SAT 9 Flashcards
Bane
a person or thing that ruins or spoils: Gambling was the bane of his existence. | a deadly poison (often used in combination, as in the names of poisonous plants): wolfsbane; henbane. | death; destruction; ruin. | Obsolete. that which causes death or destroys life: entrapped and drowned beneath the watery bane. | a person or thing that causes misery or distress (esp in the phrase bane of one’s life) | something that causes death or destruction | a fatal poison (in combination): ratsbane | (archaic) ruin or distress | a Scot word for bone |
Condone
to disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like). | to give tacit approval to: By his silence, he seemed to condone their behavior. | to pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse. | to cause the condonation of. | Law. to forgive or act so as to imply forgiveness of (a violation of the marriage vow). | to overlook or forgive (an offence) | (law) (esp of a spouse) to pardon or overlook (an offence, usually adultery)
Eclectic
selecting or choosing from various sources. | made up of what is selected from different sources. | not following any one system, as of philosophy, medicine, etc., but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems. | noting or pertaining to works of architecture, decoration, landscaping, etc., produced by a certain person or during a certain period, that derive from a wide range of historic styles, the style in each instance often being chosen for its fancied appropriateness to local tradition, local geography, the purpose to be served, or the cultural background of the client. | Also, eclecticist [ih-klek-tuh-sist] /??kl?k t? s?st/ (Show IPA). a person who follows an eclectic method, as in philosophy or architecture. | (in art, philosophy, etc) selecting what seems best from various styles, doctrines, ideas, methods, etc | composed of elements drawn from a variety of sources, styles, etc | a person who favours an eclectic approach, esp in art or philosophy
Genre
a class or category of artistic endeavor having a particular form, content, technique, or the like: the genre of epic poetry; the genre of symphonic music. | Fine Arts. paintings in which scenes of everyday life form the subject matter. a realistic style of painting using such subject matter. | genus; kind; sort; style. | Fine Arts. of or pertaining to genre. | of or pertaining to a distinctive literary type. | kind, category, or sort, esp of literary or artistic work (as modifier): genre fiction | a category of painting in which domestic scenes or incidents from everyday life are depicted
Irascible
easily provoked to anger; very irritable: an irascible old man. | characterized or produced by anger: an irascible response. | easily angered; irritable | showing irritability: an irascible action
Mundane
of or pertaining to this world or earth as contrasted with heaven; worldly; earthly: mundane affairs. | common; ordinary; banal; unimaginative. | of or pertaining to the world, universe, or earth. | everyday, ordinary, or banal | relating to the world or worldly matters
Perpetuated
to make perpetual. | to preserve from extinction or oblivion: to perpetuate one’s name. | (transitive) to cause to continue or prevail: to perpetuate misconceptions
Rancor
bitter, rankling resentment or ill will; hatred; malice. | malicious resentfulness or hostility; spite
Strut
to walk with a vain, pompous bearing, as with head erect and chest thrown out, as if expecting to impress observers. | the act of strutting. | a strutting walk or gait. | strut one’s stuff, to dress, behave, perform, etc., one’s best in order to impress others; show off. | any of various structural members, as in trusses, primarily intended to resist longitudinal compression. | to brace or support by means of a strut or struts. | (intransitive) to walk in a pompous manner; swagger | (transitive) to support or provide with struts | (informal) strut one’s stuff, to behave or perform in a proud and confident manner; show off | a structural member used mainly in compression, esp as part of a framework
Voluble
characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; fluent; glib; talkative: a voluble spokesman for the cause. | talking easily, readily, and at length; fluent | (archaic) easily turning or rotating, as on an axis | (rare) (of a plant) twining or twisting
Bard
