Vocab for Gibbon's work Flashcards
Gibbon Vocab
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allegory
Noun
- symbolic work: a work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual, moral, or political meaning
- symbolic expression of meaning in story: the symbolic expression of a deeper meaning through a story or scene acted out by human, animal, or mythical characters “the poet’s use of allegory”
- genre: allegories considered as a literary or artistic genre
- symbolic representation: a symbolic representation of something
al·le·go·rist Noun
al·le·go·ries Plural
Thesaurus
Noun Synonyms: symbol, parable, fable, metaphor, extended metaphor, story, tale
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ardor
Noun
- intense emotion: great passion, enthusiasm, or eagerness
“repeated attempts to dampen their revolutionary ardor”
Thesaurus
- Noun Synonyms*: passion, love, enthusiasm, zeal, fervor, eagerness, devotion, dedication, commitment
- Noun Antonyms*: indifference
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avarice
Noun
- greed for wealth: an unreasonably strong desire to obtain and keep money
Thesaurus
- Noun Synonyms*: greed, greediness, materialism, covetousness, acquisitiveness, avariciousness, cupidity, desire, avidity
- Noun Antonyms*: generosity
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credulity
Noun
- gullibility: the tendency to believe something too readily
Thesaurus
Noun Synonyms: gullibility, naiveté, innocence, trust, imprudence
Noun Antonyms: shrewdness
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effeminate
Adjective
- offensive term: an offensive term used to describe a man whose behavior, appearance, or speech is considered to be similar to that traditionally associated with women or girls
- overrefined and lacking strength: weak through overrefinement or an absence of vigorous qualities (disapproving)
ef·fem·i·na·cy Noun ef·fem·i·nate·ly Adverb ef·fem·i·nate·ness Noun
Thesaurus Adverb
Synonyms: daintily, primly, fussily, preciously, affectedly, foppishly, effeminately
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efficacious
Adjective
- able to effect something: having the power to produce a desired result, especially an improvement (formal)
ef·fi·ca·cious·ly Adverb
ef·fi·ca·cious·ness Noun
Thesaurus
Adjective Synonyms: effective, efficient, effectual, successful, useful, worthwhile, valuable
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excoriate
Transitive Verb
-
denounce: to severely criticize somebody or something (formal)
“The paper excoriated the governor’s conduct in this case.” - medicine tear somebody’s skin off: to remove skin from a person or animal
ex·co·ri·a·tion Noun ex·co·ri·a·tor Noun
Thesaurus
Verb Synonyms: criticize, attack, denounce, berate, upbraid, rebuke, haul over the coals, condemn, take to task, castigate, censure
Synonyms: peel, pare, skin, strip, flay
Verb Antonyms: commend
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expatiate
Intransitive Verb
-
speak or write at length: to speak or write about something at length
“We had to listen to him expatiating on the shortcomings of our system.”
ex·pa·ti·a·tion Noun
Thesaurus
Verb Synonyms: open, widen, expand, enlarge, increase, stretch, distend, amplify
Synonyms: amplify, expatiate, expand, dwell on, expound, elucidate, elaborate
Verb Antonyms: contract, abbreviate
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fetter
Noun
- shackle for ankles: a chain or shackle fastened to somebody’s ankles or feet
-
restraint: a means of confinement, restriction, or restraint
“These harsh rules keep us in fetters.”
