This Side of Paradise Flashcards
egotist
1.
a conceited, boastful person.
2.
a selfish person; egoist.
drowsing
verb (used without object), drowsed, drowsing.
1.
to be sleepy or half-asleep.
2.
to be dull or sluggish.
verb (used with object), drowsed, drowsing.
3.
to pass or spend (time) in drowsing (often followed by away):
He drowsed away the morning.
4.
to make sleepy.
noun
5.
a sleepy condition; state of being half-asleep
abstraction
noun
1.
an abstract or general idea or term.
2.
the act of considering something as a general quality or characteristic, apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances.
3.
an impractical idea; something visionary and unrealistic.
4.
the act of taking away or separating; withdrawal:
The sensation of cold is due to the abstraction of heat from our bodies.
5.
secret removal, especially theft.
6.
absent-mindedness; inattention; mental absorption.
7.
Fine Arts.
the abstract qualities or characteristics of a work of art.
a work of art, especially a nonrepresentational one, stressing formal relationships.
consummate
verb (used with object), consummated, consummating.
1.
to bring to a state of perfection; fulfill.
2.
to complete (an arrangement, agreement, or the like) by a pledge or the signing of a contract:
The company consummated its deal to buy a smaller firm.
3.
to complete (the union of a marriage) by the first marital sexual intercourse.
adjective
4.
complete or perfect; supremely skilled; superb:
a consummate master of the violin.
5.
being of the highest or most extreme degree:
a work of consummate skill; an act of consummate savagery.
renaissance
noun
1.
the activity, spirit, or time of the great revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in the 14th century and extending to the 17th century, marking the transition from the medieval to the modern world.
2.
the forms and treatments in art used during this period.
3.
(sometimes lowercase) any similar revival in the world of art and learning.
4.
(lowercase) a renewal of life, vigor, interest, etc.; rebirth; revival:
a moral renaissance.
adjective
5.
of, relating to, or suggestive of the European Renaissance of the 14th through the 17th centuries:
Renaissance attitudes.
6.
noting or pertaining to the group of architectural styles existing in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries as adaptations of ancient Roman architectural details or compositional forms to contemporary uses, characterized at first by the free and inventive use of isolated details, later by the more imitative use of whole orders and compositional arrangements, with great attention to the formulation of compositional rules after the precepts of Vitruvius and the precedents of existing ruins, and at all periods by an emphasis on symmetry, exact mathematical relationships between parts, and a general effect of simplicity and repose.
7.
noting or pertaining to any of the various adaptations of this group of styles in foreign architecture characterized typically by the playful or grotesque use of isolated details in more or less traditional buildings.
8.
noting or pertaining to the furnishings or decorations of the Renaissance, in which motifs of classical derivation frequently appear.
tutelage
noun
1.
the act of guarding, protecting, or guiding; office or function of a guardian; guardianship.
2.
instruction; teaching; guidance:
His knowledge of Spanish increased under private tutelage.
3.
the state of being under a guardian or a tutor.
contemptuous
adjective
1.
showing or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; disrespectful.
facile
adjective 1. moving, acting, working, proceeding, etc., with ease, sometimes with superficiality: facile fingers; a facile mind. 2. easily done, performed, used, etc.: a facile victory; a facile method. 3. easy or unconstrained, as manners or persons. 4. affable, agreeable, or complaisant; easily influenced: a facile temperament; facile people.
acquiesce
verb (used without object), acquiesced, acquiescing.
1.
to assent tacitly; submit or comply silently or without protest; agree; consent:
repugnance
noun 1. the state of being repugnant. 2. strong distaste, aversion, or objection; antipathy. 3. contradictoriness or inconsistency.
modulated
verb (used with object), modulated, modulating.
1.
to regulate by or adjust to a certain measure or proportion; soften; tone down.
2.
to alter or adapt (the voice) according to the circumstances, one’s listener, etc.
3.
Music.
to attune to a certain pitch or key.
to vary the volume of (tone).
4.
Telecommunications. to cause the amplitude, frequency, phase, or intensity of (a carrier wave) to vary in accordance with a sound wave or other signal, the frequency of the signal wave usually being very much lower than that of the carrier.
verb (used without object), modulated, modulating.
5.
Telecommunications.
to modulate a carrier wave.
Citizens Band Radio Slang. to talk; visit:
Enjoyed modulating with you.
6.
