Vocab List 4 Flashcards
Affable
(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
We spent a pleasant afternoon with our affable neighbors
Aggrandize
(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater
John D. Rockefeller worked to aggrandize his empire by purchasing oil wells, refineries, and pipelines.
Amorphous
(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion
The amourphous body of the amoeba was fascinating to watch under the microscope.
Archetype
(n.) an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing
Same as epitome
Sherlock Holmes was an archetype of a clever detective who always solves the case.
Aura
(n.) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality
What people thought was her aura of mystery was actually a mask for her shyness.
Contraband
(n.) illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj.) illegal, prohibited
Three jeweled combs from the 17th century were among the contraband seized by the police.
Erudite
(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic
For my paper, I would like to find an Erudite history of the subject written in a clear and unbiased manner.
SYNONYMS: profoundly educated, well-read
ANTONYMS: ignorant, uneducated, illiterate
Gossamer
(adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; (n.) a very thin, light cloth
Ghosts are often depicted in literature as wearing Gossamer clothing that makes them seem all the more ethereal.
SYNONYMS: (adj.) filmy, diaphanous, sheer, airy, feathery, gauzy
ANTONYMS: (adj.) dense, solid, massive
Inscrutable
(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically
I could not tell by her smile whether she was pleased or only amused with me.
SYNONYMS: impenetrable, incomprehensible, enigmatic
ANTONYMS: comprehensible, intelligible, penetrable
Insular
(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience
Similar to provincial
## Footnote
You seem too sophisticated to hold such opinions.
SYNONYMS: narrow-minded, parochial, provincial
ANTONYMS: catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal
irrevocable
(adj.) incapable of being changed or called back
We tend to think of court verdicts as irrevocable, but they are often overturned by higher courts.
SYNONYMS: unrecallable, unalterable
ANTONYMS: reversible, changeable
Propensity
(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward
Also proclivity
## Footnote
Queen Elizabeth I showed a strong propensity for putting off decisions in the hopes that they would resolve themselves.
SYNONYMS: natural bent, proclivity, penchant
ANTONYMS: natural incapacity or inability
Querulous
(V.) Peevish, complaining, fretful
Some flught attendants dread a Querelous airline passenger more than they do rough weather
Remonstrate
(V.) To argue with someone or against something, protest against.
Slowly, carefully, keeping his voice down, he argued with the caller as one might remonstrate with a child
Also expostulate
The students remonstrated with Mr hubs about his decision to assign an essay
Repudiate
(V.) To disown, reject, or deny the validity of
He was forced to repudiate a statement he made before he’d had all the imformation
Resilient
(Adj.) Able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly
Reverberate
(V.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly
Scurrilous
(Adj.) Coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed
Also vitriolic
Sedulous
(Adj.) Persistent, showing industry and determination
Sleazy
(Adj.) thin or flimsy in texture, low moral character, vulgar
The sleazy material ripped easily under the slightest tension. The sleazy bar was a favorite hang out for the town lowlifes.
