Reading Vocabulary Flashcards
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Inscrutable
inscrutable | inˈskro͞odəb(ə)l |
adjective
impossible to understand or interpret: Guy looked blankly inscrutable.
DERIVATIVES
inscrutability | inˌskro͞odəˈbilədē | noun
inscrutably | inˈskro͞odəblē | adverb
inscrutableness noun
ORIGIN
late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin inscrutabilis, from in- ‘not’ + scrutari ‘to search’ (see scrutiny).
Austere
austere | ôˈstir |
adjective (austerer | ôˈsti(ə)rər |, austerest | ôˈsti(ə)rist |)
severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance: an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook | an austere expression.
* (of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries; harsh or ascetic: conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere.
* having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance; unadorned: the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity.
* (of an economic policy or measure) designed to reduce a budget deficit, especially by cutting public expenditure.
DERIVATIVES
austerely | ôˈstirlē | adverb
ORIGIN
Middle English: via Old French from Latin austerus, from Greek austēros ‘severe’.
Bleak
bleak1 | blēk |
adjective
(of an area of land) lacking vegetation and exposed to the elements: a bleak and barren moor.
* (of a building or room) charmless and inhospitable; dreary: he looked around the bleak little room in despair.
* (of the weather) cold and miserable: a bleak midwinter’s day.
* (of a situation or future prospect) not hopeful or encouraging; unlikely to have a favorable outcome: he paints a bleak picture of a company that has lost its way.
* (of a person or a person’s expression) cold and forbidding: his bleak, near vacant eyes grew remote.
DERIVATIVES
bleakly | ˈblēklē | adverb
ORIGIN
Old English blāc ‘shining, white’, or in later use from synonymous Old Norse bleikr; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to bleach.
bleak2 | blēk |
noun
a small silvery shoaling fish of the minnow family, found in Eurasian rivers.
Genera Alburnus and Chalcalburnus, family Cyprinidae: several species, in particular A. alburnus
ORIGIN
late 15th century: from Old Norse bleikja.
Stellar
stellar | ˈstelər |
adjective
relating to a star or stars: stellar structure and evolution.
* informal featuring or having the quality of a star performer or performers: a stellar cast had been assembled.
* informal exceptionally good; outstanding: his restaurant has received stellar ratings in the guides.
DERIVATIVES
stelliform | ˈsteləˌfôrm | adjective
ORIGIN
mid 17th century: from late Latin stellaris, from Latin stella ‘star’.
Innate
innate | iˈnāt |
adjective
inborn; natural: her innate capacity for organization.
* Philosophy originating in the mind.
DERIVATIVES
innateness | iˈnātnəs | noun
ORIGIN
late Middle English: from Latin innatus, past participle of innasci, from in- ‘into’ + nasci ‘be born’.
Primal
primal | ˈprīm(ə)l |
adjective
1 relating to an early stage in evolutionary development; primeval: primal hunting societies.
* Psychology relating to or denoting the needs, fears, or behavior that are postulated (especially in Freudian theory) to form the origins of emotional life. See also primal scene: he preys on people’s primal fears.
2 essential; fundamental: rivers were the primal highways of life.
DERIVATIVES
primally | ˈprīməlē | adverb
ORIGIN
early 17th century: from medieval Latin primalis, from Latin primus ‘first’.
Exhort
exhort | iɡˈzôrt, eɡˈzôrt |
verb [with object and infinitive]
strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something: [with direct speech] : “Come on, you guys,” exhorted Linda | the media have been exhorting people to turn out for the demonstration.
DERIVATIVES
exhortative | iɡˈzôrdədiv | adjective
exhorter | iɡˈzôrdər, eɡˈzôrdər | noun
ORIGIN
late Middle English: from Old French exhorter or Latin exhortari, from ex- ‘thoroughly’ + hortari ‘encourage’.
Vigor
vigor | ˈviɡər | (vigour British English)
noun
physical strength and good health: I was 79, but still full of vigor and vitality | he has managed to retain his youthful vigor.
* effort, energy, and enthusiasm: they set about the new task with vigor.
PHRASES
in vigour
in force or operation: he says there is no deal but since he has a contract in vigor he will continue as usual.
