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Vocab > Vocab 2 > Flashcards

Vocab 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Sangfroid

A

Composure, equanimity, aplomb, self possession

Composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances

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2
Q

Appose

A

Place (something) in proximity to it juxtaposition to something else

The specimen was apposed to x-Ray film

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3
Q

Bleated

A

Speak or complain in a weak, querulous, or foolish way

He bleated incoherently about the report.

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4
Q

Piteous

A

Deserving or arousing pity

Sad, pitiful, pathetic

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5
Q

Besmirch

A

Damage the reputation of someone or something in the opinion of others
Sully, tarnish, blacken, disgrace, debase

He besmirched the good name of his family

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6
Q

Turpitude

A

Depravity, wickedness

Acts of moral turpitude

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7
Q

Dissolution

A

The closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership or official body.

Dissolution of their marriage
Cessation, conclusion, discontinuation,

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8
Q

Vitiate

A

Spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of

Development programs have been vitiated by the rise in population

Destroy or impair the legal validity of

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9
Q

Aggrandize

A

Increase the power, the status or wealth of
An action intended to aggrandize the Frankish dynasty

Enhance the reputation of someone beyond what is justified by the fact
He hoped to aggrandize himself by dying a Hero’s death

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10
Q

Derogated from

A

To take way, detract
An error that will derogate from your reputation

Deviate from a standard

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11
Q

Bedizened

A

Dressed up or decorated gaudily

A dress Bedizened with resplendent military medals

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12
Q

Protean

A

Tending or able to change frequently or easily
Ever-changing, variable

The protean nature of mental disorders

Able to do many different things, versatile, adaptable, flexible, multifaceted

A remarkably protean composer

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13
Q

Neologism

A

A newly coined word or expression

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14
Q

Roundly

A

Emphatically, so thoroughly as to leave no doubt, 100%

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15
Q

Panned

A

Reviewed negatively

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16
Q

Turgid

A

Stiff

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17
Q

Prodigal

A

Wasteful

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18
Q

Coda

A

The concluding passage of a piece of movement

Concluding event, section

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19
Q

Homily

A

A sermon, religious lecture/discourse

Tedious moralizing discourse
She delivered her homily about the need for patience

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20
Q

Inured to

A

Hardened or desensitized to something as a result of seeing too much if it

Accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant
Sun: harden, toughen

Law - come into operation, effect

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21
Q

Maudlin (over)

A

Self-pitying, or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkeness

Over sentimental, emotional, lachrymose
The drink made her maudlin

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22
Q

Agglomerate

A

Collect or form into a mass or group (coming together as a group for the first time)

More for things than people

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23
Q

Anachhronisns

A

Something that doesn’t belong in the time period - can be past, present or future

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24
Q

Autodidacts

A

Self-taught person

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25
Q

Recidivists

A

People who return to committing crimes

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26
Q

Utilitarians

A

Practical, make practical arguments

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27
Q

Libertines

A

Philanderer, playboy

Freethinker

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28
Q

Myrmidon

A

A hired fighter or unscrupulous subordinate

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29
Q

Depredate

A

To plunder, prey upon, pillage, ravage

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30
Q

Quagmire

A

Swamp

An awkward, complex or hazardous situation
Predicament, quandary, imbroglio
A legal quagmire

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31
Q

Syncopate

A

Shorten, music term

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32
Q

Providential

A

Diving the future

Occurring at a favorable time, opportune, advantageous, favorable, auspicious, propitiousg

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33
Q

Vanquished

A

Defeat, conquer, trounce, rout

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34
Q

Cajole

A

Persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery
He hoped to cajole her into selling the house
Persuade, wheedle, coax, talk into

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35
Q

Lackey

A 
A servant 
Someone who obeys others
Aka toady, sycophant, flatterer
Verb
Behave servilely, to wait upon
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36
Q

Obsequious

A

Servile, sycophant, unctuous, ingratiating

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37
Q

Mercenary

A

Professional solider
Someone primarily concerned with money, at the expense of ethics
Avaricious