fet·ters plural
Transitive Verb
- put fetters on somebody: to shackle somebody with fetters 2. restrain somebody or something: to confine, restrict, or restrain somebody or something
“fettered by her own inhibitions”
fet·tered past and past participle
fet·ter·ing present participle
fet·ters 3rd person present singular
Thesaurus
Noun Synonyms: shackle, bond, chain, yoke, handcuff, irons, restraint
Verb Synonyms: bind, chain, restrain, hamper, restrict, confine, impede, shackle, tie
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grandiloquence
Noun
- lofty manner: a pompous or lofty manner of speaking or writing
gran·dil·o·quent Adjective gran·dil·o·quent·ly Adverb
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Grecian
Adjective
- in ancient Greek style: relating to the ancient Greek style of architecture or sculpture
Noun
- Hellenist: a Hellenist
Gre·cians plural
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indolent
Adjective
- lazy: lethargic and not showing any interest or making any effort
- painless and slow to change: describes a disease or condition that is slow to develop or be healed, and causes no pain
in·do·lence Noun
in·do·lent·ly Adverb
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parable
Noun
- moral or religious story: a short simple story intended to illustrate a moral or religious lesson
- story ascribed to Jesus Christ: a parable that appears in the Bible, as told by Jesus Christ
par·a·bles Plural
Thesaurus
Noun Synonyms: fable, story, moral tale, tale, folk tale, legend, allegory
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pernicious
Adjective
- causing serious harm: causing great harm, destruction, or death
- malicious: wicked or meaning to cause harm
per·ni·cious·ly Adverb
per·ni·cious·ness Noun
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preceptor
- education teacher: a teacher or instructor (formal)
- medicine specialized tutor: a specialist in a profession, especially medicine, who gives practical training to a student
pre·cep·tors Plural Noun
pre·cep·tor·al Adjectives
pre·cep·tor·ate Noun
pre·cep·tor·ship Noun
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profligate
Adjective
- wasteful: extremely extravagant or wasteful
- with low morals: having or showing extremely low moral standards
Noun
- somebody wasteful: an extremely extravagant or wasteful person
- somebody with low morals: somebody with extremely low moral standards
prof·li·gates plural
prof·li·ga·cy Noun
prof·li·gate·ly Adverb
Thesaurus
Adjective Synonyms: wasteful, reckless, spendthrift, squandering, decadent, extravagant
Synonyms: dissolute, licentious, immoral, wicked, shameless
Adjective Antonyms: parsimonious
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proselyte
Noun
- somebody converted to new belief: a new convert to a religious faith or political doctrine
pros·e·lytes plural
Transitive and intransitive verb
- U.S. religion politics Same as proselytize
pros·e·lyt·ed past and past participle
pros·e·lyt·ing present participle
pros·e·lytes 3rd person present singular
pros·e·lyt·ic Adjective
pros·e·ly·tism Noun
Thesaurus
Noun Synonyms: follower, groupie, sycophant, disciple, proselyte, associate
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rerompense
Transitive verb
rec·om·pensed past and past participle
rec·om·pens·ing present participle
rec·om·pens·es 3rd person present singular
-
give compensation: to give compensation to somebody for an injury or loss
“The state will recompense you for the accidental destruction of your property.” -
pay or reward somebody: to pay somebody for doing work or for performing a service
“was recompensed for her heroism”
Noun
- compensation: compensation for a loss or injury
- remuneration: payment for services or work performed
Thesaurus
Verb Synonyms: reward, compensate, repay, pay, remunerate, reimburse, make up for, requite
Verb Antonyms: charge
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sacerdotal
Adjective
- of priest: relating to or characteristic of a priest or the priesthood
sac·er·do·tal·ly Adverb
Thesaurus
Adjective Synonyms: priestly, clerical, ecclesiastic, religious, spiritual
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specious
Adjective
- apparently true but actually false: appearing to be true but really false “a specious claim”
- deceptively attractive: superficially attractive but actually of no real interest or value
spe·cious·ly Adverb
