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vocabulary from reading > The Light We Carry > Flashcards

The Light We Carry Flashcards

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1
Q

Paradox

A

a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.

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2
Q

Bigotry

A

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.

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3
Q

Autocrat

A

someone who insists on complete obedience from others; an imperious or domineering person.

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4
Q

Purport

A

appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess

the meaning or substance of something, typically a document or speech.

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5
Q

Droves

A

a large number of people or things doing or undergoing the same thing.

Heard/flock

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6
Q

Despondent

A

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

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7
Q

Masquerading

A

pretend to be someone one is not.

Disguised

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8
Q

Populist

A

a person, especially a politician, who strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.

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9
Q

Pithy

A

(of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive.

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10
Q

Flux

A

the action or process of flowing or flowing out.

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11
Q

Fraught

A

(of a situation or course of action) filled with or likely to result in (something undesirable).

Causing/affected by anxiety or stress

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12
Q

Scattershot

A

denoting something that is broad but random and haphazard in its range

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13
Q

Sheepish

A

(of a person or expression) showing embarrassment from shame or a lack of self-confidence.

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14
Q

Acute

A

(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.

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15
Q

Erratic

A

not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable

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16
Q

Unbury

A

remove (someone or something) from under the ground or from under a deep covering.

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17
Q

Dogged

A

having or showing tenacity and grim persistence.

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18
Q

Hedge

A

limit or qualify (something) by conditions or exceptions.

a fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs.

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19
Q

Beget

A

give rise to; bring about. (Sometimes of a child)

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20
Q

Industrious

A

diligent and hard-working.

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21
Q

Cult

A

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.

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22
Q

Rebuke

A

express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.

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23
Q

Anoint

A

smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony.

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24
Q

Cryptic

A

having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.

of coloration or markings) serving to camouflage an animal in its natural environment

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25
Q

Pundits

A

an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public.

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26
Q

Vigor

A

physical strength and good health.

effort, energy, and enthusiasm.

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27
Q

Disillusion

A

disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.

28
Q

Cynicism

A

an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; skepticism

29
Q

Veritable

A

used as an intensifier, often to qualify a metaphor.

30
Q

Monolithic

A

of an organization or system) large, powerful, and intractably indivisible and uniform.

formed of a single large block of stone.

31
Q

Exuberance

A

the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness; ebullience.

the quality of growing profusely; luxuriance.

32
Q

Pervade

A

(especially of a smell) spread through and be perceived in every part of.

33
Q

Arsenal

A

a collection of weapons and military equipment stored by a country, person, or group.

an array of resources available for a certain purpose.

34
Q

Tumult

A

a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.

35
Q

Trifling

A

unimportant or trivial.

36
Q

Jeopardy

A

danger of loss, harm, or failure.

37
Q

Chyrons

A

an electronically generated caption superimposed on a television or movie screen.

38
Q

Imperil

A

put at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed.

39
Q

Impervious

A

not allowing fluid to pass through.

unable to be affected by

40
Q

Diligent

A

having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties

41
Q

Ruinous

A

disastrous or destructive.

42
Q

Diffuse

A

spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people.

43
Q

Enterprise

A

a project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult or requires effort.

Business/company

44
Q

Reckon

A

establish by counting or calculation; calculate.

consider or regard in a specified way.

45
Q

Preposterous

A

contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous.

46
Q

Rendezvous

A

a meeting at an agreed time and place, typically between two people.

47
Q

Jettisoned

A

abandon or discard (someone or something that is no longer wanted).

throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship.

48
Q

Gregarious

A

(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.

49
Q

Maxim

A

a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct.

50
Q

Pragmatic

A

dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

51
Q

Parse

A

analyze (a sentence) into its parts and describe their syntactic roles.

52
Q

Fraught

A

(of a situation or course of action) filled with or likely to result in (something undesirable).

causing or affected by anxiety or stress.

53
Q

Thrum

A

make a continuous rhythmic humming sound.

54
Q

Foist

A

impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on.

55
Q

Preening

A

(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.

56
Q

Loathe

A

feel intense dislike or disgust for.

57
Q

Denigrate

A

criticize unfairly; disparage

58
Q

Contempt

A

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.

59
Q

Peripheries

A

a marginal or secondary position in, or part or aspect of, a group, subject, or sphere of activity.

Perimeter

60
Q

Relegate

A

consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position.

61
Q

Emphatic

A

showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly.

62
Q

Shrewish

A

bad-tempered or aggressively assertive (typically used of a woman).

63
Q

Elitism

A

the advocacy or existence of an elite as a dominating element in a system or society.

64
Q

Imperviousness

A

not allowing entrance or passage : impenetrable. b : not capable of being damaged or harmed. 2 : not capable of being affected or disturbed.

65
Q

Genteel

A

polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or ostentatious way.

66
Q

Firebrand

A

a person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action.

a piece of burning wood.

67
Q

Lionized

A

give a lot of public attention and approval to (someone); treat as a celebrity.

vocabulary from reading (9 decks)

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