Vocabulary Set 11 (25.2.20) Flashcards
1
Q
cameo (cam ee o) (n.)
A
- a gem carved in relief (see relief entry 1 sense 6)
especially : a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell cut in relief in one layer with another contrasting layer serving as background - a small medallion with a profiled head in relief
ex: I’m going to compliment Mademoiselle Danglars on the cameo she is wearing.
2
Q
prosody (pross a dee) (n.)
A
- the patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry.
ex: The translator is not obliged to reproduce the prosody of the original.
3
Q
banns (bans) (n.)
A
public announcement especially in church of a proposed marriage (allowing for objections // not common nowadays, replaced by marriage licenses)
ex: Think how that would sound when they published the banns!
4
Q
epigenetics (eh pa gen et tics) (n.)
A
how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work
ex: The prospects of epigenetics and its implications for human evolution are also fascinating.
5
Q
plenipotentiary (plen ah pah ten shery) (n.) (adj.)
A
- a person, especially a diplomat, invested with the full power of independent action on behalf of their government, typically in a foreign country. (n.)
ex: A protocol of adjustment has been signed by plenipotentiaries. - having full power to take independent action. (adj.)
ex: Belichick’s plenipotentiary football power, which has produced six Super Bowl titles, has come to an end.
6
Q
memorandum(a) (mem or an dum) (n.)
A
an informal record // also : a written reminder (memo is shortened form)
ex: Please see the attached memorandum for details.
7
Q
antipode (an ta pohd) (n.)
antipodes (an tip a dees) (pl.)
A
- the parts of the earth diametrically opposite —usually used in plural —often used of Australia and New Zealand as contrasted to the western hemisphere
ex: That’s the antipode, or opposite point on Earth’s surface, from my town. - the exact opposite or contrary
ex: Our little pug is an antipode to our other dog, a mastiff.
8
Q
lachrymal (lack ra muhl) (adj.)
A
- connected with weeping or tears. (FORMAL/LITERARY)
ex: that hysterical, then lachrymal, then guilt-ridden hour - concerned with the secretion of tears. (ANATOMICAL)
lacrimal cells
9
Q
codicil (cod eh suhl) (n.)
codicillary (cod ah sill ur ee) (adj.)
A
- a legal instrument made to modify an earlier will
- appendix, supplement
ex: a codicil to the treaty was necessary to clarify certain provisos that had proved to be ambiguous
10
Q
full of beans (idiom)
A
- full of energy and life
ex: We were young and full of beans. - US : not correct or truthful : full of nonsense
ex: If that’s what he’s been saying, then he’s full of beans.
11
Q
tonsure (tahn sure) (n.) (v.)
A
- a part of a monk’s or priest’s head left bare on top by shaving off the hair.
ex: His hair is thinning — soon he’ll have a tonsure like a monk’s” - to shave the hair on top of (a monk’s or priest’s head);
ex” Louis’s brothers were tonsured and sent away to monasteries.
12
Q
galvanize (gal va nize) (V.)
galvanization (gal va nah zay shun) (n.)
A
- the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, to prevent rusting // to apply …
ex: They promised they would galvanize the iron railings to prevent rusting.
13
Q
knot (not) (n.)
Why is it called a knot?
A
- 1.15 miles per hour
The term knot dates from the 17th Century, when sailors measured the speed of their ship by the use of a device called a “common log.” This device was a coil of rope with uniformly spaced knots tied in it, attached to a piece of wood shaped like a slice of pie. The piece of wood was lowered from the back of the ship and allowed to float behind it. The line was allowed to pay out freely from the coil as the piece of wood fell behind the ship for a specific amount of time. When the specified time had passed, the line was pulled in and the number of knots on the rope between the ship and the wood were counted. The speed of the ship was said to be the number of knots counted.
14
Q
impresario (imm pra sar ee o) (n.)
A
the promoter, manager, or conductor of an opera or concert company // a person who puts on or sponsors an entertainment // manager, director
ex: He created the magic that impressed musical impresario Barber.
15
Q
pergola (per ga la) (n.)
