Red Rising Flashcards
Ruefully
adverb
in a way that expresses sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous manner.
“the actor ruefully remarked that you are only as good as your last film”
Larder
noun
a room or large cupboard for storing food.
Conceited
adjective
excessively proud of oneself; vain.
“Fred’s so conceited he’d never believe anyone would refuse him”
Contingency
noun
1. a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
“a detailed contract which attempts to provide for all possible contingencies”
2. a provision for a possible event or circumstance.
“stores were kept as a contingency against a blockade”
3. an incidental expense.
“allow an extra fifteen per cent on the budget for contingencies”
Imploring
adjective
making an earnest or desperate appeal.
“an imploring look”
Impudent
adjective
not showing due respect for another person; impertinent.
“he could have strangled this impudent upstart”
Ingenuity
noun
the quality of being clever, original, and inventive.
“considerable ingenuity must be employed in writing software”
Auspicious
adjective
1. conducive to success; favourable.
“it was not the most auspicious moment to hold an election”
2. giving or being a sign of future success.
“they said it was an auspicious moon—it was rising”
ARCHAIC
3. characterized by success; prosperous.
“he was respectful to his auspicious customers”
Heterogeneous
adjective
1. diverse in character or content.
“a large and heterogeneous collection”
CHEMISTRY
2. of or denoting a process involving substances in different phases (solid, liquid, or gaseous).
“heterogeneous catalysis”
MATHEMATICS
3. incommensurable through being of different kinds, degrees, or dimensions.
Perfidious
adjective LITERARY
deceitful and untrustworthy.
“a perfidious lover”
Facsimile
noun
an exact copy, especially of written or printed material.
“a facsimile of the manuscript”
verb
make a copy of.
“the ride was facsimiled for another theme park”
Fickle
adjective
changing frequently, especially as regards one’s loyalties or affections.
“celebs trying to appeal to an increasingly fickle public”
Cherub
noun
a winged angelic being described in biblical tradition as attending on God, represented in ancient Middle Eastern art as a lion or bull with eagles’ wings and a human face and regarded in traditional Christian angelology as an angel of the second highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
a representation of a cherub in Western art, depicted as a chubby, healthy-looking child with wings.
Impugn
verb
dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive); call into question.
“the father does not impugn her capacity as a good mother”
Grandiloquent
adjective
pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, especially in a way that is intended to impress.
“a grandiloquent celebration of Spanish glory”
Revile
verb
criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.
“he was now reviled by the party that he had helped to lead”
Lithe
adjective
bending readily; pliant; limber; supple; flexible.
“the lithe body of a ballerina.”
Castellan
noun
a governor or warden of a castle or fort
Archipelago
noun
an area that contains a chain or group of islands scattered in lakes, rivers, or the ocean.
Brandish
verb
wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.
“a man leaped out brandishing a knife”
Convalesce
verb
recover one’s health and strength over a period of time after an illness or medical treatment.
“he spent eight months convalescing after the stroke”
Pulvinar
noun
1. a cushion-like part of the thalamus.
2. (in ancient Rome) the imperial seat in an arena.
adjective
BOTANY
relating to a pulvinus
Abet
verb
encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular to commit a crime.
“he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others”
Censure
verb
express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement.
“the company was heavily censured by inspectors from the Department of Trade”
noun
the formal expression of severe disapproval.
“two MPs were singled out for censure”
Discordant
adjective
1. disagreeing or incongruous.
“the operative principle of democracy is a balance of discordant qualities”
2.(of sounds) harsh and jarring because of a lack of harmony.
“the singers continued their discordant chanting”
Bravado
noun
a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.
“he possesses none of the classic wheeler-dealer’s casual bravado”
Candor/candour
noun
the quality of being open and honest; frankness.
“a man of refreshing candour”
Implore
verb
1. beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something.
“he implored her to change her mind”
ARCHAIC
2. beg earnestly for.
“I implore mercy”
Licentious
adjective
1. promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.
“the ruler’s tyrannical and licentious behaviour”
ARCHAIC
2. disregarding accepted conventions, especially in grammar or literary style.
Androgynous
adjective
1. partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex.
“a stunningly androgynous dancer”
DATED
2. having the physical characteristics of both sexes.
Dour
adjective
relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance.
“a hard, dour, humourless fanatic”
Spindle
noun
1. a slender rounded rod with tapered ends used in hand spinning to twist and wind thread from a mass of wool or flax held on a distaff.
2. a rod or pin serving as an axis that revolves or on which something revolves.
Roving
adjective
1. constantly moving from one area or place to another.
“the fragments of pottery were believed to belong to a community of roving hunter-gatherers”
2. (of a person in relation to their job) travelling or required to travel to different locations.
“he trained as a roving reporter”
Woeful
adjective
1. characterized by, expressive of, or causing sorrow or misery.
