The Remains of the Day Flashcards
sloven
noun
a person who is habitually untidy or careless.
eclectic
adjective
deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
“universities offering an eclectic mix of courses”
a whim of the moment
a sudden decision
broach
verb
raise (a difficult subject) for discussion.
“he broached the subject he had been avoiding all evening”
pierce (a cask) to draw out liquid.
“he watched a pot boy broach a new cask”
fracas
noun
a noisy disturbance or quarrel.
“the fracas was broken up by stewards”
perched
verb
(of a bird) alight or rest on something.
“a herring gull perched on the rails”
(of a person) sit on something high or narrow.
“Eve perched on the side of the armchair”
(of a building) be situated above or on the edge of something.
“the fortress is perched on a crag in the mountains”
vagrant
noun or adjective
a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging.
relating to or living the life of a vagrant.
“vagrant beggars”
moving from place to place; wandering.
“vagrant whales”
trepidation
noun
a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
“the men set off in fear and trepidation”
august
adjective
respected and impressive.
“she was in august company”
spire
noun
a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, typically a church tower.
engendered
verb
cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition).
“the issue engendered continuing controversy”
inebriated
adjective
drunk; intoxicated.
“I got mildly inebriated”
equanimity
noun
calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation.
“she accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity”
indelible
adjective
(of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed.
“an indelible marker pen”
not able to be forgotten.
“the story made an indelible impression on me”
rebuking
adjective or noun
expressing sharp disapproval or criticism.
“he has been praised for raising important issues in a soft manner rather than a rebuking tone”
the expression of sharp disapproval or criticism.
interminable
adjective
endless or apparently endless (often used hyperbolically).
“we got bogged down in interminable discussions”
posit
verb
put forward as fact or as a basis for argument.
“the Confucian view posits a perfectible human nature”
base something on the truth of (a particular assumption).
“these plots are posited on a false premise about women’s nature as inferior”
put in position; place.
“the Professor posits Cohen in his second category of poets”
retort
verb
say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner.
“‘No need to be rude,’ retorted Isabel”
imbued
verb
inspire or permeate with (a feeling or quality).
“his works are invariably imbued with a sense of calm and serenity”
churlish
adjective
rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
“it seems churlish to complain”
apportion
verb
divide up and share out.
“voting power will be apportioned according to contribution”
assign.
“they did not apportion blame or liability to any one individual”
bereft
adjective
deprived of or lacking (something).
“her room was stark and bereft of colour”
(of a person) sad and lonely, especially through someone’s death or departure.
“his death in 1990 left her bereft”
galling
adjective
causing annoyance or resentment; annoying.
“it would be galling to lose your job because of a dispute with a customer”
ostentatious
adjective
characterized by pretentious or showy display; designed to impress.
“a simple design that is glamorous without being ostentatious”
intransigent
adjective
unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something.
“her father had tried persuasion, but she was intransigent”
gratuitous
adjective done without good reason; uncalled for. "gratuitous violence" given or done free of charge. "solicitors provide a form of gratuitous legal advice"
sullen
adjective bad-tempered and sulky. "a sullen pout" (of the sky) full of dark clouds. "a sullen sunless sky"
subterfuge
noun
deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal.
“he had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions”
genial
adjective
friendly and cheerful.
“our genial host”
furtively
adverb
in a way that attempts to avoid notice or attention; secretively.
“I furtively glanced over at my father to see his reaction”
pandemonium
noun
wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar.
“there was complete pandemonium—everyone just panicked”
hogwash
noun
nonsense.
heretical
adjective
believing in or practising religious heresy.
“heretical beliefs”
holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted.
“I feel a bit heretical saying this, but I think the film has too much action”
minstrel
noun
a medieval singer or musician, especially one who sang or recited lyric or heroic poetry to a musical accompaniment for the nobility.
“they listened to the minstrels singing songs of knightly prowess”
hitherto
adverb
until now or until the point in time under discussion.
“hitherto part of French West Africa, Benin achieved independence in 1960”
gentry
noun people of good social position, specifically the class of people next below the nobility in position and birth. "a member of the landed gentry"
emanate
verb
(of a feeling, quality, or sensation) issue or spread out from (a source).
“warmth emanated from the fireplace”
originate from; be produced by.
“the proposals emanated from a committee”
give out or emit (a feeling, quality, or sensation).
“he emanated a powerful brooding air”
promontory
noun
a point of high land that juts out into the sea or a large lake; a headland.
