Vocabulary Set 9 (24.05.14) Flashcards
1
Q
rifle (righ full) (v.)
A
- to ransack especially with the intent to steal
- to steal and carry away
ex: I rifled his corpse, finding a light purse and a Covenant medallion.
2
Q
plight (ply t) (v.)
A
- to put or give in pledge : ENGAGE
ex: plight his troth
[Troth – ARCHAIC*FORMAL
faith or loyalty when pledged in a solemn agreement or undertaking.
“a token of troth”]
3
Q
declaim (d clay m) (v.)
A
- to speak rhetorically
ex: speakers declaimed on a variety of issues - to speak pompously or bombastically : HARANGUE
ex: In presence of this historical fact, it is foolish to declaim about natural rights.
4
Q
palaver (pa lah vir) (v.) (n.)
A
- a long parley usually between persons of different cultures or levels of sophistication
ex: a palaver between foreign ministers - CONFERENCE, DISCUSSION
ex: a palaver between union leaders - idle talk
ex: Cut the palaver and get down to business. - misleading or beguiling speech
ex: Don’t get taken in by the candidate’s palaver. - to talk profusely or idly // parley (V.)
5
Q
knuckle one’s forehead (action)
A
- to salute by touching two knuckles to the forehead
ex: I once knuckled my forehead to those born of privilege.
6
Q
bailey (bail lee) (n.)
A
- the outer wall of a castle or any of several walls surrounding the keep
- a courtyard within the external wall or between two outer walls of a castle
ex: The cart halted in front of the outer bailey.
7
Q
balladeer (bal la deer) (n.)
A
- a person who sings ballads
ex: His attempts at wooing maidens fell short of a balladeer’s ideal.
8
Q
terminus (ter min us) (n.)
A
- either end of a transportation line or travel route
also : the station, town, or city at such a place : TERMINAL - an extreme point or element : TIP
ex: the terminus of a glacier - a final goal : a finishing point
ex: I dotted the terminus of the final line.
9
Q
sibilant (sib ah lent) (adj.)
A
having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash
ex: a sibilant hiss
ex: The buzz has a sizzling or sibilant quality.
10
Q
effluent (eff loo ent) (n.)
A
something that flows out: such as
a
: an outflowing branch of a main stream or lake
b
: waste material (such as smoke, liquid industrial refuse, or sewage) discharged into the environment especially when serving as a pollutant
ex: The stink of effluent flowed down the river.
11
Q
(un)expurgated (un ex per gate ed) (adj.)
A
not having potentially offensive or otherwise objectionable parts removed : not expurgated
ex: an unexpurgated edition
12
Q
flux (fluh ux) (n.)
A
- a flowing of fluid from the body: such as DIARRHEA, DYSENTERY
- a continuous moving on or passing by (as of a stream)
- a continued flow : FLOOD
ex: a flux of words - INFLUX // CHANGE, FLUCTUATION
ex: in a state of flux
ex: the flux following the death of the emperor.
13
Q
dolorous (dol luh rus) (adj.)
A
- causing, marked by, or expressing misery or grief
ex: He spoke in his dolorous accent of broad vowels and soft sibilants.
ex: dolorous ballads of death and regret
14
Q
sop (sahp) (n.)
A
- chiefly dialectal : a piece of food dipped or steeped in a liquid
- a conciliatory or propitiatory bribe, gift, or gesture
ex: We employed it as a sop to Sihlda’s sensibilities.
15
Q
acclamation (ack la may shun) (n.)
A
- a loud eager expression of approval, praise, or assent
- an overwhelming affirmative vote by cheers, shouts, or applause rather than by ballot
ex: She has earned worldwide acclamation for her charitable works.
16
Q
grizzle (grizz uhl) (v.)
A
- GRIPE, GRUMBLE
- to become, make grayish
ex: He always grizzles that the weather is bad.
ex: Age comes to grizzle and wrinkle us all, my boy.
17
Q
insensate (in sin sate) (adj.)
A
- lacking sense or understanding, foolish // lacking animate awareness or sensation
- lacking humane feeling : BRUTAL
ex: An insensate boss who refuses to allow time off for funerals.
18
Q
propitiate (pro prish ee ate) (v.)
propitiatory (pro prish ee a tor ee) (adj.)
A
to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : APPEASE
ex: The U.S. has sought to propitiate the regime in Tehran.
19
Q
auspices (awss piss is) (n.)
A
- (auspices - plural) kindly patronage and guidance
ex: doing research under the auspices of the local historical society - a prophetic sign // especially : a favorable sign
ex: The teacher’s smile was an auspice I would get an A.
20
Q
goodly (good lee) (adj.)
A
- pleasantly attractive (archaic)
- significantly large : CONSIDERABLE
ex: Her family owned a goodly portion of the best land in Alberis.
21
Q
convocation (con vuh cay shun) (n.)
A
A large formal assembly of people for a special purpose, mostly ecclesiastical or academic.
ex: Crown and Covenant joined in humble convocation.
22
Q
fractiousness (frack shus ness) (n.)
fractious (frack shus) (adj.)
