Vocab 2 Flashcards
Sangfroid
Composure, equanimity, aplomb, self possession
Composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances
Appose
Place (something) in proximity to it juxtaposition to something else
The specimen was apposed to x-Ray film
Bleated
Speak or complain in a weak, querulous, or foolish way
He bleated incoherently about the report.
Piteous
Deserving or arousing pity
Sad, pitiful, pathetic
Besmirch
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
Turpitude
Depravity, wickedness
Acts of moral turpitude
Dissolution
The closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership or official body.
Dissolution of their marriage
Cessation, conclusion, discontinuation,
Vitiate
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
Aggrandize
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
Derogated from
To take way, detract
An error that will derogate from your reputation
Deviate from a standard
Bedizened
Dressed up or decorated gaudily
A dress Bedizened with resplendent military medals
Protean
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
Neologism
A newly coined word or expression
Roundly
Emphatically, so thoroughly as to leave no doubt, 100%
Panned
Reviewed negatively
Turgid
Stiff
Prodigal
Wasteful
Coda
The concluding passage of a piece of movement
Concluding event, section
Homily
A sermon, religious lecture/discourse
Tedious moralizing discourse
She delivered her homily about the need for patience
Inured to
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
Maudlin (over)
Self-pitying, or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkeness
Over sentimental, emotional, lachrymose
The drink made her maudlin
Agglomerate
Collect or form into a mass or group (coming together as a group for the first time)
More for things than people
Anachhronisns
Something that doesn’t belong in the time period - can be past, present or future
Autodidacts
Self-taught person
Recidivists
People who return to committing crimes
Utilitarians
Practical, make practical arguments
Libertines
Philanderer, playboy
Freethinker
Myrmidon
A hired fighter or unscrupulous subordinate
Depredate
To plunder, prey upon, pillage, ravage
Quagmire
Swamp
An awkward, complex or hazardous situation
Predicament, quandary, imbroglio
A legal quagmire
Syncopate
Shorten, music term
Providential
Diving the future
Occurring at a favorable time, opportune, advantageous, favorable, auspicious, propitiousg
Vanquished
Defeat, conquer, trounce, rout
Cajole
Persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery
He hoped to cajole her into selling the house
Persuade, wheedle, coax, talk into
Lackey
A servant Someone who obeys others Aka toady, sycophant, flatterer Verb Behave servilely, to wait upon
Obsequious
Servile, sycophant, unctuous, ingratiating
Mercenary
Professional solider
Someone primarily concerned with money, at the expense of ethics
Avaricious
Tremulous
Shaky, trembling
Timid, nervous
Diffident, timorousness scared, anxious
Chary
Wary, cautiously or suspiciously reluctant to do something
C
Chary of allowing themselves to be photographed
Sentries
Guards
Fecund
Fertile
Desuetade
Disuse, falls out of use, like a law
Complaisant
Willing to please others, obliging, agreeable
Acquiescent, amenable
Puissant
Having great power or influence
Restive
Recalcitrant; unable to keep still or silent and difficult to control (BC of impatience, dissatisfaction or boredom)
Unruly, disorderly, uncontrollable, unmanageable.
Impervious
Impenetrable
Unable to be affected by; untouched by, resistant to
Efficacious
Effective, effectual, successful
Successful in product a desired or intended result
Sanguine
Optimistic or positive, especially in a bad situation
Bullish, buoyant, hopeful
Consanguineous
People that come from the same ancestor
Risible
Laughable
Arch
Mischievous, playful, roguish
Verdant
Green and lush - can be used as a metaphor to describe someone new and experienced.