A
- a structure usually consisting of parallel colonnades supporting an open roof of girders and cross rafters // arbor, trellis
ex: The yard includes a poolside pergola and a build-in fire pit.
16
Q
prodigality (prod a gal eh tee)
A
state of profuse or wasteful expenditures: lavishness
ex: Her prodigality brought financial ruin to her family.
17
Q
impassivity (im pah sive a tee) (n.)
A
- giving no sign of feeling or emotion : expressionless // unsusceptible to or destitute of emotion
ex: His impassivity during the emotional outburst was unsettling.
18
Q
unexampled (un ex amp pulled) (adj.)
A
- having no example or parallel : unprecedented
ex: His ardent attachment and … unexampled passion
19
Q
pillion (pill yen)(n.)
A
- a light saddle for women consisting chiefly of a cushion // a pad or cushion put on behind a man’s saddle chiefly for a woman to ride on
ex: Mary sat upon its back in a cushioned pillion.
20
Q
scumbling (scum ba ling) (n.)
scumble (scum bull) (v.)
A
- to make (something, such as color or a painting) less brilliant by covering with a thin coat of opaque or semiopaque color applied with a nearly dry brush (v.)
- act of scumbling (n.)
ex: Bethlehem was shining above the brown scumbling of leafless orchards.
21
Q
gratuity (gra tu eh tee) (n.)
A
- something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually for some service
ex: Water, rest, shelter, and protection were all gratuities.
22
Q
cassock (cassick) (n.)
soutane (sue tahn) (n.)
A
a close-fitting ankle-length garment worn especially in Roman Catholic and Anglican churches by the clergy and by laypersons assisting in services
ex: Pius stands facing the camera in a white cassock.
ex: Pius stands facing the camera in a white soutane.
23
Q
tessellated (tess ah lay did) (adj.)
tessellation (tess ah lay shin) (n.)
A
denoting or characterized by a pattern of repeated shapes, especially polygons, that fit together closely without gaps or overlaps.
ex: Red, white and black stones make up the tessellated floor.
24
Q
nimbus (nim bis) (n.)
nimbi (nim bye) (nim bee) (pl.)
A
- a luminous vapor, cloud, or atmosphere about a god or goddess when on earth
ex: The nimbi for the sculpted figures around the exterior of the church are simple disks about the saints’ heads.
25
elegiac (el ah jigh ick) (adj.)
* of, relating to, or comprising elegy or an elegy
especially : expressing sorrow often for something now past
ex: an elegiac lament for departed youth
26
expatiate (ex spay she ate) (v.)
*to speak or write at length or in detail
ex: He expatiated upon the value of the fabric.
27
impolitic (im pah la tick) (adj.)
impolicy (im pah la see) (n.)
* not politic : unwise (adj.)
ex: He makes vile and impolitic statements regularly.
28
recreant (rec kre ent) (n.) (adj.)
* crying for mercy : cowardly // unfaithful to duty or allegiance (adj.)
ex: Recreant campaign workers walked out as soon as their candidate began dropping in the polls.
* coward // apostate, deserter
ex: Traditionally armies have dealt harshly with recreants, with execution being a common punishment for desertion.
29
envisage (in VIZ ig) (v.)
* to view or regard in a certain way
ex: He envisages the slum as a hotbed of crime.
* to have a mental picture of especially in advance of realization
envisages an entirely new system of education
ex: I envisage a day when proper health care will be available to everyone.
30
querulous (kware you luss) (adj.)
habitually complaining // fretful, whining
ex: Pendleton plays a querulous council member.
31
carp (carp) (v.) (n.)
* to find fault or complain querulously (v.)
ex: He's always carping about his boss.
* complaint (n.)
ex: The usual carp about that restaurant is that the service is slow.
[Carp implies persistent, petty, and often nagging complaining.]
32
ferment (fer ment) (n.) (v.)
* to undergo fermentation (v.)
ex: The wine ferments in oak barrels.
* to be in a state of agitation or intense activity (v.)
ex: Everything ferments in him—his thoughts, sensations, and memories; nothing stays quiet
* a state of unrest : agitation
ex: The city was in a state of ferment after the election.
