Sula Flashcards
derision
noun: the use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt
The derision in his older sister’s comment made him blush from embarrassment; she had embarrassed him with her cruel words.
askew
adj.: out of line; awry
Knowing that untidy clothes would leave a bad impression, she glanced over her outfit to ensure that her clothes weren’t askew.
nexus
noun: relationship or connection between people or things
New York City is the nexus for culture and diversity; millions of different people gather there every day.
vernacular
adj.: using a language or dialect specific to a region or country, rather than a literary or cultured language
He couldn’t understand her vernacular: he wasn’t from the region where her dialect was spoken.
debilitate
trans. verb: to impair the strength of; enfeeble
Cancer can debilitate a normally healthy person, quickly destroying their body’s ability to function.
encumbered
adj.: free of burdens
Since they have already been accepted into college, second semester seniors often act unencumbered.
demarcation
noun: a limit; a distinction between levels or parts
In addition to walls, they put fences in place to demarcate one piece of property from another.
deference
noun: respect or esteem due to a superior or elder
His mother told him to act with extreme deference to his grandmother, knowing that his grandmother would expect nothing less than perfect behavior.
idiosyncrasy
noun: a peculiarity of temperament; an eccentricity
While he had many odd habits, his biggest idiosyncrasy was collecting the third pages of every book he bought.
fastidious
adj.: reflecting a meticulous, sensitive, or demanding attitude
She had a very fastidious personality: if one aspect of her plans went slighting wrong, the whole event would be ruined.
ravage
trans. verb: to wreak havoc on; to destroy
To prepare for the hurricane that would ravage the city in a couple of days, many people boarded up their windows.
ruefully
adv.: in a manner that shows regret for something done
Even though she wanted to buy one of the vendor’s jackets, she was short on cash so she ruefully declined the seller’s offer to try on the coat.
stricken
adj.: powerfully affected by disease, trouble, sorrow, etc.
After finding out that her favorite book character had died, she was stricken with sorrow.
coquettish
adj.: like a woman who endeavors without sincere affection to win the admiration and attention of men
The coquettish girl made it a rule to flirt with every person that she met.
disgruntled
adj.: ill-humored or discontented
To make up for the disgruntled customer’s burned meal, the manager offered to take her dinner off the bill.
