Vocab week 4 Flashcards
Astute (one part of speech, one definition)
Astute (adj)
1. having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage.
“an astute businessman”
Asylum (one part of speech, three definitions)
Asylum (n)
- the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee.
“she applied for asylum and was granted refugee status” - shelter or protection from danger.
“we provide asylum for those too ill to care for themselves” - an institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill.
“he’d been committed to an asylum”
Audacious (one part of speech, two definitions)
Audacious (adj)
1. showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.
“a series of audacious takeovers”
2. showing an impudent lack of respect.
“an audacious remark”
Auspicious (one part of speech, three definitions)
Auspicious (adj)
1. conducive to success; favorable.
“it was not the most auspicious moment to hold an election”
2. giving or being a sign of future success.
“they said it was an auspicious moon—it was rising”
3. characterized by success; prosperous.
“he was respectful to his auspicious customers”
Austere (one part of speech, four definitions)
Austere (adj)
1. severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.
“an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook”
2. (of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries; harsh or ascetic.
“conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere”
3. having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance; unadorned.
“the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity”
4. (of an economic policy or measure) designed to reduce a budget deficit, especially by cutting public expenditure.
Belated (one part of speech, one definition)
Belated (adj)
1. coming or happening later than should have been the case.
“a belated apology”
Benevolent (one part of speech, two definitions)
Benevolent (adj)
1. well meaning and kindly.
“a benevolent smile”
2. (of an organization) serving a charitable rather than a profit-making purpose.
“a benevolent fund”
Benign (one part of speech, five definitions)
Benign (adj)
1. gentle and kindly.
“his benign but firm manner”
2. (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable.
“the climate becomes more benign as we move nearer to the Black Sea”
3. not harmful to the environment.
“an ozone-benign refrigerant”
4. (of a disease) not harmful in effect.
“a benign condition”
5. (of a tumor) not malignant.
“benign growths”
Bereft (one part of speech, two defintions)
Bereft (adj)
1. deprived of or lacking (something).
“her room was stark and bereft of color”
2. (of a person) sad and lonely, especially through someone’s death or departure.
“his death in 1990 left her bereft”
Bourgeois (two parts of speech, three definitions)
Bourgeois (adj)
1. of or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes.
“a rich, bored, bourgeois family”
2. (in Marxist contexts) upholding the interests of capitalism; not communist.
“bourgeois society took for granted the sanctity of property”
Bourgeois (n)
1. a bourgeois person.
“a self-confessed and proud bourgeois”
Brittle (two parts of speech, four definitons)
Brittle (adj)
1. hard but liable to break or shatter easily.
“her bones became fragile and brittle”
2. (of a sound, especially a person’s voice) unpleasantly hard and sharp and showing signs of instability or nervousness.
“a brittle laugh”
3. (of a person or behavior) appearing aggressive or hard but unstable or nervous within.
“her manner was artificially bright and brittle”
Brittle (n)
1. a candy made from nuts and set melted sugar.
“peanut brittle”
Origin
Brusque (one part of speech, one definition)
Brusque (adj)
1. abrupt or offhand in speech or manner.
“she could be brusque and impatient”