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38
Q

Tremulous

A

Shaky, trembling

Timid, nervous
Diffident, timorousness scared, anxious

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39
Q

Chary

A

Wary, cautiously or suspiciously reluctant to do something
C

Chary of allowing themselves to be photographed

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40
Q

Sentries

A

Guards

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41
Q

Fecund

A

Fertile

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42
Q

Desuetade

A

Disuse, falls out of use, like a law

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43
Q

Complaisant

A

Willing to please others, obliging, agreeable

Acquiescent, amenable

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44
Q

Puissant

A

Having great power or influence

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45
Q

Restive

A

Recalcitrant; unable to keep still or silent and difficult to control (BC of impatience, dissatisfaction or boredom)

Unruly, disorderly, uncontrollable, unmanageable.

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46
Q

Impervious

A

Impenetrable

Unable to be affected by; untouched by, resistant to

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47
Q

Efficacious

A

Effective, effectual, successful

Successful in product a desired or intended result

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48
Q

Sanguine

A

Optimistic or positive, especially in a bad situation

Bullish, buoyant, hopeful

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49
Q

Consanguineous

A

People that come from the same ancestor

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50
Q

Risible

A

Laughable

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51
Q

Arch

A

Mischievous, playful, roguish

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52
Q

Verdant

A

Green and lush - can be used as a metaphor to describe someone new and experienced.

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53
Q

Facile

A

Simplistic, superficial, by ignoring true complexities of a situation

For sports or of success - effortless victory

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54
Q

Convivial

A

Sociable, outgoing

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55
Q

Artifices

A

Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others
Trickery, guile, chicanery

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56
Q

Beguile

A

Charm or enchant someone, sometimes in a deceptive way

Charm, attract, captivate

Help time pass pleasantly
Entertain, amuse, delight

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57
Q

Variegated

A

Multicolored

Marked by variety

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58
Q

Motley

A

Exhibiting great diversity of elements

A motley crowd

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59
Q

Ascetic

A

Austere
Characterizing by severe self-discipline and abstention

Reclusive

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60
Q

Seraph

A

An angelic being, cherub

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61
Q

Parlous

A

Full of danger or uncertainty, precarious

Bad, dire, dreadful

The parlous state of the economy

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62
Q

Pellucid

A

Translucently clear

Mountains reflected in the pellucid waters

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63
Q

Excogitate

A

Think out, plan or devise

Scholars strain to ecogitate upon subjects of which they know little

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64
Q

Fatuous

A

Silly and pointless, stupid, vacuous, asinine

Fatuous comment

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65
Q

Nonplussed

A

Surprised and confused, so much that they’re are unsure how to react

Of a person - not disconcerted, unperturbed

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66
Q

Belie

A

Disguise or contradict
Fail to give a true notion or impression of something

Fail to fulfill or justify; betray

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67
Q

Spurious

A

Not being what it purports to be; false or fake, fraudulent, specious

Apparently but not actually valid

Illegitimate

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68
Q

Aspersion

A

An attack in the reputation or integrity of someone or something

No one is casting aspersions on you

Vilify, disparage, denigrate, impugn, belittle

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69
Q

Ruminate

A

Contemplate, think about deeply

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70
Q

Disabuse

A

Persuade someone that an idea or belief is mistaken

Set straight

He disabused me of my fanciful notions

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71
Q

Probity

A

Honesty and decency, integrity

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72
Q

Sidereal

A

Of or with respect to the distant stars

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73
Q

Insidious

A

Proceeding in a gradual subtle way, but with harmful effects (surreptitious)

Treacherous, crafty

An insidious alliance

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74
Q

Addlepated

A

Confused, stupid, flustered

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75
Q

Addled

A

Unable to think clearly, confused this might just be my addled brain playing tricks