33
wherefore (where for) (adv.) (n.)
* for what reason or purpose : why (adv.)
ex: Wherefore do you trespass upon my lands, stranger?
* an answer or statement giving an explanation : reason (n.)
ex: The king demanded to know the whys and wherefores for the decision.
34
galley (gal lee) (n.)
* a ship or boat propelled solely or chiefly by oars
ex: The galley was powered by 30 oarsmen per side.
* the kitchen and cooking apparatus especially of a ship or airplane
ex: The salon includes a rear galley and sizable dining area.
35
bibulous (bib you lus) (adj.)
* highly absorbent
ex: Special drying cloths that are so bibulous that they can absorb 10 times their weight in water
* fond of alcoholic beverages // related to consumption of alcohol
ex: Old-school voters expecting him to reinstate the fading habit of the long and bibulous lunch may have to wait.
36
embrute (em brute) (v.)
* to sink to the level of a brute
ex: Humanity has been embruted by greed.
37
syncopation (sync ah pay shin) (n.)
* a variety of rhythms played together to make a piece of music, making part or all of a tune or piece of music off-beat
ex: The title tune is a dazzling display of syncopation.
38
efface (eh face) (v.)
* to eliminate or make indistinct by or as if by wearing away a surface
ex: The coins with dates were effaced by wear.
* to make (oneself) modestly or shyly inconspicuous
ex: This is a little self-effacing but great to see the show use her.
39
cicerone (sis a ro nee) (n.)
* one who conducts visitors and sightseers to museums and explains matters of archaeological, antiquarian, historic or artistic interest
ex: In both her garden and her paintings, color is the cicerone that guides Lauter’s audience through emotional journeys.
* certified person in craft beer
ex: Michael Agnew is a certified cicerone (beer-world version of sommelier) and owner of A Perfect Pint.
40
baroque (bah row k) (adj.)
* characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, complexity, or flamboyance
ex: a truly baroque act of sabotage
41
edify (ed ah figh) (v.)
edification (ed ah feh kay shin) (n.)
* to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge : uplift (v.)
ex: A family-oriented show that tried to edify the television audience as well as entertain it
* an act or process of edifying (n.)
ex: It remains a haven for tourists seeking marine edification.
42
pontifical (pahn tiff eh kul) (adj.)
* episcopal attire (n.)
ex: The cardinal vested himself in his pontificals before the solemn Mass.
* pompous, pretentiously dogmatic
ex: A theater critic known for his pontifical pronouncements on what is or is not worth seeing.
43
caryatid (carry ah did) (n.)
atlas (at liss)/atlantes (et ah lan teez) (pl.)
telamon (tel a mahn)/telamones (tel a mo neez) (pl.)
a draped female figure supporting an entablature
ex: Best of all are the caryatids of the St. Pancras New Church, four toga-wearing terra-cotta ladies who bear part of the roof.
* atlas/telamon -- male version
44
ill-disguised (ill + dis kigh zd) (adj.)
* poorly concealed or hidden // implies that an attempt to hide something has been made, but it's very obvious
ex: His ill-disguised anger was evident.
45
scholiast (scoh le ast) (n.)
* (Historical) a commenter on ancient or classical literature
ex: The scholiasts might start at the beginning.
46
myrmidon (mir ma don) (n.)
* a loyal follower
especially : a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulousl
ex: Their odious myrmidons in the media
47
decant (deh cant) (v.)
* to pour (a liquid, such as wine) from one vessel into another
ex: It serves to decant the wine.
* to pour out, transfer, or unload as if by pouring
ex: I was decanted from the car.
48
encomium (en co me um) (n.)
encomia (en co me ah) (pl.)
* glowing and warmly enthusiastic praise
ex: the encomiums bestowed on a teacher at her retirement ceremonies
ex: The defense justified the encomium.
49
liberality (lib ur al ee tee) (n.)
the quality or state of being liberal
also : an instance of this
ex: In his wretchedness of feeling, Ben-Hur barely observed the royal liberality which marked the construction of the road.
