Vocabulary 1 Flashcards
1
Q
plethora (n.)
A
Superabundance, excess
Plethora means an abundance or excess of something. If you have 15 different people who want to take you on a date, you have a plethora of romantic possibilities.
2
Q
oscillate (v.)
A
To swing back and forth steadily; to vary between alternate extremes
be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
On a hot day, you’ll be happy to have a fan that can oscillate, meaning it moves back and forth in a steady motion.
3
Q
awry (adj.)
A
Askew, wrong
When something goes wrong with a decent plan, you say it has gone awry. Losing your backpack is a mistake, but when you realize it contained your ticket and your passport, your vacation plans really go awry.
4
Q
esoteric (adj.)
A
Understood by only a few; not publicly disclosed
Pssst… do you know the secret handshake? If you haven’t been brought into the inner circle of those with special knowledge, esoteric things will remain a mystery to you.
5
Q
paradox (n.)
A
Seemingly contradicting statement
Here’s a mind-bender: “This statement is false.” If you think it’s true, then it must be false, but if you think it’s false, it must be true. Now that’s a paradox!
6
Q
encognito (adj.)
A
With one’s identity disguised
When you want to do something and not be recognized, go incognito — hiding your true identity.
7
Q
paradigm (n.)
A
A pattern of thought; a model
A paradigm is a standard, perspective, or set of ideas. A paradigm is a way of looking at something.
8
Q
flabbergast (v.)
A
the overwhelm with astonishment
To flabbergast is to shock, awe, bowl over. For something to flabbergast you, it ought to leave you sputtering in amazement.
9
Q
pugnacious (adj.)
A
Combative in nature; belligerent
Pugnacious means ready for a fight. If you’re pugnacious, you might find it hard to make friends. On the other hand, you might be a very successful professional boxer one day.
10
Q
magnanimous (adj.)
A
generous and noble, especially in forgiving
A magnanimous person has a generous spirit. Letting your little sister have the last of the cookies, even though you hadn’t eaten since breakfast, would be considered a magnanimous act.
11
Q
splendiferous (adj.)
A
Splendid, great
Even though it sounds like a made-up word, splendiferous is a word for wonderful things. You may have seen a splendiferous sunset or a splendiferous velvet gown in your day.
12
Q
ominous (adj.)
A
menacing or foreboding
If something looks or sounds ominous, be careful: a threat or an unpleasant event is at hand. If you see an ominous frown on your boss’s face, you’re in trouble!
13
Q
oblivion (n.)
A
The condition of being completely forgotten
Oblivion is the state of being forgotten. If you slip into oblivion after selling one record, then your only hope is becoming a “VH1 one-hit wonder.”
14
Q
homogenous (adj.)
A
of the same or similar nature; uniform in composition.
Homogenous describes things that are all of the similar kind. If you have a homogenous group of friends, you probably wear the same outfits, talk the same way, live in the same kind of neighborhood, and like the same music. Boring.
15
Q
Misogynist (n.)
A
Woman-hater
If you’re someone who believes women belong in the kitchen and shouldn’t be accorded the same respect as men, you might be a misogynist. A misogynist is a person who hates or doesn’t trust women.
16
Q
heterogeneous (adj.)
A
of different or dissimilar nature
Heterogeneous can be used to describe the diversity of nearly anything — populations, classrooms, collections. A heterogeneous array of immigrants passed through Ellis Island to help create the American “melting pot.”
17
Q
festoon (n.)
A
A garland hanging between two points. (as in flags, leaves, webs)
A festoon is a decorative string of flowers that you drape across a room, dropping in curves between support points. If you’re decorating for Halloween, why not try a creatively spooky festoon of dried roses covered in cobwebs?
18
Q
epiphany (n.)
A
the revelation of a divine being; feast of the Magi; a moment of sudden awareness
When inspiration hits you out of the blue, call it an epiphany.
19
Q
effervescent (adj.)
A
emitting small bubbles (as in carbonated liquid); to show high spirits or excitement
Something effervescent has bubbles or froth, like a sparkling cider or a bubble bath. If you have a happy, light, cheerful personality — if you are “bubbly” — you too are effervescent.
20
Q
innuendo (n.)
