The Most Interesting People Flashcards
Charlatan
(n.) a fake; fraud; cheat
– Charlie is a fake
Skeptic
(n.) a person who doubts; a skeptic asks questions and lacks faith
Rhetorician
(n.) an eloquent writer or speaker; a master of rhetoric (the art of speaking and writing)
– “rhetorical analysis” quote by Ms. O’ Conner
Charismatic
(adj.) magnetic and inspiring
Hedonist
(n.) a person who believes that pleasure is the chief goal of life
Ascetic
(n.) a person who gives up material comforts and leads a life of self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
Raconteur
(n.) a person who excels in telling anecdotes (a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person)
– someone who recounts a story well
Iconoclast
(n.) a person who attacks and ridicules cherished figures, ideas, and institutions
– clashes icons (famous people)
Dilettante
(n.) an amateur or dabbler; a person with a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge
– he is a dile, not a crocodile
Polymath
(n.) a person of great and varied learning
Partisan
(n.) a person with strong and therefore biased beliefs
– a part of the whole
Mentor
(n.) an advisor; teacher; guide
Acolyte
(n.) a devoted follower
Demagogue
(n.) a leader who appeals to the fears, emotions, and prejudices of the populace
Automaton
(n.) a self-operating machine; a mindless follower; a person who acts in a mechanical fasion
– automatic machine
Recluse
(n.) a person who leads a secluded or solitary life
– close themselves from the world
Bungler
(n.) someone who is clumsy or inept; a person who makes mistakes because of incompetence
– she’s carrying a bungle of heavy stuff… of course she trips
Clairvoyant
(n.) a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond the normal five human senses
– ‘clair’, clear, voyager, traveler, into the future
Prognosticator
(n.) a person who makes predictions based upon current information and data
– diagnostics
Pundit
(n.) an expert commentator; an authority who expresses his or her opinion
Zealot
(n.) a very enthusiastic person; a true believer
Neophyte
(n.) a beginner
– a new fighter on the boxing team
Novice
(n.) a beginner
– I can’t give advice to other yet since I have no advice
Greenhorn
(n.) a beginner
– here, take this toy trumpet (its green), when you become good you can play a real trumpet, but for now, take this plastic green horn
Benefactor
(n.) a person who makes a gift or bequest
– ‘bene’ good, factories make things,
good maker
Patron
(n.) a person who makes a gift or bequest
Beneficiary
(n.) the recipient of funds, titles, property, and other benefits
Dissembler
(n.) a liar; deceiver
Prevaricator
(n.) a liar; deceiver
Proponent
(n). one who argues in support of something; an advocate; a champion of a cause
– against the opponent
Prodigy
(n.) a person with great talent; a young genius
Oracle
(n.) a person considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinions
– the Chinese used oracle bones to tell the future or ask for advice
Misanthrope
(n.) a person who hates or distrusts humankind
– hates anthros
Innovator
(n.) a person who introduces something new
Seminal
(adj.) highly influential and original
– go to this seminar, it is so inspiring
Sycophant
(n.) a person who seeks favor by flattering people of influence; a toady; someone who behaves in an obsequious or servile manner to gain advantage
Stoic
(n.) a person who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain; someone who is impassive and emotionless
– static stoic
Reprobate
(n.) a morally unprincipled person
Renegade
(n.) a disloyal person who betrays his or her cause; a traitor; a deserter
