Set 3 Flashcards
abate
(of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread
e.g. The storms had abated by the time they rounded Cape Horn
abjure
solemnly renounce (a belief, cause or claim) e.g. *He **abjured** the Protestant faith and became King in 1594*
anomalous
deviating from what is standard, normal or expected
e.g. For years, this anomalous behavior has baffled scientists
antipathy
a deep-seated feeling of aversion
e.g. She’d often spoken of her antipathy towards London
arcane
understood by few, mysterious or secret
e.g. Until a few months ago, few people outside the arcane world of contemporary music had heard of the composer
arduous
involving or requiring strenuous effort, difficult and tiring
e.g. The task was more arduous than he had calculated
artless
without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple
e.g. She was curiously artless
ascetic
characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons
e.g. She has never been close to her ascetic, workaholic father
assuage
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense
e.g. The announcement appeared designed to assuage concerns at home and abroad
betray
unintentionally reveal; be evidence of; expose to danger, by treacherously giving information to an enemy
bucolic
relating to pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
e.g. The economics of a bucolic dream no longer stack up
burgeon
begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish
e.g. Plants burgeon from every available space
cacophonous
involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
e.g. Then he emits a cacophonous cackle that passes for a laugh
canonize
place in regard as belonging to a canon of literary or artistic works;
e.g. They canonized the Song of Solomon after much controversy
officially declare (dead person) to be a saint e.g. *Joan of Arc was finally **canonized** by Pope Benedict XV in 1920*
censure
express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement
e.g. The ethics committee may take a decision to admonish him or to censure him