vocab from Ms.Moyer Flashcards
2
Q
clout
A
power and influence over other people or events:The small firms banded together so they would have more clout in Washington
3
Q
tiff
A
a slight argument:We had a little tiff over whose turn it was to walk the dog.
4
Q
goad
A
to cause someone to do something by being annoying:His brother goaded him into a wrestling match.
5
Q
skulk
A
to hide or move around as if trying not to be seen, usually with bad intentions:Dogs were skulking in the alleys.
6
Q
iconoclast
A
a person who strongly opposes generally accepted beliefs and traditionsRogers, an iconoclast in architecture, is sometimes described as putting the insides of buildings on the outside.
7
Q
jade
A
a : a disreputable womanb : a flirtatious girl
8
Q
rabble
A
the mass of people who are ordinary, unimportant, and poor, and sometimes threatening
9
Q
unwitting
A
without knowing or planning:The harmful radiation tests were performed long ago on unwitting subjects.
10
Q
doddering
A
weak and unable to walk in a normal way, usually because you are olda doddery old man
11
Q
gratis
A
free; not costing anything:Drinks were gratis.
12
Q
quoits
A
a game in which you throw rings over a small post, often played on ships
13
Q
anlage
A
the foundation of a subsequent development; can be referenced to organs
14
Q
derelict
A
(of buildings or equipment) not cared for and in bad condition
15
Q
feral
A
existing in a wild state, especially describing an animal that was previously kept by peopleferal dogs/cats
16
Q
pustule
A
a small raised area on the skin which contains pus (= thick liquid)
17
Q
augur
A
to be a sign of especially good or bad things in the futureThe company’s sales figures for the first six months augur well for the rest of the year.
18
Q
preen
A
(of a bird) to clean and arrange its feathers using its beakPeople who preen make themselves more attractive:[I] As they preened in the sun, Evelyn snapped photos of them.
19
Q
rubicund
A
having a red face
20
Q
seditious
A
language or behavior intended to persuade other people to oppose their government and change it, sometimes by using violence:He himself was tried for sedition and sentenced to ten years in jail.
21
Q
tow-headed
A
a head of hair resembling tow especially in being flaxen or tousled; also : a person having such a head of hair
22
Q
cognizant
A
to take notice of and consider something, especially when judgingThe lawyer asked the jury to take cognizance of the defendant’s generosity in giving to charity.
23
Q
ennui
A
a feeling of being bored and mentally tired caused by having nothing interesting or exciting to doThe whole country seems to be affected by the ennui of winter.
24
Q
debunk
A
to show that something is not true:Every week some long-held medical theory is debunked.
25
Q
cadence
A
a regular rise and fall of sound, esp. of the human voice:She spoke in the lyrical cadence of her East African accent.
26
pastoral
(of a piece of art, writing, or music) having or representing the pleasant, traditional features of the countryside:a pastoral scene
27
blanch
to become pale, esp. from being surprised:When he realized who was on the phone, he blanched.
28
chafe
to make or become damaged or sore by rubbing:[T] That bracelet chafed my wrist.
29
nimbus
halo
30
lore
knowledge and stories, usually traditional, about a subject:He published several books on Indian lore and hunting.
31
virulent
(of a disease) dangerous and spreading quickly, or (of poison) having an effect very quickly:a virulent strain of flu
32
precis
a short form of a text that gives only the important parts
33
rend
to break something violently; tear
34
sated
having had more of something than you can easily have at one timesated with drink/food
35
conundrum
a problem that is difficult to deal with:The best shows pose moral conundrums that are hard to solve.
36
misnomer
a name that is not correct or does not suit what it refers to, or a use of such a name:Dry cleaning is a misnomer, since the clothes are cleaned in a fluid.
37
curry
to groom in order to get attention
38
acrid
strong, bitter, and unpleasant:The electrical fire sent thick clouds of acrid smoke through the office.
39
pulverize
to press or crush something until it becomes powder or a soft mass:Seashells were pulverized by the ocean’s waves.infml Our team aims to pulverize the competition (= badly defeat them).