spe·cious·ness Noun
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stultify
Transitive verb
- diminish interest: to dull somebody’s interest by being repetitive, tedious, and boring
- make somebody seem stupid: to cause somebody or something to seem unintelligent or silly
- render something useless: to render something useless or ineffectual
- law prove somebody incapable of legal responsibility: to show or allege somebody to be not legally responsible because of a psychiatric disorder or instability
stul·ti·fi·ca·tion Noun
stul·ti·fi·er Noun
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vicissitude
Noun
- variability: the fact of being variable (literary)
Plural noun
- unexpected changes: unexpected changes, especially in somebody’s fortunes
vi·cis·si·tu·di·nar·y Adjective
vi·cis·si·tu·di·nous Adjective
Thesaurus
Noun Synonyms: variation, change, transformation, version, arrangement, rearrangement, combination, alternative, vicissitude, mutation
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votary
Noun vo·ta·ries Plural
- monk or nun: somebody who has sworn to dedicate his or her life to religious worship or service
- devotee: a dedicated follower of something such as a religion or cause
Thesaurus
Noun Synonyms: fan, follower, supporter, aficionado, aficionada, enthusiast Synonyms: believer, follower, disciple, votary
Please provide the definition
portico
por·ti·coes Plural
Noun
- porch: a covered entrance to a large building
- covered walkway: a covered walkway, often leading to the main entrance of a building, that consists of a roof supported by pillars
Thesaurus
Noun Synonyms: porch, entrance, doorway, entry, entryway, entranceway
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stratum
stra·ta Plural
NOUN
- level within system: a layer or level within an ordered system “the various strata of meaning within the text”
- layer of society: a social class or level of society consisting of people of similar cultural, economic, or educational status
- layer of atmosphere or sea: a layer of the atmosphere or the sea, regarded as lying between horizontal planes
- layer of cells: a layer of living cells
stra·tal ADJECTIVE
Word Usage The plural of stratum is strata, reflecting the word’s Latin history. A variant plural stratums exists but is relatively infrequent. People sometimes use the false plurals stratas and (after Latin) stratae, which treat strata as a singular, but these are incorrect: all strata [not stratas or stratae] of society.
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celerity
NOUN
- quickness: quickness in movement or in doing something (literary)
Thesaurus
NOUN Synonyms: speed, rapidity, swiftness, alacrity, haste, briskness, hurry, speediness
NOUN Antonyms: slowness
Please provide the definition
promonotry
prom·on·to·ries Plural
NOUN
- projecting point of land: a point of land that juts out into the sea
- projecting part of bodily organ: a prominent or protruding part of an organ or structure in the body
Thesaurus
NOUN Synonyms: cape, headland, peninsula, outcrop, point, cliff
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assiduous
ADJECTIVE
- very careful: showing persistent and hard-working effort in doing something
as·sid·u·ous·ly ADVERB as·sid·u·ous·ness NOUN
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auspicious
ADJECTIVE
- promising well for future: marked by lucky signs or good omens, and therefore by the promise of success or happiness
aus·pi·cious·ly ADVERB aus·pi·cious·ness NOUN
Thesaurus
ADJECTIVE Synonyms: favorable, fortunate, promising, propitious, lucky, opportune, providential
ADJECTIVE Antonyms: inauspicious
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languid
ADJECTIVE
- without energy: lacking vigor and energy “a languid gesture”
- sluggish: moving slowly “a languid afternoon breeze”
lan·guid·ly ADVERB lan·guid·ness NOUN
Thesaurus
ADJECTIVE Synonyms: unhurried, relaxed, leisurely, languorous, lazy, indolent, lethargic, slow, dreamy, droopy, sleepy, somnolent, drowsy
ADJECTIVE Antonyms: vigorous
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pygmy
NOUN
pyg·mies plural
pig·mies plural
- offensive term: an offensive term for somebody who is of shorter than average height
- offensive term: an offensive term that insults somebody’s importance, knowledge, or ability
ADJECTIVE
-
of small breed: belonging to a small breed (sometimes offensive)
“a pygmy hippopotamus”
Thesaurus
