Vocab H4-6 Quest Flashcards
affinity
(n. ) a natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship, connection
syn: penchant
ant: aversion
bilious
(adj. ) peevish or irritable; sickeningly unpleasant
syn: irascible
cognate
(adj.) closely related in origin, essential nature, or function; (n.) such a person or thing
corollary
(n.) a proposition that follows from one already proven; a natural consequence or result; (adj.) resultant or consequent
cul-de-sac
(n. ) a blind alley or dead-end street; any situation in which further progress is impossible; an impasse
syn: impasse
derring-do
(n. ) valor or heroism; daring deeds or exploits (often used to poke fun at false heroics)
syn: audacity, bravado
divination
(n. ) the art or act of predicting the future or discovering hidden knowledge
syn: augury
elixir
(n. ) a potion once thought capable of curing all ills and maintaining life indefinitely; a panacea; a sweet liquid used as a vehicle in medicines
syn: panacea
folderol
(n.) foolish talk, ideas, or procedures; nonsense; a trifle
gamut
(n.) an entire range or series
hoi polloi
(n.) the common people, the masses
ineffable
(adj.) not expressible in words; too great or too sacred to be uttered
lucubration
(n.) laborious study or thought, especially at night; the result of such work
mnemonic
(adj.) relating to or designed to assist the memory; (n.) a device to aid the memory
obloquy
(n. ) public abuse indicating strong disapproval or censure; the disgrace resulting from such treatment
syn: opprobrium
parameter
(n.) a determining or characteristic element; a factor that shapes the total outcome; a limit, boundary
pundit
(n.) a learned person; one who gives authoritative opinions
risible
(adj. ) pertaining to laughter; able or inclined to laugh; laughable
syn: droll
ant: poignant
symptomatic
(adj.) typical or characteristic; being or concerned with a symptom of a disease
volte-face
(n.) an about-face: a complete reversal
aficionado
(n.) an enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan
browbeat
(v. ) to intimidate by a stern or overbearing manner; to bully
syn: coerce
ant: cajole
commensurate
(adj.) equal in size, extent, duration, or importance; proportionate; measurable by the same standards
diaphonous
(adj. ) very sheer and light; almost completely transparent
syn: gossamer
ant: opaque
emolument
(n.) profit derived from an office or position or from employment; a fee or salary
foray
(n.) a quick raid, especially for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor; (v.) to make such a raid
genre
(n.) a type, class, or variety, especially a distinctive category of literary composition; a style of painting in which everyday scenes are realistically depicted
homily
(n.) a sermon stressing moral principles; a tedious moralizing lecture or discourse
immure
(v.) to enclose or confine within walls; to imprison; to seclude or isolate
insouciant
(adj. ) blithely indifferent or unconcerned; carefree; happy-go-lucky
ant: distraught
matrix
(n.) a mold; the surrounding situation or environment
obsequies
(n.) funeral rites or ceremonies
panache
(n. ) a confident and stylish manner, dash; a strikingly elaborate or colorful display
syn: éclat
persona
(n.) a character in a novel or play; the outward character or role that a person assumes
philippic
(n. ) a bitter verbal attack
syn: harangue, tirade, diatribe
ant: encomium, panegyric
prurient
(adj. ) having lustful desires or interests; tending to arouse sexual desires
syn: lascivious, salacious, lewd
sacrosanct
(adj. ) very sacred or holy; inviolable; set apart or immune from questioning or attack
syn: inviolable
systemic
(adj.) of or pertaining to the entire body; relating to a system or systems
tendentious
(adj.) intended to promote a particular point of view, doctrine, or cause; biased or partisan
vicissitude
(n. ) a change, variation, or alteration; (pl.) successive or changing phases or conditions
syn: vacillation
abortive
(adj.) failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially or imperfectly developed
bruit
(v.) to spread news, reports, or unsubstaintiated rumors
contumelious
(adj. ) insolent or rude in speech or behavior; insultingly abusive; humiliating
syn: insolent, vituperative, scurrilous
dictum (pl: dicta)
(n. ) a short saying; an authoritative statement
syn: aphorism, axiom
ensconce
(v.) to settle comfortably and firmly in position; to put or hide in a safe place
iconoclastic
(adj. ) attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or institutions
ant: orthodox
in media res
(adv.) in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things
internecine
(adj.) mutually destructive; characterized by great slaughter and bloodshed
maladroit
(adj. ) lacking skill or dexterity; lacking tact, perception, or judgement
syn: inept, gauche
ant: dexterous, deft, tactful
maudlin
(adj.) excessively or effusively sentimental
modulate
(v.) to change or vary the intensity or pitch; to temper or soften; to regulate, adjust
portentous
(adj. ) foreshadowing an event to come; causing wonder or awe; self-consciously weighty, pompous
ant: auspicious
prescience
(n.) knowledge of events or actions before they happen; foresight
quid pro quo
(n.) something given in exchange or return for something else
salubrious
(adj. ) conducive to health or well-being; wholesome
ant: deleterious
saturnalian
(adj.) characterized by riotous or unrestrained revelry or licentiousness
touchstone
(n.) a means of testing worth or genuineness
traumatic
(adj.) so shocking to the emotions as to cause lasting and substantial psychological damage
vitiate
(v.) to weaken, debase, or corrupt; to impair the quality or value of
waggish
(adj. ) fond of making jokes; characteristic of a joker; playfully humorous or droll
syn: droll, jocular
ant: dour
