Vocab 6 Flashcards
nuance (nōō´ äns) n.
a slight or subtle degree of difference
The sharpest listeners detected a nuance in the speaker’s tone that revealed her opinion.
syn: gradation; shade
condone (kən dōn´) v.
to forgive or overlook an offense
After hearing about the man’s starving family, most found it easy to condone his theft of the food.
syn: pardon; excuse ant: condemn
connoisseur (kon ə sûr´) n.
an expert in matters of culture, food, or” “wine
The chef watched nervously as the connoisseur tasted the soup.
ant: tyro; novice; neophyte
enigma (i nig´ mə) n.
a mystery; something seemingly inexplicable
Mona Lisa’s smile is an enigma because no one knows the thoughts behind her inscrutable expression.
syn: riddle; puzzle
apathy (ap´ ə thē) n.
lack of interest; state of not caring
The fund drive to raise money for a new gym failed because of student apathy.
syn: indifference ant: interest; eagerness
officious (ə fîsh´ əs) adj.
excessively eager to deliver unasked-for or unwanted help
I wish my officious sister would stop telling me how to run my life.
syn: meddlesome; interfering
credence (krēd´ ns) n.
belief or trust
Surprisingly, Shayna’s teacher gave credence to her story about how she lost her homework.
syn: faith; confidence ant: disbelief
jaunty (jôn´ tē) adj.
having a buoyant, self-confident air; brisk and crisp
My three-year-old always walks in a jaunty manner when I put him in that sailor suit.
syn: confident; poised
dilettante (dil i tänt´) n.
one who merely dabbles in an art or a science”“The dilettante felt that his superficial knowledge of art qualified him to judge the artist’s work.
syn: amateur; trifler ant: expert; professional
cult (kult) n.
an organized group of people with an obsessive devotion to a person or set of principles
To join the cult, recruits had to shave their heads and walk over burning coals.
syn: sect”
