Section 13 (1201-1300) Flashcards
tranquil
(adj.) calm
transgress
(v.) to violate, go over a limit
transient
(adj.) passing through briefly; passing into and out of existence (Because
virtually everyone in Palm Beach is a tourist, the population of the town is quite transient.)
transmute
(v.) to change or alter in form
travesty
(n.) a grossly inferior imitation (According to the school newspaper’s merciless theater critic, Pacific Coast High’s rendition of the musical Oklahoma was a travesty of the original.)
tremulous
(adj.) fearful
trenchant
(adj.) effective, articulate, clear-cut
trepidation
(n.) fear, apprehension
trite
(adj.) not original, overused
truculent
(adj.) ready to fight, cruel
truncate
(v.) to shorten by cutting off
turgid
(adj.) swollen, excessively embellished in style or language
turpitude
(n.) depravity, moral corruption
ubiquitous
(adj.) existing everywhere, widespread
umbrage
(n.) resentment, offense (He called me a lily-livered coward, and I took
umbrage at the insult.)
uncanny
(adj.) of supernatural character or origin
unctuous
(adj.) smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, manner
undulate
(v.) to move in waves
upbraid
(v.) to criticize or scold severely
usurp
(v.) to seize by force, take possession of without right
utilitarian
(adj.) relating to or aiming at usefulness
utopia
(n.) an imaginary and remote place of perfection
vacillate
(v.) to fluctuate, hesitate
vacuous
(adj.) lack of content or ideas, stupid
validate
(v.) to confirm, support, corroborate
vapid
(adj.) lacking liveliness, dull
variegated
(adj.) diversified, distinctly marked
vehemently
(adv.) marked by intense force or emotion
venerable
(adj.) deserving of respect because of age or achievement
veneer
(n.) a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, façade
venerate
(v.) to regard with respect or to honor
veracity
(n.) truthfulness, accuracy
verbose
(adj.) wordy, impaired by wordiness
verdant
(adj.) green in tint or color
vestige
(n.) a mark or trace of something lost or vanished
vex
(v.) to confuse or annoy
vicarious
(adj.) experiencing through another
vicissitude
(n.) event that occurs by chance
vigilant
(adj.) watchful, alert
vilify
(v.)to lower in importance, defame
vindicate
(v.) to avenge; to free from allegation; to set free
vindictive
(adj.) vengeful
virtuoso
(n.) one who excels in an art; a highly skilled musical performer
viscous
(adj.) not free flowing, syrupy
vitriolic
(adj.) having a caustic quality
caustic
able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action, sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
vituperate
(v.) to berate
vivacious
(adj.) lively, sprightly
vocation
(n.) the work in which someone is employed, profession
vociferous
(adj.) loud, boisterous
wallow
(v.) to roll oneself indolently; to become or remain helpless
wane
(v.) to decrease in size, dwindle
wanton
(adj.) undisciplined, lewd, lustful
whimsical
(adj.) fanciful, full of whims
wily
(adj.) crafty, sly
winsome
(adj.) charming, pleasing
wistful
(adj.) full of yearning; musingly sad
wizened
(adj.) dry, shrunken, wrinkled (Agatha’s grandmother, Stephanie, had the most wizened countenance, full of leathery wrinkles.)
wrath
(n.) vengeful anger, punishment
yoke
(v.) to join, link
zealous
(adj.) fervent, filled with eagerness in pursuit of something
zenith
(n.) the highest point, culminating point
zephyr
(n.) a gentle breeze
askance
(adv.) with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval
incense
(v.) make (someone) very angry, (n.) a gum, spice, or other substance that is burned for the sweet smell it produces
Diogenes
Greek philosopher. The most noted of the Cynics, he emphasized self-sufficiency and the need for natural, uninhibited behavior, regardless of social conventions.
surety
a person who takes responsibility for another’s performance of an undertaking, for example their appearing in court or the payment of a debt
Cardinal
of the greatest importance; fundamental, a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church
heed
pay attention to; take notice of
blackguard (dated)
a man who behaves in a dishonourable or contemptible way
mercenary
primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics
pittance
a very small or inadequate amount of money paid to someone as an allowance or wage
perdition
a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death
forfend
(archaic) avert, keep away, or prevent (something evil or unpleasant)
tenuous
very weak or slight
grisly
causing horror or disgust
doric
relating to or denoting a classical order of architecture characterized by a sturdy fluted column and a thick square abacus resting on a rounded molding
statuary
sculpture consisting of statues; statues regarded collectively
misbegotten
badly conceived, designed, or planned
millinery
women’s hats
venal
showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery
farce
a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations
insouciance
casual lack of concern; indifference
gestate
carry a fetus in the womb from conception to birth
gesticulate
use gestures, especially dramatic ones, instead of speaking or to emphasize one’s words
subpoena
a writ ordering a person to attend a court
absolve
set or declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility
prostrate
lying stretched out on the ground with one’s face downward, completely overcome or helpless, especially with illness, distress, or exhaustion
slough
a situation characterized by lack of progress or activity, a swamp
emphermal
lasting for a very short time
undue
unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate
redress
remedy or set right (an undesirable or unfair situation)
albeit
although
quicksilver
used in similes and metaphors to describe something that moves or changes very quickly, or that is difficult to hold or contain
chemise
a woman’s loose-fitting undergarment or nightdress, typically of silk or satin with a lace trim
interloper
a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong
torpor
a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy
blithe
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper
abacus
an oblong frame with rows of wires or grooves along which beads are slid, used for calculating
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