Summit 1 Flashcards
affable
courteous, pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
aggrandize
- to increase in greatness, power or wealth
- to build up/intensify
- to make appear greater
amorphous
- shapeless, without definite form
- of no particular type or character
- without organisation, unity or cohesion
contraband
- illegal traffic, smuggled goods
- illegal, prohibited
erudite
scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic
gossamer
- thin, light, delicate, insubstantial
- a very light, thin cloth
insular
relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience
irrevocable
incapable of being changed or called back
prospensity
a natural inclination or predilection toward
querrulous
peevish, complaining, fretful
remonstrate
to argue or plead with someone against sth, protest against, object to
repudiate
to disown, reject or deny the validity of
resilient
able to turn to original shape/form, able to recover quickly
reverberate
to re-echo, resound, to reflect or be reflected repeatedly
scurrilous
coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed
sedulous
persistent, showing industry and determination
sleazy
- thin or filmsy in texture
- cheap
- shoddy/inferior in quality/character
- ethically low, mean or disreputable
amnesty
a general pardon for an offense against government; any act of forgiveness or absolution
autonomy
self-government, political control
axiomatic
self evident, expressing a universally accepted principle/rule
blazon
- to adorn or embellish
- to display conspicuously
- to publish or proclaim widely
caveat
a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behaviour
equitable
fair, just, embodying principes of justice
extricate
to free from entanglements or difficulties/ remove with effort
filch
to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts
flout
to mock,treat with contempt
fractious
- tending to be troublesome
- unruly
- quarrelsome
- contrary
- unpredictable
precept
a rule if conduct or action
salutary
beneficial, helpful, healthful, wholesome
scathing
bitterly severe, withering, causing great harm
scourge
- to whip, punish severely
- a cause of affliction or suffering
- a source of severe punishment/criticism
sepulchral
funereal, typical of the tomb, extremely gloomy or dismal
soporific
- tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy
- something that induces sleep
straitlaced
- extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct
- prudish
- purtitanical
translent
- lasting only a short time, fleeting
- one who stays only a short time
unwieldly
not easily carried, handled or managed because of the size or complexity
vapid
- dull, uninteresting, tiresome
- lacking in sharpness, flavour, liveliness or force
anomalous
abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
aspersion
- a damaging or derogatory statement
- the act of slandering or deframing
brusque
blunt, abrupt, with no formalities
cajole
- to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice
- to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises
castigate
to punsish/criticise severely
contrive
- to plan with ingenuity
- invent
- to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan
demagogue
a leader who exploits popular prejudices and flase claims and promises in order to gain power
disabuse
- to free from deception or error
- set right in ideas or thinking
ennui
weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
fetter
- a chain or shackle placed on the feet
- anything that confines or restrains
- to chain/shackle
- to render helpness/impotent
heinous
very wicked, offensive, hateful
immutable
not subject to change, constant
insurgent
- one who rebels or rises against authority
- rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority
- surging or rushing in
megalomania
a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent far in excess of reality
sinecure
a position requiring little or no work, easy job
surreptitious
stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation, made or accomplished by fraud
transgress
- to go beyond a limit/boundary
- to sin
- violate a law
transmute
to change from one nature, substance or form to another
vicarious
performed, suffered or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another
