Vocab 5 Flashcards
n: a word or phrase constructed from another by writing the letters of the first in a different order, as live and evil
anagram (AN-ə-gram)
v: literally, to write to, and thus to attribute to a specific person, source, cause, or origin; to assign as an attribute; to give credit
ascribe (ə-SKRIYB)
n: the art of beautiful handwriting, penmanship
calligraphy (kə-LIG-rə-fee)
n: a brief and often witty, satirical, or paradoxical saying, as “If
speech is silver, silence is golden.”
epigram (EP-ə-gram)
a: written in vivid and realistic detail
graphic (GRAF-ik)
n: a paper, article, or book written on a single (scholarly) subject
monograph (MAHN-ə-graf)
a: unremarkable, not easy to describe because of a lack of noteworthy characteristics or qualities; n, a person r thing not easy to describe because of this lack
nondescript (nahn-di-SKRIPT)
n: literally, to write after, and thus additional information added after the conclusion of a letter, article, book, etc.
postscript (POWST-skript)
v: literally, to write over or across, and thus to write out in full or to make a written copy; to record
transcribe (tran-SKRIYB)
n: a general liveliness or animation of disposition
vivacity (vi-VAS-ə-tee)
n: literally, another self; another aspect of oneself; a constant companion
alter ego (OL-tər EE-gow)
n: originally, a slave with secretarial duties; one who takes dictation rapidly, thus using the hands; an intentionally humorous usage meaning a secretary
amanuensis (ə-man-ye-WEN-sis)
n: a high-speed expressway (for automobiles) in Germany
autobahn (OT-ə-bahn)
n: an entire system of manufacturing using self-
operating machinery
automation (o-tə-MAY-shen)
n: a self-acting apparatus; a machine programmed to perform the same task over and over; a robot; a person who behaves in a very mechanical way
automaton (o-TAHM-ə-tahn)
a: self-governing, as a nation; functioning independently of outside interference or control
autonomous (o-TAHN-ə-məs)
a: always placing oneself at the center; assuming oneself to be the norm for all human experience; n, an egocentric person
egocentric (ee-gow-SEN-trik)
n: an individual characterized by self-conceit, self-interest, and a disregard for others
egotist (EE-gə-tist)
v: to set free from bondage or slavery, and thus to unhand
emancipate (i-MAN-sə-payt)
n: everything that is not part of the self; the external world; a, not of the self
nonego (nahn-EE-gow)
a: possessing the polish or wisdom of wide experience, as might be gained from visiting many cities; not provincial; n, a person or thing possessing these characteristics
cosmopolitan (kahz-mə-PAHL-ə-tən)
a: not citified, and thus unsophisticated, crude, or unpolished; uncouth
inurbane (in-ər-BAYN)
n: an extremely large urban area including several cities
megalopolis (meg-ə-LAHP-ə-ləs)
a: including the entire area and population of a large central city plus surrounding areas or suburbs; n, a person who lives in such an area and exhibits manners and attitudes characteristic of a city dweller
metropolitan (me-trə-PAHL-ə-tən)
a: shrewd, crafty, and wise, especially in looking after one’s own interests—as the citizen of a city is more clever than a bumpkin; v, to campaign, as for a political party
politic (PAHL-ə-tik)
a: characteristic of the outskirts of a big city or life in such an area, and thus (sometimes) semicultured, pretentious, or even a little phony
suburban (sə-BUR-bən)
a: having the same or nearly the same meaning as something else, as another word; equivalent to
synonymous (si-NAHN-ə-məs)
n: a person who lives in a city, especially in the center of the city
urbanite (UR-bə-niyt)
n: a mix of qualities suggesting polish, sophistication, and courteousness
urbanity (ur-BAN-ə-tee)
v: to make like a city, or to assume ways of living typical of a city
urbanize (UR-bə-niyz)
a: literally, loveable; generally pleasant, friendly, and nice to be around
amiable (AY-mee-ə-bəl)
n: friendly and peaceful relations, as between nations; friendship
amity (AM-ə-tee)
n: an affection or extreme admiration for anything
connected with England
Anglophilia (an-glə-FIL-ee-ə)
n: an individual who loves books, especially for their design and appearance; a book collector
bibliophile (BIB-lee-ə-fiyl )
a: in love with, usually in a passive sense; captivated by
enamored (in-AM-ərd)
n: an individual who engages in many casual love affairs
philanderer (fi-LAN-dər-ər)
n: a love of humankind in general; the desire to be helpful to others, and actions that reflect this desire, as the funding of humanitarian projects
philanthropy (fi-LAN-thrə-pee)
n: one who loves stamps, especially postage stamps; an expert in the study of postage stamps, postmarks, and so on
philatelist (fi-LAT-ə-list)
a: characteristic of a love for wisdom and reasoning; systematically thoughtful, sometimes to a fault; contemplative
philosophical (fil-ə-SAHF-i-kəl)
a: of or related to the earliest times or ages; existing at or since the beginning; primal or primitive
primeval (priy-MEE-vəl)
