Vocab Words 21-41 Flashcards
modus operandi
way of operating/working
Every killer has his/her own modus operandi.
swathes
a broad area of something (grassland/people/wheat/grain)
The vast swathes of grassland mesmerized me.
cerebral
to do with the brain/deep throughts.
She excelled in cerebral pursuits.
tenet
basic principle/law/fundamental
“Marriage is a basic tenet that we all accept.”
pernicious
having a negative impact/ dangerous, often in a gradual way.
The pernicious effects of smoking often affect other people as well.
bildungsroman
a growing up story.
TKAM is a bildungsroman because Scout grows throughout the book.
denigrate
criticize unfairly, disparage, to put someone down.
My grandmother often denigrates my grandfather’s motorcyle.
depredate
to plunder, ravage
My article depredated the use of racist slangs.
assuaged
soothed, lessened.
The governer’s speech assuaged the citizens’ fears.
piety/pious
devotion to God/ religious
My deeply pious sister goes to temple every month - not.
The extravanganzas of piety are ridiculous.
dictum
rule/law/principle
The dictum from the High Court Judges was announced
chattel
slave
impotent
powerless
taciturn
quiet in a grumpy way
My taciturn sister stumbled to bed after being told ten times to do so.
unsullied
unspoilt, undamaged
