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English Vocabulary > Vocabulary Set 1 (23.06.11) > Flashcards

Vocabulary Set 1 (23.06.11) Flashcards

1
Q

Gainsay (gain say) (v.)

A

to contradict, oppose
Ex: No one dared to gainsaid the king.

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2
Q

Puissant (pweh sent) (adj.)

A
  • having great power or influence
    Ex: The puissant leader rode forth into the fray.
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3
Q

Serried (seer reed) (adj.)

A
  • crowded or pressed together
    ex: The serried soldiers held strong against the coming onslaught.
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4
Q

Viol (V oul) (n.)

A

a stringed instrument from the 16th and 17th century like a violin

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5
Q

Argent (are gent) (adj.)

A

a silvery white color

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6
Q

Loremaster (lore master) (n.)

A

a person knowledgeable about lore

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7
Q

Adamant (add a mint) (n.)

A

an archaic word in lore for diamond or stone of impenetrable hardness but is used today in fiction as some beautiful stone of old, with the usage of the word often having contradictory properties.

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8
Q

Trothplight (troth plight) (v.) (archaic)

A

to betroth, get married

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9
Q

Stirrup cup (stir up cup) (n.)

A

an alcoholic drink given to a departing horseman
ex: We will drink a stirrup cup now.

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10
Q

Eyot (ate) (n.)

A

a small island, usually in a river or lake

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11
Q

Pollard (paul lerd) (v.) (n.)

A

N.) a tree cut back to the trunk to promote the growth of foliage
V.) cut off the top and branches of (a tree) to encourage new growth
Ex: Local authorities pollarded these trees on a regular basis

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12
Q

Connubial (ka nu be uhl) (adj.) (Literary)

A

relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple; conjugal.
Ex: their connubial bed

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13
Q

Trenchant (tren chint) (adj.)

A

vigorously effective and articulate // keen, sharp
Ex: My sister had a trenchant way of cutting our bread.
Ex: A trenchant analysis.

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14
Q

Bootjack (boot jack) (n.)

A

a device (as with a V-shaped notch) used for pulling off boots

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15
Q

Constitutional (con sta tu tion uhl) (adj.)

A

relating to someone’s physical or mental condition.
Ex: A constitutional weakness

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16
Q

Interlocuter (in ter loc u ter) (n.)

A

one who takes part in dialogue or conversation
Ex: I was in mortal terror of my interlocutor with the iron leg.

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17
Q

Ague (Ay gue) (n.)

A

malaria or some other illness involving fever and shivering.
Ex: “I think you have got the ague,” said I.

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18
Q

Rank (ray nk) (adj.)

A

1) (of vegetation) growing too thickly and coarsely. (Coarse — large pieces and rough)
Ex: Clumps of rank grass
2) (Especially of air or water) having a foul or offensive smell.
Ex: breathing rank air

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19
Q

Flounce (f laon ce) (n.) (v.)

A

A strip of fabric attached by one edge (n.)
ex: a prom dress with small flounces along the hem
* to move with exaggerated jerky or bouncy motions // to go with sudden determination
ex: She flounced about the room, jerking her shoulders, gesticulating.

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20
Q

Contumacious (ly) (con tu may shus) (adj./adv.)

A

given to resisting authority or another’s control
Ex: The judge threatened to charge the contumacious witness.

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21
Q

Perspicuity (per speh cue eh tee) (n.)
Perspicuous (per spik u ous) (adj.)

A

plain to the understanding especially because of clarity and precision of presentation
Ex: a perspicuous argument

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22
Q

Uncongenial (un con geen e uhl) (adj.)

A

not fitted : UNSUITABLE // not sympathetic or compatible
Ex: uncongenial roommates // a soil uncongenial to most crops

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23
Q

Careworn (care worn) (adj.)

A

to be tired and unhappy from prolonged worry
Ex: He has a careworn face.

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24
Q

Victuals (vit uhls) (n.) (v.)

A

food and provisions
ex: We were clothed and victualed by the crown.