Music. to pass from one key to another:
to modulate abruptly from A to B flat.
glib
adjective, glibber, glibbest. 1. readily fluent, often thoughtlessly, superficially, or insincerely so: a glib talker; glib answers. 2. easy or unconstrained, as actions or manners. 3. Archaic. agile; spry.
cordial
adjective 1. courteous and gracious; friendly; warm: a cordial reception. 2. invigorating the heart; stimulating. 3. sincere; heartfelt: a cordial dislike. 4. Archaic. of or relating to the heart. noun 5. a strong, sweetened, aromatic alcoholic liquor; liqueur. 6. a stimulating medicine. 7. anything that invigorates or exhilarates.
plebeian
adjective 1. belonging or pertaining to the common people. 2. of, relating to, or belonging to the ancient Roman plebs. 3. common, commonplace, or vulgar: a plebeian joke. noun 4. a member of the common people. 5. a member of the ancient Roman plebs.
raconteuse
noun, plural raconteuses [rak-uh n-tœ-ziz, -too-, -too-siz; French ra-kawn-tœz] (Show IPA)
1.
a woman who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.
bourgeois
noun, plural bourgeois. 1. a member of the middle class. 2. a person whose political, economic, and social opinions are believed to be determined mainly by concern for property values and conventional respectability. 3. a shopkeeper or merchant. adjective 4. belonging to, characteristic of, or consisting of the middle class. 5. conventional; middle-class. 6. dominated or characterized by materialistic pursuits or concerns.
beseech
verb (used with object), besought or beseeched, beseeching.
1.
to implore urgently:
They besought him to go at once.
2.
to beg eagerly for; solicit.
verb (used without object), besought or beseeched, beseeching.
3.
to make urgent appeal:
Earnestly did I beseech, but to no avail.
simpatico
adjective
1.
congenial or like-minded; likable:
I find our new neighbor simpatico in every respect.
pagan
noun
1.
(no longer in technical use) one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks.
2.
a member of a religious, spiritual, or cultural community based on the worship of nature or the earth; a neopagan.
3.
Disparaging and Offensive.
(in historical contexts) a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim; a heathen.
an irreligious or hedonistic person.
an uncivilized or unenlightened person.
adjective
4.
of, relating to, or characteristic of pagans.
5.
Disparaging and Offensive.
relating to the worship or worshipers of any religion that is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim.
irreligious or hedonistic.
(of a person) uncivilized or unenlightened.
penchant
noun
1.
a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something:
a penchant for outdoor sports.
devoid
adjective
1.
not possessing, untouched by, void, or destitute (usually followed by of).
verb (used with object)
2.
to deplete or strip of some quality or substance:
imprisonment that devoids a person of humanity.
soppiness
adjective, soppier, soppiest.
1.
soaked, drenched, or very wet, as ground.
2.
rainy, as weather.
3.
British Slang. excessively sentimental; mawkish.
tremens
a violent delirium with tremors that is induced by excessive and prolonged use of alcoholic liquors
ensuing
verb (used without object), ensued, ensuing.
1.
to follow in order; come afterward, especially in immediate succession:
As the days ensued, he recovered his strength.
2.
to follow as a consequence; result:
When those two friends meet, a battle of wits ensues.
blunder
noun
1.
a gross, stupid, or careless mistake:
That’s your second blunder this morning.
verb (used without object)
2.
to move or act blindly, stupidly, or without direction or steady guidance:
Without my glasses I blundered into the wrong room.
3.
to make a gross or stupid mistake, especially through carelessness or mental confusion:
Just pray that he doesn’t blunder again and get the names wrong.
verb (used with object)
4.
to bungle; botch:
Several of the accounts were blundered by that new assistant.
5.
to utter thoughtlessly; blurt out:
He blundered his surprise at their winning the award.
pensive
adjective 1. dreamily or wistfully thoughtful: a pensive mood. 2. expressing or revealing thoughtfulness, usually marked by some sadness: a pensive adagio.
non-chalantly
adjective
1.
coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual:
His nonchalant manner infuriated me.
divest
verb (used with object)
1.
to strip of clothing, ornament, etc.:
The wind divested the trees of their leaves.
2.
to strip or deprive (someone or something), especially of property or rights; dispossess.
3.
to rid of or free from:
He divested himself of all responsibility for the decision.
4.
Law. to take away or alienate (property, rights, etc.).
5.
Commerce.
to sell off:
to divest holdings.
to rid of through sale:
The corporation divested itself of its subsidiaries.
scruple
noun
1.
a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.
2.
a very small portion or amount.
3.
a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.295 grams) or 1/3 of a dram, apothecaries’ weight.
4.
an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to 1/24 of an ounce or 1/288 of an as or pound.
Compare as2(def 2).
verb (used without object), scrupled, scrupling.
5.
to have scruples.
verb (used with object), scrupled, scrupling.