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76
Q

Akimbo

A

Flung out widely or haphazardly

Bent or vowed

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77
Q

Askance

A

With an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval

Suspiciously, skeptically

The reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition

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78
Q

Obtuse

A

Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand

Stupid, slow-witted

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79
Q

Stasis

A

A period or state of inactivity or equilibrium

Civil strife

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80
Q

Aphorism

A

A pithy observation that contains a general truth

Saying, maxim, axiom, adage, epigram, dictum

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81
Q

Presage

A

Be a sign or warning that something typically bad will happen

Portend, augur, foreshadow

Omen, sign, indication

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82
Q

Deftly

A

Skillful, non ill, dexterous, humble

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83
Q

Coltish

A

Energetic, but awkward in ones movement or behavior

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84
Q

Harbinger

A

A person or thing that announces or singles the approach of another

Herald, sign, indications, augury, presage

A forerunner of something

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85
Q

Blithe

A

Causual, indifferent, uncaring

A blithe disregard for the rules of the road

Happy or joyous

A blithe seaside comedy

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86
Q

Salubrious

A

Healthy, healthy-giving, beneficial

Salubrious weather

Pleasant, not run-down, enjoyable, pleasurable

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87
Q

Incendiary

A

Flammable

Tending to stir up conflict
Pro active, seditious, agitator

Very exciting

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88
Q

Cursory

A

Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

Perfunctory, desultory, casual

-a cursory glance

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89
Q

Jejune

A

immature, naive, Simplistic, superficial
Dull, insipid

Dry and uninteresting (ideas, writing)

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90
Q

Modish

A

Fashionable, stylish,

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91
Q

Doctrinaire

A

Seeking to impose doctrine in all circumstances without regard to practical considerations

Dogmatic, rigid, flexible, uncompromising

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92
Q

Mirth

A

Amusement, especially laughter

Merriment, hilarity, laughter

We could not hold back our mirth

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93
Q

Obloquy

Obloquies

A

A surly detracting language, calumny

Strong public verbal a used public criticism,
Vilification, opprobrium, vituperation

Disgrace, especially that brought about by public abuse

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94
Q

Pulchritudes

A

Beauty

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95
Q

Parsimony

A

Really cheap - absolutely not willing to spend money

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96
Q

Quiescent

A

Inactive, inert, idle, dormant

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97
Q

Effacement

A

To wipe out, do away with, expunge

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98
Q

Trenchant

A

Sharp, penetrating, incisive

Vigorous or incisive in expression or style

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99
Q

Insipid

A

Lacking flavor
Tasteless, bland

Lacking vigor or interest
Unimaginative, lackluster

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100
Q

Orthodoxy

A

Adherence to correct or accepted creeds

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101
Q

Metastasize

A

Spread to other sites in the body

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102
Q

Brusque

A

Abrupt or offhand in speech or manner

Curt, abrupt, blunt, peremptory

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103
Q

Dissipate

Dissipation

A

Disperse or scatter
Squander (money, energy, resources)

debauched living, dissolution

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104
Q

heralded

A

acclaim - signal acclaim, highly publicized

signal that something is about to happen - indicate

it can be a neutral word - not just a “victory”

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105
Q

semiotics

A

the study, intepretation or ability to read signs

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106
Q

careen

A

move swiftly in an uncontrolled way in a specifiied direction

rush, hurtle
the car careened down the highway

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107
Q

tarry

A

linger, loiter

stay longer than intended; delay leaving a place.

they tarried by the lake

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108
Q

vainglorious

A

showing too much pride in your achievements

super arrogant

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109
Q

rectitude

A

righteousness, goodness, integrity

morally correct behavior, thinking

Maddie is a model of rectitude.

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110
Q

consecrate

A

make or declare as sacred
ordain to a religious office
make holy

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111
Q

plaudits

A

praise, acclaim, commendation, congrats

applause of an audience

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112
Q

dissolution

A

the closing down or dismissal
cessation, conclusion

disintegration

debauched lived, dissipation

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113
Q

jocular

A

humorous, joking, playful, witty

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114
Q

arcadian

A

idealized country dweller or rustic paradise

115
Q

apollonian

A

Of or relating to the rational, self-ordered, and self-disciplined aspects of human nature

opposite of Dionsynsian

116
Q

stonewall

A

to stall, delay or block, particularly by using evasive tactics

the highest level of governments stonewalled our request

delay or block (a request, process, or person) by refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive replies, especially in politics.