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25
Gloaming (glow ming) (n.) (LITERARY)
twilight, dusk Ex: Hundreds of lights are already shimmering in the gloaming.
26
Byword (bye word) (n.)
a perfect example of something Ex: The Northfarthing barley was so fine that the beer of 1420 malt was long remembered and became a byword.
27
Firth (fir th) (n.)
an estuary; a narrow inlet of the sea Ex: A small town hunkered on the far side of the firth
28
Liturgy / Liturgical (lit ur gee) (lit ur gee cul) (n./adj.)
a body of rites prescribed for public worship Ex: He was studying Christian liturgy.
29
Canticle (can teh cul) (n.)
a song, specifically one of several liturgical songs taken from the Bible Ex: The monks offered up a canticle at dawn on Easter morning.
30
Lard vs Tallow
Lard is made from pig fat // Tallow is made from cow fat
31
Trappings (trap pings) (n.)
the outward signs, features, or objects associated with a particular situation, role, or things Ex: Conventional men with all the trappings of banality.
32
Shinny (shin nee) (v.)
to move oneself up or down something vertical (such as a pole) especially by alternately hugging it with the arms or hands and the legs Ex: Daredevils attempted to shinny up the poles.
33
Acquit (ah quit) (v.)
to conduct (oneself) usually satisfactorily especially under stress Ex: The recruits acquitted themselves like veterans. to discharge completely (as from an accusation or obligation) Ex: The court acquitted the prisoner.
34
Propound (pro pound) (v.)
to offer for discussion or consideration Ex: Let us propound the question whether mercy killing should ever be an option.
35
Disputatious (dis pew tay sous) (adj.)
fond of or causing heated arguments. Ex: A disputatious professor who could give you an argument on just about anything.
36
Ignominiously (ig no min ee ous ly) (adv.)
HUMILIATING, DEGRADING Ex: My face was ignominiously shoved against the kitchen wall.
37
All-world (all world) (adj.)
among the best, most talented, or most impressive in the world Ex: He's an all-world tennis player.
38
Refractory (re frac tor ee) (adj.)
stubborn or unmanageable. Ex: He is a refractory pony.
39
Settle (set tuhl) (n.)
a wooden bench with arms, a high solid back, and an enclosed foundation which can be used as a chest Ex: He made room on the settle beside him.
40
Ophthalmic (ah thal mick) (adj.)
of, relating to, or situated near the eye Ex: The results of his ophthalmic examination were normal.
41
Epergne (eh pern) (n.)
an ornamental centerpiece for a dining table, typically used for holding fruit or flowers. Ex: An epergne or centerpiece of some kind was in the middle.
42
Sanguinary (sain gwa nary) (adj.)
BLOODTHIRSTY, MURDEROUS Ex: sanguinary hatred
43
Suborn (sa born) (v.)
to induce secretly to do an unlawful thing Ex: He's accused of suborning a witness.
44
Jounce (jow nce) (v.)
to move oneself in an up and down manner Ex: Her head jounced as the horse began to gallop.
45
ministration (Min eh stray shun) (n.)
an act of ministering care, help, religious services Ex: The kitchen was made spotless by the ministrations of a cleaning lady.
46
Defile (de file) (n.)
a narrow passage (as between hills, rocks, or cliffs) Ex: come to us from a narrow defile in the Alps.
47
Azure (ah zure) (adj.)
the blue color of the clear sky Ex: The male Chapman’s blue butterfly is known for its wings of shimmering azure.
48
Intone (in tone) (v.)
to mutter something in a singing tone or monotone Ex: “The day is begun,” the narrator intoned
49
Sepulchral (sa pohl krull) (adj.)
relating to a burial, tomb, funeral Ex: The decrepit mansion had a sepulchral tone that gave everyone a chill.
50
Trencher (tren cher) (n.)
a piece of flatbread peasants used as a plate to eat off; also a wooden plate for same purpose
51
sylvan (sill ven) (adj.) (n.)
associated with woods, rural, shaped by trees // One that frequents groves and woods Ex: The sylvan property was set on a 2,600-acre nature preserve.
52
Cheesecloth (cheese cloth) (n.)
a very lightweight unsized cotton gauze, often used in making cheese
53
Astride (a stride) (adj.)
with a leg on each side, extending across ex: She rode astride, not sidesaddle.
54
Array (a ray) (v.)
to dress or decorate especially in splendid or impressive attire Ex: He had already arrayed himself in his best clothes.
55
Excrescence (ex cree sense) (n.)
a projection especially when abnormal warty excrescences in the colon // an unattractive or superfluous addition or feature Ex: I was an excrescence on the entertainment.
56
Ill-requited (ill re quite ed) (adj.)
forgotten or neglected, especially in terms of recognition of an action Ex: Mr. Wopsle, as the ill-requited uncle of the evening's tragedy
57
Supposititious (sup po ze shous) (adj.)
fraudulently substituted : SPURIOUS Ex: The supposititious heir to the throne ex: His suppositious claims were not backed up by any evidence.
58
Valedictory (val ee dic tory) (adj.)
serving as a farewell. Ex: a valedictory wave
59
stentorian (sten tor ian) (adj.)
extremely loud Ex: She spoke in stentorian tones.
60
Roil (royal) (v.)
to stir up, disorder or to make turbid by stirring up sediment or dregs Ex: The waters tossed and roiled as the hurricane surged.
61
Jaunty (jawn tee) (adj.)
lively, sprightly in manner and appearance Ex: We took a jaunty stroll at daybreak.
62
Piste (pee st) (n.)
a ski run of compacted snow; it’s a French word used in Europe; Americans use slope, run and trail Ex: The longest off-piste ski trail in the world is Vallee Blanche.
63
Straiten (straight en) (v.)