Facile
Simplistic, superficial, by ignoring true complexities of a situation
For sports or of success - effortless victory
Convivial
Sociable, outgoing
Artifices
Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others
Trickery, guile, chicanery
Beguile
Charm or enchant someone, sometimes in a deceptive way
Charm, attract, captivate
Help time pass pleasantly
Entertain, amuse, delight
Variegated
Multicolored
Marked by variety
Motley
Exhibiting great diversity of elements
A motley crowd
Ascetic
Austere
Characterizing by severe self-discipline and abstention
Reclusive
Seraph
An angelic being, cherub
Parlous
Full of danger or uncertainty, precarious
Bad, dire, dreadful
The parlous state of the economy
Pellucid
Translucently clear
Mountains reflected in the pellucid waters
Excogitate
Think out, plan or devise
Scholars strain to ecogitate upon subjects of which they know little
Fatuous
Silly and pointless, stupid, vacuous, asinine
Fatuous comment
Nonplussed
Surprised and confused, so much that they’re are unsure how to react
Of a person - not disconcerted, unperturbed
Belie
Disguise or contradict
Fail to give a true notion or impression of something
Fail to fulfill or justify; betray
Spurious
Not being what it purports to be; false or fake, fraudulent, specious
Apparently but not actually valid
Illegitimate
Aspersion
An attack in the reputation or integrity of someone or something
No one is casting aspersions on you
Vilify, disparage, denigrate, impugn, belittle
Ruminate
Contemplate, think about deeply
Disabuse
Persuade someone that an idea or belief is mistaken
Set straight
He disabused me of my fanciful notions
Probity
Honesty and decency, integrity
Sidereal
Of or with respect to the distant stars
Insidious
Proceeding in a gradual subtle way, but with harmful effects (surreptitious)
Treacherous, crafty
An insidious alliance
Addlepated
Confused, stupid, flustered
Addled
Unable to think clearly, confused this might just be my addled brain playing tricks
Akimbo
Flung out widely or haphazardly
Bent or vowed
Askance
With an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval
Suspiciously, skeptically
The reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition
Obtuse
Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand
Stupid, slow-witted
Stasis
A period or state of inactivity or equilibrium
Civil strife
Aphorism
A pithy observation that contains a general truth
Saying, maxim, axiom, adage, epigram, dictum
Presage
Be a sign or warning that something typically bad will happen
Portend, augur, foreshadow
Omen, sign, indication
Deftly
Skillful, non ill, dexterous, humble
Coltish
Energetic, but awkward in ones movement or behavior
Harbinger
A person or thing that announces or singles the approach of another
Herald, sign, indications, augury, presage
A forerunner of something
Blithe
Causual, indifferent, uncaring
A blithe disregard for the rules of the road
Happy or joyous
A blithe seaside comedy
Salubrious
Healthy, healthy-giving, beneficial
Salubrious weather
Pleasant, not run-down, enjoyable, pleasurable
Incendiary
Flammable
Tending to stir up conflict
Pro active, seditious, agitator
Very exciting
Cursory
Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
Perfunctory, desultory, casual
-a cursory glance
Jejune
immature, naive, Simplistic, superficial
Dull, insipid
Dry and uninteresting (ideas, writing)
Modish
Fashionable, stylish,
Doctrinaire
Seeking to impose doctrine in all circumstances without regard to practical considerations
Dogmatic, rigid, flexible, uncompromising
Mirth
Amusement, especially laughter
Merriment, hilarity, laughter
We could not hold back our mirth
Obloquy
Obloquies
A surly detracting language, calumny
Strong public verbal a used public criticism,
Vilification, opprobrium, vituperation
Disgrace, especially that brought about by public abuse
Pulchritudes
Beauty
Parsimony
Really cheap - absolutely not willing to spend money
Quiescent
Inactive, inert, idle, dormant
Effacement
To wipe out, do away with, expunge
Trenchant
Sharp, penetrating, incisive
Vigorous or incisive in expression or style
Insipid
Lacking flavor
Tasteless, bland
Lacking vigor or interest
Unimaginative, lackluster
Orthodoxy
Adherence to correct or accepted creeds
Metastasize
Spread to other sites in the body
Brusque
Abrupt or offhand in speech or manner
Curt, abrupt, blunt, peremptory
Dissipate
Dissipation
Disperse or scatter
Squander (money, energy, resources)
debauched living, dissolution
heralded
acclaim - signal acclaim, highly publicized
signal that something is about to happen - indicate
it can be a neutral word - not just a “victory”
semiotics
the study, intepretation or ability to read signs
careen
move swiftly in an uncontrolled way in a specifiied direction
rush, hurtle
the car careened down the highway
tarry
linger, loiter
stay longer than intended; delay leaving a place.
