Vocab list 2 Flashcards
Acappella
Performance of music by unaccompanied voices
The chorus performed a cappella
Bona fide
genuine or real
The painting is a bona fide original
Au courant
aware of what is going on; well informed
She is au courant with international affairs.
Elan
vigorous spirit or enthusiasm
She played the cello with great elan.
De jure
By law or by right
The car on the through street has the right of way de jure.
Dotage
The period of life in which a person is old and weak
He must look after his grandmother, who is in her dotage.
Intrinsic
Belonging naturally
Reading is intrinsic to learning
Pince-nez
A popular style of glasses in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that is clipped to the nose
Teddy Roosevelt is known for wearing pince-nez
Timidity
Lack of courage or confidence
He cannot overcome his timidity in time to give the speech
Congeal
To solidify or coagulate
The jello congealed as it cooled
Verdant
Green with grass or vegetation
The countryside is verdant in the spring.
Magniloquent
Using high-flown or bombastic language
The speakers magniloquent diction made him sound pretentious
Convocation
A group formally assembled for a special purpose
The convocation for the school was held in the auditorium.
Emanation
an abstract but perceptible thing that originates from a source
The speech emanated despair and sorrow
Warmth emanates from the sun.
Burlesque
an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something
The hilarious play was obviously a burlesque of Romeo and Juliet.
Vis-a-vis
In relation, in regard to
The company needs to have a meeting, vis-a-vis cost decreases.
Semper fidelis
always faithful
Semper fidelis is the motto of the Marine Corps
Aficionado
A person who is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about something
Charles is an aficionado on war history.
Ranine
frog like
The person was hopping in a ranine manner.
Al fresco
In the open air
We ate al fresco at the restaurant.
Bete noire
A person or thing one particularly dislikes
Bubblegum is my bete noire.
Carte blanche
complete freedom to do or act as one wishes
We were given carte blanche for the project.
Faux pas
an embarrassing act or remark in a social occasion
She could not recover socially from her faux pas at the party.
Aria
melody or tune
The aria of the opera was lovely.
Avant-garde
an experimental genre of art
The designer was known for avant-garde work.
Eclat
Brilliant display or effect
The show was a brilliant eclat.
Chiaroscuro
The treatment of light and shade in drawing or painting
The artist uses chiaroscuro to create drama in his paintings.
Simper
Smile in an affectedly coy manner
She simpered once he had turned his back.
Unctuous
excessively flattering; oily
His manner was off-puttingly unctuous.
Eclectic
Deriving ideas, style, or taste, from a broad range of sources
Her interior design style was very eclectic.