(formerly) a person who composed and recited epic or heroic poems, often while playing the harp, lyre, or the like. | one of an ancient Celtic order of composers and reciters of poetry. | any poet. | the bard, William Shakespeare. | Armor. any of various pieces of defensive armor for a horse. | Cookery. a thin slice of fat or bacon secured to a roast of meat or poultry to prevent its drying out while cooking. | Armor. to caparison with bards. | Cookery. to secure thin slices of fat or bacon to (a roast of meat or poultry) before cooking. | (formerly) one of an ancient Celtic order of poets who recited verses about the exploits, often legendary, of their tribes (in modern times) a poet who wins a verse competition at a Welsh eisteddfod | (archaic or literary) any poet, esp one who writes lyric or heroic verse or is of national importance
Condoning
to disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like). | to give tacit approval to: By his silence, he seemed to condone their behavior. | to pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse. | to cause the condonation of. | Law. to forgive or act so as to imply forgiveness of (a violation of the marriage vow). | to overlook or forgive (an offence) | (law) (esp of a spouse) to pardon or overlook (an offence, usually adultery)
Edifice
a building, especially one of large size or imposing appearance. | any large, complex system or organization. | a building, esp a large or imposing one | a complex or elaborate institution or organization
Germane
closely or significantly related; relevant; pertinent: Please keep your statements germane to the issue. | Obsolete. closely related. | (postpositive) usually foll by to. related (to the topic being considered); akin; relevant: an idea germane to the conversation
Ire
intense anger; wrath. | Ireland. | (literary) anger; wrath | Ireland
Munificent
extremely liberal in giving; very generous. | characterized by great generosity: a munificent bequest. | (of a person) very generous; bountiful | (of a gift) generous; liberal
Perpetuity
the state or character of being perpetual (often preceded by in): to desire happiness in perpetuity. | endless or indefinitely long duration or existence; eternity. | something that is perpetual. | an annuity paid for life. | Law. an interest under which property is less than completely alienable for longer than the law allows. | eternity | the state or quality of being perpetual | (property law) a limitation preventing the absolute disposal of an estate for longer than the period allowed by law | an annuity with no maturity date and payable indefinitely | in perpetuity, for ever
Rant
to speak or declaim extravagantly or violently; talk in a wild or vehement way; rave: The demagogue ranted for hours. | to utter or declaim in a ranting manner. | ranting, extravagant, or violent declamation. | a ranting utterance. | to utter (something) in loud, violent, or bombastic tones | (intransitive) (mainly Scot) to make merry; frolic | loud, declamatory, or extravagant speech; bombast | (mainly Scot) a wild revel | (Scot) an energetic dance or its tune |
Stupefying
to put into a state of little or no sensibility; benumb the faculties of; put into a stupor. | to stun, as with a narcotic, a shock, or a strong emotion. | to overwhelm with amazement; astound; astonish. | to render insensitive or lethargic | to confuse or astound
Voluminous
forming, filling, or writing a large volume or many volumes : a voluminous edition. | sufficient to fill a volume or volumes : a voluminous correspondence. | of great volume, size, or extent: voluminous flow of lava. | of ample size, extent, or fullness: voluminous petticoats. | having many coils, convolutions, or windings. | of great size, quantity, volume, or extent | (of writing) consisting of or sufficient to fill volumes | prolific in writing or speech | (obsolete) winding |
Bastion
Fortification. a projecting portion of a rampart or fortification that forms an irregular pentagon attached at the base to the main work. | a fortified place. | anything seen as preserving or protecting some quality, condition, etc.: a bastion of solitude; a bastion of democracy. | a projecting work in a fortification designed to permit fire to the flanks along the face of the wall | any fortified place | a thing or person regarded as upholding or defending an attitude, principle, etc: the last bastion of opposition
Conflagration
a destructive fire, usually an extensive one. | a large destructive fire
Efface
to wipe out; do away with; expunge: to efface one’s unhappy memories. | to rub out, erase, or obliterate (outlines, traces, inscriptions, etc.). | to make (oneself) inconspicuous; withdraw (oneself) modestly or shyly. | to obliterate or make dim: to efface a memory | to make (oneself) inconspicuous or humble through modesty, cowardice, or obsequiousness | to rub out (a line, drawing, etc); erase
Germinal
being in the earliest stage of development: germinal ideas. | of or pertaining to a germ or germs. | of the nature of a germ or germ cell. | (in the French Revolutionary calendar) the seventh month of the year, extending from March 21 to April 19. | (italics) a novel (1884) by Émile Zola. | of, relating to, or like germs or a germ cell | of, or in the earliest stage of development; embryonic | the month of buds: the seventh month of the French revolutionary calendar, from March 22 to April 20