A
an indirect or subtle (usually derogatory) insinuation
Speaking in innuendo is when you say something indirectly — often of a hurtful or sexual nature.
21
Q
visceral (adj.)
A
of, situated in, or affecting the viscera (internal organs); extremely emotional
When something’s visceral, you feel it in your guts. A visceral feeling is intuitive — there might not be a rational explanation, but you feel that you know what’s best, like your visceral reaction against egg salad.
22
Q
eviscerate (v.)
A
to remove the viscera, to remove the vital part of something.
Eviscerate is not a pretty word. To eviscerate can mean to remove the entrails of a creature. On the Discovery Channel you can watch a vulture eviscerate or take out the guts of a dead animal.
23
Q
poignant (adj.)
A
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
Something that is poignant touches you deeply. Watching a poignant YouTube video about baby penguins chasing their mothers, for example, might give you a lump in your throat.
24
Q
eclectic (adj.)
A
deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources
She listens to hip-hop, Gregorian chant, and folk music from the ’60s. He’s been seen wearing a handmade tuxedo jacket over a thrift-store flannel shirt. They both have eclectic tastes.
25
cosmopolitan ( adj.)
including or containing people from many different countries
Your Aunt Eleanor, who's lived in six different countries and speaks four languages fluently, might be described as cosmopolitan, or comfortable and familiar with different cultures and people.
26
precipice (n.)
overhanging or extremely steep cliff
Cartoon characters often end up on a precipice, the edge of a steep cliff, where their chubby toes curl and cling as they totter and eventually fall, making a hole in the ground below and getting up again. Most real people avoid precipices.
27
labyrinth (n.)
a maze
A labyrinth is a structure with many connected paths or passages in which it is hard to find your way. In figurative use, a labyrinth is a complicated situation: our tax code is a labyrinth of rules and regulations.
28
succulent (adj.)
full of juice or sap; juicy
Succulent means "juicy" and is often used to describe food. Think a succulent piece of meat, or berries so succulent you’re left sucking juice off your fingertips when you eat them.
29
ostracize (v.)
to banish or exclude from a group
If you banish someone or ignore him, you ostracize him. When the Iranian president claimed that the Holocaust was a hoax, he was ostracized by the international community.
30
pretentious (adj.)
extravagantly showy; ostentatious
Use the adjective pretentious as a way to criticize people who try to act like they are more important or knowledgeable than they really are.
31
ostentatious (adj.)
pretentious
Reach for the adjective ostentatious when you want a flashy way to say — well, "flashy" or "showy."
32
bucolic (adj.)
rustic; country-like
As an adjective, bucolic refers to an ideal country life that many yearn for. If your parents wanted to raise you in a bucolic environment, you may find yourself living 45 minutes away from the nearest movie theater or person your age. Not ideal.
33
misanthropic (adj.)
| misanthrope (n.)
to hate mankind/ one who hates mankind
A misanthropic person does not like people and expects the worst of them. It would be misanthropic of you to say that every human being is a greedy, selfish liar.
34
flummox (v.)
to confuse or perplex
Does the word flummox bewilder, confound, dumbfound and generally mystify you? Well, fear no more, because flummox means all of these things!
35
xenophobe (n.)
one who is unduly fearful of strangers or foreigners
Getting a job as a greeter with the United Nations is probably not the best career option for someone who suffers from xenophobia, a fear of foreigners or strangers.
36
mnemonic (adj.)
assisting or intended to assist the memory
- after Mnemosyne, Greek goddess of memory
A mnemonic is a memory aid for something, often taking the form of a rhyme or an acronym. I before E except after C, is a mnemonic to help you remember how to spell words like "piece" and "receive."
37
conflagration (n.)
large, destructive fire
A conflagration isn't just a few flames; it's an especially large and destructive fire that causes devastation.
38
inundation (n.)
| inundate (v.)
large, overwhelming flood/ to overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with; to flood
An overabundance of something is an inundation. If you got an inundation of requests for your famous chocolate cupcakes, you better get baking!
39
metamorphosis (n.)
a transformation
In Kafka's novel entitled Metamorphosis, a man wakes up to find he has turned into a cockroach. That kind of complete and startling change pretty much sums up the word.
