Unit 5 Flashcards
Impede
(v) hold back, obstruct the progress of
Skirt
(v) border, lie along the edge of , go around; evade
Fathom
(v) measure the depth of (usually of water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand
Figurative
(adj) metaphorical, based on figures of speech; containing many figures of speech (as fancy-sounding writing); related to portraying human or animals figures
complacent
(adj) self-satisfied, smug; overly content (and therefore lazy, neglectful, or some other bad quality)
Fallacious
(ad) containing a fallacy, or mistake in logic; logically unsound; deceptive
Inadvertent
(adj) unintentional; characterized by a lack of attention, careless
Pronounced
(adj) distinct, strong, clearly indicated
Polarized
(adj) divided into sharply opposed groups
balk
(v) refuse to proceed or to do something
aggrandize
(v) make greater; exaggerate
Offhand
(adj) casual, informal; done without preparation or forethought; rude in a short way, brusque
Remedial
(adj) providing a remedy, curative; correcting a deficient skill
Orthodox
(adj) adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted
deflect
(v) cause to curve; turn aside, esp. from a straight course; avoid
Precarious
(adj) unstable, insecure, dangerous
Principled
(adj) having high moral standards
acme
(n) summit, peak, highest point
belie
(v) contradict or misrepresent
chronological
(adj) arranged in or relating to time order
Egalitarian
(adj) related to the belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social spheres
Enhance
(v) raise to a higher value, desirability, etc.
Abdicate
(v) formally give up the throne (or some other power or responsibility)
Satiate or Sate
(v) to fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying to the point of excess (possibly inducing disgust, tiredness, etc.)
Inchoate
(adj) just begun, undeveloped, unorganized
Respectively
(adv) in the order given
confer
(v) consult, compare views; bestow or give
Stingy
(adj) not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give
Subside
(v) sink, settle down, become less active; return to a normal level
corroborate
(v) support, add evidence to
Foreshadow
(v) indicate or suggest beforehand, presage
Fringe
(n, adj) on the margin, periphery (adj); the people in a group who hold the most extreme views (noun)
austere
(adj) severe in manner or appearance; very self-disciplined, ascetic; without luxury or ease; sober or serious
aggregate
(v, adj) gather together, amount to (verb); constituting a whole made up of constituent parts (adj)
decorous
(adj) behaving with propriety and good taste; polite
Paradigm
(n) model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.
Spartan
(adj) very disciplined and stern; frugal, living simply, austere; suggestive of the ancient Spartans
Phony
(adj) fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine
Supersede
(v) replace, take the position of, cause to be disregarded as void or obsolete
anomaly
(n) deviation from what is common; inconsistency
dismiss
(v) allow to disperse or leave; fire from a job; put aside or reject, esp. after only a brief consideration
disposition
(n) a person’s general or natural mood; tendency
Torrid
(adj) very hot, parching, burning; passionate
Occult
(n, adj, v) the supernatural (noun); pertaining to magic, astrology, etc.; mysterious, secret or hidden (adj); to hide, to shut off from view
Recluse
(n) person who lives in seclusion
Foment
(v) incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of; apply medicated liquid to a body part
Ingenuous
(adj) genuine, sincere, not holding back; naive
bygone
(adj, n) past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually plural noun)
Substantiate
(v) support with evidence or proof; give a material existence to
avid
(adj) enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous
Nevertheless/Nonetheless
(adv) however, even so, despite that
caustic
(adj) capable of corroding metal or burning the skin; very critical or sarcastic
Prologue
(n) introductory part to a book, play, etc.
Timorous
(adj) fearful, timid
Ephemeral
(adj) lasting only a short time, fleeting
Ponderous
(adj) heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored
Impair
(v) make worse, weaken
Placid
(adj) peaceful, calm, tranquil
diatribe
(n) bitter, abusive attack or criticism; rant
Incorporate
(v) combine, unite; form a legal corporation; embody, give physical form to
Gawky
(adj) physically awkward (esp. of a tall, skinny person, often used to describe teenagers)
Peccadillo
(n) small sin or fault
compliant
(adj) obeying, submissive; following the requirements
craven
(adj) very cowardly, lacking courage
debase
(v) degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral quality
Innocuous
(adj) harmless, inoffensive
ambiguous
(adj) not clear, hard to understand, open to having several meanings or interpretations
culminate
(v) reach the highest point or final stage
abjure
(v) give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath)
countenance
(n, v) facial expression or face (noun); approve or tolerate (verb)
diverge
(v) differ, deviate; branch off or turn aside, as from a path
console
(v, n) lessen the suffering or grief of (verb); a control panel, or small table or cabinet (noun)
counterintuitive
(adj) against what one would intuitively expect
autonomous
(adj) self-governing, independent
construe
(v) interpret or translate
Fidelity
(n) faithful, loyalty; strict observance of duty; accuracy in reproducing a sound or image
augment
(v) make larger
Abhor
(v) detest, regard with disgust
Officious
(adj) excessively eager in giving unwanted advice or intruding where one is not wanted; meddlesome, pushy
Scathing
(adj) severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical (as a remark)
buttress
(v, n) support or encourage (verb); a support or prop, esp. projecting from and supporting the wall of a building (noun)
din
(n) loud, confused noise, esp. for a long period of time
Makeshift
(n, adj) a temporary, often improvised, substitute (noun); improvised for temporary use (adj)
Intelligible
(adj) able to understood, clear
Incipient
(adj) just beginning; in a very early stage
delineate
(v) mark the outline of; sketch; describe in detail
Negate
(v) deny or refute; make void or cause to be ineffective
disperse
(v) scatter, spread widely, cause to vanish
Standing
(n, adj) status, rank, reputation (noun); existing indefinitely, not movable (adj)
deference
(n) respectful submission; yielding to the authority or opinion of another
Germane
(adj) relevant and appropriate, on topic
Hyperbole
(n) deliberate exaggeration for effect
Optimal/Optimum
(adj) best, most desirable or favorable
abrasive
(adj) rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance
Libertine
(n) morally or sexually unrestrained person; freethinker (regarding religion)
debunk
(v) expose, ridicule, or disprove false or exaggerated claims
Divest
(v) deprive or strip of rank, title, etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell off holdings (opposite of invest)
deride
(v) mock, scoff at, laugh at contemptuously
Sap
(n, v) the inner fluid of a plant or any essential body fluid; energy, vitality; a person taken advantage of (noun); undermine, weaken, tire out (verb)
Gauche
(adj) tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude
