Set 17 Flashcards
Erratic
adj
(ih raat ihk)
Wandering and unpredictable
The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of ERRATIC turns that surprised the audience.
Synonyms: capricious; inconstant; irresolute; whimsical
Eschew
verb
(ehs choo)
To shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)
The filmmaker ESCHEWED artificial light for her actors, resulting in a stark movie style.
Synonyms: avoid; elude; escape; evade; shun; shy
Prescient
adj
(preh shuhnt)
Having foresight
Jonah’s decision to sell the apartment seemed to be a PRESCIENT one, as its value soon dropped by half.
Synonyms: augural; divinatory; mantic; oracular; premonitory
Axiom
noun
(aak see uhm)
Premise; postulate; self-evident truth
Halle lived her life based on the AXIOMS her grandmother had passed on to her.
Synonyms: adage; aphorism; apothegm; maxim; rule
Kudos
noun
(koo dohs)Fame, glory, or honor
The actress happily accepted KUDOS from the press for her stunning performance in the film.
Synonyms: acclaim; accolade; encomium; homage; praise
Desultory
adj
(dehs uhl tohr ee)
Jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
Athena had a DESULTORY academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in 3 years.
Synonyms: aimless; disconnected; erratic; haphazard; indiscriminate; objectless; purposeless; random; stray; unconsidered; unplanned
Circumspect
adj
(suhr kuhm spehkt)
Cautious; aware of potential consequences
She was very CIRCUMSPECT in her language and behavior when first introduced to her fiancé’s parents.
Synonyms: alert; cautious; heedful; mindful; prudent; solicitous; vigilant; wary
Belfry
noun
(behl free)
A bell tower; the room in which a bell is hung
The town was shocked when a bag of money was found stashed in the old BELFRY of the church.
Synonyms: spire; steeple
Abyss
noun
(uh bihs)
An extremely deep hole
The submarine dove into the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths.
Synonyms: chasm; void
Wizened
adj
(wih zuhnd)
Shriveled; withered; wrinkled
The WIZENED old man was told that the plastic surgery necessary to make him look young again would cost more money than he could imagine.
Synonyms: atrophied; desiccated; gnarled; wasted
Stasis
noun
(stay sihs)
A state of static balance or equilibrium; stagnation
The rusty, ivy-colored World War II tank had obviously been in STASIS for years.
Synonyms: inertia; standstill
Lachrymose
adj
(laak ruh mohs)
Tearful
Marcella always became LACHRYMOSE when it was time to bid her daughter good-bye.
Synonyms: teary; weeping
Cacophony
noun
(kuh kah fun nee)
A harsh, jarring noise
The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable CACOPHONY as they tried to tune their instruments.
Synonyms: chaos; clamor; din; discord; disharmony; noise
Fecund
adj
(feh kuhnd)
Fertile; fruitful; productive
The FECUND couple yielded a total of 20 children.
Synonyms: flourishing; prolific
Fawn
verb
(fahn)
To grovel
The understudy FAWNED over the director in hopes of being cast in the part on a permanent basis.
Synonyms: bootlick; grovel; pander; toady