40
sentinel (n.)
a guard or a sentry
A sentinel is a guard, a lookout, a person keeping watch. It's often a soldier, but not always. If you're watching a pot, waiting for it to boil, you're standing sentinel over it — and incidentally, it won't boil until you leave.
41
exacerbate (v.)
to increase the severity of
For a formal-sounding verb that means to make worse, try exacerbate. If you're in trouble, complaining about it will only exacerbate the problem.
42
lackadaisical (adj.)
lacking spirit, liveliness, or interest
Even though lackadaisical sounds like it has something to do with a shortage of daisies, know that what it really means is lacking in spirit or liveliness.
43
construe (v.)
to interpret; to translate; to explain
If you interpret something or make sense of it, you construe its meaning. If the new girl in your class asks to sit with you at lunch, you could construe that she wants to be friends. You can never have too many friends!
44
paragon (n.)
a model of excellence
Paragon applies to someone who is a model of perfection in some quality or trait. We link paragon with other words that follow it, such as "paragon of virtue" or "paragon of patience."
45
duplicity (n.)
| duplicitous (adj.)
deliberate deceptiveness/ deceitful
Though he said he didn't know anything about the footprints in the new sidewalk, his duplicity, or deceitfulness, was obvious from the cement caking his shoes. His mouth said one thing, his feet said another.
46
ubiquitous (adj.)
being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time; omnipresent
It's everywhere! It's everywhere! When something seems like it's present in all places at the same time, reach for the adjective ubiquitous.
47
aesthetic (adj.)
pertaining to what is beautiful or artistic
The adjective aesthetic comes in handy when the subject at hand is beauty or the arts. A velvet painting of dogs playing poker might have minimal aesthetic appeal.
48
deride (v.)
to ridicule
The verb deride means to speak to someone with contempt or show a low opinion of someone or something. A bully might constantly deride other kids in his class — which might lead to many afternoons spent in the principal's office.
49
consummate (adj.) (v.)
complete or perfect in every respect/ to bring to completion; conclude
Consummate means complete, finished, or masterful. If you refer to someone as a consummate chef, then you are saying he is the ultimate chef. If you say someone is a consummate jerk, then you are saying he is the ultimate jerk.
50
conundrum (n.)
a riddle or dilemma
The tricky word conundrum is used to describe a riddle or puzzle, sometimes including a play on words or pun.
51
gargantuan (adj.)
of immense size; gigantic
Whether you're talking about your gargantuan appetite or a gargantuan building, use the word gargantuan to describe something so big that big just isn't, well, big enough to accurately describe it.
52
quintessential (adj.)
the purest, most essential, perfect example of
If someone tells you you’re the quintessential rock musician, that means they think that everything about you screams “rock and roll.” Quintessential means embodying or possessing the essence of something.
53
edifice (n.)
a building of imposing size
Edifice means a building, but it doesn't mean just any building. To merit being called an edifice, a building must be important. A mini temple can be an edifice, or a towering sky scraper.
54
auxiliary (adj.)
giving assistance or support; supplementary; held in reserve
When you're offering something in support of an already existing thing, you're offering something auxiliary. The auxiliary police will help out the regular police with things like directing traffic and crowd control when there's a special event in town.
55
hullabaloo (n.)
a great noise or excitement
Hullabaloo is a lovely term for a fuss or commotion, usually over something of little or no importance, like a celebrity's new hair style.
56
tribulation (n.)
a great affliction or distress
Tribulation is suffering or trouble, usually resulting from oppression. The tribulations of a coal miner include a dangerous work environment, lung disease from black dust and a cramped, dark work space.
57
omnipotent (adj.)
having unlimited power, authority, or force
If you want to describe someone who can do absolutely anything, reach for the adjective omnipotent.
58
sublime (adj.)
of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth; inspiring awe; impressive
In common use, sublime is an adjective meaning "awe-inspiringly grand, excellent, or impressive," like the best chocolate fudge sundae you've ever had.
59
pandemonium (n.)
wild uproar or noise; chaos; capital of hell in Milton’s Paradise Lost
Pandemonium is chaos, total and utter craziness — like the stampede after your team won the championship, when everyone spilled onto the field at once, bouncing off each other.
