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.
Define:
aseptic
(uh-sep-tik)
adj. free of pathogens or germs
adj. with little or no emotion
Doctors are always careful to use aseptic surgical equipment to prevent infection.
Define:
prolix
(proh-liks)
adj. wordy or prolonged; tedious in length
The prolix manuscript took days to read.
Define:
foolhardy
(fool-hahr-dee)
adj. reckless, unwisely bold; thoughtlessly rash
It was a foolhardy attempt to climb the Sears Tower that went very wrong.
Define:
picaresque
(pik-uh-resk)
adj. involving clever rogues in episodes of comedy or adventure
Huck Finn is a picaresque hero.
Define:
raucous
(raw-kuhs)
adj. rough sounding, harsh
adj. boisterous, rowdy, disorderly
The raucous laughter went on long into the night.
Define:
providential
(prov-ih-den-shuhl)
adj. to occur as if from divine intervention
His providential recovery, when it seemed that he would surely succumb, brought hope to many.
Define:
antipodal
(an-tip-uh-dl)
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.
Define:
pillory
(pill-uh-ree)
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”.
Define:
infelicitous
(in-fuh-liss-ih-tuss)
adj. unfortunate, awkward, inappropriate
In Thailand, it is considered infelicitous to touch someone’s head.
Define:
dilatory
(dil-uh-tawr-ee)
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.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. free of pathogens or germs
adj. with little or no emotion
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synonyms: barren, clean; withdrawn, introverted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.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. wordy or prolonged; tedious in length
prolix
(proh-liks)
synonyms: lengthy, rambling
The prolix report could have been summarized in just a few pages.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. reckless, unwisely bold; thoughtlessly rash
foolhardy
(fool-hahr-dee)
synonyms: daredevil, venturous, risky
His foolhardy decision to hike alone in the storm was met with concern from his friends.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. involving clever rogues in episodes of comedy or adventure
picaresque
(pik-uh-resk)
synonyms: roguish, satirical
The novel’s picaresque style follows a witty antihero on a series of misadventures.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. rough sounding, harsh
adj. boisterous, rowdy, disorderly
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.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. to occur as if from divine intervention
providential
(prov-ih-den-shuhl)
synonyms: accidental, convenient, fortunate
Their meeting at the café felt providential, as it led to a long-lasting friendship.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. diametrically opposed to, polar opposite
adj. on the opposite side of the earth
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.
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
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.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unfortunate, awkward, inappropriate
infelicitous
(in-fuh-liss-ih-tuss)
synonyms: improper, ill suited
His infelicitous comments during the meeting only added to the tension in the room.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. tending to delay, put off, or procrastinate
adj. intended to slow progress
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.
Define:
overweening
(oh-ver-wee-ning)
adj. presumptuously arrogant or conceited; overconfident, overbearing
Ian made the overweening assumption that people would rush to help him.
Define:
neologism
(nee-awl-uh-djiz-uhm)
n. the creation of new words, expressions, or usages for words
“Technophile” is a neologism, just as “UFO” once was.
Define:
lassitude
(lass-ih-tood)
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.
Define:
locution
(loh-kyoo-shuhn)
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.
Define:
jocose
(joh-kohss)
adj. characterized by a joking or humorous manner
The jocose innkeeper could always be counted on for a bit of levity.
Define:
rend
(rend)
v. to forcibly take
v. to tear apart
The three-year-old decided she wanted to play with the teddy bear, so she rent it from her infant sister’s hands.
Define:
stanch
(stawnch)
v. to cease the flow of a liquid (esp. blood)
The doctor’s attempt to stanch the flow of blood eventually succeeded, and the patient’s blood pressure stabilized.
Define:
solder
(sod-er)
v. to weld, fuse, or join (esp. metals)
Harry soldered the bits of scrap metal together to make a pet door.
Define:
demure
(duh-myoor)
adj. modest, shy
Lindsay was demure and had a tough time opening up to new people.
Define:
insensible
(in-sen-suh-buhl)
adj. unconscious, unresponsive
The boxer lay insensible on the floor of the ring.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. presumptuously arrogant or conceited, overconfident, overbearing
overweening
(oh-ver-wee-ning)
synonyms: brash, conceited, pompous
His overweening confidence in his abilities often alienated his colleagues.
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)
synonyms: synthetic word, new phrase
The tech industry is known for its constant neologism, introducing terms like “selfie” and “hashtag.”
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)
synonyms: lethargy, weariness, inaction
After the long meeting, a sense of lassitude settled over the team, making it hard to focus.
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)
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.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. characterized by a joking or humorous manner
jocose
(joh-kohss)
synonyms: facetious, humorous, funny
His jocose remarks during the meeting lightened the mood and made everyone laugh.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to forcibly take
v. to tear apart
rend
(rend)
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.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to cease the flow of a liquid (esp. blood)
stanch
(stawnch)
synonyms: to cease the flow of a liquid
The medic worked quickly to stanch the flow of blood from the wound.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to weld, fuse, or join (esp. metals)
solder
(sod-er)
synonyms: fasten, braze
The technician used a torch to solder the metal pieces together securely.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. modest, shy
demure
(duh-myoor)
synonyms: reserved, bashful, coy
Her demure demeanor made her stand out in the lively crowd.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unconscious, unresponsive
insensible
(in-sen-suh-buhl)
synonyms: cold, numb, inanimate
He lay insensible on the ground after fainting from exhaustion.