117
Q

prudish

A

puritanical, priggish (self-righteous), prim and proper, sententious (moralistic),

do not even want to hear about sexual matters,

118
Q

censorious

A

super critical of others

119
Q

sophistry

A

the use of fallacious arguments, esp for the intention of deceiving

120
Q

fallacy

A

misconception, misbelief

a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument.

a failure in reasoning that renders an argument invalid

121
Q

boosterism

A

an enthusiastic promotion of a person, organization or cause

122
Q

effete

A

1) (of a person) affected, overrefined, pretentious
effete trendies from art college - aka hipsters!

2) No longer capable of effective action - weak, ineffective, powerless, enervated
the fabric of society is effete

123
Q

effrontery

A

impertinent or insolent behavior
audacity, temerity - rude to ask certain questions

one juror had the effrontery to challenge science

124
Q

fulmination

A

protest, objection, tirade, obloquy

an expression of vehement protest.

125
Q

ululation

A

long, high-pitch sound - cry loudly

126
Q

agog

A

very eager or curious to hear or see something

eager, excited

I’m all agog to see London

127
Q

plangent

A

loud, reverberating and melancholy sound

melancholy, mournful, plaintive

128
Q

Stygian

A

very dark, gloomy, or forbidding

the stygian crypt

129
Q

farcical (farce)

A

preposterous, ludicrous, absurd

130
Q

ecumenical

A

broad, far-reaching in extent, influence or application

131
Q

callous

A

heartless
insensitive and cruel disregard for others

his callous comments made her cry

132
Q

adumbrate

A

outline

indicate faintly

foreshadow or symbolize

overshadow

133
Q

adduce

A

cite as evidence

“a number of factors are adduced to explain the situation”
cite, quote, point out, refer to

134
Q

abscond

A

leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detention

“she absconded with the remaining thousand dollars”
run away, escape

135
Q

pander

A

gratify or indulge, satisfy

newspapers pander to people’s insipid tastes

136
Q

arrant

A

complete, utter, thorough, absolute

what arrant nonsense!

137
Q

officious

A

intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice; interfering
self-important, bumptious, overbearing
“an officious bystander”

assertive of authority in a domineering way
“a policeman came to move them on, an officious, spiteful man”

138
Q

sardonic

A

grimly mocking, cynical, ironic

“Starkey attempted a sardonic smile”

139
Q

apposite

A

very appropriate for the given circumstances
suitable, fitting

“an apposite quotation”

suitable, fitting

140
Q

unctuous

A

sycophantic, flattery

141
Q

blather

A

empty talk

142
Q

layperson

A

non-professional

143
Q

perquisites

A

perks

144
Q

factotum

A

handyman, jack of all trades

“he was employed as the general factotum”

145
Q

lassitude

A

having zero energy
lethargy, listlessness, weary

“she was overcome by lassitude and retired to bed”

146
Q

contretemps

A

an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence
“the hotel had to deal with more than one contretemps before the end of the night”

minor dispute or disagreement
quarrel, squable

147
Q

convulsion

A

fit, seizures, attacks (movement of the body in uncontrolled ways)

political upheaval, cataclysm, turmoil
“the political convulsions of the period”

148
Q

pillory

A

attack or ridicule publicly

old jail

149
Q

inane

A

silly, stupid, ludicrous

“don’t constantly badger people with inane questions”

150
Q

inchoate

A

just began and not fully developed,
rudimentary, undeveloped, immature, incipient
“a still inchoate democracy”

151
Q

agonistic

A

argumentative, combative (esp relationships)