60
heinous (adj.)
grossly wicked or abominable.
onomatopoeia
A heinous crime is very evil or wicked. Of course, some people only use the term as an exaggeration, claiming that their parents' requirement that they write thank you notes after their birthdays is a heinous form of torture.
61
onomatopoeia (n.)
word that imitates the sound associated with the object/action to which it
refers.
Boom! Bang! Crash! When a word is formed from the sound that an associated thing makes, call it an example of onomatopoeia.
62
counterintuitive (adj.)
contrary to what intuition and common sense would indicate.
If something is counterintuitive it means it's the opposite of "intuitive" — in other words it's not easily understood in an instinctive, unconscious way. A red light for "go" and a green light for "stop" would be highly counterintuitive, for example.
63
sonorous (adj.)
having or producing sound; full, deep, or rich sound.
Used to describe sound or speech that is full, rich, and deep, sonorous is a great word for snoring, for bass voices, and for low notes on the tuba.
64
resonate (v.)
to exhibit or produce resonance (strong, deep tone).
If you have a loud, deep voice, then your voice has resonance, and if your words are powerful and meaningful, then your words have resonance, too. Something with resonance has a deep tone or a powerful lasting effect.
65
sordid (adj.)
filthy or foul; depressingly squalid; wretched; morally degraded.
Describe a person's actions as sordid if they are so immoral or unethical that they seem dirty. Think of the worst parts of a bad soap opera!
66
paraphernalia (n.)
personal belongings; the articles or equipment used for a particular activity.
Having lunch in the park might require you to first gather together a lot of picnic paraphernalia, such as blankets, coolers, Frisbees, and other miscellaneous items that are relevant to that activity.
67
zenith (n.)
the point on the celestial sphere that is directly above; the highest point attained; the
point of culmination.
Zenith means the high point — it comes from astronomy, where it describes the highest point in an arc traveled by a star or a planet or another celestial body. The sun reaches its zenith when it is as high in the sky as it is going to go on that day.
68
nadir (n.)
the point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposed to the zenith; the lowest point.
If a highly forgetful person loses his phone, his wallet, and then his car keys in separate instances all in one day, you could say that he has reached an organizational nadir. This means “lowest point.”
69
benevolent (adj.)
well meaning, kindly
Choose the adjective benevolent for someone who does good deeds or shows goodwill. If your teacher collects homework with a benevolent smile, she's hoping that you've done a good job.
70
malevolent (adj.)
having or exhibiting ill-will
If someone is malevolent, they wish evil on others. If you find yourself approaching someone with a malevolent look in her eye, best to run the other way.
71
malaise (n.)
vague discomfort
If you are experiencing malaise, chances are you are feeling blue or looking green. Malaise is a slump; you're not feeling your best — either mentally or physically.
72
melancholy (adj.)
sadness; depression; a gloomy state of mind; pensive reflection
Melancholy is beyond sad: as a noun or an adjective, it's a word for the gloomiest of spirits.
73
cacophony (n.)
harsh disagreeable sound
A cacophony is a mishmash of unpleasant sounds, often at loud volume. It's what you'd hear if you gave instruments to a group of four-year-olds and asked them to play one of Beethoven's symphonies.
74
euphony (n.)
agreeable, pleasing sound
Shakespeare's language is a good example of euphony: pleasant, musical sounds in harmony, as with “To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.”
75
denouement (n.)
the resolution of a dramatic or narrative plot; the outcome of a sequence of
events
76
inscrutable (adj.)
difficult to fathom or understand
Any person or thing that's mysterious, mystifying, hard to read, or impossible to interpret is inscrutable. You ever notice how it's hard to tell what some people are thinking? Those folks are inscrutable.
77
austere (adj.) austerity (n.)
severe or stern; somber; strict in discipline
The adjective austere is used to describe something or someone stern or without any decoration. You wouldn't want someone to describe you or your home as austere.
If you've ever had a teacher who was particularly stern and strict, you might have (quietly) remarked on his austerity. When you're talking about the character of a person, austerity means "sternness and severity."
