vocab unit 13 Flashcards
extremely difficult to understand
abstruse
syn: arcane, recondite, occult
abstruse
ant: simple, straightforward
abstruse
an open or intentional insult; a slight; to insult to one’s face in defiance, confront
affront
syn: offense; offend
affront
ant: compliment, praise
affront
a false rumor, fabricated story
canard
syn: hoax
canard
excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up
captious
syn: faultfinding, carping
captious
ant: uncritical
captious
aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction
cognizant
syn: acquainted
cognizant
ant: unaware, unconscious, oblivious
cognizant
regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent
contrite
syn: remorseful, rueful
contrite
ant: unapologetic, impenitent
contrite
the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct
cynosure
syn: focus
cynosure
well behaved, dignified, socially proper
decorous
syn: seemly, becoming, tasteful
decorous
ant: unbecoming, improper, tasteless
decorous
to think it appropriate or suitable to one’s dignity to do something; to condescend
deign
syn: deem
deign
thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting
dessicated
syn: dehydrated, shriveled
desiccated
ant: sodden, waterlogged, drenched
desiccated
the power to produce a desired result
efficacy
syn: effectiveness, potency, reliability
efficacy
ant: impotence
efficacy
to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume form
engender
syn: generate, cause, form
engender
ant: stop, deter
engender
light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)
ethereal
syn: heavenly, celestial, gossamer
ethereal
ant: infernal, hellish, thick, heavy
ethereal
the front or face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what my lie behind)
facade
syn: exterior, surface, mask
facade
ant: interior
facade
revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead
ghoulish
syn: barbarous, monstrous
ghoulish
not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible
incongruous
syn: discordant
incongruous
ant: compatible, harmonious, consistent
incongruous
a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end
machination
syn: plot, maneuver
machiantion
to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch
mesmerize
disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach
opprobrium
syn: infamy, dishonor, odium
opprobrium
ant: acclaim, honor, glory, renown
opprobrium
generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred
putative
syn: supposed, presumed
putative
ant: corroborated, confirmed
putative