Vocabulary Set 4 (23.08.22) Flashcards
depute (de pewt) (v.)
appoint or instruct (someone) to perform a task for which one is responsible
ex: Several officers were deputed to guard the building.
hen’s teeth (idiom)
exceptionally rare
ex: On a rainy night, taxis are as scarce as hen’s teeth.
slew (s loo) (v.)
to cause to skid : VEER // turn or slide violently or uncontrollably in a particular direction.
ex: He slewed the car around a turn.
roan (rown) (n.) (adj.)
denoting an animal, especially a horse or cow, having a coat of a main color thickly interspersed with hairs of another color, typically bay, chestnut, or black mixed with white. //
an animal with a roan coat (n.)
ex: The roan mare whinnied and stamped its hoofs.
ex: The roan on the right is a stallion.
languorous (lang gur us) (adj.)
characterized by tiredness or inactivity, especially of a pleasurable kind.
ex: Summer has a slow, languorous feel to it here.
westering (west tur ing) (adj.) (LITERARY)
(especially of the sun) nearing the west.
ex: The last rays of the westering sun.
cheroot (sha root) (n.)
a cigar cut square at both ends
ex: Myanmar remains a place where many men smoke cheroots.
sporran (spor en) (n.)
a pouch that performs the same function as pockets on the pocketless kilt
ex: He found gold in McCandless’s sporran.
appurtenances ( a purr ten nence) (n.)
• appurtenances plural : accessory objects
ex: the appurtenances of wealth // if he were to buy the usual appurtenances of an officer, a horse and a telescope and an expensive sword,
• a subordinate part or adjunct
ex: The appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony.
Hypotaxis vs. Parataxis
- Parataxis: Independent phrases without conjunctions, a direct narrative style.
- Hypotaxis: Complex sentences with main and subordinate clauses, showing interdependent ideas.
prevaricate (pre var eh cate) (v.)
speak or act in an evasive way.
ex: He seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions.
spavin / spavined (spav in / spav end) (n./adj.)
- (n.) SWELLING // especially : a bony enlargement of the hock of a horse associated with strain
- (adj.) affected with spavin // old and decrepit : OVER-THE-HILL
ex: I don’t want any of your spavined beasts.
escarpment (es carp ment) (n.)
a long, steep slope, especially one at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights.
ex: He turned as gunfire sounded higher up the escarpment.
be at sixes and sevens (IDIOM) // mainly British, but also can be used in American
describe a condition of confusion or disarray (Origin dice game – Hazard)
ex: I’ll probably be at sixes and sevens groping for an answer.
Old Nick (n.)
A nickname for the devil
ex: He gave me a look that would scare Old Nick.
Sally out (sal lee out) (v.)
set out in a sudden, energetic or violent manner
ex: Tamara would sally out on bitterly cold nights.
debouch (de bow ch) (v.)
(esp of troops) to move into a more open space, as from a narrow or concealed place // (of a river, glacier, etc) to flow from a valley into a larger area or body
ex: He saw enemy forces debouching from the gate.
emolliently (e mall yent ly) (v.) (FORMAL)
(formal) making people calm and avoiding argument:
ex: an emollient mood/tone
ex: “I think you’ll find them practical, sir, “ Stokes said emolliently.
irruption (eer rup shun) (n.)
sudden, violent, or forcible entry : a rushing or bursting in
ex: A tribe of black-faced, silver-furred monkeys had fled the irruption of men into the rocky gorge
sidle (sigh dul) (v.)
walk in a furtive, unobtrusive, or timid manner, especially sideways or obliquely.
ex: I sidled up to her.
halyard (hal yurd) (n.)
a rope or tackle for hoisting and lowering something (such as sails)
ex: The redcoat on the wall slashed at the flag’s halyard.
sinistral (sin nis trul) (adj.)
of or on the left side or the left hand. // left-handed.
ex: The ancient script was inscribed in sinistral characters, flowing from right to left unlike the modern script’s left-to-right orientation.
millinery (mill eh nair ee) (n.)
- women’s apparel for the head
- the business or work of a milliner
ex: Rachel Bell, co-owner of a Louisville millinery shop in St. Matthews, says savvy customers begin working with a milliner at least four to six weeks before Kentucky Derby weekend.
hank (hay nk) (n.)
COIL, LOOP
specifically : a coiled or looped bundle (as of yarn) usually containing a definite yardage
ex: the hank of ponytail swinging cheerful as a jump rope
rectitude (rec tteh tude) (n.)
morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness.
ex: Maddie is a model of rectitude.
mulish (mu lish) (adj.)
resembling or likened to a mule in being stubborn.
ex: Belinda’s face took on a mulish expression.
etiology (ede ol ogy) (n.)
the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition.
ex: A group of distinct diseases with different etiologies.
ex: In social terms, regardless of its etiology, memory loss may be a way of coping with harsh reality.
gone to seed (phrase) (adj.)
as in dilapidated // showing signs of advanced wear and tear, neglect
ex: That old, rusted car has gone to seed.
ex: He was flexing and unflexing arm muscles that had not yet gone to seed.
wend (wind) (v.)
go in a specified direction, typically slowly or by an indirect route.
ex: They wended their way across the city.
(NOTE: All examples I found used wend one’s way)
incise (in size) (v.)
If an object is incised with a design, the design is carefully cut into the surface of the object with a sharp instrument.
ex: After the surface is polished, a design is incised or painted.
guy rope (gi rope) (n.)
a rope or line fixed to the ground to secure a tent or other structure.
ex: The elasticity of our skin, an expert once told me, can be likened to guy ropes holding down the canvas of a tent.
bivouac (ked) (biv o wack) (v.)
a temporary encampment with few facilities, as used by soldiers, mountaineers, etc. // stay in a temporary camp without cover.
ex: He’d bivouacked on the north side of the town.
scullion (skull yen) (n.)
a kitchen helper // a mean or despicable person // archaic
a servant employed to do rough household work in a kitchen
ex: She finds a place as a scullion at a castle and works in the kitchens.
moppet (mop pet) (n.)
Informal – a little child // small endearingly sweet child
ex: Amelia looked down and discovered a moppet with curly brown hair
chaw (ch awe) (n./v.)
chewing tobacco // to chew (tobacco), esp without swallowing it
ex: Now just about anyone can don stetsons and chaw tobacco.
Banquette (bain ket) (n.)
- A long, low, cushioned seat. Banquettes are usually long enough for more than one person to sit on at a time.
*a small footpath or elevated step along the inside of a rampart or parapet of a fortification
ex: Graham sat down on a banquette, a puzzled look on his face.
cachet (ca chey) (n.)
the state of being respected or admired; prestige.
ex: No other shipping company had quite the cachet of Cunard.
conciliate/conciliation (con cill ee ate/ con cill ee aye shun) (v./n.)
the action of stopping someone from being angry; placation.
ex: He held his hands up in a gesture of conciliation.
Oubliette (oo blee et) (n.)
A secret dungeon, often hidden behind a trapdoor
Applique (ap pla kay) (v.)
a cutout decoration fastened to a larger piece of material
ex: They are all wearing matching appliqueéd T-shirts, all bells and ribbons