40
fetid
smelling extremely bad and stalefetid air/breath
41
intermittent
not happening regularly or continuously; stopping and starting repeatedly or with long periods in between
42
crucible
a container for melting metals
43
quail
show fear or apprehension; cower
44
gull
to take advantage of
45
dissemble
to hide your real intentions and feelings or the factsHe accused the government of dissembling.
46
malign
to say things about someone or something that are harmful and usually not true:He said he had been unfairly maligned by a few board members who wanted him fired.
47
malevolent
causing or wanting to cause harm or evil:a malevolent juvenile delinquent
48
vindictive
having or showing a desire to harm someone because you think that the person has harmed you; unwilling to forgive:She was immature, spiteful, even vindictive at times.
49
pedantic
caring too much about unimportant rules or details and not enough about understanding or appreciating a subject:Professor Harris had a narrow, pedantic approach to history that put us to sleep.
50
rile
to annoy or make angry:Many farmers have been riled by Department of Agriculture fines.[M] Your loud parties rile up the neighbors.
51
predilection
a strong liking or preference:a predilection for spicy foods
52
abscond
to escape and hide somewhere, esp. because you have stolen something:They absconded with $100,000 of the company’s money.
53
obsolete
outdated; no longer being used
54
excise
Cut out surgically
55
burnish
to rub metal until it is smooth and shiny• If you burnish something such as your public image, you take action to improve it and make it more attractive.The company is currently trying to burnish its socially responsible image.
56
mollycoddle
to give someone too much care or protectionYou're not helping the children by mollycoddling them - they have to grow up sometime.
57
genuflect
to bend one knee or touch one knee to the floor as a sign of worship or respect
58
amorphous
having no fixed form or shape; not clear or not determined:Plans for a 40-acre shopping center section remain so amorphous that the project has been shelved.
59
yaw
to veer; twist
60
chary
uncertain and frightened to take risks; unwilling to take actionI'm a bit chary of using a travel agency that doesn't have official registration.
61
noisome
very unpleasant and offensivea noisome stench
62
ossify
If habits or ideas ossify, or if something ossifies them, they become fixed and unable to changeYears of easy success had ossified the company's thinking and it never faced up to the challenge of the new technology.
63
sinuous
moving in a twisting, curving or indirect way, or having many curvesHe enjoyed watching the sinuous bodies of the dancers.The walkers followed the sinuous path through the trees.
64
ineffable
causing so much emotion, especially pleasure, that it cannot be describedineffable joy/beauty
65
oblation
something offered in worship or devotion : a holy gift offered usually at an altar or shrine
66
pipe dream
an idea or plan that is not practical or possible:Many people still believe that traveling to Mars is just a pipe dream.
67
germane
applicableHer remarks could not have been more germane to the discussion.
68
obtuse
angle over 90 degrees ora : lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect : insensitive, stupidb : difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression
69
effluvium
1 : an invisible emanation; especially : an offensive exhalation or smell2: a by-product especially in the form of waste
70
sophomoric
(of an adult) typical of someone acting like a child:sophomoric behavior
71
potentate
a ruler who has a lot of power, especially one whose power is not limited, for example by the existence of a parliament
72
excommunicate
(of the Christian Church, esp. the Roman Catholic Church) to refuse to allow someone to be a member of the church
73
lecher
a lecherous person (esp. of men) too interested in sex
74
bucolic
relating to the countrysideThe painting shows a typically bucolic scene with peasants harvesting crops in a field.
75
glut
a supply or amount that is much greater than necessary:a glut of new housinga glut of information
76
ipso facto
by that fact or act:If he is right, then anyone who disagrees with him is, ipso facto, wrong
77
effervescent
describes a liquid that produces bubbles of gaseffervescent vitamin C tablets
78
probity
the quality of being honest and behaving correctly:The Secretary-General will spare no effort to continue to ensure that the highest standards of probity are maintained.