Irksome
annoying; irritating; exasperating; tiresome: irksome restrictions. | Obsolete. causing weariness or disgust. | causing vexation, annoyance, or boredom; troublesome or tedious
Mutinous
disposed to, engaged in, or involving revolt against authority. | characterized by mutiny; rebellious. | difficult to control: mutinous feelings. | openly rebellious or disobedient: a mutinous child | characteristic or indicative of mutiny
Personable
of pleasing personal appearance; handsome or comely; attractive. | having an agreeable or pleasing personality; affable; amiable; sociable. | pleasant in appearance and personality
Ratify
to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction: to ratify a constitutional amendment. | to confirm (something done or arranged by an agent or by representatives) by such action. | (transitive) to give formal approval or consent to
Subpoena
the usual writ for the summoning of witnesses or the submission of evidence, as records or documents, before a court or other deliberative body. | to serve with a subpoena. | a writ issued by a court of justice requiring a person to appear before the court at a specified time | (transitive) to serve with a subpoena
Voracious
craving or consuming large quantities of food: a voracious appetite. | exceedingly eager or avid: voracious readers; a voracious collector. | devouring or craving food in great quantities | very eager or unremitting in some activity: voracious reading
Befuddle
to confuse, as with glib statements or arguments: politicians befuddling the public with campaign promises. | to make stupidly drunk. | to confuse, muddle, or perplex | to make stupid with drink
Confound
to perplex or amaze, especially by a sudden disturbance or surprise; bewilder; confuse: The complicated directions confounded him. | to throw into confusion or disorder: The revolution confounded the people. | to throw into increased confusion or disorder. | to treat or regard erroneously as identical; mix or associate by mistake: truth confounded with error. | to mingle so that the elements cannot be distinguished or separated. | to damn (used in mild imprecations): Confound it! | to contradict or refute: to confound their arguments. | to put to shame; abash. | Archaic. to defeat or overthrow. to bring to ruin or naught. | Obsolete. to spend uselessly; waste.
Effigy
a representation or image, especially sculptured, as on a monument. | a crude representation of someone disliked, used for purposes of ridicule. | in effigy, in public view in the form of an effigy: a leader hanged in effigy by the mob. | a portrait of a person, esp as a monument or architectural decoration | a crude representation of someone, used as a focus for contempt or ridicule and often hung up or burnt in public (often in the phrases burn or hang in effigy) | see: in effigy
Gibbering
to speak inarticulately or meaninglessly. | to speak foolishly; chatter. | gibbering utterance. | to utter rapidly and unintelligibly; prattle | (intransitive) (of monkeys and related animals) to make characteristic chattering sounds | a less common word for gibberish | a stone or boulder | (modifier) of or relating to a dry flat area of land covered with wind-polished stones: gibber plains
Ironic
using words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning; containing or exemplifying irony : an ironic novel; an ironic remark. | of, pertaining to, or tending to use irony or mockery; ironical. | coincidental; unexpected: It was ironic that I was seated next to my ex-husband at the dinner. | of, characterized by, or using irony
Myriad
a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things. | ten thousand. | of an indefinitely great number; innumerable: the myriad stars of a summer night. | having innumerable phases, aspects, variations, etc.: the myriad mind of Shakespeare. | ten thousand. | innumerable | (also used in pl) a large indefinite number | (archaic) ten thousand
Perspicacious
having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning: to exhibit perspicacious judgment. | Archaic. having keen vision. | acutely perceptive or discerning | (archaic) having keen eyesight
Raucous
harsh; strident; grating: raucous voices; raucous laughter. | rowdy; disorderly: a raucous party. | (of voices, cries, etc) harshly or hoarsely loud
Substantiate
to establish by proof or competent evidence: to substantiate a charge. | to give substantial existence to: to substantiate an idea through action. | to affirm as having substance; give body to; strengthen: to substantiate a friendship. | to establish as valid or genuine | to give form or real existence to
