testmasters vocab 51-100 Flashcards
autonomy
the condition or quality of being autonomous; independence
avant-garde
innovative; new and unusual ideas or experimental ideas (Conservatives who don’t want to try anything new would be the opposite of people who are avant-garde.)
awed
having a sense of wonder; marked by fearful amazement; almost shocked but fascinated (Immigrants are often in awe of New York City when they first arrive because of the skyscrapers, traffic, and commotion.)
baleful
threatening harm; menacing (Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction.)
bane
a cause of death, destruction, or ruin (Many students feel that the SAT is the bane of their existence.)
befuddled
unable to think clearly; confused
beguile
to deceive by guile; delude
belligerent
inclined or eager to fight; hostile or aggressive
bemoan
lament, strongly regret, to moan and groan
beneficiary
the recipient of funds, property, or other benefits, as from an insurance policy or will
bipartisan
supported by two political parties
bog
a wetland
bolster
to support or prop up; to boost; to strengthen
boon
something that is a benefit (A boon is like a benefit bestowed, especially one bestowed in response to a request.)
bowdlerize
to modify by removing offensive portions from a book
brash
hasty and unthinking; impetuous (Brash sounds like what it means: harsh, loud, and maybe a little rude.)
brevity
brief
bright
promising (The future looks bright! This means it looks promising.)
brisk
quick
brusque
abrupt and curt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt; rude
burgeon
begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish (manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand)
cadence
the modulated and rhythmic recurrence of a sound especially in nature (Storytellers may want to re-create the sounds of nature - “the rises and falls” of sounds - these are cadences.)
camouflage
to hide or conceal (People sometimes camouflage their true feelings.)
capricious
unpredictable; impulsive (A person can have a capricious personality. And rivers are also sometimes capricious because they can be calm and then suddenly perilous.)
cast
throw (something) forcefully in a specified direction; cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface (When sketching the flower, Bill gave it a cast of pink.)
castigate
to strongly denounce; to sharply criticize
caustic
bitter; biting; scathing
celerity
swift; speedy (Crystal completed her tasks with speed and celerity.)
cerebral
using your brain, intellectual not emotional
chagrin
(noun) distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated (Jeff, much to his chagrin, wasn’t invited.);
(verb) feel distressed or humiliated (he was chagrined when his friend poured scorn on him)
charismatic
having great charm and personal magnetism (FDR and JFK were charismatic presidents.)
chasten
(of a reproof or misfortune) have a restraining or moderating effect on (the director was somewhat chastened by his recent flops); to cause (someone) to feel sad or embarrassed about something that has happened (chastened the child with five minutes of sitting in the corner), (the unexpected loss to a second-rate player really chastened the tournament's top-seeded tennis star)
chauvinistic
prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind; bigot, biased
chicanery
trickery
churlish
rude in a mean-spirited and surly way (it seems churlish to complain)
circumspect
cautious; careful; prudent (Someone who is circumspect is NOT unrestrained.)
circumvent
to go around; to evade (If you take secondary roads to avoid traffic you are circumventing the main roads.)
codified/codify
arranged (laws, rules, etc.) systematically (Know the difference between codified rules, and fundamental laws. If you are talking about the basic laws of hearing, you are talking about the fundamental laws, NOT the codified rules.)
arrange (laws or rules) into a systematic code (He even wanted to codify the common law, overstating, like all good reformers, the possible objectives of reform.);
arrange according to a plan or system (Verdi helped codify an international operatic culture.)
cogent
(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing (the results of the DNA fingerprinting were the most cogent evidence for acquittal)
cohesion
unity
compilation
a collection (think of compiling information.)
complacency
overly content; a sense of ease and contentment, it can have a good or bad connotation (Bad can mean smug. Good can mean satisfied.)
complaisant
exhibiting a desire or willingness to please; cheerfully obliging
complicity
state of being involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing (think of being an accomplice to a crime.)
compromised
exposed to or made liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute (Don’t put yourself in a compromised situation by drinking too much.)
condemn
to express strong disapproval of
condescending/condescension
looking down on others; having an air of superiority
confounding
puzzling; confusing
conjecture
a guess based on incomplete evidence
contentious
causing or likely to cause an argument, controversial (a contentious issue); involving heated argument (the socioeconomic plan had been the subject of contentious debate); (of a person) given to arguing or provoking argument (a contentious amateur politician who has offended minority groups)