they tarried by the lake
vainglorious
showing too much pride in your achievements
super arrogant
rectitude
righteousness, goodness, integrity
morally correct behavior, thinking
Maddie is a model of rectitude.
consecrate
make or declare as sacred
ordain to a religious office
make holy
plaudits
praise, acclaim, commendation, congrats
applause of an audience
dissolution
the closing down or dismissal
cessation, conclusion
disintegration
debauched lived, dissipation
jocular
humorous, joking, playful, witty
arcadian
idealized country dweller or rustic paradise
apollonian
Of or relating to the rational, self-ordered, and self-disciplined aspects of human nature
opposite of Dionsynsian
stonewall
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.
prudish
puritanical, priggish (self-righteous), prim and proper, sententious (moralistic),
do not even want to hear about sexual matters,
censorious
super critical of others
sophistry
the use of fallacious arguments, esp for the intention of deceiving
fallacy
misconception, misbelief
a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument.
a failure in reasoning that renders an argument invalid
boosterism
an enthusiastic promotion of a person, organization or cause
effete
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
effrontery
impertinent or insolent behavior
audacity, temerity - rude to ask certain questions
one juror had the effrontery to challenge science
fulmination
protest, objection, tirade, obloquy
an expression of vehement protest.
ululation
long, high-pitch sound - cry loudly
agog
very eager or curious to hear or see something
eager, excited
I’m all agog to see London
plangent
loud, reverberating and melancholy sound
melancholy, mournful, plaintive
Stygian
very dark, gloomy, or forbidding
the stygian crypt
farcical (farce)
preposterous, ludicrous, absurd
ecumenical
broad, far-reaching in extent, influence or application
callous
heartless
insensitive and cruel disregard for others
his callous comments made her cry
adumbrate
outline
indicate faintly
foreshadow or symbolize
overshadow
adduce
cite as evidence
“a number of factors are adduced to explain the situation”
cite, quote, point out, refer to
abscond
leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detention
“she absconded with the remaining thousand dollars”
run away, escape
pander
gratify or indulge, satisfy
newspapers pander to people’s insipid tastes
arrant
complete, utter, thorough, absolute
what arrant nonsense!
officious
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”
sardonic
grimly mocking, cynical, ironic
“Starkey attempted a sardonic smile”
apposite
very appropriate for the given circumstances
suitable, fitting
“an apposite quotation”
suitable, fitting
unctuous
sycophantic, flattery
blather
empty talk
layperson
non-professional
perquisites
perks
factotum
handyman, jack of all trades
“he was employed as the general factotum”
lassitude
having zero energy
lethargy, listlessness, weary
“she was overcome by lassitude and retired to bed”
contretemps
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
convulsion
fit, seizures, attacks (movement of the body in uncontrolled ways)
political upheaval, cataclysm, turmoil
“the political convulsions of the period”
pillory
attack or ridicule publicly
old jail
inane
silly, stupid, ludicrous
“don’t constantly badger people with inane questions”
inchoate
just began and not fully developed,
rudimentary, undeveloped, immature, incipient
“a still inchoate democracy”
agonistic
argumentative, combative (esp relationships)
dispensation
exemption from a rule or requirement
immunity, exception
a dispensation from the pop
a system or order of government, org, community, etc
plutocracy
society governed by the wealthy
an elite or ruling class who derives power from wealth
senescent
of or relating to growing old
conceit
excessive pride in oneself
vanity, narcissism
fanciful writing or speech
debase
reduce something in quality or value, degrade
devalue, demean
lower the moral character of someone
war debases humanity
delimit
determine the limits or boundaries
establish, set, fix, define, delineate
vitreous
glass-like
grizzled
having or streaked with grey hair
gray, graying
aleatory, aleatoric
dependent upon an uncertain event
of or relating to luck, particularly bad luck
notional
hypothetical
existing only in the imagination
pique
stimulating interest
feel irritated or resentful, annoyed
remuneration
payment
interlocutory
provisional, temporary
genteel
polite, refined, respectable, decorous, well-mannered
the genteel southern gentleman
explicate
analyze or develop an idea in detail
explain
interpolate
addd, insert, incoprorate, interpose, inject
earthy
(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
heuristic
enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves.
