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Vocab Junkie - Set 5 Flashcards

Learn this group of tough but common English vocab words - in chunks of 10 at a time. Just rate your confidence on each word, and it will repeat in an interval of time optimized for your brain's maximum retention.

1
Q

Define:

aseptic

(uh-sep-tik)

A

adj. free of pathogens or germs

adj. with little or no emotion

Doctors are always careful to use aseptic surgical equipment to prevent infection.

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2
Q

Define:

prolix

(proh-liks)

A

adj. wordy or prolonged; tedious in length

The prolix manuscript took days to read.

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3
Q

Define:

foolhardy

(fool-hahr-dee)

A

adj. reckless, unwisely bold; thoughtlessly rash

It was a foolhardy attempt to climb the Sears Tower that went very wrong.

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4
Q

Define:

picaresque

(pik-uh-resk)

A

adj. involving clever rogues in episodes of comedy or adventure

Huck Finn is a picaresque hero.

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5
Q

Define:

raucous

(raw-kuhs)

A

adj. rough sounding, harsh

adj. boisterous, rowdy, disorderly

The raucous laughter went on long into the night.

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6
Q

Define:

providential

(prov-ih-den-shuhl)

A

adj. to occur as if from divine intervention

His providential recovery, when it seemed that he would surely succumb, brought hope to many.

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7
Q

Define:

antipodal

(an-tip-uh-dl)

A

adj. diametrically opposed to, polar opposite

adj. on the opposite side of the earth

The couple had totally antipodal personalities, but they enjoyed each other’s company.

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8
Q

Define:

pillory

(pill-uh-ree)

A

v. to punish; to hold up for public scorning

n. a wooden framework with holes for head and hands, in which criminal offenders are held

Dan was pilloried in class for his inability to spell “potato”.

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9
Q

Define:

infelicitous

(in-fuh-liss-ih-tuss)

A

adj. unfortunate, awkward, inappropriate

In Thailand, it is considered infelicitous to touch someone’s head.

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10
Q

Define:

dilatory

(dil-uh-tawr-ee)

A

adj. tending to delay, put off, or procrastinate

adj. intended to slow progress

Courtney employed dilatory tactics in the debate in order to collect her thoughts, but the judges noticed and she was docked a point.

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11
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. free of pathogens or germs

adj. with little or no emotion

A

aseptic

(uh-sep-tik)

synonyms: barren, clean; withdrawn, introverted

The surgeon ensured the operating room was aseptic before beginning the procedure.

His aseptic demeanor made it difficult for others to gauge his true feelings.

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12
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. wordy or prolonged; tedious in length

A

prolix

(proh-liks)

synonyms: lengthy, rambling

The prolix report could have been summarized in just a few pages.

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13
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. reckless, unwisely bold; thoughtlessly rash

A

foolhardy

(fool-hahr-dee)

synonyms: daredevil, venturous, risky

His foolhardy decision to hike alone in the storm was met with concern from his friends.

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14
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. involving clever rogues in episodes of comedy or adventure

A

picaresque

(pik-uh-resk)

synonyms: roguish, satirical

The novel’s picaresque style follows a witty antihero on a series of misadventures.

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15
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. rough sounding, harsh

adj. boisterous, rowdy, disorderly

A

raucous

(raw-kuhs)

synonyms: noisy, chaotic

The raucous laughter from the crowd filled the room, creating a lively atmosphere.

The raucous party continued late into the night, with music blaring and people dancing wildly.

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16
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. to occur as if from divine intervention

A

providential

(prov-ih-den-shuhl)

synonyms: accidental, convenient, fortunate

Their meeting at the café felt providential, as it led to a long-lasting friendship.

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17
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. diametrically opposed to, polar opposite

adj. on the opposite side of the earth

A

antipodal

(an-tip-uh-dl)

synonyms: opposed, contrary, counter

The two countries had antipodal cultures, with vastly different traditions and beliefs.

The antipodal point of New York City lies in the Indian Ocean.

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18
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to punish; to hold up for public scorning

n. a wooden framework with holes for head and hands, in which criminal offenders are held

A

pillory

(pill-uh-ree)

synonyms: ridicule, abuse

The media pilloried the politician for his controversial remarks, leading to widespread outrage.

The criminal was displayed in the pillory as a public warning against wrongdoing.