Waive
to refrain from claiming or insisting on; give up; forgo: to waive one’s right; to waive one’s rank; to waive honors. | Law. to relinquish (a known right, interest, etc.) intentionally. | to put aside for the time; defer; postpone; dispense with: to waive formalities. | to put aside or dismiss from consideration or discussion: waiving my attempts to explain. | to set aside or relinquish: to waive one’s right to something | to refrain from enforcing (a claim) or applying (a law, penalty, etc) | to defer
Begrudge
to envy or resent the pleasure or good fortune of (someone): She begrudged her friend the award. | to be reluctant to give, grant, or allow: She did not begrudge the money spent on her children’s education. | to give, admit, or allow unwillingly or with a bad grace | to envy (someone) the possession of (something)
Congeal
to change from a soft or fluid state to a rigid or solid state, as by cooling or freezing: The fat congealed on the top of the soup. | to curdle; coagulate, as a fluid. | to make or become fixed, as ideas, sentiments, or principles: Some philosophic systems lost their vitality and congealed. | to change or cause to change from a soft or fluid state to a firm or solid state | to form or cause to form into a coagulated mass; curdle; jell | (intransitive) (of ideas) to take shape or become fixed in form
Effusive
unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve: effusive greetings; an effusive person. | pouring out; overflowing. | Geology, extrusive (def 3). | extravagantly demonstrative of emotion; gushing | (of rock) formed by the solidification of magma
Glacial
of or pertaining to glaciers or ice sheets. | resulting from or associated with the action of ice or glaciers : glacial terrain. | characterized by the presence of ice in extensive masses or glaciers. | bitterly cold; icy: a glacial winter wind. | happening or moving extremely slowly: The work proceeded at a glacial pace. | icily unsympathetic or immovable: a glacial stare; glacial indifference. | Chemistry. of, pertaining to, or tending to develop into icelike crystals: glacial phosphoric acid. | characterized by the presence of masses of ice | relating to, caused by, or deposited by a glacier | extremely cold; icy
Irrational
without the faculty of reason; deprived of reason. | without or deprived of normal mental clarity or sound judgment. | not in accordance with reason; utterly illogical: irrational arguments. | not endowed with the faculty of reason: irrational animals. | Mathematics. (of a number) not capable of being expressed exactly as a ratio of two integers. (of a function) not capable of being expressed exactly as a ratio of two polynomials. | Algebra. (of an equation) having an unknown under a radical sign or, alternately, with a fractional exponent. | Greek and Latin Prosody. of or pertaining to a substitution in the normal metrical pattern, especially a long syllable for a short one. noting a foot or meter containing such a substitution. | Mathematics, irrational number. | inconsistent with reason or logic; illogical; absurd | incapable of reasoning
Navigable
deep and wide enough to provide passage to ships: a navigable channel. | capable of being steered or guided, as a ship, aircraft, or missile. | wide, deep, or safe enough to be sailed on or through: a navigable channel | capable of being steered or controlled: a navigable raft
Perspicacity
keenness of mental perception and understanding; discernment; penetration. | Archaic. keen vision.
Raze
to tear down; demolish; level to the ground: to raze a row of old buildings. | to shave or scrape off. | to demolish (a town, buildings, etc) completely; level (esp in the phrase raze to the ground) | to delete; erase | (archaic) to graze
Subterfuge
an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc. | a stratagem employed to conceal something, evade an argument, etc
Wane
to decrease in strength, intensity, etc.: Daylight waned, and night came on. Her enthusiasm for the cause is waning. | to decline in power, importance, prosperity, etc.: Colonialism began to wane after World War II. | to draw to a close; approach an end: Summer is waning. | (of the moon) to decrease periodically in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon. Compare wax2(def 2). | a gradual decrease or decline in strength, intensity, power, etc. | the drawing to a close of life, an era, a period, etc. | the waning of the moon. | a period of waning. | a defect in a plank or board characterized by bark or insufficient wood at a corner or along an edge, due to the curvature of the log. | on the wane, decreasing; diminishing: The popularity of that song is on the wane.