ADJECTIVE Synonyms: miniature, small, tiny, dwarf, little, undersized, diminutive, midget, toy
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intrepid
ADJECTIVE 1. fearless: courageous and bold [Late 17th century. Directly or via French < Latin intrepidus “not agitated” < trepidus “agitated”] in·tre·pid·i·ty NOUN in·trep·id·ly ADVERB Thesaurus ADJECTIVE Synonyms: fearless, bold, courageous, valiant, heroic, daring, gallant, resolute, audacious, plucky, dauntless, brave ADJECTIVE Antonyms: cowardly
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extirpate
TRANSITIVE VERB 1. completely remove something undesirable: to completely get rid of, kill off, or destroy somebody or something considered undesirable ( formal ) 2. remove by surgery: to remove something surgically [Mid-16th century. < Latin ex(s)tirpat-, past participle of ex(s)tirpare “root out” < stirps “stem, root”] ex·tir·pa·tion NOUN ex·tir·pa·tive ADJECTIVE ex·tir·pa·tor NOUN
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triumvir
tri·um·virs Plural NOUN 1. member of triumvirate: each of the three people who made up a triumvirate, especially in ancient Rome 2. somebody sharing power with 2 others: somebody who shares power with two other people ( formal ) [Late 16th century. < Latin, back-formation < triumviri “board of three men” < trium virum “of three men”] tri·um·vi·ral ADJECTIVE
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filial
ADJECTIVE 1. of children to parents: relating or appropriate to a child’s relationship with, or feelings toward, his or her parents “filial duty” 2. genetics describing first hybrid generation: describes the first generation that results from crossing two parental lines [15th century. Directly or via Old French < late Latin filialis “of a son or daughter” < Latin filius “son,” filia “daughter”] fil·i·al·ly ADVERB fil·ial·ness NOUN Thesaurus ADJECTIVE Synonyms: familial, family, loving, devoted ADJECTIVE Antonyms: parental
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odious
ADJECTIVE 1. hateful: inspiring hatred, contempt, or disgust [14th century. Via French < Latin odiosus < odium “hatred, contempt”] o·di·ous·ly ADVERB o·di·ous·ness NOUN Thesaurus ADJECTIVE Synonyms: hateful, horrible, abhorrent, loathsome, revolting, detestable, repellent, repulsive, obnoxious, abominable, execrable ADJECTIVE Antonyms: delightful
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ignominious
ADJECTIVE 1. shameful: involving a total loss of dignity and self-respect, and making somebody or something appear shamefully weak and ineffective 2. despicable: deserving condemnation and contempt ( formal ) ig·no·min·i·ous·ly ADVERB ig·no·min·i·ous·ness NOUN Thesaurus ADJECTIVE Synonyms: humiliating, embarrassing, discomfiting, shameful, disgraceful, reprehensible, dishonorable, disreputable, discreditable, despicable ADJECTIVE Antonyms: honorable
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prerogative
pre·rog·a·tives Plural NOUN 1. privilege restricted to people of rank: an exclusive privilege or right enjoyed by a person or group occupying a particular rank or position “It was her prerogative as leader to choose a successor.” 2. individual right or privilege: a privilege or right that allows a particular person or group to give orders or make decisions or judgments “It’s not his prerogative to say who can come.” 3. privilege resulting from natural advantage: the right conferred by a natural advantage that places somebody in a position of superiority “the prerogatives conferred by age” 4. sovereign power, privilege, or immunity: the power or right of a monarch or government to do something or be exempt from something 5. superiority: superiority in rank or nature [14th century. Via French < Latin praerogativa < praerogare “ask first” < rogare “ask”] Thesaurus NOUN Synonyms: privilege, right, due, entitlement, birthright, perquisite
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convoke
TRANSITIVE VERB 1. call formal meeting: to call a formal meeting, or call people together for a meeting [Late 16th century. < Latin convocare “call together” < vocare “to call”] con·voc·a·tive ADJECTIVE con·vok·er NOUN Thesaurus VERB Synonyms: call together, assemble, summon, set up, organize, arrange, call up, convoke VERB Antonyms: disband
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tractable
