vocabulary Flashcards
Abbreviate
To shorten, abridge
abstinence
the act of refraining from pleasurable activity, e.g., eating or drinking
adulation
high praise
adversity
misfortune, an unfavorable turn of events
aesthetic
pertaining to beauty or the arts
amicable
friendly, agreeable
anachronistic
out-of-date, not attributed to the correct historical period
anecdote
short, usually funny account of an event
anonymous
nameless, without a disclosed identity
antagonist
foe, opponent, adversary
arid
extremely dry or deathly boring
assiduous
persistent, hard-working
asylum
sanctuary, shelter, place of refuge
benevolent
friendly and helpful
camaraderie
trust, sociability amongst friends
censure
to criticize harshly
circuitous
indirect, taking the longest route
clairvoyant
exceptionally insightful, able to foresee the future
collaborate
to cooperate, work together
compassion
sympathy, helpfulness or mercy
compromise
to settle a dispute by terms agreeable to both sides
condescending
possessing an attitude of superiority, patronizing
conditional
depending on a condition, e.g., in a contract
conformist
person who complies with accepted rules and customs
congregation
a crowd of people, an assembly
convergence
the state of separate elements joining or coming together
deleterious
harmful, destructive, detrimental
demagogue
leader, rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice
digression
the act of turning aside, straying from the main point, esp. in a speech or argument
diligent
careful and hard-working
discredit
to harm the reputation of, dishonor or disgrace
disdain
to regard with scorn or contempt
divergent
separating, moving in different directions from a particular point
empathy
identification with the feelings of others
emulate
to imitate, follow an example
enervating
weakening, tiring
enhance
to improve, bring to a greater level of intensity
ephemeral
momentary, transient, fleeting
evanescent
quickly fading, short-lived, esp. an image
exasperation
irritation, frustration