152
Q

dispensation

A

exemption from a rule or requirement
immunity, exception
a dispensation from the pop

a system or order of government, org, community, etc

153
Q

plutocracy

A

society governed by the wealthy

an elite or ruling class who derives power from wealth

154
Q

senescent

A

of or relating to growing old

155
Q

conceit

A

excessive pride in oneself
vanity, narcissism

fanciful writing or speech

156
Q

debase

A

reduce something in quality or value, degrade
devalue, demean

lower the moral character of someone
war debases humanity

157
Q

delimit

A

determine the limits or boundaries

establish, set, fix, define, delineate

158
Q

vitreous

A

glass-like

159
Q

grizzled

A

having or streaked with grey hair

gray, graying

160
Q

aleatory, aleatoric

A

dependent upon an uncertain event

of or relating to luck, particularly bad luck

161
Q

notional

A

hypothetical

existing only in the imagination

162
Q

pique

A

stimulating interest

feel irritated or resentful, annoyed

163
Q

remuneration

A

payment

164
Q

interlocutory

A

provisional, temporary

165
Q

genteel

A

polite, refined, respectable, decorous, well-mannered

the genteel southern gentleman

166
Q

explicate

A

analyze or develop an idea in detail

explain

167
Q

interpolate

A

addd, insert, incoprorate, interpose, inject

168
Q

earthy

A

(person) direct and uninhibited
bawldy, ribald, rude
“the storefront is given over to a young, earthy crowd”

(humor) somewhat course and crude
“their good-natured vulgarity and earthy humor”

dirt-like

169
Q

heuristic

A

enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves.
“a “hands-on” or interactive heuristic approach to learning”

170
Q

allegorical

A

symbolic, representative, emblematic

171
Q

convoke

A

call together or someone (as in a meeting)

convene, summon, call together

172
Q

retch(ing)

A

gag, heave, almost vomit

173
Q

wag

A

joker - someone who makes facetious jokes

174
Q

voluble

A

loquacious, talkative

175
Q

glib

A

fluent and voluble, but insincere and shallow

smooth talker

176
Q

putsch

A

violent attempt to overthrow a government

177
Q

a crack

A

someone who is very good, experience at something

178
Q

jouissance

A

joy

179
Q

dotage

A

foolishness

declining mental facilities (due to old age)

180
Q

floes

A

glaciers

181
Q

patent

A

obvious, evident

182
Q

sop

A

something given to pacify

183
Q

nostrum

A

an ineffective remedy

184
Q

adjuant

A

something that assists or aids

185
Q

quotidian

A

ordinary, every day

186
Q

gospel

A

accepted as fact, agreed upon truth

187
Q

moot

A

no pratical importance

188
Q

contrapuntal

A

two or more independent harmonies

189
Q

contrived

A

not natural, planned

190
Q

asservation

A

emphatic assertion

191
Q

sequelae

A

unintended, secondary consquences

192
Q

hyperbole

A

exaggeration

193
Q

touchstone

A

single important event, place, work, etc.

194
Q

cornerstone

A

foundational, building block element - something the entire society is based upon (Islam, Monarchy, democracy, etc.)

195
Q

choleric

A

bad-tempered or irritable

irascible, grumpy, etc.

196
Q

mordant

A

caustic, trenchant, sardonic, sarcastic

having or showing a sharp or critical quality

197
Q

antipathetic

A

hostile to, dead against
showing or feeling strong aversion
“it is human nature to be antipathetic to change”

198
Q

gainsay

A

deny or contradict a fact
dispute, repudiate, challenge
“it was difficult to gainsay his claim”

speak against or oppose (someone)

199
Q

costive

A

slow or reluctant to speak or form, unforthcoming

“if he did ask her she would become costive”

200
Q

homely

A

unattractive (person)
simple, but cozy and comfortable surroundings
unsophisticated, unpretentious
homely pleasures

201
Q

picayune

A 
petty, worthless
insignficant, of little value
the picayune squabbling of politicians
fussing over a trivial point
English teachers are notorious for being picayune
202
Q

flukes

A

chance occurences, coincidences

203
Q

cad

A

man who behaves dishonorably, particularly toward a woman

the adulterous cad of her husband

204
Q

dirge

A

lament for the dead, elegy

205
Q

anathema

A

something or someone that one vehemently dislikes
a formula curse
an abomination

206
Q

dissumulation

A

concealment of one’s thoughts, feelings, or character; pretense.

deceit, duplicity, subterfuge
“he was capable of great dissimulation and hypocrisy”

207
Q

macabre

A

gruesome, morbid, unearthly

disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury.

a macabre series of deaths.

