Vocab 1 Flashcards
Aberration
A departure from what is usual or normal. This word typically has a negative connotation and implies that the departure is unwelcome
Abscond
To leave quickly and secretly, to hide, typically to avoid detection for something illegal
“She absconded with the remaining one thousand dollars”
Alacrity
Eager and enthusiastic willingness
“She accepted the invitation with alacrity”
Anomaly
Deviation from the normal order or rule, abnormality
Approbation
An expression of approval or praise
“the opera met with high approbation”
Arduous
Strenuous, taxing, requiring significant effort
Assuage
To ease or lessen
“the letter assuaged the fears of most members”
Audacious
Daring and fearless, recklessly bold
Austere
Without adornment, bare, very simple, severe or strict in manner or appearance
“Conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere”
“An austere man with a rigidly puritanical outlook”
Axiomatic
Taken as a given, self evident, unquestionable
“It is axiomatic that good athletes have a strong mental attitude”
Canonical
Following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards
Canon
A general law, rule, or principle, often religious in nature
“the appointment violated the canons of fair play and equal opportunity”
Capricious
Inclined to change one’s mind impulsively, erratic, unpredictable
Censure
To criticize severely, to officially rebuke
“a judge was censured for a variety of types of injudicious conduct”
Chicanery
The use of trickery to achieve a political, legal, or financial purpose
“the candidate only won the election through chicanery”
Connoisseur
An informed and astute judge in matters of taste, an expert
Convoluted
Complex or complicated
Disabuse
To undeceive, to set right, to persuade someone that an idea or belief is mistaken
Discordant
Conflicting, dissonant or harsh in sound
Disparate
Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar
Effrontery
Extreme boldness, presumptuousness, insolence
“She had the effrontery to ask for two free samples”
Eloquent
Well spoken, expressive, articulate
Enervate
To weaken, to reduce in vitality
“the heat enervated us all”
Ennui
Dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy, a feeling of listlessness
“The endless lecture produced an unbearable ennui”
Equivocate
To use ambiguous language with deceptive intent
When asked directly for his position on the issue, the candidate only equivocated
Equivocal
Open to more than one interpretation, ambiguous
Erudite
Very learned, scholarly
Exculpate
To exonerate, to clear of blame
“The court exculpated him after a thorough investigation”
Exigent
Urgent, pressing, requiring immediate action or attention
Extemporaneous
Improvised, done without preparation
“Caught by surprise, I had to make an extemporaneous speech at the awards banquet”
Filibuster
Intentional obstruction, especially using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action