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19
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unfortunate, awkward, inappropriate

A

infelicitous

(in-fuh-liss-ih-tuss)

synonyms: improper, ill suited

His infelicitous comments during the meeting only added to the tension in the room.

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20
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. tending to delay, put off, or procrastinate

adj. intended to slow progress

A

dilatory

(dil-uh-tawr-ee)

synonyms: dallying, sluggish, tardy

Her dilatory approach to completing assignments often resulted in last-minute stress.

The dilatory tactics employed by the defense lawyer frustrated the prosecution’s efforts to expedite the trial.

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21
Q

Define:

overweening

(oh-ver-wee-ning)

A

adj. presumptuously arrogant or conceited; overconfident, overbearing

Ian made the overweening assumption that people would rush to help him.

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22
Q

Define:

neologism

(nee-awl-uh-djiz-uhm)

A

n. the creation of new words, expressions, or usages for words

“Technophile” is a neologism, just as “UFO” once was.

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23
Q

Define:

lassitude

(lass-ih-tood)

A

n. a state of listless exhaustion, weakness, or weariness of the mind or body

The extreme heat led to a general lassitude that settled on the village from May to October.

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24
Q

Define:

locution

(loh-kyoo-shuhn)

A

n. a particular word, phrase, or style used by a person or group

n. style of speaking, phraseology

The newcomers were fascinated by the Aussie’s locution.