A
- tending to be troublesome : UNRULY
ex: a fractious crowd - QUARRELSOME, IRRITABLE
ex: a fractious political campaign
23
Q
urbane (ur bay n) (adj.)
A
- courteous and refined in manner (typically used of a man).
ex: The supposedly urbane, restrained English gentleman.
24
Q
outmoded (out mow did) (adj.)
A
- not being in style
- no longer acceptable, current, or usable
ex: outmoded customs
25
beggar (beg gir) (v.)
* to reduce to poverty or the practice of asking for charity
ex: Wealthy folk have beggared themselves searching for it.
* to exceed the resources or abilities of : DEFY
ex: beggars description // so outrageous as to beggar belief
26
jape (jay p) (n.) (v.)
* to say or do something jokingly or mockingly (v.)
ex: Oscar Wilde's characters jape with an unnatural readiness.
* something designed to arouse amusement or laughter (n.)
ex: Who was to say his mercy wasn’t some sadistic jape?
27
calumny (cal um nee) (n.)
* a misrepresentation intended to harm another's reputation
ex: He denounced his opponent for his calumny.
28
odium (o dee um) (n.)
* general or widespread hatred or disgust directed toward someone as a result of their actions.
ex: Time did nothing to diminish the odium in which the traitor lived.
29
ardency (are din cee) (n.)
the quality or state of being ardent (eager zeal and support)
ex: Her previous ardency had been a mere candle to this flame.
30
beauteous (b you tee us) (adj.)
* beautiful (Chiefly Literary)
ex: an unusually beauteous blonde woman
31
burr (bur) (v.) (n.)
If someone has a burr, they speak English with a regional accent in which 'r' sounds are pronounced more strongly than in the standard British way of speaking
ex: Din Faud’s southern burr returned.
ex: The pitch burred past the pitcher’s ear.
32
yen (yen) (n.)
* a strong desire or propensity
ex: a yen for the sea
* also : URGE, CRAVING
ex: a yen for ice cream
33
cant (cant) (n.)
* expression, repetition of conventional, trite opinions, sentiments
especially : the insincere use of pious words
ex: the cant of hypocrites
* the private language of the underworld
ex: the cant of thieves
* affected singsong or whining speech
ex: a beggar's cant
34
flense (flen ssuh) (v.)
* to strip of blubber or skin
ex: flense a whale
35
prevail (pre vayl) (v.)
* to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority : TRIUMPH
* to use persuasion successfully
ex: I prevailed on (or upon) him to sing.
* to be frequent : PREDOMINATE // PERSIST
ex: the west winds that prevail in the mountains
ex: a custom that still prevails
36
misbegotten (mis be got ten) (adj.)
* dated: unlawfully conceived / born to parents not married
ex: a misbegotten child
* having a disreputable or improper origin : ill-conceived
ex: antiquated and misbegotten tax laws
* CONTEMPTIBLE
ex: a misbegotten scoundrel
* DEFORMED
ex: The door a misbegotten pine.
37
inchoate (inn co it) (adj.)
* being only partly in existence or operation : INCIPIENT
especially : imperfectly formed or formulated : FORMLESS, INCOHERENT
ex: I have inchoate suspicions that all is not well with the nation.
38
novitiate (no vish it) (n.)
* the period or state of being a novice
* a house where novices are trained
* a novice, especially in a religious order.
ex: He was one of the novitiates who had flocked to her banner.
39
conurbation con ner bay shun) (n.)
an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities
ex: Like the far smaller conurbation of Callintor, the sanctuary city was splendid.
40
drover (drove ur) (n.)
* one who drives cattle or sheep
ex: Lancashire heelers are drovers, meaning they have been used to herd cattle and other livestock.
41
by rights (phrase)
* if things had happened or been done fairly or correctly.
ex: By rights, he should not be playing next week.
42
gratis (gra tiss) (adj.)
* without charge or recompense : FREE
ex: The food was supplied gratis.
ex: He made gratis contributions to our cause.
43
castellan (cas till in) (n.)
* a governor or warden of a castle or fort
ex: The castellan might capitulate if certain promises are provided.
44
in point of fact (idiom)
used to introduce a true statement which shows that another statement is not true
ex: He whistled, but not because he was having a pleasant day. In point of fact, the day God had provided was close to horrible.
45
hie (high) (v.)
* to cause (oneself) to go quickly // HASTEN
ex: Well hie me to Damnation.
ex: thither we advise you to hie
ex: hie you to church
46
snootful (snoot full) (n.)
*enough alcoholic liquor to cause drunkenness
ex: He was afraid he'd get a real snootful if he had any more.
47
burble (burr bull) (v./n.)
* to make a bubbling sound // BABBLE, PRATTLE
ex: The baby burbled happily in her crib.
ex: Water burbling through the streams.
ex: The burble of babies can be so endearing.
48
traduce (tra deuce) (v.)
* to expose to shame or blame by means of falsehood and misrepresentation
ex: The restaurant's owner insisted that he had been unfairly traduced by a freeloader.
* VIOLATE, BETRAY
ex: He traduced a principle of law
49
cotton (cot tin) (v.)
* to take a liking —used with to
ex: My golden retriever cottons to people easily.
