Vocab 1 Flashcards
1
Q
Acerbic
A
[uh-sir-bick] - Sharp and forthright in speech or manner; tasting sour or bitter.
2
Q
Aboveboard
A
[uh-buv-bord] - Honest, open, and legal.
3
Q
Adage
A
[ad-ij] - A short, wise saying that expresses a general truth.
4
Q
Alabaster
A
[al-uh-bas-ter] - A smooth, white, translucent mineral used for carving or decoration.
5
Q
Alack
A
[uh-lak] - An archaic expression of sorrow or regret.
6
Q
Antecedents
A
[an-tuh-seed-ents] - The things or events that came before something else.
7
Q
Apathetic
A
[ap-uh-thet-ik] - Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
8
Q
Apothegms
A
[ap-uh-thems] - A concise, witty, and instructive remark or saying.
9
Q
Appellation
A
[ap-uh-lay-shun] - A name or title given to someone or something.
10
Q
Apposite
A
[ap-uh-zit] - Highly relevant and appropriate.
11
Q
Arcane
A
[ar-kane] - Understood by only a few; mysterious or secret.
12
Q
Archdiocese
A
[arch-dye-uh-sis] - The district for which an archbishop is responsible.
13
Q
Arrogate
A
[air-uh-gate] - To claim or take something without justification.
14
Q
Austere
A
[aw-steer] - Severely simple or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.
15
Q
Avarice
A
[av-uh-ris] - Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
16
Q
Balk
A
[bawk] - To hesitate or refuse to accept an idea or undertaking.
17
Q
Begrudge
A
[bih-gruhj] - To resent another’s success or to give reluctantly.
18
Q
Behoove
A
[bih-hoov] - To be necessary, proper, or advantageous for someone.
19
Q
Besiege
A
[bih-seej] - To surround with armed forces; to overwhelm.
20
Q
Bilious
A
[bil-yus] - Bad-tempered or irritable; relating to bile.
21
Q
Bouffant
A
[boo-fahnt] - A style of hair arranged to be puffed out.
22
Q
Brevity
A
[brev-ih-tee] - Concise and exact use of words; shortness of duration.
23
Q
Bridle
A
[bry-dl] - To restrain or show resentment.
24
Q
Buxom
A
[buk-sum] - Plump, healthy-looking, and cheerful.
25
Cadaverous
[kuh-dav-er-us] - Resembling a corpse in being pale or gaunt.
26
Caustic
[kaw-stick] - Sarcastic and biting; capable of burning or corroding.
27
Choleric
[kol-er-ik] - Easily angered or bad-tempered.
28
Circumscribe
[sir-kum-skryb] - To restrict or limit.
29
Cogent
[koh-jent] - Clear, logical, and convincing.
30
Colloidal
[kuh-loid-uhl] - Relating to a mixture in which particles are dispersed in another substance.
31
Conflate
[kun-flate] - To combine two or more things into one.
32
Conspicuous
[kun-spik-yoo-us] - Easily seen or attracting notice.
33
Convivial
[kun-viv-ee-uhl] - Friendly, lively, and enjoyable.
34
Curmudgeon
[ker-muh-jun] - A bad-tempered or stubborn person.
35
Decorticate
[dee-kor-ti-kate] - To remove the outer covering or layer of something.
36
Deign
[dayn] - To do something that one considers beneath their dignity.
37
Demarcations
[dee-mar-kay-shuns] - Boundaries or limits that separate things.
38
Demesne
[dih-main] - Land attached to a manor and retained for the owner's use.
39
Desiccated
[des-ih-kay-tid] - Lacking vitality or moisture.
40
Diffidence
[dif-ih-dense] - Modesty or shyness due to a lack of confidence.
41
Dirge
[durj] - A mournful song or piece of music, especially for a funeral.
42
Dispensation
[dis-pen-say-shun] - Special permission to be exempt from a rule or requirement.
43
Dogmatic
[dog-mat-ik] - Inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.
44
Encephalitis
[en-sef-uh-ly-tis] - Inflammation of the brain, often due to infection.
45
Ennui
[on-wee] - A feeling of boredom and dissatisfaction.
46
Ephemeral
[ih-fem-er-uhl] - Lasting for a very short time.
47
Epithet
[ep-ih-thet] - A descriptive phrase expressing a characteristic of the person or thing.
48
Equanimity
[ek-wuh-nim-ih-tee] - Mental calmness and composure under stress.
49
Eponym
[ep-uh-nim] - A person after whom a discovery, invention, or place is named.
50
Ersatz
[er-zats] - Made or used as a substitute, usually of lower quality.
51
Esoteric
[es-uh-ter-ik] - Intended for or understood by only a small, specialized audience.
52
Eschatology
[es-kuh-tol-uh-jee] - The study of the end of the world or ultimate destiny of humankind.
53
Excogitate
[eks-kaw-juh-tate] - To think out or devise a plan carefully.
54
Excoriate
[eks-kor-ee-ate] - To criticize harshly or remove the surface of the skin.
55
Obsequious
[ub-see-kwee-us] - Excessively obedient or submissive, often to gain favor.
56
Obstreperous
[ub-strep-uh-rus] - Noisy, difficult to control, and aggressively defiant.
57
Ostensible
[os-ten-suh-bul] - Appearing to be true, but possibly not actually so.
58
Orotund
[or-uh-tund] - Full, rich, and pompous in sound or speech.
59
Opalescent
[oh-puh-les-unt] - Showing a shimmering, milky iridescence.
60
Temerity
[tuh-mer-ih-tee] - Reckless boldness or excessive confidence.
