Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Ancient Rome > Vocab for Gibbon's work > Flashcards

Vocab for Gibbon's work Flashcards

Gibbon Vocab

1
Q

Provide the definition for:

allegory

A

Noun

  1. 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
  2. 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”
  3. genre: allegories considered as a literary or artistic genre
  4. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Please provide the definition

ardor

A

Noun

  1. 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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Please provide the definition

avarice

A

Noun

  1. 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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Please provide the definition

credulity

A

Noun

  1. gullibility: the tendency to believe something too readily

Thesaurus

Noun Synonyms: gullibility, naiveté, innocence, trust, imprudence

Noun Antonyms: shrewdness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Please provide the definition

effeminate

A

Adjective

  1. 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
  2. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Please provide the definition

efficacious

A

Adjective

  1. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Please provide the definition

excoriate

A

Transitive Verb

  1. denounce: to severely criticize somebody or something (formal)
    “The paper excoriated the governor’s conduct in this case.”
  2. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Please provide the definition

expatiate

A

Intransitive Verb

  1. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Please provide the definition

fetter

A

Noun

  1. shackle for ankles: a chain or shackle fastened to somebody’s ankles or feet
  2. restraint: a means of confinement, restriction, or restraint
    “These harsh rules keep us in fetters.”

fet·ters plural

Transitive Verb

  1. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Please provide the definition

grandiloquence

A

Noun

  1. lofty manner: a pompous or lofty manner of speaking or writing

gran·dil·o·quent Adjective gran·dil·o·quent·ly Adverb

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Please provide the definition

Grecian

A

Adjective

  1. in ancient Greek style: relating to the ancient Greek style of architecture or sculpture

Noun

  1. Hellenist: a Hellenist

Gre·cians plural

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Please provide the definition

indolent

A

Adjective

  1. lazy: lethargic and not showing any interest or making any effort
  2. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Please provide the definition

parable

A

Noun

  1. moral or religious story: a short simple story intended to illustrate a moral or religious lesson
  2. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Please provide the definition

pernicious

A

Adjective

  1. causing serious harm: causing great harm, destruction, or death
  2. malicious: wicked or meaning to cause harm

per·ni·cious·ly Adverb
per·ni·cious·ness Noun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Please provide the definition

preceptor

A
  1. education teacher: a teacher or instructor (formal)
  2. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Please provide the definition

profligate

A

Adjective

  1. wasteful: extremely extravagant or wasteful
  2. with low morals: having or showing extremely low moral standards

Noun

  1. somebody wasteful: an extremely extravagant or wasteful person
  2. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Please provide the definition

proselyte

A

Noun

  1. somebody converted to new belief: a new convert to a religious faith or political doctrine

pros·e·lytes plural

Transitive and intransitive verb

  1. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Please provide the definition

rerompense

A

Transitive verb

rec·om·pensed past and past participle
rec·om·pens·ing present participle
rec·om·pens·es 3rd person present singular

  1. give compensation: to give compensation to somebody for an injury or loss
    “The state will recompense you for the accidental destruction of your property.”
  2. pay or reward somebody: to pay somebody for doing work or for performing a service
    “was recompensed for her heroism”

Noun

  1. compensation: compensation for a loss or injury
  2. remuneration: payment for services or work performed

Thesaurus

Verb Synonyms: reward, compensate, repay, pay, remunerate, reimburse, make up for, requite

Verb Antonyms: charge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Please provide the definition

sacerdotal

A

Adjective

  1. 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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Please provide the definition

specious

A

Adjective

  1. apparently true but actually false: appearing to be true but really false “a specious claim”
  2. deceptively attractive: superficially attractive but actually of no real interest or value

spe·cious·ly Adverb
spe·cious·ness Noun

21
Q

Please provide the definition

stultify

A

Transitive verb

  1. diminish interest: to dull somebody’s interest by being repetitive, tedious, and boring
  2. make somebody seem stupid: to cause somebody or something to seem unintelligent or silly
  3. render something useless: to render something useless or ineffectual
  4. 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

22
Q

Please provide the definition

vicissitude

A

Noun

  1. variability: the fact of being variable (literary)

Plural noun

  1. 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

23
Q

Please provide the definition

votary

A

Noun vo·ta·ries Plural

  1. monk or nun: somebody who has sworn to dedicate his or her life to religious worship or service
  2. 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

24
Q

Please provide the definition

portico

A

por·ti·coes Plural

Noun

  1. porch: a covered entrance to a large building
  2. 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

25
Q

Please provide the definition

stratum

A

stra·ta Plural

NOUN

  1. level within system: a layer or level within an ordered system “the various strata of meaning within the text”
  2. layer of society: a social class or level of society consisting of people of similar cultural, economic, or educational status
  3. layer of atmosphere or sea: a layer of the atmosphere or the sea, regarded as lying between horizontal planes
  4. 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.

26
Q

Please provide the definition

celerity

A

NOUN

  1. quickness: quickness in movement or in doing something (literary)

Thesaurus

NOUN Synonyms: speed, rapidity, swiftness, alacrity, haste, briskness, hurry, speediness

NOUN Antonyms: slowness

27
Q

Please provide the definition

promonotry

A

prom·on·to·ries Plural

NOUN

  1. projecting point of land: a point of land that juts out into the sea
  2. 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

28
Q

Please provide the definition

assiduous

A

ADJECTIVE

  1. very careful: showing persistent and hard-working effort in doing something

as·sid·u·ous·ly ADVERB as·sid·u·ous·ness NOUN

29
Q

Please provide the definition

auspicious

A

ADJECTIVE

  1. 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

30
Q

Please provide the definition

languid

A

ADJECTIVE

  1. without energy: lacking vigor and energy “a languid gesture”
  2. 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

31
Q

Please provide the definition

pygmy

A

NOUN

pyg·mies plural
pig·mies plural

  1. offensive term: an offensive term for somebody who is of shorter than average height
  2. offensive term: an offensive term that insults somebody’s importance, knowledge, or ability

ADJECTIVE

  1. 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

32
Q

Please provide the definition

intrepid

A

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

33
Q

Please provide the definition

extirpate

A

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

34
Q

Please provide the definition

triumvir

A

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

35
Q

Please provide the definition

filial

A

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

36
Q

Please provide the definition

odious

A

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

37
Q

Please provide the definition

ignominious

A

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

38
Q

Please provide the definition

prerogative

A

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

39
Q

Please provide the definition

convoke

A

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

40
Q

Please provide the definition

tractable

A

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

41
Q

Please provide the definition

capricious

A

ADJECTIVE 1. given to sudden changes: tending to make sudden unexpected changes ca·pri·cious·ly ADVERB ca·pri·cious·ness NOUN

42
Q

Please provide the definition

apotheosis

A

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”]

43
Q

Please provide the definition

enervate

A

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

44
Q

Please provide the definition

parsimony

A

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

45
Q

Please provide the definition

panegyric

A

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

46
Q

Please provide the definition

sophist

A

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

47
Q

Please provide the definition

lucubration

A

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

48
Q

Please provide the definition

appellation

A

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

49
Q

Please provide the definition

seraglio

A

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”]

Ancient Rome (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions