Set 9 Flashcards
boorish
rough and bad-mannered; coarse
e.g. .. their boorish rejection of the ageing movie star
brook
a small stream
circumspect
wary and unwilling to take risks
e.g. The banks should have been more circumspect in their dealings
comity
an association of nations for their mutual benefits
courtesy and considerate behavior towards others
e.g. .. a show of public comity in the White House
commensurate
corresponding in size or degree; in proportion
e.g. Employees are paid salaries commensurate with those of teachers
cordial
warm and friendly
e.g. He had never known him to be so chatty and cordial
strongly felt
e.g. .. a cordial distaste for formality
deleterious
causing harm or damage
e.g. Petty crime is having a deleterious effect on community life
dichotomy
a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different
e.g. There is a dichotomy between the academic world and the industrial world
edify
instruct or improve (someone) morally and intellectually
e.g. .. religious paintings that edify the viewer
elicit
evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer or fact) from someone
e.g. He spoke for a long time, trying to elicit some comment or response from Hanuman
erudite
having or showing great knowledge or learning
e.g. He was never dull, always erudite and well-informed
fecund
producing or capable of producing a abundance of offspring or new growth;
highly fertile
e.g. The pampas are still among the most fecund lands in the world
feeble
lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness
lacking strength or character
e.g. The feeble light of a tin lamp
failing to convince or impress
e.g. He said that the government has been feeble
felicitous
well chosen or suited to the circumstances
e.g. Her prose style is not always felicitous; she tends to repetition
forbear
politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain
e.g. Protesters largely forbear from stone-throwing and vandalism
haphazard
lacking any obvious principle of organization
hodgepodge
a confused mixture; a hotchpotch
impede
delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder
e.g. Fallen rock is impeding the progress of rescue workers
impetuous
acting or done quickly and without thought or care
e.g. He tended to react in a heated and impetuous way
irascible
having or showing tendency to be easily angered
e.g. He had an irascible temper
mercenary
primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics
a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army
meticulous
showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise
mordant
(especially of humor) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting
e.g. A wicked, mordant sense of humor has come to the fore in Blur’s world
outstrip
move faster than and overtake (someone else) / exceed
e.g. In mid-eighteenth century the production of food far outstripped the rise in population
precarious
not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse
e.g. Our financial situation has become precarious
quirky
having or characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits or aspects
repudiate
refuse to accept; reject
e.g. Cavour later repudiated what he regarded as his youthful follies
tact
skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues
e.g. .. helping to smooth over the problems with great tact and efficiency
trifling
unimportant or trivial
e.g. The guests had each paid 250, no trifling sum
turbulent
characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not stable or calm