50
libation (lie bay shin) (n.)
libationary (lie bay shin air ee) (adj.)
* an act of pouring a liquid as a sacrifice (as to a deity)
ex: They offered a libation at the temple.
* a liquid (such as wine) used in a libation // a beverage
ex: His favorite libation is scotch on the rocks.
* an act or instance of drinking often ceremoniously
ex: a libation to celebrate their anniversary
51
chaplet (chap lit) (n.)
* a wreath to be worn on the head
ex: Her companion, wearing a chaplet of bays, laughed.
* a string of prayer beads
similar but distinct from the rosary
52
waftage (waf tijj) (n.)
* the act of wafting or state of being wafted
broadly : conveyance
ex: Let us give ourselves to waftage of the winds.
53
tabor (tay bir) ( n.)
* a small drum with one head of soft calfskin used to accompany a pipe or fife played by the same person
ex: A party of girls rushed about the speaker and began singing and dancing to the tabors they themselves touched.
54
harridan (hair ra den) (n.)
* a strict, bossy, or belligerent old woman
ex: The subtext throughout is that Tendler is a harridan, a domineering scold.
55
foliate (fo lee ate/fo lee it) (adj.)
* shaped like a leaf
ex: That accessory dates back to the late 1800s, and features floral and foliate motifs with rose-cut diamonds.
56
foliated (fo lee ate tid) (adj.)
* composed of or separable into layers
ex: This rock has a foliated texture.
ex: An acidic attack of red fruits followed by a dark and foliated set of meaty but succulent flavors—maple syrup, toffee, red plums and red cherries.
* ornamented with foils or a leaf design
57
frippery (frip per ree) (n.)
Note -- has a negative connotation
* finery
also : an elegant or showy garment
* something showy, frivolous, or nonessential
* ostentation
especially : something foolish or affectedly elegant
ex: The speech was full of rhetorical frippery but lacked real substance.
ex: She dismissed the extravagant gowns as mere frippery.
58
plowshare (plow share) (n.)
* a part of a plow that cuts the furrow
* a component of a plow (or plough). It is the cutting or leading edge of a moldboard which closely follows the coulter (one or more ground-breaking spikes) when plowing.
ex: Beating swords into plowshares and making war no more proved a fantasy.
59
castallated (cast til late tid) (adj.)
* having battlements like a castle
* having or supporting a castle
ex: The main structure, with its castellated tower, turrets, and Gothic windows, is not short on charm.
60
scabrous (scab riss) (adj.)
* difficult, knotty
ex: a scabrous problem
rough to the touch: such as
a
: having small raised dots, scales, or points
ex: a scabrous leaf
b
: covered with raised, roughened, or unwholesome patches
ex: scabrous paint
ex: scabrous skin
* dealing with suggestive, indecent, or scandalous themes : salacious
ex: A movie with scabrous humor
61
sire and dam (sire and dam) (n.)
The male parent of a horse, a stallion, is commonly known as the sire and the female parent, the mare, is called the dam
62
libretto (leh bret doe) (n.)
librettist (leh bre tist) (n.)
* the text of a work (such as an opera) for the musical theater
ex: Kentridge’s libretto is an assemblage of the characters’ words and a range of other historical sources
* the writer of a libretto
ex: The radicalism is that neither composer nor librettist reveals that this actually works.
63
centripetal (cen trip eh tuhl) (adj.)
* proceeding or acting in a direction toward a center or axis
centripetal acceleration of a body
ex: Both protagonists have centrifugal and centripetal conflicts.
* tending toward centralization : unifying
ex: Centripetal factors that hold the parts together
64
centrifugal (sen triff u guhl) (adj.)
* proceeding or acting in a direction away from a center or axis
ex: centrifugal acceleration of a body
* tending away from centralization : separatist
ex: Both protagonists have centrifugal and centripetal conflicts.
65
basso (bass so) (n.) (adj.)
* a low deep voice
ex: His basso boomed throughout the great hall.
ex: His basso voice boomed throughout the great hall.