“her face was woeful”
2. very bad; deplorable.
“the remark was enough to establish his woeful ignorance about the theatre”
Detest
verb
dislike intensely.
“she really did detest his mockery”
Preen
verb
1. (of a bird) tidy and clean its feathers with its beak.
“reed buntings preened at the pool’s edge”
2. (of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one’s appearance.
“adolescents preening in their bedroom mirrors”
3. congratulate or pride oneself.
“it did not prevent them from preening themselves on their achievement”
Alacrity
noun
brisk and cheerful readiness.
“she accepted the invitation with alacrity”
Deign
verb
1. do something that one considers to be beneath one’s dignity.
“she did not deign to answer the maid’s question”
ARCHAIC
2. condescend to give (something).
“he had deigned an apology”
Impervious
adjective
1. not allowing fluid to pass through.
“an impervious layer of basaltic clay”
2. unable to be affected by.
“he worked, apparently impervious to the heat”
Unctuous
adjective
1. excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily.
“he seemed anxious to please but not in an unctuous way”
2. (chiefly of minerals) having a greasy or soapy feel.
Retort
verb
1. say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner.
“‘No need to be rude,’ retorted Isabel”
ARCHAIC
2. repay (an insult or injury).
“it was now his time to retort the humiliation”
noun
a sharp, angry, or witty reply.
“she opened her mouth to make a suitably cutting retort”
Pestilence
noun ARCHAIC
a fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.
“neither prayers nor demonstrations halted the advance of the pestilence”
Insolvency
noun
situations where a debtor cannot pay the debts they owe.
Privation
noun
1. a state in which food and other essentials for well-being are lacking.
“years of rationing and privation”
FORMAL
2. the loss or absence of a quality or attribute that is normally present.
“cold is the privation of heat”
Traipse
verb
1. walk or move wearily or reluctantly.
“students had to traipse all over London to attend lectures”
2. walk about casually or needlessly.
“there’s people traipsing in and out all the time”
Wily
adjective
skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully.
“his wily opponents”
Renege
verb
1. go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract.
“they have reneged on their promises to us”
2. another term for revoke.
ARCHAIC
3. renounce or abandon.
“there’s one of them, anyhow, that didn’t renege him”
Rancor
noun
a feeling of hate and continuing anger about something in the past.
“they cheated me, but I feel no rancor toward/against them”
Blanch
verb
1. make white or pale by extracting colour.
“the cold light blanched her face”
2. flinch or grow pale from shock, fear, or a similar emotion.
“he visibly blanched at this reminder of mortality”
Droll
adjective
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement.
“his unique brand of droll self-mockery”
noun ARCHAIC
a jester or entertainer; a buffoon.
Inimitable
adjective
so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy; unique.
“they took the charts by storm with their inimitable style”
Adamantine
adjective
1. very hard; unbreakable or unyielding
2. having the lustre of a diamond
Masticate
verb
chew (food).
“dentition affects how well food is masticated and absorbed”
Cantankerous
adjective
bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
“he can be a cantankerous old fossil at times”
Sordid
adjective
1. involving immoral or dishonourable actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.
“the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams”
2. dirty or squalid.
“the overcrowded housing conditions were sordid and degrading”
Resplendent
adjective
attractive and impressive through being richly colourful or sumptuous.
“she was resplendent in a sea-green dress”
Gallant
adjective
1. (of a person or their behaviour) brave; heroic.
“she had made gallant efforts to pull herself together”
2. (of a man) charmingly attentive and chivalrous to women.
“a gallant gentleman came over and kissed my hand”
noun ARCHAIC
a man who is charmingly attentive to women.
“he launches himself into a gallant’s career of amorous intrigue”
verb ARCHAIC
(of a man) flirt with (a woman).
“Mowbray was gallanting the Polish lady”
Patrician
noun
an aristocrat or nobleman.
adjective
belonging to or characteristic of the aristocracy.
“a proud, patrician face”
Purloin
verb FORMAL•HUMOROUS
steal (something).
“he must have managed to purloin a copy of the key”
Outmoded
adjective
old-fashioned.
“an outmoded Victorian building”
Lamentation
noun
1. the passionate expression of grief or sorrow; weeping.
“scenes of lamentation”
2. a book of the Bible telling of the desolation of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
singular proper noun: Lamentations; noun: Lamentations; singular proper noun: Lamentations of Jeremiah
Profound
adjective
1. (of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense.
“profound feelings of disquiet”
2. (of a person or statement) having or showing great knowledge or insight.
“a profound philosopher”
noun LITERARY
the deepest part of something, especially the ocean.
“nor billowy surge disturbs the vast profound”
Cabal
noun
1. a secret political clique or faction.
“a cabal of dissidents”
ARCHAIC
2. a secret intrigue.