Beguile
to decrease in strength, intensity, etc.: Daylight waned, and night came on. Her enthusiasm for the cause is waning. | to decline in power, importance, prosperity, etc.: Colonialism began to wane after World War II. | to draw to a close; approach an end: Summer is waning. | (of the moon) to decrease periodically in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon. Compare wax2(def 2). | a gradual decrease or decline in strength, intensity, power, etc. | the drawing to a close of life, an era, a period, etc. | the waning of the moon. | a period of waning. | a defect in a plank or board characterized by bark or insufficient wood at a corner or along an edge, due to the curvature of the log. | on the wane, decreasing; diminishing: The popularity of that song is on the wane.
Congenital
of or pertaining to a condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, especially the uterine environment. | having by nature a specified character: a congenital fool. | denoting or relating to any nonhereditary condition, esp an abnormal condition, existing at birth: congenital blindness | (informal) complete, as if from birth: a congenital idiot
Egalitarianism
belief in the equality of all people, especially in political, social, or economic life. | active promotion of this belief.
Goad
a stick with a pointed or electrically charged end, for driving cattle, oxen, etc.; prod. | anything that pricks or wounds like such a stick. | something that encourages, urges, or drives; a stimulus. | to prick or drive with, or as if with, a goad; prod; incite. | a sharp pointed stick for urging on cattle, etc | anything that acts as a spur or incitement | (transitive) to drive with or as if with a goad; spur; incite
Irreproachable
not reproachable; free from blame. | not deserving reproach; blameless
Nebulous
hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused: a nebulous recollection of the meeting; a nebulous distinction between pride and conceit. | cloudy or cloudlike. | of or resembling a nebula or nebulae; nebular. | lacking definite form, shape, or content; vague or amorphous: nebulous reasons | of, characteristic of, or resembling a nebula | (rare) misty or hazy
Pertinent
pertaining or relating directly and significantly to the matter at hand; relevant: pertinent details. | relating to the matter at hand; relevant
Rebuttal
an act of rebutting, as in a debate.
Subtle
thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor. | fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand: subtle irony. | delicate or faint and mysterious: a subtle smile. | requiring mental acuteness, penetration, or discernment: a subtle philosophy. | characterized by mental acuteness or penetration: a subtle understanding. | cunning, wily, or crafty: a subtle liar. | insidious in operation: subtle poison. | skillful, clever, or ingenious: a subtle painter. | not immediately obvious or comprehensible | difficult to detect or analyse, often through being delicate or highly refined: a subtle scent
Wary
watchful; being on one’s guard against danger. | arising from or characterized by caution: to give someone a wary look. | watchful, cautious, or alert | characterized by caution or watchfulness
Belabor
to explain, worry about, or work at (something) repeatedly or more than is necessary: He kept belaboring the point long after we had agreed. | to assail persistently, as with scorn or ridicule: a book that belabors the provincialism of his contemporaries. | to beat vigorously; ply with heavy blows. | Obsolete. to labor at. | to beat severely; thrash | to attack verbally; criticize harshly | an obsolete word for labour
Connoisseur
a person who is especially competent to pass critical judgments in an art, particularly one of the fine arts, or in matters of taste: a connoisseur of modern art. | a discerning judge of the best in any field: a connoisseur of horses. | a person with special knowledge or appreciation of a field, esp in the arts
Egregious
extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant: an egregious mistake; an egregious liar. Synonyms: gross, outrageous, notorious, shocking. Antonyms: tolerable, moderate, minor, unnoticeable. | Archaic. distinguished or eminent. | outstandingly bad; flagrant: an egregious lie | (archaic) distinguished; eminent
Grate (v)
to have an irritating or unpleasant effect:His constant chatter grates on my nerves. | to make a sound of, or as if of, rough scraping; rasp. to sound harshly; jar:to grate on the ear. | to scrape or rub with rough or noisy friction, as one thing on or against another.
