal

A

Open to question, questionable, not clear

145
Q

Incontrovertible

A

Impossible to deny

146
Q

Diminutive

A

Smalless

147
Q

Deferential

A

Showing respect, submission

148
Q

Sacerdotal

A

Associated with priesthood

149
Q

Languishing

A

Lacking of vigor or spirit

150
Q

Ebb

A

Flow back, recede, decline

151
Q

Ameliorate

A

To make better

152
Q

Restiveness

A

Anxious, agitation

153
Q

Jingoism

A

Patriotism

154
Q

Euphoria

A

Great elation

155
Q

Cupidity

A

Greed for material wealth

156
Q

Contrive

A

Make a plan

157
Q

Coda

A

Closing section to musical composition

158
Q

Capriciously

A

Unpredictability

159
Q

Brio

A

Liveliness, vigorous movement

160
Q

Ponderously

A

Moving with great difficulty

161
Q

Crony

A

Close friend, accomplice

162
Q

Untenable

A

Incapable of being defended

163
Q

Chums

A

Close friends

164
Q

Contemporaries

A

People living at the same time

165
Q

Erudite

A

Scholarly, great knowledge

166
Q

Fastidious

A

Careful attention to detail

167
Q

Querulous

A

Habitually complaining

168
Q

Petulant

A

Easily annoyed

169
Q

Legion

A

Vast multitude

170
Q

Thoroughgoing

A

Performed completely

171
Q

Hyperbole

A

Exaggerate

172
Q

Untoward

A

Unexpected, not keeping with standard

173
Q

Capitulation

A

Act of surrendering

174
Q

Calumny

A

Abusive attack in a person’s character

175
Q

Magnanimous

A

Generous, understanding

176
Q

Docilely

A

Submissive

177
Q

Logorrhea

A

Out pouring of words

178
Q

Perfunctory

A

Through the motions

179
Q

Cursory

A

Done in superficial manner, not detailed done hastily

180
Q

Onerous

A

Burdensome

181
Q

Irate

A

Really angry

182
Q

Sanguine

A

Optimistic, positive

Bloody

183
Q

Quotidian

A

Occuring everyday, daily

184
Q

Enfranchised

A

Give the right to vote

185
Q

Supplanted

A

Replace

186
Q

Inimical

A

Hostile, difficult

187
Q

Permissive

A

Allow

188
Q

Eclectic

A

a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources

189
Q

Subsumes

A

Contain or include

190
Q

Genial

A

Friendly and cheerful

191
Q

Diffidence

A

Lack of self-confidence

192
Q

Myopic

A

Nearsighted, lack of imagination

193
Q

Harried

A

Trouble persistently

194
Q

Epigrammatic

A

Clever, concise, amusing

195
Q

Apogee

A

Final climatic stage

196
Q

Precocity

A

Intelligence achieved far ahead of normal development

197
Q

Nadir

A

Extreme state of adversity

198
Q

Persnickety

A

Excessive precision and attention to detail

199
Q

Platitudes

A

Canned phrases, lacking expression

200
Q

Pejorative

A

Words with strong negative connotations

201
Q

Sartorial

A

Relating to clothing

202
Q

Inchoate

A

Barely formed, embryonic

203
Q

Hackneyed

A

Overused and trite

204
Q

Insidious

A

Hidden but harmful

205
Q

Smattering

A

Small number of, slight knowledge

206
Q

Paucity

A

Not enough of

207
Q

obsequious

A

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.

208
Q

Machiavellian

A

cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous

209
Q

behooves

A

duty or responsibility for someone to do something

210
Q

incumbent

A

resting as a duty or obligation

211
Q

impugning

A

call into question

212
Q

lambasted

A

criticize (someone or something) harshly

213
Q

commensurate

A

To reduce to a common measure, to adapt

214
Q

undergird

A

provide support or a firm basis for

215
Q

quixotic

A

idealistic

216
Q

prolix

A

really wordy

217
Q

inscrutable

A

really difficult to understand

218
Q

raconteur

A

A story-teller

219
Q

dissembler

A

One who dissembles; one who conceals his opinions or dispositions under a false appearance; a hypocrite

220
Q

maverick

A

independent thinker

221
Q

unequivocally

A

very clearly, with no room for doubt

222
Q

categorically

A

very clear and direct/explicit

223
Q

quotidian

A

daily, routine

224
Q

prosaic

A

Ordinary or commonplace

225
Q

benighted

A

lacking enlightenment or knowledge or culture

226
Q

arcane

A

requiring secret or mysterious knowledge

227
Q

egregious

A

Huge, monstrous, astonishing

228
Q

uncanny

A

Eery; weird; mysterious; apparently not of this world

229
Q

gratuitous

A

Unwarranted, unnecessary

230
Q

supercilious

A

haughty and arrogant

231
Q

understated

A

not drawing attention

232
Q

eponym

A

A name of a place, people, or period derived from that of a person

233
Q

verbose

A

using or expressed in more words than are needed.

234
Q

contrivance

A

pull off something in an artificial or unnatural manner

235
Q

vituperative

A

bitter and abusive.

236
Q

poring

A

be absorbed in the reading or study of.

237
Q

scrupulous

A

diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details

238
Q

enjoining

A

instruct or urge (someone) to do something

Prohibit

239
Q

exhorting

A

strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.

240
Q

protean

A

taking on many different forms, highly adaptable

241
Q

besotted

A

in love with somebody or something

242
Q

pedantic

A

focus on trivial academic points

243
Q

eclectic

A

drawn from a variety of sources

244
Q

austerity

A

extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance

245
Q

Pared down

A

whittling away, stripping down