testcards Flashcards
abscond
(verb) To steal off and hide
aberrant
(adj.) deviating from the norm (Noun form: aberration)
alacrity
(noun) eager and enthusiastic willingness
anomaly
(noun) Deviation from the normal order, form, or rule; abnormality (adj. form: anomalous)
approbation
(noun) an expression of approval or praise
arduous
(adj.) strenuous, taxing; requiring significant effort
assuage
(verb) to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify
audacious
(adj.) daring and fearless; recklessly bold (noun form: audacity)
austere
(adj) without adornment; severely simple; ascetic (noun form: austerity)
axiomatic
(adj.)taken as given, possessing self-evident truth (noun form: axiom)
canonical
(adj.) following or in agreement with accepted traditional standards (noun form: canon)
capricious
(adj.) Inclined to change one’s mind compulsively; erratic, unpredictable
censure
(verb) to criticize severely; to officially rebuke
chicanery
(noun) trickery or subterfuge
connoisseur
(noun) an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert
convoluted
(adj.) complex or complicated
disabuse
(verb) to undeceive; to set right
discordant
Conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound
disparate
(adj.)fundamentally distinct or dissimilar
effrontery
(noun) extreme boldness; presumptuousness
eloquent
(adj) well-spoken, expressive, articulate (noun form: eloquence)
enervate
(verb) to weaken; to reduce in vitality
ennui
(noun) dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom
equivocate
(verb) to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent (adj. form: equivocal)
erudite
(adj.) very learned, scholarly
exculpate
(verb) exonerate, to clear of blame
exigent
(adj) urgent, pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
extemporaneous
(adj.) improvised; done without preporation
filibuster
(noun) intentional obstruction, esp. using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action
fulminate
(verb) to loudly attack or denounce
ingenuous
(adj.) artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication
inured
(adj.) accustomed to accepting something undesirable
irascible
(adj.) easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts
laud
(verb) to praise highly (adj. form: laudatory)
lucid
(adj.) clear; easily understood
magnanimity
(noun) the quality of being generously noble mind and heart, esp. in forgiving (adj. form: magnanimous)
martial
(adj.) associated with war and the armed forces
mundane
(adj.) of the world; typical of or concerned with the ordinary
nascent
(adj.) coming into being; in early developmental stages
nebulous
(adj.) vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form
neologism
(adj.) a new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses
noxious
(adj.) harmful, injurious
obtuse
(adj.) lacking sharpness of intellect, not clear or precise in thought or expression
obviate
(verb) to anticipate and make unnecessary
onerous
(adj.) troubling; burdensome
paean
(noun) song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving
parody
(noun) a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, esp. in literature and art
perennial
(adj.) recurrent through the year or many years; happening repeatedly
perfidy
(noun) intentional breach of faith, treachery (adj. form: perfidious)
perfunctory
(adj.) cursory; done without care or interest
perspicacious
(adj.) acutely perceptive; having keen discernment (noun form: perspicacity)
prattle
(verb) to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner
predilection
(noun) a disposition in favor of something, preference
prescience
(noun) foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring (adj. form: prescient)
prevaricate
(verb) To deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead
qualms
(noun) misgivings, reservations, causes for hesitancy
recant
(verb) to retract, especially a previously held belief
refute
(verb) to disprove; to successfully argue against
relegate
(verb) to forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position
reticent
(adj.) quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings
solicitous
(adj.) concerned and attentive; eager
sordid
(adj.) characterized by filth
sporadic
(adj.) occurring only occasionally, or in scattered instances
squander
(verb) to waste by spending or using irresponsibly
static
(adj.) non moving, active, or in motion; at rest
stupefy
(verb) to stun, baffle, or amaze
equivocate
(verb) to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
eulogy
(noun) a speech honoring the dead
euphemism
(noun) a mild replacement for a harsher or more offensive term
exculpate
(verb) exonerate; to clear of blame
extemporaneous
(adjective) improvised; done without preparation
fawn
(verb) to flatter or praise excessively
glib
(adjective) marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
goad
(verb) to prod or drive forward; to urge on; incite
implicit
(adjective) implied but not directly stated; tacit
impose
(verb) to compel or require; to push ones views or authority upon others
inquisitive
(adjective) questioning; curious
laconic
(adjective) using few words; terse
laud
(verb) to state as a fact; to confirm or support
loquacious
(adjective) extremely talkative
lucid
(adjective) clear; easily understood
mollify
(verb) to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
parody
(noun) a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, esp. in literature and art
pertinent
(adjective) relevant; germane
platitude
(noun) a superficial! remark, esp. one offered as meaningful
propitiate
(verb) to appease; to conciliate
rescind
(verb) to invalidate; to repeal to retract
rhetoric
(noun) the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion
sanction
(noun) authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance
shrill
(adjective) loud and high-pitched; screeching
soliloquy
(noun) a speech made to oneself, a monologue
stanza
(noun) a group of two or more verses or lines that make up a division in a poem and correspond in rhyme, meter, and length
subpoena
(noun) a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony
subtle
(adjective) not obvious; elusive, difficult to discern
succinct
(adjective) brief and concise
tacit
(adjective) implied; not explicitly stated
taciturn
(adjective) not talkative; reserved; uncommunicative
tact
(noun) discerning and sensitive use of speech; diplomacy
tout
(verb) to publicly praise or promote
validity
(noun) soundness or truthfulness
veracity
(noun) truthfulness; honesty
wheedle
(verb) to coax; to persuade, often using flattery or smooth talk