Strigil
noun
1. an instrument with a curved blade used, especially by ancient Greeks and Romans, to scrape sweat and dirt from the skin in a hot-air bath or after exercise; a scraper.
ENTOMOLOGY
2. a comblike structure on the forelegs of some insects, used chiefly for grooming.
Solace
noun
comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness.
“she sought solace in her religion”
verb
give comfort or consolation to.
“the soundlessness of nature impressed and solaced her”
Hetaera
noun
*$a courtesan or mistress, especially an educated one in ancient Greece.**
“the scene shows the birth of Aphrodite from the sea, and a hetaera, piping”
Prolific
adjective
1. (of a plant, animal, or person) producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring.
“in captivity tigers are prolific breeders”
2. present in large numbers or quantities; plentiful.
“mahogany was once prolific in the tropical forests”
Incessant
adjective
(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause or interruption.
“the incessant beat of the music”
Ruddy
adjective
1. (of a person’s face) having a healthy red colour.
“a cheerful pipe-smoking man of ruddy complexion”
INFORMAL•BRITISH
2. used as a euphemism for ‘bloody’.
“young people today, they’re a ruddy shower”
verb
make ruddy in colour.
“a red flash ruddied the belly of a cloud”
Mottled
adjective
marked with spots or smears of colour.
“a bird with mottled brown plumage”
Perdition
noun
1. (in Christian theology) a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unrepentant person passes after death.
2. complete and utter ruin.
“she used her last banknote to buy herself a square meal before perdition”
Preternatural
adjective
beyond what is normal or natural.
“autumn had arrived with preternatural speed”
Flagellation
noun
flogging or beating, either as a religious discipline or for sexual gratification.
“pursuing the path of penance and flagellation”
Litany
noun
1. a series of petitions for use in church services or processions, usually recited by the clergy and responded to in a recurring formula by the people.
2. a tedious recital or repetitive series.
“a litany of complaints”
Moor
noun BRITISH
1. a tract of open uncultivated upland, typically covered with heather.
“a little town in the moors”
2. a moor preserved for shooting.
“a grouse moor”
DIALECT•US
3. a fen.
Maroon
verb
leave (someone) trapped and alone in an inaccessible place, especially an island.
“a novel about schoolboys marooned on a desert island”
Escarpment
noun
a long, steep slope, especially one at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights.
Antecedent
noun
1. a thing that existed before or logically precedes another.
“some antecedents to the African novel might exist in Africa’s oral traditions”
2. a person’s ancestors or family and social background.
“her early life and antecedents have been traced”
adjective
1. preceding in time or order; previous or pre-existing.
“antecedent events”
GRAMMAR
2. denoting or counting as an antecedent.
Primacy
noun
1. the fact of being pre-eminent or most important.
“London’s primacy as a financial centre”
2. the office, period of office, or authority of a primate of the Church.
“the first years of his primacy were tranquil”
Waifish
adjective
(of a young person) thin and looking unhealthy or uncared for.
“waifish models strut down the catwalk”
Rostrum
noun
1. a raised platform on which a person stands to make a public speech, receive an award or medal, play music, or conduct an orchestra.
“speaker after speaker stepped up to the rostrum”
ZOOLOGY
2. a beaklike projection, especially a stiff snout or anterior prolongation of the head in an insect, crustacean, or cetacean.
“these beetles are very easily recognized by the rostrum or beak”
Ardor/ardour
noun
great enthusiasm or passion.
“the rebuff did little to dampen his ardour”
Folly
noun
1. lack of good sense; foolishness.
“an act of sheer folly”
2. a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.
Malevolent
adjective
having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
“the glint of dark, malevolent eyes”
Vivacious
adjective
attractively lively and animated (typically used of a woman).
“her vivacious and elegant mother”
Bent
verb
past and past participle of bend.
adjective
1. sharply curved or having an angle.
“a piece of bent wire”
2. determined to do or have.
“a missionary bent on saving souls”
noun
a natural talent or inclination.
“a man of a religious bent”
Spigot
noun
1. a small peg or plug, especially for insertion into the vent of a cask.
US
2. a tap.
Portend
verb
be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.
“the eclipses portend some major events”
Vaunted
adjective
praised or boasted about, especially in an excessive way.
“they have utterly eclipsed their vaunted American rivals”
Insolence
noun
rude and disrespectful behaviour.
“she was sacked for insolence”
Aplomb
noun
self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
“Diana passed the test with aplomb”
Fritter away
phrasal verb
to spend or use up (something) in a slow and usually foolish way.
“he frittered the afternoon away”
“he frittered away his fortune on gambling”
Superfluous
adjective
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
“the purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information”
Bellicosity
noun
a natural disposition to fight
Precipice
noun
a very steep rock face or cliff, especially a tall one.
“we swerved toward the edge of the precipice”
Guffaw
noun
a loud and hearty laugh.
verb
laugh loudly and heartily.
“both men guffawed at the remark”