ADJECTIVE 1. docile: very easy to control or persuade 2. malleable: very easy to bend or work with [15th century. < Latin tractabilis < tractare (see tract3)] trac·ta·bil·i·ty NOUN trac·ta·bly ADVERB Thesaurus ADJECTIVE Synonyms: docile, controllable, manageable, obedient, manipulable, submissive, amenable, biddable, compliant, pliant, yielding, easily swayed, impressionable, suggestible Synonyms: malleable, pliable, workable, ductile, elastic, plastic, flexible, bendable, pliant ADJECTIVE Antonyms: intractable, intractable
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capricious
ADJECTIVE 1. given to sudden changes: tending to make sudden unexpected changes ca·pri·cious·ly ADVERB ca·pri·cious·ness NOUN
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apotheosis
a·poth·e·o·ses Plural NOUN 1. highest level of glory or power: the highest point of glory, power, or importance 2. best example of something: the best or most glorious example of something “the apotheosis of Romantic music” 3. transformation into deity: the supposed transformation of a human being into a deity [Late 16th century. Via late Latin < Greek apotheōsis < apotheoun “make into a god completely” < theos “god”]
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enervate
TRANSITIVE VERB 1. weaken: to weaken somebody’s physical, mental, or moral vitality “I was feeling quite enervated by the strain of moving.” [Early 17th century. < Latin enervat-, past participle of enervare “extract the sinews of, weaken” < nervus “sinew”] en·er·va·tion NOUN Thesaurus VERB Synonyms: weaken, debilitate, sap your strength, drain, fatigue, exhaust, undermine, weary, wear out, deplete, devitalize, enfeeble, tire VERB Antonyms: invigorate
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parsimony
NOUN 1. frugality: great frugality or unwillingness to spend money 2. principle of economy: economy in the use of means to achieve something, especially the principle of endorsing the simplest explanation that covers a case [15th century. < Latin parsimonia < pars-, past participle of parcere “spare”] Thesaurus NOUN Synonyms: stinginess, frugality, thrift, thriftiness, meanness, ungenerousness, miserliness, penny-pinching, tightfistedness, parsimoniousness NOUN Antonyms: extravagance
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panegyric
pan·e·gyr·ics Plural NOUN 1. praise: extravagant praise delivered in formal speech or writing [Early 17th century. Via French < Latin panegyricus “public eulogy” < Greek panēguris “public assembly” < aguris “assembly, marketplace”] pan·e·gyr·i·cal ADJECTIVE pan·e·gyr·i·cal·ly ADVERB pan·e·gyr·ist NOUN
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sophist
soph·ists Plural NOUN 1. ancient Greek philosopher: a member of a school of ancient Greek professional philosophers who were expert in and taught the skills of rhetoric, argument, and debate, but were criticized for specious reasoning. The sophists were active before and during the time of Socrates and Plato, who were their main critics. 2. somebody using clever talk to deceive: a deceptive person who offers clever-sounding but flawed arguments or explanations [Mid-16th century. Via Latin sophista < Greek sophistḗs “master of a craft, man clever in practical affairs,” also “cheat” < sophos “skilled in a craft, clever, wise”] Thesaurus NOUN Synonyms: doctrinaire, obfuscator, scholar, nitpicker, theoretician, sophist, hairsplitter NOUN Antonyms: dilettante
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lucubration
lu·cu·bra·tions Plural NOUN 1. piece of learned writing: a written work resulting from prolonged study, often having a scholarly or pedantic style ( usually used in the plural ) 2. long study: long hard study, especially at night [Late 16th century. < Latin lucubration- < lucubrare “compose at night” < luc- “light”] lu·cu·brate INTRANSITIVE VERB
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appellation
ap·pel·la·tions Plural NOUN 1. name or title: the name or title by which something or somebody is known ( formal ) [15th century. Via French “naming” < Latin appellation- < appellare (see appeal)] Thesaurus NOUN Synonyms: name, designation, title, style, tag, nickname
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seraglio
se·ra·glios Plural NOUN 1. islam Same as harem (sense 1) (sense 2) 2. palace: a Turkish palace, especially the Ottoman sultan’s palace at Istanbul [Late 16th century. < Italian serraglio, alteration of Turkish saray “palace” < Persian sarāī “inn”]