“a “hands-on” or interactive heuristic approach to learning”
allegorical
symbolic, representative, emblematic
convoke
call together or someone (as in a meeting)
convene, summon, call together
retch(ing)
gag, heave, almost vomit
wag
joker - someone who makes facetious jokes
voluble
loquacious, talkative
glib
fluent and voluble, but insincere and shallow
smooth talker
putsch
violent attempt to overthrow a government
a crack
someone who is very good, experience at something
jouissance
joy
dotage
foolishness
declining mental facilities (due to old age)
floes
glaciers
patent
obvious, evident
sop
something given to pacify
nostrum
an ineffective remedy
adjuant
something that assists or aids
quotidian
ordinary, every day
gospel
accepted as fact, agreed upon truth
moot
no pratical importance
contrapuntal
two or more independent harmonies
contrived
not natural, planned
asservation
emphatic assertion
sequelae
unintended, secondary consquences
hyperbole
exaggeration
touchstone
single important event, place, work, etc.
cornerstone
foundational, building block element - something the entire society is based upon (Islam, Monarchy, democracy, etc.)
choleric
bad-tempered or irritable
irascible, grumpy, etc.
mordant
caustic, trenchant, sardonic, sarcastic
having or showing a sharp or critical quality
antipathetic
hostile to, dead against
showing or feeling strong aversion
“it is human nature to be antipathetic to change”
gainsay
deny or contradict a fact
dispute, repudiate, challenge
“it was difficult to gainsay his claim”
speak against or oppose (someone)
costive
slow or reluctant to speak or form, unforthcoming
“if he did ask her she would become costive”
homely
unattractive (person)
simple, but cozy and comfortable surroundings
unsophisticated, unpretentious
homely pleasures
picayune
petty, worthless insignficant, of little value the picayune squabbling of politicians fussing over a trivial point English teachers are notorious for being picayune
flukes
chance occurences, coincidences
cad
man who behaves dishonorably, particularly toward a woman
the adulterous cad of her husband
dirge
lament for the dead, elegy
anathema
something or someone that one vehemently dislikes
a formula curse
an abomination
dissumulation
concealment of one’s thoughts, feelings, or character; pretense.
deceit, duplicity, subterfuge
“he was capable of great dissimulation and hypocrisy”
macabre
gruesome, morbid, unearthly
disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury.
a macabre series of deaths.
ballast
giving stability (to a ship)
albatross
a source of frustration or guilt, an encumbrance
“an albatross of a marriage”
abated
subside, decrease
gauche
awkward, socially awkward
Engineers are gauche.
daft
silly, absurd
tittilate
to rouse, tempt or tease
titular
in name only, ceremonial
eponymous, identifying
mollify
appease (the anger or anxiety of someone)
reduce the severity, soften
simulacrum
shitty representation, imitation or substitute
“a bland simulacrum of American soul music”
an image or representation of someone or something.
abettor
someone who helps someone else committ a crime
fissile
easily split
stanchion
upright bar or post
dilletante
an amateur, layperson
redoubtable
formidable, esp. as an opponent
awe-inspiring
render
to provide or give a service
to cause to become, make
rend
tear something into two or more pieces
cause great emotional pain to a person
faddish
super stylish, trendy
tendentious
expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one.
