Vocabulary 15 Flashcards
exhort
v. strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something
spur
n. a thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive
impoverish
v. make (a person or area) poor
v. exhaust the strength, vitality, or natural fertility of
mendacity
n. untruthfulness
boast
v. [ reporting verb ] talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities
fortuitous
adj. happening by accident or chance rather than design
debacle
n. a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco
fiasco
n. a thing that is a complete failure, esp. in a ludicrous or humiliating way
understatement
n. the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is
perfunctory
adj. (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection
austerity
n. sternness or severity of manner or attitude
n. extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance
indigenous
adj. originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native
litany
n. a series of petitions for use in church services or processions, usually recited by the clergy and responded to in a recurring formula by the people
n. a tedious recital or repetitive series
rote
n. mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned
impasse
n. a situation in which no progress is possible, esp. because of disagreement; a deadlock
stalemate
n. a position counting as a draw, in which a player is not in check but cannot move except into check
n. a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible
anomaly
n. something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected
preclude
v. prevent from happening; make impossible
v. (preclude someone from) (of a situation or condition) prevent someone from doing something
forestall
v. prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking action ahead of time
posthumous
adj. occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator
impetus
n. the force or energy with which a body moves
n. the force that makes something happen or happen more quickly [FOR]
impediment
n. a hindrance or obstruction in doing something
hinder
v. create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay or obstruction
adj. (esp. of a bodily part) rear; hind
posterior
adj. chiefly Anatomy further back in position; of or nearer the rear or hind end, esp. of the body or a part of it [TO]
adj. coming after in time or order; later