The Light We Carry Flashcards
Paradox
a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.
Bigotry
obstinate or unreasonable attachment to a belief, opinion, or faction, in particular prejudice against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular group.
Autocrat
someone who insists on complete obedience from others; an imperious or domineering person.
Purport
appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess
the meaning or substance of something, typically a document or speech.
Droves
a large number of people or things doing or undergoing the same thing.
Heard/flock
Despondent
in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
Masquerading
pretend to be someone one is not.
Disguised
Populist
a person, especially a politician, who strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.
Pithy
(of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive.
Flux
the action or process of flowing or flowing out.
Fraught
(of a situation or course of action) filled with or likely to result in (something undesirable).
Causing/affected by anxiety or stress
Scattershot
denoting something that is broad but random and haphazard in its range
Sheepish
(of a person or expression) showing embarrassment from shame or a lack of self-confidence.
Acute
(of a bad, difficult, or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree.
having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd.
Erratic
not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable
Unbury
remove (someone or something) from under the ground or from under a deep covering.
Dogged
having or showing tenacity and grim persistence.
Hedge
limit or qualify (something) by conditions or exceptions.
a fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs.
Beget
give rise to; bring about. (Sometimes of a child)
Industrious
diligent and hard-working.
Cult
a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing.
a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.
Rebuke
express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.
Anoint
smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony.
Cryptic
having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.
of coloration or markings) serving to camouflage an animal in its natural environment
Pundits
an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public.
Vigor
physical strength and good health.
effort, energy, and enthusiasm.
Disillusion
disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.
Cynicism
an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; skepticism
Veritable
used as an intensifier, often to qualify a metaphor.
Monolithic
of an organization or system) large, powerful, and intractably indivisible and uniform.
formed of a single large block of stone.
Exuberance
the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness; ebullience.
the quality of growing profusely; luxuriance.
Pervade
(especially of a smell) spread through and be perceived in every part of.
Arsenal
a collection of weapons and military equipment stored by a country, person, or group.
an array of resources available for a certain purpose.
Tumult
a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.
Trifling
unimportant or trivial.
Jeopardy
danger of loss, harm, or failure.
Chyrons
an electronically generated caption superimposed on a television or movie screen.
Imperil
put at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed.
Impervious
not allowing fluid to pass through.
unable to be affected by
Diligent
having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties
Ruinous
disastrous or destructive.
Diffuse
spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people.
Enterprise
a project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult or requires effort.
Business/company
Reckon
establish by counting or calculation; calculate.
consider or regard in a specified way.
Preposterous
contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous.
Rendezvous
a meeting at an agreed time and place, typically between two people.
Jettisoned
abandon or discard (someone or something that is no longer wanted).
throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship.
Gregarious
(of a person) fond of company; sociable.
(of animals) living in flocks or loosely organized communities
(of plants) growing in open clusters or in pure associations.
Maxim
a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct.
Pragmatic
dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
Parse
analyze (a sentence) into its parts and describe their syntactic roles.
Fraught
(of a situation or course of action) filled with or likely to result in (something undesirable).
causing or affected by anxiety or stress.
Thrum
make a continuous rhythmic humming sound.
Foist
impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on.
Preening
(of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one’s appearance.
(of a bird) straighten and clean its feathers with its beak.
congratulate or pride oneself.
Loathe
feel intense dislike or disgust for.
Denigrate
criticize unfairly; disparage
Contempt
the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.
the offense of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers.
Peripheries
a marginal or secondary position in, or part or aspect of, a group, subject, or sphere of activity.
Perimeter
Relegate
consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position.
Emphatic
showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly.
Shrewish
bad-tempered or aggressively assertive (typically used of a woman).
Elitism
the advocacy or existence of an elite as a dominating element in a system or society.
Imperviousness
not allowing entrance or passage : impenetrable. b : not capable of being damaged or harmed. 2 : not capable of being affected or disturbed.
Genteel
polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or ostentatious way.
Firebrand
a person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action.
a piece of burning wood.
Lionized
give a lot of public attention and approval to (someone); treat as a celebrity.