* to make straight or narrow, to confine * to subject to distress, privation Ex: He could fix nothing due to his straitened finances.
64
Frank (franc) (n.) (v.)
to mark (a piece of mail) with an official signature or sign indicating the right of the sender to free mailing, to mail free Ex: As your uncle will frank it, it will cost William nothing.
65
Apparition (app a rition) (n.)
appearance of something unexpected or remarkable; a ghostlike form Ex: There were strange apparitions in the sky.
66
Apposite (ap pa zit) (adj.)
suitable and right for the occasion Ex: The film starts in a graveyard, an apposite image for the decaying society.
67
Denouement (day new ma) (n.)
final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved. Ex: The film's denouement was unsatisfying and ambiguous.
68
Mien (mean) (n.)
a person's look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood. Ex: He has a cautious, academic mien.
69
Mien (mean) (n.)
a person's look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood. Ex: He has a cautious, academic mien.
70
Adjuration (ad ju ray shun) (n.)
a solemn oath // an earnest urging or advising Ex: He couldn't refuse his ailing father's adjuration.
71
Frowsy (frau ze) (adj.)
MUSTY, STALE // slovenly or uncared-for appearance Ex: A couple of frowsy stuffed chairs // a frowsy smell of stale beer
72
Affiance (a fi ance) (v.)
engaged to be married. Ex: an affianced couple
73
Moon (moo n) (v.)
behave or move in a listless and aimless manner. Ex: He mooned the afternoon away.
74
Preferment (pre fer mint) (n.)
advancement or promotion in dignity, office, or station Ex: He has hopes for preferment.
75
Approbation (ap pro bay shun) (n.)
high praise or appreciation Ex: Her plan won the approbation of the mayor.
76
Flimflam (flim flam) (n.) (v.)
deceptive nonsense Ex: Giving the new guy her phone number was just a flimflam to pique his romantic interest.
77
Galumph (ga lumpf) (v.)
to move in a slow, ponderous, clumsy manner Ex: She galumphed along beside him.
78
Amble (am bull) (v.)
to move at a slow, relaxed pace Ex: They spent the day ambling through the park.
79
Remiss (re miss) (adj.)
lacking care or attention to duty; negligent. Ex: Teams are remiss to think his development is 90% complete.
80
Scansion (scan shun) (n.)
the rhythm of a verse, the act of scanning a line to learn its rhythm Ex: Clarity for lyricists refers to scansion, word choice and communication.
81
Abstraction (ab stract shun) (n.)
showing a lack of concentration on what is happening around one Ex: She gazed out the window in abstraction.
82
Ballast (bahl ist) (n.)
something that gives stability (as in character or conduct) a heavy substance (such as rocks or water) to improve stability Ex: She provided the ballast we needed during stressful times. Ex: They ballast the canoe with large rocks.
83
Lurid (lur id) (adj.)
a very bright color, often unnatural and unpleasant, causing horror or repulsion Ex: Her body was marked with lurid welts.
84
Flounce (fl ounce) (v.)
storm out angrily, stride out angrily // to move with exaggerated, jerky movements Ex: She flounced about the room, jerking her shoulders, gesticulating.
85
Desultory (des ul tory) (adj.)
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm // going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way // unfocused. Ex: The desultory conversation faded.
86
Compact (com pact) (n.)
an agreement or covenant between two or more parties Ex: He was honorable in fulfilling his compact with me.
87
Testator (tes ta tor) (n.)
a person who dies leaving a will or testament in force Ex: A beneficiary must survive the testator by at least 120 hours.
88
Diffidence (diff a dence) (n.)
the quality or state of being unassertive or bashful Ex: He gave a shrugging diffidence to the impending doom.
89
Cupidity (cu pid it ee) (n.)
inordinate desire for wealth : AVARICE, GREED Ex: the cupidity of the bankers
90
Jocose (jo co ss) (adj.)
given to joking : MERRY // characterized by joking : HUMOROUS Ex: Wemmick shook hands with him in a cordial and jocose way.
91
Arbor vs. Bower
Arbor is only partially natural, while bower is 100 percent natural Both are an enclosed space under trees, vines, greenery
92
Repair (re pair) (v.)
To betake oneself somewhere Ex: We repaired to the judge's chambers.
93
lumpish (lum pish) (adj.)
DULL, SLUGGISH // HEAVY, AWKWARD Ex: The man, an American boor as lumpish as his name.
94
execrate (ex e crate) (v.)
feel or express great loathing for Ex: They were execrated as dangerous and corrupt. ex: He execrated all those who opposed him.
95
commodious (ka mo de us) (adj.)
(especially of furniture or a building) roomy and comfortable Ex: They moved to a more commodious dwelling.
96
contiguous (con tig ous) (adj.)
being in actual contact : touching along a boundary or at a point // next or near in time or sequence Ex 1: the 48 contiguous states Ex 2: The fires were contiguous with the earthquake.
97
chary (chair e) (adj.)
discreetly cautious // slow to grant, accept, or expend Ex: A government chary of getting involved in foreign entanglements.
98
hardihood ( har dee hood) (n.)
resolute and self-assured audacity often carried to the point of impudent insolence Ex: He had the hardihood to tell me...
99
inveterate (in vet er it) (adj.)
firmly established by long persistence // HABITUAL ex: The inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious
100
pacific (pa sif ic) (adj.)
having a soothing appearance or effect // CONCILIATORY ex: As a pacific gesture, we invited our feuding neighbors to our backyard barbecue.

English Vocabulary (12 decks)

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