78
incessant (adj.)
continuing without interruption
Something incessant continues without interruption. When you're on a cross-country flight, it's tough to tolerate the incessant crying of a baby.
79
retrograde (adj.)
tending backwards; reverting to an earlier or inferior condition
Retrograde describes moving in a backwards or reverse direction. If you're suddenly told that you can no longer vote because you're a woman, that's a retrograde affront to your civil rights. Start protesting!
80
ethereal (adj.)
highly refined; delicate; heavenly
Something ethereal is airy and insubstantial, like a ghostly figure at the top of the stairs. This word can also describe something delicate and light, like a singer’s ethereal voice.
81
bastion (n.)
the projecting part of a fortification (a defensive wall or other reinforcement built to strengthen a place against attack) ; strong hold
When the battle is getting long and the odds are getting longer, retreat to your bastion to regroup and prepare for the next round of fighting. A bastion is a stronghold or fortification that remains intact.
82
tirade (n.)
angry denunciatory speech; diatribe
A tirade is a speech, usually consisting of a long string of violent, emotionally charged words. Borrow and lose your roommate’s clothes one too many times, and you can bet you’ll be treated to a heated tirade.
83
spurious (adj.)
lacking authenticity of validity; false
Something false or inauthentic is spurious. Don't trust spurious ideas and stories. Spurious statements often are lies, just as a spurious coin is a counterfeit coin — a fake.
84
lexicon (n.)
dictionary; specialized vocabulary
A lexicon is the vocabulary of a language or subject. "No-hitter," "go-ahead run," and "Baltimore chop" are part of the baseball lexicon.
85
curmudgeon (n.)
cantankerous (bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative) , ill-tempered person
Old, cranky, and more than a little stubborn, a curmudgeon is the gruff, grey-haired neighbor who refuses to hand out candy at Halloween and shoos away holiday carolers with a "bah humbug!"
86
hedonism (n.)
the unadultered pursuit of pleasure
Strictly speaking, hedonism is the belief that pursuing pleasure leads to the greatest ethical good. In practice, though, the ethical part sometimes gets lost in the pleasure part.
87
camaraderie (n.)
spirited goodwill among friends
Camaraderie is a spirit of good friendship and loyalty among members of a group. You might not like your job, but still enjoy the camaraderie of the people you work with.
88
Capitalism (n.)
an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned
Capitalism is an economic system featuring the private ownership of business wealth and the free and unfettered operation of trade markets.
89
clairvoyant (n.)
a person with the power to see objects or events that cannot be perceived by the
five senses.
90
gesticulate (v.)
to make gestures, especially while speaking.
91
serendipity (n.) serendipitous (adj.)
the making of fortunate discovery by accident.
92
capitulate (v.)
to surrender under specified conditions; to surrender conditionally.
93
insidious (adj.)
working harmfully in a subtle or steady manner, treacherous
94
innocuous (adj.)
having no adverse effect; harmless
95
ambuscade (n.) (v.)
an ambush
to attack from a concealed place
96
clandestine (adj.)
kept or done in a secret
97
acquiesce (v.)
to consent or comply without protest
98
pallid (adj.)
pale or wan ( pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion) in color or complexion; dull
99
celestial (adj.)
of or relating to the sky or the heavens
100
opus (n.)
creative work, esp. in a musical composition
101
segue (n.)
to make a transition directly from one theme to another
102
non sequitur (n.)
a statement that does not follow logically from what preceded it
103
quandary (n.)
a state of uncertainty or perplexity
104
bugaboo (n.)
an object of excessive exaggerated fear or anxiety
105
germane (adj.)
relevant or appropriate
106
bombastic (adj.)
pompous in speech or writing
107
juggernaut (n.)
an overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its path
108
gambit (n.)
a manuever or ploy; chess opening in which a pawn is offered in exchange for a favorable position
109
flotsam (n.)
wreckage or cargo that remains afloat after a ship has sunk
110
jetsam (n.)
cargo or equipment
111
jettison (v.)
to cast overboard or discard
112
macabre (adj.)
suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome; ghastly
113
bureaucracy (n.)
adminstration of a government chiefly through bureaus and departments staffed with non-elected officials; an unwieldy administrative system
114
melogomania (n.)