6.
to have scruples about; hesitate at.
blasé
adjective
1.
indifferent to or bored with life; unimpressed, as or as if from an excess of worldly pleasures.
trade-lasts
a complimentary remark by a third person that a hearer offers to repeat to the person complimented if he or she will first report a compliment made about the hearer
arrow-collar
The Arrow Collar Man was the name given to the various male models who appeared in advertisements for shirts and detachable shirt collars manufactured by Cluett Peabody & Company of Troy, New York. The original campaign ran from 1905–31, though the company continued to refer to men in its ads and its consumers as “Arrow men” much later.
quintessence
noun
1.
the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.
2.
the most perfect embodiment of something.
3.
(in ancient and medieval philosophy) the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies, the others being air, fire, earth, and water.
debauch
verb (used with object) 1. to corrupt by sensuality, intemperance, etc.; seduce. 2. to corrupt or pervert; sully: His honesty was debauched by the prospect of easy money. 3. Archaic. to lead away, as from allegiance or duty. verb (used without object) 4. to indulge in debauchery. noun 5. a period of wanton or sensual self-indulgence. 6. an uninhibited spree or party; orgy: a wild debauch.
reeling
noun
1.
a cylinder, frame, or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or pay out something.
2.
a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line.
3.
Photography.
a spool on which film, especially motion-picture film, is wound.
a roll of motion-picture film.
a holder for roll film in a developing tank.
4.
a quantity of something wound on a reel.
5.
Chiefly British. a spool of sewing thread; a roller or bobbin of sewing thread.
verb (used with object)
6.
to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc.
7.
to unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.
8.
to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel:
to reel a fish in.
Verb phrases
9.
reel off, to say, write, or produce quickly and easily:
The old sailor reeled off one story after another.
Idioms
10.
off the reel,
without pause; continuously.
without delay or hesitation; immediately.
Also, right off the reel.
bobbing party
In this book “bobbing party” refers to a sleigh ride party. “Bobs” are short for “bobsleds.” That is why when Amory arrives at the house late everyone has already left and she tells him the bobs were ordered for a half hour earlier.
lorgnette
noun
1.
a pair of eyeglasses mounted on a handle.
2.
a pair of opera glasses mounted on a handle.
benignantly
adjective 1. kind, especially to inferiors; gracious: a benignant sovereign. 2. exerting a good influence; beneficial: the benignant authority of the new president. 3. Pathology, benign.
placid
adjective
1.
pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed:
vapid
adjective
1.
lacking or having lost life, sharpness, or flavor; insipid; flat:
vapid tea.
2.
without liveliness or spirit; dull or tedious:
a vapid party; vapid conversation.
graphophone
noun
1.
a phonograph for recording and reproducing sounds on wax records.
unassailably
adjective
1.
not open to attack or assault, as by military force or argument:
unassailable fortifications; unassailable logic.
2.
not subject to denial or dispute:
Shakespeare’s genius gives his works an unassailable position in world literature.
debarred
verb (used with object), debarred, debarring.
1.
to shut out or exclude from a place or condition:
to debar all those who are not members.
2.
to hinder or prevent; prohibit:
to debar an action.
surly
adjective, surlier, surliest. 1. churlishly rude or bad-tempered: a surly waiter. Synonyms: sullen, uncivil, brusque, irascible, splenetic, choleric, cross; grumpy, grouchy, crabby. 2. unfriendly or hostile; menacingly irritable: a surly old lion. Synonyms: threatening, malevolent. 3. dark or dismal; menacing; threatening: a surly sky. Synonyms: ominous. 4. Obsolete. lordly; arrogant.
automatons
noun, plural automatons, automata [aw-tom-uh-tuh] (Show IPA)
1.
a mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power; robot.
2.
a person or animal that acts in a monotonous, routine manner, without active intelligence.
3.
something capable of acting automatically or without an external motive force.
languor
noun 1. lack of energy or vitality; sluggishness. 2. lack of spirit or interest; listlessness; stagnation. 3. physical weakness or faintness. 4. emotional softness or tenderness.
requisite
adjective
1.
required or necessary for a particular purpose, position, etc.; indispensable:
the requisite skills of an engineer.
noun
2.
something requisite; a necessary quality, thing, etc.
sentinel
noun
1.
a person or thing that watches or stands as if watching.
2.
a soldier stationed as a guard to challenge all comers and prevent a surprise attack:
to stand sentinel.
verb (used with object), sentineled, sentineling or (especially British) sentinelled, sentinelling.
to watch over or guard as a sentinel.
overlay
verb (used with object), overlaid, overlaying.
