Vocab Day 10 Flashcards
Acumen
n) good judgment | the ability to make good judgments and take quick decisions
The judge was respected for his acumen when sentencing convicted defendants.
Word Forms: acuminous, acuminate, acumination Antonym Form: unacuminous
Antithesis
contrast or opposition between two things
Ascribe
regard text, quotation or work/ regard a quality as belonging to
Befuddled
unable to think clearly
Eschew
vb) to avoid; to shun
Attempting to follow a low carb diet, Essie eschewed all foods containing sugar.
Word Forms: eschewal, eschewer Antonym Form: uneschewed
Esoteric
adj) intended for a select group of people; secret or confidential | likely to be understood by only a small number of people/ abstruse/ arcane/ obscure
Esteban was a member of an esoteric club, whose membership consisted strictly of men over fifty who lived in the
city.
Word Forms: esoterically, esotericism, esotericist Antonym Forms: exoteric, exoterically, exotericism
Evasive
tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation
Exculpate
show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing | to clear from blame
The arson suspect was exculpated when forensics revealed that the fire had been the result of faulty wiring.
Word Forms: exculpable, exculpation, exculpatory Related Words: culpable, culprit
Antonym Forms: inculpate, inculpable, inculpation, inculpably, inculpatory, inculpability, inculpableness
Expedite
make (an action) happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly
Fastidious
very attentive and concerned about accuracy and detail | giving careful attention to detail; hard to please
Mrs. Foster, my teacher, is a fastidious grader; she deducts points for any error in grammar, punctuation, or spelling.
Word Forms: fastidiously, fastidiousness Antonym Form: unfastidious
Feign
pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state or injury)
Furtive
secretive/ suggestive of guilty nervousness
Hamper
hinder
Indispensable
absolutely necessary
Lament
vb) to express grief; to mourn | song of sadness
When Lamont left for college, his little sister lamented his absence for weeks.
Word Forms: lament (n.), lamentingly, lamentable, lamentably, lamenter Antonym Form: unlamented
Myopic
adj) lacking long-term vision
Maya has a myopic outlook when it comes to investment; she complains about the money she is investing now, rather
than focusing on the money she will make in the future.
Word Forms: myopically, myopia
Nonchalant
calm and relaxed/ not displaying anxietyF
Partial
Biased, prejudiced, favoring one over others;
having a special liking for something or someone (usually partial to)
Pensive
engaged in serious thought
Portend
be a sign or warning that something calamitous is likely to happen
Provincial
adj) unsophisticated and limited; associated with the country
The officer judged Prescott by his provincial dress; she assumed he was unsophisticated just because he wore overalls.
Word Forms: provincially, provincialism, provincialize, provincialist Related Word: province
Rudimentary
Elementary, relating to the basics;
underdeveloped, primitive
Salutary
producing good efforts/ beneficial
Sever
divide by cutting or slicing, suddenly and forcibly/ put to an end/ break off
Slight
Small, not very important, slender or delicate (adj.); treat as though not very important; snub, ignore(v); an act of treating in this way; a discourtesy (n)
Somnolent
sleepy or drowsy
The somnolent truck driver had been awake all night and was anxious to find a rest area so she could sleep.
Word Forms: somnolently, somnolence, somnolency, somnolescent
Antonym Forms: insomnolent, insomnolently, insomnolence, insomnolency Related Word: insomnia
Stoic
adj) free from emotion; unmoved
Mr. Stone’s face remained stoic despite the pain and anger he was experiencing.
Word Forms: stoic (n), stoical, stoically, stoicalness Antonym Form: unstoic
Supersede
take the place of other/ supplant
Tout
attempt to sell/ attempt to persuade people of the merits of/ informer
Wane
decrease in vigor or extent, become weaker