Is this natural or is using voice redundant after basso?
* a bass singer
especially : an operatic bass
ex: Michael’s father was a basso with the Metropolitan Opera.
66
archon (r kahn) (n.)
* a chief magistrate in ancient Athens
* a presiding officer
ex: As archon of the nation's most prestigious university, he became something of a national figure.
67
bell (bell) (v.)
* to flare the end of (something, such as a tube) into the shape of a bell
ex: His coat was belling in the wind.
68
sputum (spew tum) (n.)
* matter expectorated from the respiratory system and especially the lungs that is composed of mucus but may contain pus, blood, fibrin, or microorganisms (such as bacteria) in diseased states
ex: Phlegm discharged by coughing or spitting is called sputum.
69
burble (burr bull) (v.) (n.)
burbler (bur ba lur) (n. -- person)
burbly (burr blee) (adj.)
* to make a bubbling sound // babble, prattle
ex: Crispin burbled a low laugh.
ex: The burble of babies can be so endearing.
70
solecism (sal la cism) (n.)
* an ungrammatical combination of words in a sentence
also : a minor blunder in speech
* something deviating from the proper, normal, or accepted order
* a breach of etiquette or decorum
ex: The solecism of asking one's hosts how much something in their house cost them.
71
solipsism (so lip sism) (n.)
* the quality of being very self-centered or selfish.
ex: She herself elicits scant sympathy, such is her solipsism and lack of self-awareness.
72
disquisition (dis kweh zishen) (n.)
a formal inquiry into or discussion of a subject : discourse
ex: Tommy embarked on a lengthy disquisition on foreign policy.
73
tenebrous (ten eh briss)(adj.)
* shut off from the light : dark, murky
ex: In the tenebrous depths, a sparkling light glowed.
* hard to understand : obscure
ex: a tenebrous affair
* causing gloom
74
specie (spee she) (n.)
money in coin , as opposed to notes
ex: The Bank of England in 1795 had held around £8 million in specie.
Phrases: in specie
: in the same or like form or kind
ready to return insult in specie
also : in coin
75
coruscate (cora skate) (v.)
*to give off or reflect light in bright beams or flashes : sparkle
ex: A classic car from the 1950s, replete with yards of coruscating chrome.
* to be brilliant or showy in technique or style
ex: Brazil had been in coruscating form up to that point, so few expected them to falter.
76
creche (k resh) (n.)
*a representation of the Nativity scene
ex: We were supposed to be the family that carried the Christ Child to the creche at Most Holy Redeemer that year.
* day nursery
* a foundling hospital
* a group of young animals (such as penguins or bats) gathered in one place for care and protection usually by one or more adults
ex: These two are youngsters, left behind at a feeding creche.
77
bezel (bez uhl) (n.)
* a rim that holds a transparent covering (as on a watch, clock, or headlight) or that is rotatable and has special markings (as on a watch)
ex: The north symbol on the compass bezel will also point due north on the map.
78
shiftless (shift less) (adj.)
*lacking in resourcefulness : inefficient
* lacking in ambition or incentive : lazy
ex: They are shiftless freeloaders.
79
knavery (nay ver eee) (n.)
rascality // a roguish or mischievous act
ex: These frat-boy knaveries became the stuff of campus legend.
ex: We suspect some knavery going on in the political campaign.
80
blandishments (blandish ments) (n.)
* a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something
ex: The blandishments of the travel brochure
ex: She was impervious to his blandishments.
81
voluminous (vah loom en us) (adj.)
* having or marked by great volume or bulk : large
ex: She has long voluminous tresses
* numerous
ex: He was trying to keep track of voluminous slips of paper.
* writing or speaking much or at great length
ex: He's a voluminous correspondent.
82
ordination (or da nay shin) (n.)
* the act or ceremony of making someone a priest or other religious leader
ex: He doesn't support the ordination of women as bishops.
83
locus (low kiss) (n.)
loci (low sigh) (pl.)
* the place where something is situated or occurs : site, location
ex: Was the culture of medicine in the beginning dispersed from a single focus or did it arise in several loci?