61
Trestles
[tres-uls] - A framework used to support a tabletop or bridge.
62
Trenchant
[tren-chunt] - Vigorous, sharp, and insightful in expression or style.
63
Ubiquitous
[yoo-bik-wih-tus] - Present or found everywhere at the same time.
64
Unconscionable
[un-kon-shun-uh-bul] - Excessively unreasonable or unethical.
65
Unprepossessing
[un-pree-puh-zess-ing] - Not particularly attractive or impressive.
66
Unstinting
[un-stin-ting] - Generous and without holding back.
67
Venerate
[ven-uh-rate] - To regard with deep respect or reverence.
68
Vicissitude
[vi-sis-ih-tood] - A change of circumstances, often one that is unwelcome.
69
Vermiculate
[ver-mik-yuh-late] - Marked by worm-like patterns or movement.
70
Viscid
[vis-id] - Thick and sticky in consistency.
71
Wanton
[won-tun] - Reckless, undisciplined, or unrestrained in behavior or action.
72
Welter
[wel-ter] - A confused mass or jumble; a state of general disorder.
73
Winsome
[win-sum] - Charming or attractive in an innocent way.
74
Xenodochy
[zen-uh-doh-kee] - The act of being hospitable to strangers or guests.
75
Xiphoid
[zy-foid] - Resembling a sword; relating to the small cartilage at the base of the sternum.
76
Xerosis
[zuh-roh-sis] - Abnormal dryness of the skin, eyes, or membranes.
77
Yen
[yen] - A strong desire or craving for something.
78
Yeoman
[yo-mun] - A diligent and dependable worker, often a farmer or minor landowner.
79
Yoke
[yohk] - To join or bind together, especially in labor or hardship.
80
Zymurgy
[zy-mur-jee] - The branch of chemistry concerned with fermentation and brewing.
81
Zoetrope
[zo-uh-trope] - A device that produces the illusion of motion from a rapid sequence of images.
82
Zaftig
[zahf-tig] - Having a full, rounded, and well-proportioned figure.
83
Sagacious
[suh-gay-shus] - Having keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise.
84
Salient
[say-lee-unt] - Most noticeable or important; standing out.
85
Sanctimonious
[sank-tih-moh-nee-us] - Making a show of being morally superior to others.
86
Sanguine
[sang-gwin] - Optimistic or hopeful, especially in a difficult situation.
87
Sapient
[say-pee-unt] - Possessing great wisdom or intelligence.
88
Sardonic
[sar-don-ik] - Grimly mocking or cynical.
89
Scabrous
[skay-brus] - Indecent, scandalous, or rough in texture.
90
Scintillating
[sin-till-ay-ting] - Sparkling or brilliantly clever.
91
Scurrilous
[skur-uh-lus] - Insulting, offensive, or vulgar in speech or writing.
92
Sedulous
[sed-juh-lus] - Showing dedication and diligence.
93
Seminal
[sem-ih-nul] - Highly original and influential in shaping future ideas.
94
Sententious
[sen-ten-shus] - Excessively moralizing; pithy and concise in expression.
95
Sepulchral
[suh-pul-kruhl] - Gloomy, dismal, or relating to a tomb.
96
Sequacious
[sih-kway-shus] - Lacking independence of thought; following others blindly.
97
Serendipity
[ser-en-dip-ih-tee] - The occurrence of fortunate events by chance.
98
Servitors
[sur-vi-torz] - Attendants or servants.
99
Sibilant
[sib-ih-lant] - A hissing sound, like “s” or “sh.”
100
Sidereal
[sy-deer-ee-uhl] - Relating to the stars or constellations.
101
Simulacrum
[sim-yuh-lay-krum] - A representation or imitation of something.
102
Sinecure
[sy-nih-kyoor] - A job or position requiring little work but offering financial benefit.
103
Solipsistic
[sol-ip-sis-tik] - Believing that only one’s own mind is certain to exist.
104
Somnolent
[som-nuh-lunt] - Sleepy or drowsy.
105
Sophistry
[sof-uh-stree] - The use of clever but false arguments, intended to deceive.
106
Spurious
[spyoor-ee-us] - Not genuine, false, or deceitful.
107
Staid
[stayed] - Serious, dignified, and unadventurous.
108
Stentorian
[sten-tor-ee-un] - Loud, powerful, and commanding in sound.
109
Strident
[stry-dent] - Loud and harsh; grating.
110
Subjugate
[sub-juh-gate] - To bring under control, often by force.
111
Subreptitious
[sub-rep-tish-us] - Secretly obtained or done by stealth.
112
Succor
[suk-er] - Help or assistance given in a time of distress.
113
Suffuse
[suh-fyooz] - To gradually spread through or over something.
114
Supercilious
[soo-per-sil-ee-us] - Arrogantly disdainful or superior.
115
Supererogatory
[soo-per-uh-rog-uh-tor-ee] - Going beyond what is required or expected.
116
Susurrus
[su-sur-us] - A soft, murmuring or rustling sound.
117
Suzerain
[soo-zuh-rain] - A sovereign or state that has control over another state that governs itself but owes allegiance.
118
Sybaritic
[sib-uh-rit-ik] - Fond of luxury and self-indulgence.
119
Sycophant
[sik-uh-fant] - A person who flatters powerful people to gain favor.
120
Sylph
[silf] - A slender, graceful woman; a mythical air spirit.
121
Syncretic
[sin-kret-ik] - Combining different beliefs, cultures, or schools of thought.
122
Synecdoche
[sih-nek-duh-kee] - A figure of speech where a part represents the whole or vice versa.
