Vocabulary 73-146 Flashcards
(74 cards)
Catholic(adj)
Universal; broad and comprehensive
-his catholic musical tastes included everything from opera to rap
Catalyst(n)
Something that brings about a change in something else
-the imposition of harsh taxes was the catalyst that finally bought on the revolution
Caustic(adj)
Biting in wit
-She gained her caustic reputation from her cutting, yet witty, insults
Chaos(n)
Great disorder; a confused situation
-in most religious traditions, god created an ordered universe from chaos
Chauvinist(n)
Someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
-the attitude that men must be obeyed since they are inherently superior to women is common among male chauvinists
Chicanery(n)
Deception by means of craft or guile
-dishonest used-car salesmen often use chicanery to sell their beat-up old cars
Circumspect(adj)
Cautious; aware of potential consequences
-she was very circumspect in her language and behavior when first introduced to her fiances parents
Cloying(adj)
Sickly sweet; excessive
-when Enid and Jay first started dating, their cloying affection toward one another often made their friends ill
Coalesce(v)
To grow together to form a single whole
-the sun and planets eventually coalesced out of vast cloud gas and dust
Coffer(n)
A strongbox; a large chest for money
-the bulletproof glass of the coffee is what keeps the Crown Jewels secure
Cogent(adj)
Convincing and well-reasoned
-swayed by the cogent argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant
Collusion(n)
A collaboration; complicity; conspiracy
-it came to light that the police chief and the mafia had a collusion in running the numbers racket
Condone(v)
To overlook, pardon, or disregard
-some theorists believe that failing prosecute minor crimes is the same as condoning and air of lawlessness
Connoisseur(n)
A person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes
-dr. Crane was a connoisseur of fine food and wine, drinking and eating only the best
Contrite(adj)
Deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong
-after three residents were mugged in the lobby while the watchman was away from his post, he felt very contrite
Contumacious(adj)
Rebellious
-the contumacious teenager ran away from home when her parents told her she was grounded
Convoluted(adj)
Intricate and complicate
-although many people bought the proffesors book, few people could follow it’s convoluted ideas and theories
Corroborate(v)
To support with evidence
-all the DA needed were fingerprints to corroborate the witness’s testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim’s apartment
Cosset(v)
To pamper; to treat with great care
-Marta just loves cosset her first and only grandchild
Coterie(n)
An intimate group of persons with a similar purpose
-angel invited a coterie of fellow stamp enthusiasts to a stamp-trading party
Craven(adj)
Lacking courage
-the craven lion cringed in the corner if his cage, terrified of the mouse
Credulous(adj)
Too trusting; gullible
-although some four-year-olds believe in the tooth fairy, only the most credulous 9 year old believe in her
Crescendo(n)
Steady increase in volume or force
-the crescendo of the tension became unbearable as she prepared to jump his motorcycle over the school buses
Cupidity(n)
Greed; strong desire
-the thief stared at the shining jewels with cupidity in his gleaming eyes