Set 1 Flashcards
abound
exist in large numbers or amounts
e.g. Wild animals abound wherever man does not stake his claim
amorphous
without a clearly defined shape or form
e.g. The enormous pile of spaghetti landed on the floor in an amorphous heap
austere
strict in manner
e.g. The headmistress was an austere old woman
lack of comforts or luxuries
e.g. The interior of the church was an austere as the parishioners were dour
belie
(of appearance) fail to give true impression of (something)
e.g. His lively, alert manner belied his years
fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation)
e.g. The quality of the music seems to belie the criticism
capricious
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
e.g. Stringent rulers are unlikely to act capriciously
cerebral
of the cerebrum of the brain
e.g. The patients frequently had a history of disease leading to cerebral damage
intellectual rather than emotional or physical
e.g. She makes cerebral films that deal with important social issues
congenial
(of a person) pleasing or liked on account of having qualities or interests that are similar to ones own
e.g. He is back in more congenial company
(of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to ones taste or inclination
e.g. He went back to climate more congenial to his cold story soul
conspicuous
clearly visible
e.g. He was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam’s apple
attracting notice or attention
e.g. He had a conspicuous lump on his forehead
cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
e.g. The cursory inspection missed several irregularities
daunting
seeming difficult to deal with in prospect; intimidating
e.g. It was a daunting task but it was accomplished with some forward planning
deify
worship or regard as a god
e.g. She was deified by the early romans as a fertility goddess
didactic
in a manner of teacher, particularly so as to appear patronizing
e.g. His tone ranged from didactic to backslapping
disseminate
spread (something, especially information) widely
e.g. The values of human rights movement have disseminated throughout the world
feasible
possible to do easily or conveniently
e.g. It is not feasible to put most finds from the excavations on public display
flout
openly disregard ( a rule, law or convention) e.g. *Building regulations have been habitually **flouted***
homogenous
of the same kind; alike
e.g. The unemployed are not a homogenous group
humdrum
lacking excitement or variety; boringly monotonous
e.g. Nobody should patronize a club and suggest that they should be happy with a humdrum existence outside the elite
insipid
lacking flavor; weak or tasteless
e.g. The diners were disappointed with the plain, insipid soup they were served
lacking vigor or interest
e.g. This was an insipid performance
loquacious
tending to talk a great deal; talkative
e.g. The normally loquacious Mr. O’ Reilly has said little
misanthropic
having or showing the dislike of other people
e.g. Before we get to that, though, we are invited into the mind of a misanthropic dentist
misnomer
a wrong or inaccurate name or designation
e.g. The name Chinese Checkers is misnomer since the game has nothing to do with China
negligent
failing to take proper care over something
obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
e.g. He is that kind of man; modest and honest and difficult to write about without seeming obsequious
placate
make (someone) less angry or hostile
e.g. Stumbling into the kitchen in his boxer shorts, he rummaged through the refrigerator for something to placate his growl
proclivity
a tendency to choose or do something regularly;
an inclination or predisposition towards a particular thing
e.g. His English was no longer revered; now even the public-school English teacher seemed ashamed of his proclivity for the foreign language
puerile
childishly silly and immature
e.g. Concert organizers branded the group’s actions as puerile
quixotic
extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
e.g. He has always lived his life by a hopelessly quixotic code of honor
spendthrift
a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way
e.g. His spendthrift ways will cost us all dearly
taciturn
reserved or incommunicative in speech; saying little
e.g. A taciturn man, he replied to my questions in monosyllables
wary
feeling or showing caution about the possible dangers or problems
e.g. They were very wary about giving him a contract
