Vocab 7 Flashcards
to abuse verbally; to berate
vituperate
Vituperating someone is never a constructive way to effect change.
thick and adhesive, like a slow-flowing fluid
viscous
Most viscous liquids, like oil or honey, become even thicker as they are cooled down.
vitality and energy
vim
The vim with which she worked so early in the day explained why she was so productive.
to grow together to form a single whole
coalesced
The sun and planets eventually coalesced out of a vast could of gas and dust.
sickly sweet; excessive
cloying
When Enid and Jay first started dating, their cloying affection toward one another often made their friends ill.
cautious; aware of potential consequence
circumspect
She was very circumspect in her language and behavior when first introduced to her fiance’s parents.
deception by means of craft or guile
chicanery
Dishonest used-car salesmen often use chicanery to sell their beat-up old cars.
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
chauvinist
The attitude that men must be obeyed since they are inherently superior to women is common among male chauvinists.
great disorder; a confused situation
chaos
biting in wit
caustic
Dorothy Parker gained her caustic reputation from her cutting, yet witty, insults.
a change or variation
vicissitude
Investors must be prepared for vicissitudes of the stock market.
a secret group seeking to overturn something
cabal
The boys on the street formed a cabal to keep girls out of their tree house.
to annoy, irritate, puzzle or confuse
vex
The old man who loved his peace and quiet was vexed by his neighbor’s loud music.
to polish
burnish
He burnished the silver coffee pot until it shone brightly.
to grow and flourish
burgeon
Faulkner neither confirmed nor denied stories about himself, allowing rumor to burgeon where it would.
a crude person; one lacking manners or taste
boor
That utter boor ruined by recital with his constant guffawing wailed the pianist.
a trace; a remnant
vestige
Vestiges of the former tenant still remained in the apartment, though he hadn’t lived there for years.
related to spring; fresh
vernal
Bea basked in the balmy vernal breezes, happy that winter was coming to an end.
good-natured geniality; an atmosphere of good cheer
bonhomie
The aspects of her job that Dana loved the most were the flexible hours and the pleasant bonhomie in the office.
pompous in speech and manner
bombastic
Mussolini’s speeches were mostly bombastic; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact.
green with vegetation; inexperienced
verdant
He wandered deep into the verdant woods in search of mushrooms.
wordy
verbose
The professor’s answer was so verbose that his student forgot what the original question had been.
to support; to prop up
bolster
The presence of giant footprints bolstered the argument that Bigfoot was in the area.
joyful, cheerful or without appropriate thought
blithe
Summer had finally came, and the blithe students spent their days at the beach.
