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Vocab > Vocabulary > Flashcards

Vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

Adroit

A

Skillful, either mentally or with one’s hands

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2
Q

Chicanery

A

Trickery or deception, usually in politics or where money is involved

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3
Q

Insouciant

A

Showing a lack of concern or interest

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4
Q

Arriviste

A

A person who is extremely ambitious and has recently acquired wealth or power

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5
Q

Parvenu

A

A person who has recently gained status or celebrity

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6
Q

Rapport

A

Understanding and similar feelings that exist between people

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7
Q

Cache

A

A collection of items hidden or stored away for future use

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8
Q

Raconteur

A

A skilled storyteller

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9
Q

Sortie

A

An attack from a defensive position

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10
Q

Gauche

A

Clumsy and socially awkward

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11
Q

Sangfroid

A

Utter calmness and composure, especially under pressure

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12
Q

Sans

A

Typically a facetious way of saying “Without”

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13
Q

Filial

A

Relating to the obligations of a son or daughter

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14
Q

Droll

A

Odd and therefore amusing

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15
Q

Faux Pas

A

An act or comment with embarrassing social consequences

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16
Q

In Lieu Of

A

In place of, substitute

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17
Q

Enfant Terrible

A

A person whose commentary or behavior is aimed to shock

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18
Q

Tete-a-tete

A

A private conversation between two people

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19
Q

Savoir Vivre

A

A familiarity and ease with polite society

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20
Q

Savoir Faire

A

The skill of saying and doing just the right thing in social situations

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21
Q

Esprit De Corps

A

The spirit of belongingness and pride of a tightly knit group

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22
Q

Poltergeist

A

A ghost that supposedly causes noisy disturbances in the environment

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23
Q

Kitsch

A

Cheap art whose owners are usually aware of its lack of value

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24
Q

Doppelganger

A

A person who looks remarkably like another person

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25
Q

Kaput

A

No longer functioning, as a device or machine

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26
Q

Verboten

A

Forbidden or prohibited

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27
Q

Zeitgeist

A

The mood of a particular time period as captured by ideas and cultures

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28
Q

Schadenfreude

A

Delight taken in another’s misfortune

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29
Q

Bildungsroman

A

A coming-of-age story

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30
Q

Citadel

A

A fortress standing above and protecting a city

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31
Q

Burlesque

A

An exaggerated imitation of something, typically in a dramatic work

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32
Q

Pastiche

A

A mixture of elements that typically don’t go together

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33
Q

Archipelago

A

A cluster of islands

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34
Q

Salvo

A

A simultaneous discharge of guns, often used figuratively to mean a verbal attack

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35
Q

Imbroglio

A

A complicated (and embarrassing) situation or mess

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36
Q

Littoral

A

Located along the shoreline

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37
Q

Bravado

A

A bold act meant to show off

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38
Q

Manifesto

A

A Document describing the aims of a group or organization

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39
Q

Ruffian

A

A person inclined to violence and criminal behavior

40
Q

Dilettante

A

Someone who develops an interest in an area of art of music without being a true expert

41
Q

Cognoscenti

A

Those who are well versed in a particular subject

42
Q

Intelligentsia

A

The intellectuals or highly educated people in a society

43
Q

Guru

A

One who is a master in his or her field

44
Q

Bungalow

A

A low one story house, usually with a large porch or veranda

45
Q

Pundit

A

An expert in a specific field

46
Q

Karma

A

In Hinduism and Buddhism the determination of one’s fate by one’s actions

47
Q

Mantra

A

An often repeated phrase or slogan

48
Q

Avatar

A

The embodiment of a certain idea in a person

49
Q

Pariah

A

An outcast

50
Q

Wanderlust

A

A strong and constant desire to travel

51
Q

Cosmopolitan

A

Comfortable and familiar with many different cultures

52
Q

Insular

A

Closed off from the rest of the world, unfamiliar with other cultures

53
Q

Provinvial

A

Narrow-minded, unexposed to the different cultures or ideas

54
Q

Jaunt

A

A journey taken for pleasure

55
Q

Parochial

A

Having a narrow or limited perspective

56
Q

Junket

A

An extravagant trip, usually funded by the government or some other entity

57
Q

Sedulous

A

Hardworking and attentive

58
Q

Restive

A

Restless, agitate

59
Q

Peruse

A

To carefully read

60
Q

Punctilious

A

Extremely careful about details, to the point of being fussy

61
Q

Equivocate

A

To be intentionally vague and misleading

62
Q

Predicament

A

A difficult situation that isn’t easy to escape

63
Q

Prepossessing

A

Attractive and charming

64
Q

Platonic

A

Describing a relationship with no sexual or romantic basis

65
Q

Demur

A

To object to doing something

66
Q

Pretentious

A

Acting more important than others by pretending to know more

67
Q

Predicate

A

To be based on

68
Q

Precipitate

A

Rash, acting without thinking

69
Q

Spartan

A

Lacking in comfort or flourishes, describing either a lifestyle or accommodations

70
Q

Draconian

A

As strict as laws or rules

71
Q

Preclude

A

To make it impossible for something to happen

72
Q

Preamble

A

An introduction to a text

73
Q

Tantalize

A

To torment somebody with something they want without ever actually giving it to them

74
Q

Thespian

A

An actor

75
Q

Passé

A

No longer in fashion

76
Q

Juggernaut

A

A destructive, unstoppable force or thing

77
Q

Cicerone

A

A guide who give speeches to tourists

78
Q

Presentiment

A

A feeling that something (typically bad) is about to happen

79
Q

Predilection

A

A special fondness

80
Q

Predecessor

A

Someone who comes before, often a person who previously held a position before passing it on to someone else

81
Q

Maudlin

A

Over self-pitying, used to describe someone who become sentimental when intoxicated

82
Q

Precocious

A

Developing early, usually in terms of ability

83
Q

Prescient

A

Having knowledge of something before it happens

84
Q

Jeremaid

A

A long speech full of complaints

85
Q

Laconic

A

Using as few words as possible when speaking

86
Q

Pretext

A

A reason given for something that is not the actual reason

87
Q

Precedent

A

Something that sets an example for how things are done in the future

88
Q

Pretense

A

A claim or assertion not based on facts

89
Q

Hector

A

To bully, usually through words

90
Q

Nemesis

A

One who constantly works to ensure anothers downfall

91
Q

Presage

A

To indicate that something (usually bad) is about to happen

92
Q

Envoy

A

A messenger, usually on a diplomatic mission

93
Q

Liaison

A

A person who helps two parties communicate

94
Q

Non Chalent

A

Giving off a sense of calmness and coolness

95
Q

Pyrrhic

A

Describing a victory that comes with a heavy loss

96
Q

Precursor

A

Something that comes before another only used for things not people

Vocab (3 decks)

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