Irrevocable
not to be revoked or recalled; unable to be repealed or annulled; unalterable: an irrevocable decree. | not able to be revoked, changed, or undone; unalterable
Nefarious
extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous: a nefarious plot. | evil; wicked; sinful
Peruse
to read through with thoroughness or care: to peruse a report. | to read. | to survey or examine in detail. | to read or examine with care; study | to browse or read through in a leisurely way
Recant
to withdraw or disavow (a statement, opinion, etc.), especially formally; retract. | to withdraw or disavow a statement, opinion, etc., especially formally. | to repudiate or withdraw (a former belief or statement), esp formally in public
Subversive
Also, subversionary [suh b-vur-zhuh-ner-ee, -shuh-] /s?b?v?r ???n?r i, -??-/ (Show IPA). tending to subvert or advocating subversion, especially in an attempt to overthrow or cause the destruction of an established or legally constituted government. | a person who adopts subversive principles or policies. | liable to subvert or overthrow a government, legally constituted institution, etc | a person engaged in subversive activities, etc
Wax
Also called beeswax. a solid, yellowish, nonglycerine substance allied to fats and oils, secreted by bees, plastic when warm and melting at about 145°F, variously employed in making candles, models, casts, ointments, etc., and used by bees in constructing their honeycomb. | any of various similar substances, as spermaceti or the secretions of certain insects and plants. Compare vegetable wax, wax insect. | any of a group of substances composed of hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids, and esters that are solid at ordinary temperatures. | cerumen; earwax. | a resinous substance used by shoemakers for rubbing thread. | sealing wax. | a person or object suggesting wax, as in manageability or malleability: I am helpless wax in your hands. | to rub, smear, stiffen, polish, etc., with wax: to wax the floor. | to fill the crevices of (ornamental marble) with colored material. | bikini wax.
Beleaguer
to surround with military forces. | to surround or beset, as with troubles. | to trouble persistently; harass | to lay siege to
Consecrate
to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity: to consecrate a new church building. | to make (something) an object of honor or veneration; hallow: a custom consecrated by time. | to devote or dedicate to some purpose: a life consecrated to science. | to admit or ordain to a sacred office, especially to the episcopate. | to change (bread and wine) into the Eucharist. | consecrated; sacred. | to make or declare sacred or holy; sanctify | to dedicate (one’s life, time, etc) to a specific purpose | to ordain (a bishop) | (Christianity) to sanctify (bread and wine) for the Eucharist to be received as the body and blood of Christ
Egress
the act or an instance of going, especially from an enclosed place. | a means or place of going out; an exit. | the right or permission to go out. | Astronomy, emersion (def 1). | to go out; emerge. | Also called egression. the act of going or coming out; emergence | a way out, such as a path; exit | the right or permission to go out or depart | (astronomy) another name for emersion (sense 2) | to go forth; issue
Gratis
without charge or payment; free: The manufacturer provided an extra set of coat buttons gratis. | free; gratuitous. | (postpositive) without payment; free of charge
Itinerant
traveling from place to place, especially on a circuit, as a minister, judge, or sales representative; itinerating; journeying. | characterized by such traveling: itinerant preaching. | working in one place for a comparatively short time and then moving on to work in another place, usually as a physical or outdoor laborer; characterized by alternating periods of working and wandering: an itinerant farm hand. | a person who alternates between working and wandering. | a person who travels from place to place, especially for duty or business. | itinerating | working for a short time in various places, esp as a casual labourer | an itinerant worker or other person
Negate
to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of: an investigation tending to negate any supernatural influences. | to nullify or cause to be ineffective: Progress on the study has been negated by the lack of funds. | to be negative; bring or cause negative results: a pessimism that always negates. | to make ineffective or void; nullify; invalidate | to deny or contradict
Pervasive
spread throughout: The corruption is so pervasive that it is accepted as the way to do business. | [smell] penetrante | [feeling, influence] dominante | [superstition, belief, presence] generalizado | pervading or tending to pervade
Recapitulate