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25
# Define: jocose | (joh-**kohss**)
adj. characterized by a joking or humorous manner ## Footnote The _jocose_ innkeeper could always be counted on for a bit of levity.
26
# Define: rend | (**rend**)
v. to forcibly take v. to tear apart ## Footnote The three-year-old decided she wanted to play with the teddy bear, so she _rent_ it from her infant sister's hands.
27
# Define: stanch | (**stawnch**)
v. to cease the flow of a liquid (esp. blood) ## Footnote The doctor's attempt to _stanch_ the flow of blood eventually succeeded, and the patient's blood pressure stabilized.
28
# Define: solder | (**sod**-er)
v. to weld, fuse, or join (esp. metals) ## Footnote Harry _soldered_ the bits of scrap metal together to make a pet door.
29
# Define: demure | (duh-**myoor**)
adj. modest, shy ## Footnote Lindsay was _demure_ and had a tough time opening up to new people.
30
# Define: insensible | (in-**sen**-suh-buhl)
adj. unconscious, unresponsive ## Footnote The boxer lay _insensible_ on the floor of the ring.
31
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. presumptuously arrogant or conceited, overconfident, overbearing
overweening | (oh-ver-**wee**-ning) ## Footnote synonyms: brash, conceited, pompous His _overweening_ confidence in his abilities often alienated his colleagues.
32
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. the creation of new words, expressions, or usages for words
neologism | (nee-**awl**-uh-djiz-uhm) ## Footnote synonyms: synthetic word, new phrase The tech industry is known for its constant _neologism_, introducing terms like "selfie" and "hashtag."
33
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a state of listless exhaustion, weakness, or weariness of the mind or body
lassitude | (**lass**-ih-tood) ## Footnote synonyms: lethargy, weariness, inaction After the long meeting, a sense of _lassitude_ settled over the team, making it hard to focus.
34
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a particular word, phrase, or style used by a person or group n. style of speaking, phraseology
locution | (loh-**kyoo**-shuhn) ## Footnote synonyms: phrasing, expression, lingo Her _locution_ revealed her background, with distinct phrases typical of her region. The author's unique _locution_ made her writing instantly recognizable.
35
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. characterized by a joking or humorous manner
jocose | (joh-**kohss**) ## Footnote synonyms: facetious, humorous, funny His _jocose_ remarks during the meeting lightened the mood and made everyone laugh.
36
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to forcibly take v. to tear apart
rend | (**rend**) ## Footnote synonyms: break, divide, rip The storm seemed to _rend_ the branches from the trees with violent winds. The lion's powerful jaws can _rend_ its prey in seconds.
37
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to cease the flow of a liquid (esp. blood)
stanch | (**stawnch**) ## Footnote synonyms: to cease the flow of a liquid The medic worked quickly to _stanch_ the flow of blood from the wound.
38
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to weld, fuse, or join (esp. metals)
solder | (**sod**-er) ## Footnote synonyms: fasten, braze The technician used a torch to _solder_ the metal pieces together securely.
39
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. modest, shy
demure | (duh-**myoor**) ## Footnote synonyms: reserved, bashful, coy Her _demure_ demeanor made her stand out in the lively crowd.
40
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. unconscious, unresponsive
insensible | (in-**sen**-suh-buhl) ## Footnote synonyms: cold, numb, inanimate He lay _insensible_ on the ground after fainting from exhaustion.
41
# Define: rail | (**reyl**)
v. to complain bitterly ## Footnote The citizens _railed_ against the injustice of the federal land grab in tersely-worded editorials and letters to the editor.
42
# Define: noisome | (**noy**-suhm)
adj. having an extremely foul scent, offensive or harmful ## Footnote The _noisome_ odor of the garbage nauseated Audrey.
43
# Define: mellifluous | (muh-**lif**-loo-uhs)
adj. sweetly flowing (esp. of words or sounds) ## Footnote Lucy's _mellifluous_ voice was noted by her interviewer.
44
# Define: inveterate | (in-**vet**-er-it)
adj. established, habitual, deep-rooted ## Footnote It was Tony's _inveterate_ preference to drink orange juice every morning.
45
# Define: coterie | (**koh**-tuh-ree)
n. a small or exclusive group of people with common interests ## Footnote The _coterie_ of musicians began to meet on Tuesday nights and eventually established a weekly concert series.
46
# Define: impugn | (im-**pyoon**)
v. to challenge or attack one's beliefs or motives as false ## Footnote The candidate went too far when he began to _impugn_ the character of his opponent's husband.
47
# Define: voluble | (**vol**-yuh-buhl)
adj. able to speak easily and in quantity, glib, talkative ## Footnote The _voluble_ speaker talked late into the night.
48
# Define: misogynist | (mih-**sodj**-uh-nist)
n. one who hates women ## Footnote The song contained several lyrics that were so offensive to women that the singer was immediately labeled a _misogynist_.
49
# Define: pedagogy | (**ped**-uh-goh-djee)
n. the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing ## Footnote Training in _pedagogy_ can't prepare you for manic third graders.
50
# Define: ambient | (**am**-bee-uhnt)
adj. relating to the immediate surroundings; surrounding environment ## Footnote The low _ambient_ lighting made for a romantic dinner setting.
51
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to complain bitterly
rail | (**reyl**) ## Footnote synonyms: berate, abuse, complain He would often _rail_ against the unfair treatment he received at work.