mental disorder characterized by delusions of welath, power, or omnipotence
115
entrepreneur (n.)
person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture
116
panacea (n.)
a remedy for all diseases, evils, or dificulties; cure-all
117
exemporaneous (adj.)
performed with little or no preparation; impromptu
118
impetuous (adj.)
marked by sudden and forceful energy and emotion; impulsive
119
tenacious (adj.)
holding firmly, as to a belief; stubborn
120
anachronism (n.) anachronistic (adj.)
something existing or happening outside the historical order; out of chronilogical order
121
mellifluous (adj.)
flowing in a smooth or sweet manner
122
docile (adj.)
easily managed or taught; tractable
123
façade (n.)
the face of a building; a deceptive appearance
124
pilfer (v.)
to steal or filch
125
brouhaha (n.)
a loud commotion or uproar
126
ambivalent (adj.)
having opposing feelings towards a person, object, or idea
127
ragamuffin (n.)
a dirty, shabbily clothed child
128
cajole (v.)
to persuade with flattery or promises; coax
129
consternation (n.)
great agitation or dismay, sudden amazement or dread
130
atone (v.)
to make amends
131
laudable (adj.)
deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable
132
enigmatic (adj.) enigma (n)
difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious; puzzling
133
prolific (adj.)
producing results abundantly
134
deplorable (adj.)
worthy of disapproval; regrettable
135
promiscuous (adj.)
indiscriminate, especially in sexual relations; lacking plan or purpose; casual or irregular
136
fallacy (n.) fallacious (adj.)
false idea or notion
137
iniquity (n.)
wickedness, sinfulness
138
hegemony (n.)
the dominance of one state over another
139
diaspora (n.)
the emigration of a group of people from a central homeland
140
voracious (adj.)
very hungry; insatiable; very eager
141
ergonomics (n.)
the applied science of equipment design intended to reduce operator fatigue and discomfort
142
inviolable (adj.)
never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored; untouchable
143
archipelago (n.)
a group of islands
144
elucidate (v.)
make (something) clear; explain
145
audacious (adj.)
showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks; fearless; not showing respect
146
gambit (n.)
a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage
147
amalgam (n.)
a mixture or blend
148
palindrome (n.)
a word, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backwards and forwards
149
scalawag (n.)
a scoundrel; a rascal; a reprobate
150
moxie (n.)
courage in adversity
151
sardonic (adj.)
scornfully mocking
152
obsolete (adj.)
no longer in use or in effect; outmoded in style or construction
153
vogue (n.)
the prevailing fashion or style
154
irascible (adj.)
prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered
155
indubitably (adv.)
in a manner or degree that could not be doubted
156
Byzantine (adj.)
of or relating to Byzantium or the Byzantine empire; richly decorated artistic or architectural style
157
effulgent (adj.)
shining brilliantly; radiant; resplendent
158
ululate (v.)
to howl or wail
159
droll (adj,)
odd or whimsically amusing
160
colloquial (adj.)
characteristic of or appropriate to informal speech or writing
161
spry (adj.)
nimble or active; adroit
162
supercilious (adj.)
feeling or showing haughty disdain; contemptuous
163
apocryphal (adj.)
of doubtful origin; of questionable authorship or authenticity; erroneous
164
zealot (n.)
one who is overly zealous or fanatically dedicated to a cause
165
gauche (adj.)
lacking social polish; tactless
166
quotidian (adj.)
everyday or commonplace; pedestrian; banal
167
idiosyncrasy (n.)
a habit or characteristic peculiar to an individual; eccentricity
168
phantasmagoria (n.) phantasmagorical (adj.)
a fantastic sequence of haphazardly associated imagery, as in a dream
169
exculpate (v.)
to free from blame or guilt
170
pusillanimous (adj.)
lacking courage; cowardly; timid
171
ignominy (n.)
shame or disgrace
172
harangue (n.)
scolding or long, intense verbal attack
173
braggadocio (n.) a braggart (n.)
empty or pretentious bragging; a swaggering, cocky manner
174
lurid (adj.)
causing shock or horror; gruesome
175
gallivant (v.)
to roam about in search of pleasure or amusement