79
pathos
a quality in life or art that causes feelings of sadness or sympathy:The dying girl’s speech generates genuine pathos.
80
undulate
describing or having small hills and slopes that look like wavesundulating roadsI love the gently undulating hills of the Dales.• moving gently up and downundulating waves
81
nugatory
worth nothing or of little valuea nugatory amount
82
apotheosize / apotheosis
elevation to divine status
83
consanguinity
a close relation or connection
84
impugn
to cause people to doubt or not trust someone’s character, honesty, or ability:He could no longer work as a doctor because his reputation had been impugned.
85
cleave
o cut or break into two or more parts:[I] The volcano cleaved nearly in half after its last eruption.
86
bilk
to block the free development of : frustrate 2a : to cheat out of something valuable : defraud
87
palaver
unnecessary work and troubleOrganizing the annual office lunch was such a palaver, I swore I'd never do it again.idle talk
88
extemporize
to speak or perform without any preparation or thoughtI'd lost my notes and had to extemporize.
89
peremptory
having the expectation of immediate and complete obedience, or to be obeyed without explanation:In his usual peremptory manner, he ordered us all into the conference room.
90
disconcerting
to make someone feel suddenly uncertain or worried:He was disconcerted by all the attention he was getting.
91
jaunty
happy and confident
92
languid
lacking energy, or causing a lack of energy or enthusiasm:He sat on the porch enjoying the delicious, languid warmth of a summer afternoon.
93
defunct
broken; no longer existing or workingHe was a reporter for the defunct New York Herald newspaper.
94
harrowing
extremely upsetting because connected with suffering:His book tells the harrowing story of how they climbed Mt. Everest.
95
dilatory
slow and likely to cause delaydilatory behaviour/tacticsBritish institutions have been dilatory in cutting credit card charges.
96
proximity
the state of being near in space or time:Mexico is a popular vacation spot because of its proximity to California.
97
septic
infected by bacteria which produce pusI had my ears pierced and one of them went septic.
98
ruddy
(of a white person’s skin) having a red color, often suggesting good health:a ruddy-cheeked girl
99
contumely
harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt; also : an instance of such language or treatment
100
malefactress
a woman who violates the law or does evil.
101
iniquity
sinfulness; wickednessThey fought long and hard against the iniquities of apartheid.The writer reflects on human injustice and iniquity.
102
mien
a person's appearance, especially the typical expression on their faceHis aristocratic mien and smart clothes singled him out.
103
trifle
a matter or item of little value or importancea trifle› A trifle means slightly or to a small degree:He admits to being a trifle nervous before every show.
104
intimate
to imply or hint
105
cabalistic
Relating to or associated with mystical interpretation or esoteric doctrine
106
adduce
to give reasons why you think something is trueNone of the evidence adduced in court was conclusive.
107
vilify
to say or write unpleasant things about someone or something, in order to cause other people to have a bad opinion of themHe was vilified by the press as a monster of perversity.
108
sedulous
(of a person or action) Showing dedication and diligence: "he watched himself with the most sedulous care".
109
loquacious
having the habit of talking a lot
110
contiguity
next to or touching another, usually similar, thingThe two states are contiguous with/to each other, but the laws are quite different.
111
misanthrope
someone who dislikes other people and avoids involvement with society
112
colloquy
a formal conversation
113
somnambulism
the action, sometimes happening regularly, of a person walking around while they are sleeping
114
conceit
a fanciful idea
115
scurrilous
rude and cruel, and sometimes damaging:scurrilous remarks
116
verdure
(the green colour of) fresh healthy plants
117
asperity
the quality of being severe in the way that you speak and behavethe asperity of her manner
118
disquietude
worryThe leader's decline in popularity is causing disquiet among supporters.
119
obeisance
obedience and respect, or something you do which expresses thisOne by one the noblemen made their obeisances (= bent at the waist) to the Queen.
120
pithy
(of speech or writing) brief and full of meaning:pithy commentsa pithy quote
121
preternatural
more than is usual or naturalAnger gave me preternatural strength, and I managed to force the door open.
