READING COMPREHENSION Flashcards
ABJURE
ab·jure
/abˈjo͝or, əbˈjo͝or/
verb formal
solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).
“his refusal to abjure the Catholic faith”
SYNONYMS: renounce, relinquish, reject, forgo, disavow, abandon, deny, repudiate, give up, wash one’s hands of.
CONFLAGRATION
con·fla·gra·tion
ˌkänfləˈɡrāSH(ə)n/
noun
an extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property.
“the conflagration spread rapidly through the wooden buildings”
SYNONYMS: fire, blaze, flames, inferno, firestorm
INURBANE
inurbane
[in-ur-beyn]
1. not urbane; lacking in courtesy, refinement, etc.
ALLUVIAL
al·lu·vi·al əˈlo͞ovēəl adjective adjective: alluvial relating to or derived from alluvium. "rich alluvial soils"
al·lu·vi·um
əˈlo͞ovēəm
noun
a deposit of clay, silt, sand, and gravel left by flowing streams in a river valley or delta, typically producing fertile soil.
CONCILIATORY
con·cil·i·a·to·ry kənˈsilēəˌtôrē adjective intended or likely to placate or pacify. "a conciliatory approach" synonyms: propitiatory, placatory, appeasing, pacifying, mollifying, peacemaking "a conciliatory gesture"
DESTITUTE
des·ti·tute
ˈdestəˌt(y)o͞ot/
adjective
without the basic necessities of life.
“the charity cares for destitute children”
synonyms: penniless, poor, impoverished, poverty-stricken, impecunious, without a cent/penny (to one’s name); More
not having.
“towns destitute of commerce”
synonyms: devoid of, bereft of, deprived of, in need of;
RHETORIC
rhet·o·ric
ˈredərik/
noun
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
synonyms: oratory, eloquence, command of language, way with words
“a form of rhetoric”
EXEMPLIFY
ex·em·pli·fy
iɡˈzempləˌfī/
verb
be a typical example of.
“rock bands that best exemplify the spirit of the age”
synonyms: typify, epitomize, be a typical example of, represent, be representative of, symbolize
“this story exemplifies current trends”
give an example of; illustrate by giving an example.
synonyms: illustrate, give an example of, demonstrate
“he exemplified his point with an anecdote”
FACILITATE
fa·cil·i·tate
fəˈsiləˌtāt/
verb
make (an action or process) easy or easier.
“schools were located on the same campus to facilitate the sharing of resources”
CODIFY
cod·i·fy
ˈkädəˌfī,ˈkōdəˌfī/
verb
past tense: codified; past participle: codified
arrange (laws or rules) into a systematic code.
synonyms: systematize, systemize, organize, arrange, order, structure; More
arrange according to a plan or system.
“Verdi helped codify an international operatic culture”
DROGUE
drogue
drōɡ/
noun
a device, typically conical or funnel-shaped with open ends, towed behind a boat, aircraft, or other moving object to reduce speed or improve stability.
QUINTESSENTIAL
quin·tes·sen·tial
ˌkwin(t)əˈsen(t)SHəl/
adjective
representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
“he was the quintessential tough guy—strong, silent, and self-contained”
synonyms: typical, prototypical, stereotypical, archetypal, classic, model, standard, stock, representative, conventional;
DIPLOMATIC
dip·lo·mat·ic
ˌdipləˈmadik/
adjective
of or concerning the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations.
“diplomatic relations between the United States and Britain”
synonyms: ambassadorial, consular
“diplomatic activity”
TRANSMOGRIFY
trans·mog·ri·fy
transˈmäɡrəˌfī,tranzˈmäɡrəˌfī/
verbhumorous
transform, especially in a surprising or magical manner.
“the cucumbers that were ultimately transmogrified into pickles”
QUARK
quark
kwärk/Submit
nounPHYSICS
any of a number of subatomic particles carrying a fractional electric charge, postulated as building blocks of the hadrons. Quarks have not been directly observed, but theoretical predictions based on their existence have been confirmed experimentally.
AUTONOMOUS
au·ton·o·mous
ôˈtänəməs/
adjective
(of a country or region) having self-government, at least to a significant degree.
“the federation included sixteen autonomous republics”
acting independently or having the freedom to do so.
“an autonomous committee of the school board”
synonyms: self-governing, self-ruling, self-determining, independent, sovereign, free, unmonitored
“an autonomous republic”
INSOUCIANCE
in·sou·ci·ance
inˈso͞osēəns,inˈso͞oSHəns/
noun
casual lack of concern; indifference.
“an impression of boyish insouciance”
synonyms: nonchalance, unconcern, indifference, heedlessness, calm, equanimity, composure, ease, airiness; informalcool
“through his own profligacy and insouciance in raising money, he brought about the very thing he had hoped to avoid”
PROFLIGACY
prof·li·ga·cy ˈpräfləɡəsē/ noun 1. reckless extravagance or wastefulness in the use of resources. "the government returned to fiscal profligacy" 2. licentious or dissolute behavior. "the emperor's sexual profligacy"
LICENTIOUS
li·cen·tious
līˈsenSHəs
adjective
1.
promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.
synonyms: dissolute, dissipated, debauched, degenerate, immoral, naughty, wanton, decadent, depraved, sinful, corrupt;
2.
archaic
disregarding accepted rules or conventions, especially in grammar or literary style.
GALVANIZE
gal·va·nize
ˈɡalvəˌnīz/
verb
1.
shock or excite (someone), typically into taking action.
“the urgency of his voice galvanized them into action”
synonyms: jolt, shock, startle, impel, stir, spur, prod, urge, motivate, stimulate, electrify, excite, rouse, arouse, awaken;