208
Q

ballast

A

giving stability (to a ship)

209
Q

albatross

A

a source of frustration or guilt, an encumbrance

“an albatross of a marriage”

210
Q

abated

A

subside, decrease

211
Q

gauche

A

awkward, socially awkward

Engineers are gauche.

212
Q

daft

A

silly, absurd

213
Q

tittilate

A

to rouse, tempt or tease

214
Q

titular

A

in name only, ceremonial

eponymous, identifying

215
Q

mollify

A

appease (the anger or anxiety of someone)

reduce the severity, soften

216
Q

simulacrum

A

shitty representation, imitation or substitute
“a bland simulacrum of American soul music”

an image or representation of someone or something.

217
Q

abettor

A

someone who helps someone else committ a crime

218
Q

fissile

A

easily split

219
Q

stanchion

A

upright bar or post

220
Q

dilletante

A

an amateur, layperson

221
Q

redoubtable

A

formidable, esp. as an opponent

awe-inspiring

222
Q

render

A

to provide or give a service

to cause to become, make

223
Q

rend

A

tear something into two or more pieces

cause great emotional pain to a person

224
Q

faddish

A

super stylish, trendy

225
Q

tendentious

A

expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one.

“a tendentious reading of history”

226
Q

denigrate

A

disparage, criticize unfairly, caste aspersions on

227
Q

balkanize

A

to divide a region into smaller (usually mutually hostile) groups

228
Q

Profuse (ly)

A

pour out in abudance

-sweat, apologies, chest hairs

229
Q

contrite

A

to be remorseful

He was filled with contrite

230
Q

extant

A

in existence

231
Q

equivocate

A

speak vaguely, usually with the intention of deceiving

also means ambiguous

the findings of the study were equivocal.

232
Q

sedulous

A

diligent, careful, intentional

he sedulously studyied for the exam, reviewing for 10 minutes each day

233
Q

blinkered

A

limited outlook or understanding

in gambling, a loser tends to have a blinkered outlook if they continue to play, only remembering the losses

234
Q

stem

A

hold back, limit growth

originate in or be caused by

235
Q

checkered

A

varied, mixed up; marked by periods of varied fortune or discreditable incidents.

a checkered past

236
Q

raft (noun)

A

a lot of something

237
Q

involved

A

something that is involved is complex, complicated

238
Q

retiring

A

shy, reluctant

239
Q

expansive

A

wide-ranging

but also communicative talkative, social

240
Q

of moment

A

if something is of moment, it’s important/significant

241
Q

base

A

without moral principles, contemptible, ignobile

she was not so base as to begrudge the beggar

242
Q

scintiliating

A

can also refer to someone who is brilliant and lively

He was renowned for his scintillating lectures.

243
Q

hedge

A

limit or qualify, play it safely

244
Q

flush

A 
turn red (especially in the face), to be in abundance, and
to drive out of hiding?
245
Q

fell

A

terribly evil

246
Q

arch

A

deliberately tease

247
Q

supercilious

A

arrogant

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.

248
Q

beg a question

A

to evade a question, invite an obvious question, or, to ask a question that in itself makes unwarranted assumptions.