1.
to lay or place (one thing) over or upon another.
2.
to cover, overspread, or surmount with something.
3.
to finish with a layer or applied decoration of something:
wood richly overlaid with gold.
4.
Printing. to put an overlay upon.
noun
5.
something laid over something else; covering.
6.
a layer or decoration of something applied:
an overlay of gold.
7.
Printing.
a shaped piece of paper, or a sheet of paper reinforced at the proper places by shaped pieces, put on the tympan of a press to increase or equalize the impression.
a method of preparing copy for multicolor printing, in which matter for each color is prepared on a transparent sheet that is placed over a key plate, usually the one to be printed in black.
the sheet or sheets so prepared.
8.
a sheet of transparent paper placed over a photograph, a dummy, or other artwork for noting corrections, instructions, mechanical separations, etc.
9.
Computers. software or data in external storage and brought into main storage for execution by replacing or augmenting software or data already there.
10.
a transparent sheet giving special military information not ordinarily shown on maps, used by being placed over the map on which it is based.
11.
a decorative piece of leather or other material stitched on a shoe.
crooned
verb (used without object) 1. to sing or hum in a soft, soothing voice: to croon to a baby. 2. to sing in an evenly modulated, slightly exaggerated manner: Popular singers began crooning in the 1930s. 3. to utter a low murmuring sound. 4. Scot.and North England. to bellow; low. to lament; mourn. verb (used with object) 5. to sing (a song) in a crooning manner. 6. to lull by singing or humming to in a soft, soothing voice: to croon a child to sleep. noun 7. the act or sound of crooning.
gallant
adjective 1. brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous: a gallant knight; a gallant rescue attempt. 2. exceptionally polite and attentive to women; courtly. 3. stately; grand: a gallant pageant. 4. showy, colorful, or stylish, as in dress; magnificent. 5. amorous; amatory. noun 6. a brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man. 7. a man exceptionally attentive to women. 8. a stylish and dashing man. 9. a suitor or lover. 10. a paramour. verb (used with object) 11. to court or act as a lover of (a woman). 12. to escort (a woman). verb (used without object) 13. to attend or pay court as a gallant.
plumage
noun 1. the entire feathery covering of a bird. 2. feathers collectively.
clad
verb 1. a simple past tense and past participle of clothe. adjective, (usually used in combination) 2. dressed: ill-clad vagrants. 3. covered: vine-clad cottages.
regalia
plural noun 1. the ensigns or emblems of royalty, as the crown or scepter. 2. the decorations, insignia, or ceremonial clothes of any office or order. 3. rich, fancy, or dressy clothing; finery: guests wearing formal party regalia. 4. royal rights or privileges.
thatch
noun
1.
Also, thatching. a material, as straw, rushes, leaves, or the like, used to cover roofs, grain stacks, etc.
2.
a covering of such a material.
3.
the leaves of various palms that are used for thatching.
4.
something resembling thatch on a roof, especially thick hair covering the head:
a thatch of unruly red hair.
5.
Horticulture. a tightly bound layer of dead grass, including leaves, stems, and roots, that builds up on the soil surface at the base of the living grass of a lawn.
verb (used with object)
6.
to cover with or as if with thatch.
7.
Horticulture. to remove thatch from (a lawn); dethatch.
prelate
noun
1.
an ecclesiastic of a high order, as an archbishop, bishop, etc.; a church dignitary.
vehemently
adjective 1. zealous; ardent; impassioned: a vehement defense; vehement enthusiasm. 2. characterized by rancor or anger; violent: vehement hostility. 3. strongly emotional; intense or passionate: vehement desire. 4. marked by great energy or exertion; strenuous:
staid
adjective 1. of settled or sedate character; not flighty or capricious. 2. fixed, settled, or permanent. verb 3. Archaic. a simple past tense and past participle of stay1.
spar
noun
1.
Nautical. a stout pole such as those used for masts, etc.; a mast, yard, boom, gaff, or the like.
2.
Aeronautics. a principal lateral member of the framework of a wing of an airplane.
verb (used with object), sparred, sparring.
3.
to provide or make with spars.
flaccid
adjective 1. soft and limp; not firm; flabby: flaccid biceps. 2. lacking force; weak: flaccid prose.
innocuous
adjective 1. not harmful or injurious; harmless: an innocuous home remedy. 2. not likely to irritate or offend; inoffensive; an innocuous remark. 3. not interesting, stimulating, or significant; pallid; insipid: an innocuous novel.
reticence
noun
1.
the state of being reticent, or reserved, especially with regard to speaking freely; restraint:
His natural reticence seemed to disappear under the influence of alcohol.