Short story vocabulary Flashcards
Finesse
Noun
skill and cleverness shown by how someone handles a situation
“orchestral playing of great finesse”
Incessant
adjective
non-stop
“the incessant beat of the music”
odious
Adjective
describes something deserving hatred
“She was a very odious women”
nocturnal
Adjective
describes something that is active at night
“most owls are nocturnal”
palpable
Adjective
able to be touched or felt.
“the palpable bump at the bridge of the nose”
tangible
Adjective
perceptible by touch
“the atmosphere of neglect and abandonment was almost tangible”
disarming
Adjective
describes something that removes feelings of unfriendliness or mistrust
“he gave her a disarming smile”
analytical
Adjective
describes something that is skilled in breaking a whole into its parts and examining their relationship
“he did an analtyical study of the computer, so he looked at all of the parts”
futile
Adjective
describes something that has no result or effect
“a futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage”
condone
Verb
to forgive, overlook, or allow an offense (something bad)
“if lying reapeatedly is condoned, the liar will be punished”
analyze
Verb
to study the parts of something
“we need to analyze our results more clearly”
incesstantly
Adverb
describes an action that is non-stop
“she talked about him incessantly”
Preclude
Verb
to prevent or make impossible beforehand
“the secret nature of his work precluded official recognition”
Retribution
Noun
punishment for doing something wrong
“settlers drove the Navajo out of Arizona in retribution for their raids”
Avenge
Verb
to get revenge by punishing the wrongdoer
“his determination to avenge the murder of his brother”