52
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. offensive or harmful
noisome | (**noy**-suhm) ## Footnote synonyms: repulsive, dangerous The _noisome_ odor from the garbage bin made it difficult to stay in the room.
53
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. sweetly flowing (esp. of words or sounds)
mellifluous | (muh-**lif**-loo-uhs) ## Footnote synonyms: euphonic, harmonic, mellow, pleasing Her _mellifluous_ voice captivated the audience during the concert.
54
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. established, habitual, deep-rooted
inveterate | (in-**vet**-er-it) ## Footnote synonyms: chronic, habitual, ingrained He was an _inveterate_ gambler, unable to resist the lure of the casino.
55
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a small or exclusive group of people with common interests
coterie | (**koh**-tuh-ree) ## Footnote synonyms: clique, crowd, collective The artist was surrounded by a _coterie_ of fellow creatives who shared her vision.
56
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to challenge or attack one's beliefs or motives as false
impugn | (im-**pyoon**) ## Footnote synonyms: criticize, challenge The politician attempted to _impugn_ his opponent's integrity during the debate.
57
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. able to speak easily and in quantity, glib, talkative
voluble | (**vol**-yuh-buhl) ## Footnote synonyms: articulate, chatty, conversational She was a _voluble_ speaker, captivating the audience with her engaging storytelling.
58
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. one who hates women
misogynist | (mih-**sodj**-uh-nist) ## Footnote synonyms: sexist, chauvinist His _misogynist_ remarks during the meeting sparked outrage among his colleagues.
59
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
pedagogy | (**ped**-uh-goh-djee) ## Footnote synonyms: education, apprenticeship, discipline Her innovative approach to _pedagogy_ transformed the classroom into an engaging learning environment.
60
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. relating to the immediate surroundings; surrounding environment
ambient | (**am**-bee-uhnt) ## Footnote synonyms: environment, atmosphere The _ambient_ light in the café created a warm and inviting atmosphere.
61
# Define: inquest | (**in**-kwest)
n. a judicial inquiry of some matter held before a jury n. an investigation, inquiry ## Footnote The police opened an _inquest_ into the cause of death.
62
# Define: preen | (**preen**)
v. to primp, to dress up v. to clean fur or feathers of an animal ## Footnote The bird _preened_ its feathers with its beak for a few moments before taking flight.
63
# Define: parry | (**pear**-ee)
v. to block, evade, or ward off ## Footnote The politician _parried_ the reporter's questions with a few of her own.
64
# Define: guy | (**gahy**)
n. rope or cord attached to something as a brace ## Footnote I was nervous that the _guy_ for the pully would snap.
65
# Define: sallow | (**sal**-oh)
adj. of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion ## Footnote There was a large number of _sallow_-looking patients in the doctor's office.
66
# Define: plangent | (**plan**-djuhnt)
adj. pounding, thundering, resounding ## Footnote The _plangent_ honking of geese flying overhead jolted me awake.
67
# Define: peripatetic | (per-uh-puh-**tet**-ik)
adj. itinerant, nomadic ## Footnote A _peripatetic_ existence can take its toll on your relationships with the ones you love.
68
# Define: rue | (**roo**)
v. to regret; to feel or experience remorse ## Footnote I _rued_ the day I ever let her go.
69
# Define: macerate | (**mass**-uh-reyt)
v. to soften by steeping in a liquid, or decompose v. to emaciate; to starve ## Footnote Now, we will _macerate_ the rest of the melon in hot water so we can use it to flavor the cream.
70
# Define: callow | (**kal**-oh)
adj. lacking maturity or experience ## Footnote A _callow_ young man was tormenting the elderly in the park.
71
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. a judicial inquiry of some matter held before a jury. n. an investigation, inquiry
inquest | (**in**-kwest) ## Footnote synonyms: a judicial inquiry, an official review before a panel The _inquest_ revealed new evidence about the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death. The police conducted an _inquest_ to determine the cause of the accident.
72
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to primp, to dress up v. to clean fur or feathers of an animal
preen | (**preen**) ## Footnote synonyms: beautify, groom, brush, doll up She took a moment to _preen_ herself before the important meeting, ensuring she looked her best. The cat began to _preen_ its fur, ensuring it was clean and tidy.
73
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to block, evade, or ward off
parry | (**pear**-ee) ## Footnote synonyms: block, dodge, circumvent He managed to _parry_ the opponent's strikes with skillful movements.
74
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. rope or cord attached to something as a brace
guy | (**gahy**) ## Footnote synonyms: cable, wire, rope The construction crew used a strong _guy_ wire to secure the tall scaffold, ensuring it was stable and safe for the workers.
75
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion
sallow | (**sal**-oh) ## Footnote synonyms: pale, unhealthy-looking, jaundiced His _sallow_ complexion was a clear sign that he had been unwell for days.
76
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. pounding, thundering, resounding
plangent | (**plan**-djuhnt) ## Footnote synonyms: booming, loud, roaring The _plangent_ notes of the piano echoed through the empty hall, evoking deep emotions.