“a tendentious reading of history”
denigrate
disparage, criticize unfairly, caste aspersions on
balkanize
to divide a region into smaller (usually mutually hostile) groups
Profuse (ly)
pour out in abudance
-sweat, apologies, chest hairs
contrite
to be remorseful
He was filled with contrite
extant
in existence
equivocate
speak vaguely, usually with the intention of deceiving
also means ambiguous
the findings of the study were equivocal.
sedulous
diligent, careful, intentional
he sedulously studyied for the exam, reviewing for 10 minutes each day
blinkered
limited outlook or understanding
in gambling, a loser tends to have a blinkered outlook if they continue to play, only remembering the losses
stem
hold back, limit growth
originate in or be caused by
checkered
varied, mixed up; marked by periods of varied fortune or discreditable incidents.
a checkered past
raft (noun)
a lot of something
involved
something that is involved is complex, complicated
retiring
shy, reluctant
expansive
wide-ranging
but also communicative talkative, social
of moment
if something is of moment, it’s important/significant
base
without moral principles, contemptible, ignobile
she was not so base as to begrudge the beggar
scintiliating
can also refer to someone who is brilliant and lively
He was renowned for his scintillating lectures.
hedge
limit or qualify, play it safely
flush
turn red (especially in the face), to be in abundance, and to drive out of hiding?
fell
terribly evil
arch
deliberately tease
supercilious
arrogant
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
beg a question
to evade a question, invite an obvious question, or, to ask a question that in itself makes unwarranted assumptions.
tender (V)
offer something up
wanting
lacking
fleece (V)
to deceive
wax (V)
to increase
extrajudicial
not legally authorized
not made in court (a settlement, statement, confessions etc)
benighted
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
miserly vs. frugal
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
prevaricate vs. variance
prevaricate = speak in an evasive way = equivocate
variance: quality of varying and has nothing to do with prevaricate
Demur (v.) vs. Demure (adj.)
demur - to object, or show reluctance
demure: is to be shy
beautific
so happy you radiate
Perfunctory vs. Preemptive vs. Peremptory
perfunctory = carelessness (like when I do the dishes)
preemptive: to act before someone else does
peremptory: bossy and domineering
Indigent (adj.) vs. Indigenous (adj.) vs. Indignant (adj.)
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.
Errant vs. Arrant vs. Errand vs. Err
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
Artless (adj.) vs. Artful (adj.) vs. Artifice (n.)
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.
Expurgate (v.) vs. Expunge (v.)
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)
Ponderous (adj.) vs. Imponderable (adj./n.)
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
Imbroglio
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.
juggernaut
a large force that cannot be stopped
i.e. Napoleon back in the day
Schadenfreude
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.
amuck
to run amuck - run about in a franzied state, like football fans
nabob
wealthy, influential person
i.e. the british in india
Zeitgeist
spirit of the times
Each decade has it’s own zeitgeist
Parvenu
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
melee
a wild, confusing fight or struggle
Hector
bully or intimidate
Pyrrhic
a victory that comes at a great cost
panglossian
blindly optimistic
kafkaesque
absurdity we have to deal with living in a
world of faceless bureaucracies.
the DMV..
malaprop(ism)
using a word incorrectly - or pronuncing it wrong
Dad and his pronunciations
Quisling
traitor
Byzantine
intricate and complex (negative connotation)
sartorial
relating to clothing or dress
Sartorially speaking, he was a lost cause, always wearing mis-matched clothing
saturnine
to be morose
Deprived of sunlight, humans become saturnine
Jaundice
cowardly
She was jaundice toward Bob.
Bilious
constantly angry