DERIVATIVES
vigourless (vigourless British English) adjective
ORIGIN
Middle English: from Old French, from Latin vigor, from vigere ‘be lively’.
Morose
morose | məˈrōs |
adjective
sullen and ill-tempered: she was morose and silent when she got home.
DERIVATIVES
morosely | məˈrōslē | adverb
moroseness | məˈrōsnəs | noun
ORIGIN
mid 16th century: from Latin morosus ‘peevish’, from mos, mor- ‘manner’.
Bliss
bliss | blis |
noun
perfect happiness; great joy: she gave a sigh of bliss.
* a state of spiritual blessedness, typically that reached after death: the bliss of heaven.
verb [no object] informal
(bliss out or be blissed out) reach a state of perfect happiness, typically so as to be oblivious of everything else: [as adjective] : blissed-out hippies.
ORIGIN
Old English blīths, bliss, of Germanic origin; related to blithe.
Ataraxia
ataraxy | ˈadəˌraksē | (also ataraxia | atəˈraksiə |)
noun literary
a state of serene calmness.
DERIVATIVES
ataractic | ˌadəˈraktik | adjective
ataraxic | ˌadəˈraksik | adjective
ORIGIN
early 17th century: from French ataraxie, from Greek ataraxia ‘impassiveness’, from a- ‘not’ + tarassein ‘disturb’.
Stoic
stoic | ˈstōik |
noun
1 a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining.
2 (Stoic) a member of the ancient philosophical school of Stoicism.
adjective
1 another term for stoical: a look of stoic resignation.
2 (Stoic) of or belonging to the Stoics or their school of philosophy: the Stoic philosophers | Seneca preached Stoic abstinence.
ORIGIN
late Middle English: via Latin from Greek stōïkos, from stoa (with reference to Zeno’s teaching in the Stoa Poikilē or Painted Porch, at Athens).
Conviviality
conviviality | kənˌvivēˈalədē |
noun
the quality of being friendly and lively; friendliness: the conviviality of the evening.
Aversion
a •ver•sion
noun
a strong dislike or disinclination: he had a deep-seated aversion to most forms of exercise | they made plain their aversion to the use of force.
• a person or thing that arouses strong feelings of dislike: my dog’s pet aversion is visitors, particularly males.
ORIGIN
late 16th century (originally denoting the action of turning away or averting one’s eyes): from Latin aversion-), from avertere
‘turn away from’ (see avert).
Abhorrence
ab•hor•rence
I ab’hôrens
noun
a feeling of repulsion; disgusted loathing: the thought of marrying him filled her with abhorrence | society’s abhorrence of crime.
Impel
im•pel | im’pel l verb (impels, impelling | im’peliNG
I, impelled | im’peld |) [with object] drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something: financial difficulties impelled him to desperate measures | [with object and infinitive] : a lack of equality impelled the oppressed to fight.
• drive forward; propel: vital energies impel him in unforeseen directions.
What is the definition of ‘ominous’?
‘Ominous’ is an adjective that gives the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; it is threatening or inauspicious.
What are some synonyms for ‘ominous’?
Some synonyms for ‘ominous’ include threatening, menacing, baleful, forbidding, sinister, doomy, inauspicious, unpropitious, portentous, unfavourable, dire, and unpromising.
What is the definition of nostalgic?
Characterized by or exhibiting feelings of nostalgia
Nostalgia refers to a sentimental longing for the past.
What are synonyms for the term nostalgic?
- Wistful
- Evocative
- Longing
- Yearning
- Pining for the past
- Romantic
- Sentimental
- Emotional about the past
- Regretful
- Dewy-eyed
- Maudlin
- Homesick
These synonyms reflect various emotional responses associated with nostalgia.
What does nostalgia typically refer to?
A sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations
Nostalgia often evokes fond memories and a sense of longing.
What is the noun form of nostalgic?
Nostalgic person
This term describes someone who experiences nostalgia.
True or False: Nostalgia is a recent phenomenon.
False
Nostalgia has been a common human experience throughout history.
Fill in the blank: Nostalgia is characterized by _______.
[feelings of nostalgia]
Feelings of nostalgia can include longing for the past or sentimental emotions.