77
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. itinerant, nomadic
peripatetic | (per-uh-puh-**tet**-ik) ## Footnote synonyms: migrant, vagrant, wandering The _peripatetic_ lifestyle of the traveler allowed her to explore new cultures and places constantly.
78
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to regret; to feel or experience remorse
rue | (**roo**) ## Footnote synonyms: feel remorse, grieve for He began to _rue_ his decision to skip college after seeing his friends succeed.
79
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to soften by steeping in a liquid, or decompose v. to emaciate; to starve
macerate | (**mass**-uh-reyt) ## Footnote synonyms: soak, dissolve To prepare the dish, you should _macerate_ the strawberries in sugar for an hour. The harsh conditions in the wilderness caused him to _macerate_, losing weight rapidly.
80
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. lacking maturity or experience
callow | (**kal**-oh) ## Footnote synonyms: immature, foolish The _callow_ intern struggled to keep up with the demands of the fast-paced office.
81
# Define: wistful | (**wist**-fuhl)
adj. yearning, longing, or melancholy ## Footnote The child stared _wistfully_ out the window for days, waiting for her dog to return.
82
# Define: corroborate | (kuh-**rob**-uh-rehyt)
v. to confirm or validate ## Footnote The mailman _corroborated_ the alleged thief's story, confirming that he had merely been passing by when the robbery occurred.
83
# Define: couch | (**couch**)
v. to express in indirect terms; to frame in a certain way ## Footnote Her criticism was _couched_ in flattering terms so that her coworker wouldn't take offense.
84
# Define: innervate | (ih-**nur**-veyt)
v. to give nervous energy to; to supply with nerves ## Footnote The team was _innervated_ by the coach's pep talk and approached the second half with renewed energy.
85
# Define: impecunious | (im-puh-**kyoo**-nee-us)
adj. poor; without any money ## Footnote A graduate student generally leads an _impecunious_ existence.
86
# Define: grovel | (**gruhv**-uhl)
v. to behave in a servile manner v. to indulge in unworthy pursuits ## Footnote The servants _groveled_ at the king's throne.
87
# Define: epicurean | (ep-ih-kyoo-**ree**-uhn)
adj. characterized by luxury (esp. in terms of food and drink) or by a propensity for indulging in luxury ## Footnote The cruise was marketed as an _epicurean_ adventure through the cuisines of four Caribbean nations.
88
# Define: hirsute | (**hur**-soot)
adj. hairy, shaggy ## Footnote A _hirsute_ sheepdog won the Dog Showing Contest.
89
# Define: countenance | (**koun**-tuh-nunce)
n. appearance of a person's face v. to permit, to allow ## Footnote Many people thought she was friendly because of her kindly _countenance_.
90
# Define: scurvy | (**skur**-vee)
adj. not admirable, despicable ## Footnote The _scurvy_ pirate secured his escape by throwing gun powder into the eyes of his pursuers.
91
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. yearning, longing, or melancholy
wistful | (**wist**-fuhl) ## Footnote synonyms: forlorn, reflective She gazed out the window with a _wistful_ expression, reminiscing about her childhood.
92
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to confirm or validate
corroborate | (kuh-**rob**-uh-rehyt) ## Footnote synonyms: affirm, validate, give further supporting evidence The witness's testimony helped to _corroborate_ the defendant's alibi.
93
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to express in indirect terms; to frame in a certain way
couch | (**couch**) ## Footnote synonyms: formulate, phrase, surround He chose to _couch_ his criticism in diplomatic language to avoid offending anyone.
94
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to give nervous energy to; to supply with nerves
innervate | (ih-**nur**-veyt) ## Footnote synonyms: invigorate, evoke, stimulate The medication helped to _innervate_ the affected muscles, improving his mobility.
95
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. poor; without any money
impecunious | (im-puh-**kyoo**-nee-us) ## Footnote synonyms: destitute, impoverished The _impecunious_ artist struggled to make ends meet while pursuing his passion.
96
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? v. to behave in a servile manner v. to indulge in unworthy pursuits
grovel | (**gruhv**-uhl) ## Footnote synonyms: beg, serve He began to _grovel_ for forgiveness after realizing the severity of his mistake. She refused to _grovel_ in petty rivalries, choosing instead to focus on her goals.
97
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. characterized by luxury (esp. in terms of food and drink) or by a propensity for indulging in luxury
epicurean | (ep-ih-kyoo-**ree**-uhn) ## Footnote synonyms: gluttonous, libertine The _epicurean_ feast featured exquisite dishes and fine wines, delighting all the guests.
98
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. hairy, shaggy
hirsute | (**hur**-soot) ## Footnote synonyms: furry, wooly The _hirsute_ dog needed a grooming session to tame its unruly fur.
99
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? n. appearance of a person's face v. to permit, to allow
countenance | (**koun**-tuh-nunce) ## Footnote synonyms: aspect, demeanor, expression, face Her cheerful _countenance_ brightened the room and lifted everyone's spirits. The teacher _countenanced_ a few late submissions due to extenuating circumstances.
100
# Which of your vocabulary words means the following? adj. not admirable, despicable
scurvy | (**skur**-vee) ## Footnote synonyms: abominable, low-down His _scurvy_ behavior during the project earned him the disdain of his colleagues.

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