to review by a brief summary, as at the end of a speech or discussion; summarize. | Biology. (of an organism) to repeat (ancestral evolutionary stages) in its development. | Music. to restate (the exposition) in a sonata-form movement. | to sum up statements or matters. | to restate the main points of (an argument, speech, etc); summarize | (transitive) (of an animal) to repeat (stages of its evolutionary development) during the embryonic stages of its life | to repeat at some point during a piece of music (material used earlier in the same work)
Succinct
expressed in few words; concise; terse. | characterized by conciseness or verbal brevity. | compressed into a small area, scope, or compass. | Archaic. drawn up, as by a girdle. close-fitting. encircled, as by a girdle. | marked by brevity and clarity; concise | compressed into a small area | (archaic) encircled by or as if by a girdle drawn up tightly; closely fitting
Waylay
to intercept or attack from ambush, as in order to rob, seize, or slay. | to await and accost unexpectedly: The actor was waylaid by a swarm of admirers. | to lie in wait for and attack | to await and intercept unexpectedly
Belie
to show to be false; contradict: His trembling hands belied his calm voice. | to misrepresent: The newspaper belied the facts. | to act unworthily according to the standards of (a tradition, one’s ancestry, one’s faith, etc.). | Archaic. to lie about; slander. | to show to be untrue; contradict | to misrepresent; disguise the nature of: the report belied the real extent of the damage | to fail to justify; disappoint
Consensus
majority of opinion: The consensus of the group was that they should meet twice a month. | general agreement or concord; harmony. | agreement of the people. | general or widespread agreement (esp in the phrase consensus of opinion)
Eloquent
having or exercising the power of fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech: an eloquent orator. | characterized by forceful and appropriate expression: an eloquent speech. | movingly expressive: looks eloquent of disgust. | (of speech, writing, etc) characterized by fluency and persuasiveness | visibly or vividly expressive, as of an emotion: an eloquent yawn
Gratuitous
given, done, bestowed, or obtained without charge or payment; free; voluntary. | being without apparent reason, cause, or justification: a gratuitous insult. | Law. given without receiving any return value. | given or received without payment or obligation | without cause; unjustified | (law) given or made without receiving any value in return: a gratuitous agreement
Jaded
dulled or satiated by overindulgence: a jaded appetite. | worn out or wearied, as by overwork or overuse. | dissipated: a jaded reprobate. | a worn-out, broken-down, worthless, or vicious horse. | a disreputable or ill-tempered woman. | to make or become dull, worn-out, or weary, as from overwork or overuse. | harto to feel jadedestar hastiado or hartoto get jadedhastiarse , hartarse | exhausted or dissipated | satiated | a semiprecious stone consisting of either jadeite or nephrite. It varies in colour from white to green and is used for making ornaments and jewellery (as modifier): jade ornaments
Negligence
the quality, fact, or result of being negligent; neglect: negligence in discharging one’s responsibilities. | an instance of being negligent : a downfall brought about by many negligences. | Law. the failure to exercise that degree of care that, in the circumstances, the law requires for the protection of other persons or those interests of other persons that may be injuriously affected by the want of such care. | Law. pertaining to or involving a civil action for compensation for damages filed by a person who claims to have suffered an injury or loss in an accident caused by another’s negligence: a negligence suit; a large negligence award. | the state or quality of being negligent | a negligent act | (law) a civil wrong whereby a person or party is in breach of a legal duty of care to another which results in loss or injury to the claimant
Petrify
to convert into stone or a stony substance. | to benumb or paralyze with astonishment, horror, or other strong emotion: I was petrified with fear. | to make rigid or inert; harden; deaden: The tragedy in his life petrified his emotions. | to become petrified. | (transitive; often passive) to convert (organic material, esp plant material) into a fossilized form by impregnation with dissolved minerals so that the original appearance is preserved | to make or become dull, unresponsive, insensitive, etc; deaden | (transitive; often passive) to stun or daze with horror, fear, etc
Receptacle
a container, device, etc., that receives or holds something: a receptacle for trash. | Botany. the modified or expanded portion of the stem or axis that bears the organs of a single flower or the florets of a flower head. | Electricity. a contact device installed at an outlet for the connection of a portable lamp, appliance, or other electric device by means of a plug and flexible cord. | an object that holds something; container | (botany) the enlarged or modified tip of the flower stalk that bears the parts of the flower the shortened flattened stem bearing the florets of the capitulum of composite flowers such as the daisy the part of lower plants that bears the reproductive organs or spores