* a center of activity, attention, or concentration
ex: In democracy, the locus of power is in the people.
84
carom (care um) (v.) (n.)
* a shot in billiards in which the cue ball strikes each of two object balls (n.)
* a shot in pool in which an object ball strikes another ball before falling into a pocket (n.)
* a rebounding especially at an angle (n.)
*to strike and rebound : glance (v.)
Ex: The car caromed off a tree.
85
hinky (heen kee) (adj.)
* slang : nervous, jittery
ex: The cop was feeling hinky about the whole situation.
* slang : suspicious
ex: There was no shortage of hinky transactions.
86
dross (dross) (n.)
* the scum or unwanted material that forms on the surface of molten metal
* waste or foreign matter : impurity
ex: Suffice it to say that this book contains both wheat and chaff, both gold and dross.
* something that is base, trivial, or inferior
ex: There is quite a lot of dross on TV these days.
87
speculative (spec u la tive) (adj.)
hesitant, tentative, exploratory
ex: He took a speculative sip of wine.
88
effete (eh feet) (adj.)
* no longer fertile
* having lost character, vitality, or strength
ex: the effete monarchies of feudal Europe
* marked by weakness or decadence
ex: the effete upper class
* effeminate sense 1
ex: a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts
89
votive (vo tive) (adj.) (n.)
* offered or consecrated in fulfillment of a vow.
ex: votive offerings
* an object offered in fulfillment of a vow, such as a candle used as a vigil light.
ex: I will light a votive for those who need affordable housing.
90
muddy (mudd ee) (adj.)
* lacking in clarity or brightness : cloudy, dull
ex: The muddy recording was hard to hear.
Her eyes were muddy with sleep.
* obscure in meaning : muddled, confused
ex: Your muddy thinking won't help us.
91
welt vs wheal
A wheal is a small, round or irregular, raised, itchy area on the skin, usually due to an allergic reaction or insect bite.
Commonly seen in hives (urticaria).
Typically white or red with a surrounding red flare.
Transient—they often fade within hours.
ex: After the bee sting, she broke out in itchy wheals all over her arm.
A welt is a raised mark on the skin, often from a blow, lash, or pressure.
It’s commonly associated with bruising or impact (e.g., from being hit or whipped).
Usually longer or linear in shape.
Can be painful or red, sometimes with bruising around it.
ex: He had welts on his back from the whipping.
92
roseate (row z it) (adj.)
* resembling a rose especially in color
ex: A bird with roseate feathers.
* overly optimistic : viewed favorably
93
in/at full career
* speed in a course —used especially in the phrases in full career or at full career
ex: The trumpets sounded, and the knights charged each other in full career.
94
flinders (flin durrs)
* splinters/fragments/broke into flinders
ex: The hull was smashed to flinders.
95
lantern jaw (lan turn jaw) (n.)
* a long, thin jaw and prominent chin.
ex: Mark, pictured in black and white, has a lantern jaw and a faint resemblance to Fred Flintstone.
96
whipcord (whip cord) (n.)
* a thin tough cord made of braided or twisted hemp or catgut
* a cloth that is made of hard-twisted yarns and has fine diagonal cords or ribs
ex: He coiled like a whipcord before cracking him in the face.
97
transverse (trans verse) (adj.)
* acting, lying, or being across : set crosswise
ex: The surgeon made a transverse incision across her abdomen.
* made at right angles to the long axis of the body
ex: a transverse section
98
stump (stump) (v.)
to walk heavily or clumsily
ex: The soldier stumped up the ramp.
(Note: Stomp emphasizes forceful, intentional steps with a sense of impact or emotion, while stump suggests clumsiness or difficulty, often with less intent.)
99
deltoid (del toyd) (adj.)
* having a triangular shape
ex: She was vaguely deltoid in shape.
100
pelagic (peh lah gic) (adj.)
*of, relating to, or living or occurring in the open sea : oceanic
ex: pelagic sediment // pelagic birds
ex: Among pelagic animals, the undisputed king is the blue whale.