“a rocky promontory”
bulrush
noun
a tall reedlike water plant with a dark brown velvety cylindrical head of numerous tiny flowers.
mirthful
adjective
full of mirth; merry or amusing.
“mirthful laughter”
ensconce
verb
establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place.
“Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom”
stupefaction
noun
the state of being stupefied.
“salesmen stood in bored stupefaction”
corollary
noun/adjective
a proposition that follows from (and is often appended to) one already proved.
a direct or natural consequence or result.
forming a proposition that follows from one already proved.
associated or supplementary.
“the court did not answer a corollary question”
avail
verb help or benefit. "no amount of struggle availed Charles" use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource). "you can avail discounts on food"
salacious
adjective
having or conveying undue or inappropriate interest in sexual matters.
“salacious stories”
abhor
verb
regard with disgust and hatred.
“he abhorred sexism in every form”
fulcrum
noun
a thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation.
“research is the fulcrum of the academic community”
surreptitious
adjective
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
“low wages were supplemented by surreptitious payments from tradesmen”
foibles
noun
a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character.
“they have to tolerate each other’s little foibles”
recompense
verb/noun
make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate.
“offenders should recompense their victims”
pay or reward (someone) for effort or work
“he was handsomely recompensed”
compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made.
“adequate recompense for workers who lose their jobs”
encroach
verb
intrude on (a person’s territory, rights, personal life, etc.).
“rather than encroach on his privacy she might have kept to her room”
advance gradually beyond usual or acceptable limits.
“the sea has encroached all round the coast”
slovenly
adjective
(especially of a person or their appearance) untidy and dirty.
“a fat, slovenly ex-rock star”
(especially of a person or action) careless; excessively casual.
“slovenly speech”
modicum
noun
a small quantity of a particular thing, especially something desirable or valuable.
“his statement had a modicum of truth”
bereft
adjective
deprived of or lacking (something).
“her room was stark and bereft of colour”
(of a person) sad and lonely, especially through someone’s death or departure.
“his death in 1990 left her bereft”
remuneration
noun
money paid for work or a service.
“they work in excess of their contracted hours for no additional remuneration”
racy
adjective
lively, entertaining, and typically sexually titillating.
“the novel was considered rather racy at the time”
showing vigour or spirit.
(of a wine, flavour, etc.) having a characteristic quality in a high degree.
(of a vehicle or animal) designed or bred to be suitable for racing.
“the yacht is fast and racy”
prise
verb
use force in order to move, move apart, or open (something).
“I tried to prise Joe’s fingers away from the stick”
obtain something from (someone) with effort or difficulty.
“I got the loan, though I had to prise it out of him”
nigh
adverb/adjective/preposition almost. "a car weighing nigh on two tons" at or to a short distance away. "they drew nigh unto the city" located a short distance away. "the end is nigh" at or to a short distance away from (a place). "she wanders but seems to remain nigh the sea"
nebulous
adjective in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy. "a giant nebulous glow" (of a concept) vague or ill-defined. "nebulous concepts like quality of life"
sullen
adjective
bad-tempered and sulky.
“a sullen pout”
remiss
adjective
lacking care or attention to duty; negligent.
“it would be very remiss of me not to pass on that information”
vagary
noun
an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone’s behaviour.
“the vagaries of the weather”
unvarnished
not covered with varnish.
“unvarnished woodwork”
(of a statement or manner) plain and straightforward.
“please tell me the unvarnished truth”
niggle
verb/noun
cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety.
“Doreen wanted to discuss matters that niggled at her mind”
criticize or annoy (someone) in a petty way.
“people niggling me for doing too much work”
a trivial criticism, discomfort, or annoyance.
“it is an excellent book except for my few niggles”
languid
adjective
(of a person, manner, or gesture) having or showing a disinclination for physical exertion or effort.
“his languid demeanour irritated her”
(of a period of time) relaxed and peaceful.
“the terrace was perfect for languid days in the Italian sun”
weak or faint from illness or fatigue.
“she was pale, languid, and weak, as if she had delivered a child”
red herring
a clue or piece of information which is or is intended to be misleading or distracting.
“the book is fast-paced, exciting, and full of red herrings”
convivial
adjective
(of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable.
“a convivial cocktail party”
(of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial.
“she was relaxed and convivial”
parlous
adjective/adverb full of danger or uncertainty; precarious. "the parlous state of the economy" greatly or excessively. "she is parlous handsome"
ruse
noun
an action intended to deceive someone; a trick.
“Emma tried to think of a ruse to get Paul out of the house”
happy as a lark
Look at me – eighty-two years old and happy as a lark!