Suffragist
an advocate of the grant or extension of political suffrage, especially to women. | an advocate of the extension of the franchise, esp to women
Weighty
having considerable weight; heavy; ponderous: a weighty bundle. | burdensome or troublesome: the weightier cares of sovereignty. | important or momentous: weighty negotiations. | having or exerting influence, power, etc.; influential: a weighty merchant of Boston. | having great weight | important or momentous | causing anxiety or worry
Belittle
to regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate; depreciate; disparage. | to consider or speak of (something) as less valuable or important than it really is; disparage | to cause to make small; dwarf
Conspicuous
easily seen or noticed; readily visible or observable: a conspicuous error. | attracting special attention, as by outstanding qualities or eccentricities: He was conspicuous by his booming laughter. | clearly visible; obvious or showy | attracting attention because of a striking quality or feature: conspicuous stupidity
Elucidate
to make lucid or clear; throw light upon; explain: an explanation that elucidated his recent strange behavior. Synonyms: clarify, illuminate. | to provide clarification; explain. Synonyms: clarify, clear up, illustrate. | to make clear (something obscure or difficult); clarify
Gravity
the force of attraction by which terrestrial bodies tend to fall toward the center of the earth. | heaviness or weight. | gravitation in general. | acceleration of gravity. | a unit of acceleration equal to the acceleration of gravity. Symbol: g. | serious or critical nature: He seemed to ignore the gravity of his illness. | serious or dignified behavior; dignity; solemnity: to preserve one’s gravity. | lowness in pitch, as of sounds. | the force of attraction that moves or tends to move bodies towards the centre of a celestial body, such as the earth or moon | the property of being heavy or having weight See also specific gravity, centre of gravity
Jargon
the language, especially the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group: medical jargon. | unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish. | any talk or writing that one does not understand. | pidgin. | language that is characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax and is often vague in meaning. | to speak in or write jargon; jargonize. | a colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon. | specialized language concerned with a particular subject, culture, or profession | language characterized by pretentious syntax, vocabulary, or meaning | gibberish
Neologism
a new word, meaning, usage, or phrase. | the introduction or use of new words or new senses of existing words. | a new doctrine, especially a new interpretation of sacred writings. | Psychiatry. a new word, often consisting of a combination of other words, that is understood only by the speaker: occurring most often in the speech of schizophrenics. | a newly coined word, or a phrase or familiar word used in a new sense | the practice of using or introducing neologisms | (rare) a tendency towards adopting new views, esp rationalist views, in matters of religion
Petulant
moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance: a petulant toss of the head. | irritable, impatient, or sullen in a peevish or capricious way
Recluse
a person who lives in seclusion or apart from society, often for religious meditation. | Also, incluse. a religious voluntary immured in a cave, hut, or the like, or one remaining within a cell for life. | shut off or apart from the world; living in seclusion, often for religious reasons. | characterized by seclusion; solitary. | a person who lives in seclusion | a person who lives in solitude to devote himself to prayer and religious meditation; a hermit, anchorite, or anchoress | solitary; retiring
Supercilious
haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression. | displaying arrogant pride, scorn, or indifference
Whelp
the young of the dog, or of the wolf, bear, lion, tiger, seal, etc. | a youth, especially an impudent or despised one. | Machinery. any of a series of longitudinal projections or ridges on the barrel of a capstan, windlass, etc. any of the teeth of a sprocket wheel. | (of a female dog, lion, etc.) to give birth to (young). | a young offspring of certain animals, esp of a wolf or dog | (derogatory) a young man or youth | (jocular) a young child | (nautical) any of the ridges, parallel to the axis, on the drum of a capstan to keep a rope, cable, or chain from slipping | (of an animal or, disparagingly, a woman) to give birth to (young) |
