Vocab Flashcards
Anosmic
A.
-Having impaired senseofsmell
-Relating to the loss of… = anosmatic
N.
anosmia
Untenable
A.
incapable of being defended or justified•One can put oneself into a false position, ultimately into an untenable position
Palindrome
A word, phrase or sentence that is the same both backwards and forwards is called a palindrome
Non zero-sum/ Positive-sum game
In such games, participants can all benefit and there doesn’t have to be a winner and a loser. But even if there are, the net result will still be greater than zero
logogrammatic
language, where each symbol represents a word or a concept rather than sounds or phonemes
(Subset of semasiographic languages)
Semasiographic languages can also use pictures/signs/symbols
Hyperscale server
A system that can handle high amounts of data and traffic using automation, elasticity and redundancy in most cases
Panacea
A solution for all difficulties or a remedy for all diseases
Vogue
Popular/Fashionable
Voguing- Dancing with poses used by runway models and catwalks
Allistic
Not autistic
Lampoon
Publicly ridicule using irony or sarcasm
Tetrapod
4-footed animal
Beleaguered
In a difficult situation OR surrounded by enemy forces OR to annoy persistently
Flummoxed
Bewildered or perplexed
Syzygy
The alignment of three celestial objects OR a pair of connected things e.g. opposites
Regolith
Layer of inorganic, loose material covering the bedrock of a planet e.g. soil and alluvium
De facto
Is a matter of fact without being formally/legally recognised
Akimbo
Hands on hips with elbows out OR limbs flailing haphazardly
Gulf
Deep inlet of sea, almost surrounded by land but with a narrow mouth
A chasm, ravine or abyss
Clandestine
Done secretly, usually because it’s illicit
Inexorable
Impossible to stop, prevent or persuade
Ostensibly
Appears to be true, but not necessarily so
Irrigate
Supply water to (land or crops) to help growth, typically by means of channels
Wash out (an organ or wound) with a continuous flow of water or medication
Debacle
A sudden and ignominious (deserved and may cause public disgrace) failure
Virulent
Severe or harmful poison OR
Bitterly hostile
Couturier
a fashion designer who manufactures and sells clothes tailored to a client’s measurements and specific requirements
Detente
the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries
Subsist
maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level
(Relating to law) Remain in force or effect
Nepotism
granting an advantage, privilege, or position to relatives or friends in an occupation\field
Less broadly - Cronyism:
Appointing friends to a position of authority without regard for qualifications
Eponymous
Person, place or thing that something else is named after, person or otherwise, and vice versa
Obdurate
stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action
Capricious
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood/behaviour
No following any patterned rules; unpredictable
Deus ex machina
A plot device: a seemingly unsolvable problem or hopeless situation is resolved by an unexpected/unlikely occurrence.
E.g. Aliens have landed and governments are mobilising the military in a disjointed effort for interspace warfarw; however the aliens remain peaceful and have communicated their intention to help us perceive time as a sixth sense, a gift for us helping their species 3000 years in the future.
Hellacious
Greatly bad and/or overwhelming
Esprit de corps
‘Spirit of the body’ in French where ‘body’ refers to a group of people who have a shared feeling of loyalty and pride from having done something different
Catatonic
lack of movement, activity, or expression; irresponsive to the environment or others
Cadre
A group of activists in a revolutionary organisation OR
A small group of people trained for a specific purpose or profession
Edifying
Providing moral and/or intellectual instruction
Elysium
A fictitious or mythical place where there is ideal happiness
Misnomer
A wrong or inaccurate name for something
Venerable
Given great respect, usually because of age, wisdom or character
Accord
Grant power/recognition/status OR
To act harmoniously with something
Appraisal
Assessing the value/worth of something OR the effort of an employee
Burgeoning
Beginning to grow or increase rapidly; flourishing
Serendipity
A penchant for making good things happen by sheer chance
Slavishly
In a servile, submissive manner with no attempt to be original
Antediluvian
Hilariously old-fashioned; belonging to a time before the Biblical flood
Circumscribed
Restricted within limits
OR
Of a shape incompletely inside another shape
Sinecure
A position requiring little work but pertaining to status and financial benefits
Stipend
A fixed sum paid regularly when a person is upskilling, for services or even with no strings attached
Subsidise
Government or organizations providing financial support
OR specifically given to manufacturers to reduce cost of production and ultimately selling prices
Arable
Used or suitable for growing crops
Placate
Make someone less angry or hostile
(Placates-3rd person present tense)
Endogenous
Having an internal cause or origin
Sine qua non
Absolutely essential
Luminary
A person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere
Adroit
Clever or skillful
Internecine
Destructive to both sides //
Relating to conflict within a group
Reneged
Go back on a promise/undertaking/contract
OR
abandon/renounce
Metanarrative
A narrative account that explores/experiments with the idea of storytelling (usually does so by drawing attention to its own artificiality)
OR
An overarching account/interpretation of events that provides a structure/pattern for people’s beliefs and gives meaning to their experiences
Depose
To testify or give evidence under oath e.g. a written statement
OR
To forcefully remove from position