249
Q

tender (V)

A

offer something up

250
Q

wanting

A

lacking

251
Q

fleece (V)

A

to deceive

252
Q

wax (V)

A

to increase

253
Q

extrajudicial

A

not legally authorized

not made in court (a settlement, statement, confessions etc)

254
Q

benighted

A

state of absolute ignorance (more or intellectual), typically owing to a lack of opportunity.
“they saw themselves as bringers of culture to poor benighted peoples”

overcome by darkness

255
Q

miserly vs. frugal

A

miserly (-) vs. frugal (+)

miserly has a negative connotation around penny-pinching, whereas frugal means you simply spend money wisely and doesn’t have a negative connotation

256
Q

prevaricate vs. variance

A

prevaricate = speak in an evasive way = equivocate

variance: quality of varying and has nothing to do with prevaricate

257
Q

Demur (v.) vs. Demure (adj.)

A

demur - to object, or show reluctance

demure: is to be shy

258
Q

beautific

A

so happy you radiate

259
Q

Perfunctory vs. Preemptive vs. Peremptory

A

perfunctory = carelessness (like when I do the dishes)

preemptive: to act before someone else does
peremptory: bossy and domineering

260
Q

Indigent (adj.) vs. Indigenous (adj.) vs. Indignant (adj.)

A

indigent: poor
indigenous: relating to a certain area
indignant: to feel anger over a perceived injustice (Indigenous Americans are indignant that they’re land was taken and they’re now indigent Americans.

261
Q

Errant vs. Arrant vs. Errand vs. Err

A

errant: wandering, not sticking to a path (ME), deviating from accepted standards
arrant: complete and utter (usually coupled with negative word) arrant fool, arrant liar
errand: small chore
err: to make an error

262
Q

Artless (adj.) vs. Artful (adj.) vs. Artifice (n.)

A

artful: cunning and wily
artless: naive, guileless, innocent
artifice: is to be artful, it’s trickery - clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others.

263
Q

Expurgate (v.) vs. Expunge (v.)

A

Expurgate: remove controversial or objectionable material (i.e. swear words from songs); censor
expunge: remove or wipe out any trace of (i.e. a crime off your record)

264
Q

Ponderous (adj.) vs. Imponderable (adj./n.)

A

ponderous derives from pondus (pound): to be weighed-down, and to move slowly and in a labored fashion

imponderable: does dervie from ponder, and means unthinkable, impossible to estimate, fathom or figure out

265
Q

Imbroglio

A

describes a confusing, and potentially embarrassing, situation.
comes from the word embroil
The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong
broths, creating an imbroglio that viewers will not soon forget.

266
Q

juggernaut

A

a large force that cannot be stopped

i.e. Napoleon back in the day

267
Q

Schadenfreude

A

laughing in the face of others’ suffering

From his warm apartment window, Stanley reveled in schadenfreude as he laughed at the figures
below, huddled together in the arctic chill.

268
Q

amuck

A

to run amuck - run about in a franzied state, like football fans

269
Q

nabob

A

wealthy, influential person

i.e. the british in india

270
Q

Zeitgeist

A

spirit of the times

Each decade has it’s own zeitgeist

271
Q

Parvenu

A

someone who has recently acquired wealth and risen in class - it’s negative

if you just won the lottery, the french might call you a parvenu

syn: arriviste

272
Q

melee

A

a wild, confusing fight or struggle

273
Q

Hector

A

bully or intimidate

274
Q

Pyrrhic

A

a victory that comes at a great cost

275
Q

panglossian

A

blindly optimistic

276
Q

kafkaesque

A

absurdity we have to deal with living in a
world of faceless bureaucracies.

the DMV..

277
Q

malaprop(ism)

A

using a word incorrectly - or pronuncing it wrong

Dad and his pronunciations

278
Q

Quisling

A

traitor

279
Q

Byzantine

A

intricate and complex (negative connotation)

280
Q

sartorial

A

relating to clothing or dress

Sartorially speaking, he was a lost cause, always wearing mis-matched clothing

281
Q

saturnine

A

to be morose

Deprived of sunlight, humans become saturnine

282
Q

Jaundice

A

cowardly

She was jaundice toward Bob.

283
Q

Bilious

A

constantly angry

Vocab (6 decks)

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