* to come to understand —used with to or on to
ex: He cottoned on to the fact that our children work hard.
50
trepan (trah pan) (v.) (n.)
* (historical) a trephine (hole saw) used by surgeons for perforating the skull. (n.)
ex: He used the trepan to bore a hole in the man's skull.
* perforate (a person's skull) with a trepan. (v.)
ex: It was an 8,500-year-old trepanned skull.
51
intercessor (in turr cess er) (n.)
intercession (in turr cess shun) (n.)
* a person who intervenes on behalf of another, especially by prayer.
ex: They rejected the notion that an intercessor was needed to appeal to God.
* Intercession or intercessory prayer is the act of praying to a deity on behalf of others
52
chancery (chan sir ee) (n.)
* a record office for public archives or those of ecclesiastical, legal, or diplomatic proceedings
* a court of equity
ex: The chancery court can’t afford to allow its orders to be flouted.
53
resurgam (reh sur gam)
* I shall rise again
54
assiduity (ass a due eh tee)
* the quality or state of being assiduous : diligence
ex: The project was successful because of the people's assiduity.
55
exigency (ex eh gen cee) (n.)
* what is required in a particular situation
ex: He quickly responded to the exigencies of modern warfare.
56
blain (blayn) (n.)
* an inflammatory swelling or sore
ex: You can get chilblains when it's cold.
57
penurious (peh nur ee us) (n.)
* marked by or suffering from penury (lack of resources)
ex: penurious peasants and fisherfolk
58
moiety (moi eh tee) (n.)
* one of two equal parts
ex: War and famine claimed a moiety of the population.
59
disembarrass (dis em bare us) (v.)
* to free (someone, including oneself) from something troublesome or superfluous
ex: She struggles to disembarrass herself of the emotional baggage of a failed relationship.
60
unplumbed (un plumb d) (adj.)
not measured with a plumb // not thoroughly explored
ex: They fell to unplumbed depths.
61
repose (reh poz) (n.) (v.)
* a place of rest // peace, tranquility (n.)
ex: The repose of the bayous.
* composure of manner : poise (n.)
ex: The diplomat faced the hostile crowd with remarkable repose.
* lack of activity : quiescence (n.)
ex: the face in repose is grave and thoughtful
* to lay to rest // to take a rest // to lie dead (v.)
ex: She lay in repose in her casket.
* to place (confidence, trust, etc.) in someone or something (v.)
ex: She reposed in me the secret of her hidden wealth.
62
confabulate (con fab u lay t) (v.)
confabulation (con fab u lay shun) (n.)
to talk informally : chat // to hold a discussion : confer
ex: Michael confabulated much longer and more fruitfully.
63
intimate (in ta mate) (v.)
* to communicate delicately and indirectly : hint
* to make known especially publicly or formally : announce
ex: His advisers kept intimating to journalists.
64
ignus fatuus (ig nus fat tu us) (n.)
* a light that sometimes appears in the night over marshy ground and is often attributable to the combustion of gas from decomposed organic matter
(will-o-the-wisp)
* a deceptive goal or hope
ex: Several sources say ignis fatuus is the likely cause of the strange light.
65
charwoman (char wom an) (n.)
* a cleaning woman especially in a large building
ex: The couple finally hired a charwoman as they were just too busy to clean
66
gallant (gal lunt) (adj.) (n.) (v.)
* showy in dress or bearing : smart (adj.)
* splendid, stately (adj.)
ex: a gallant ship
* spirited, brave (adj.)
ex: gallant efforts against the enemy
* nobly chivalrous and often self-sacrificing (adj.)
* courteously and elaborately attentive especially to ladies (adj.)
* a young man of fashion (n.)
ex: The gallant offered the madam a boutique.
* to pay court to (a lady) : attend (v.)
ex: He used to gallant her in his youth.
67
contumacy (con tu ma cy) (n.)
* stubborn resistance to authority
specifically : willful contempt of court
ex: A rogue archbishop who was excommunicated on grounds of contumacy
68
saturnine (sat ur nine) (adj.)
* cold and steady in mood : slow to act or change
* of a gloomy or surly disposition
* having a sardonic (derisively mocking or disdainfully humorous) aspect
ex: She has a saturnine smile.
69
importunate (im por cha nit) (adj.)
importunity (im por tun a tee) (n.)
importune (im por tune) (v.)
* troublesomely urgent : overly persistent in request or demand // troublesome (adj.)
ex: Damn these importunate creditors!
* an importunate request or demand
ex: I was overwhelmed by the conflicting importunities.
* to press or urge with troublesome persistence (v.)
ex: He importuned them to help.
70
diablerie (dee ob lure ee) (n.)
devilry // black magic : sorcery // mischievous conduct or manner
ex: The boy, who was once filled with diablerie, grew up to be a staid and rather dull man.
71
precepts (pre cept) (n.)
* a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action
* an order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official
ex: I was taught by precept and by example.
ex: the basic precepts of a religion
72
lassitude (lass eh tude) (n.)
* a condition of weariness or debility : fatigue
ex: The patient complained of headache, nausea, and lassitude.
* a condition characterized by lack of interest, energy, or spirit : languor
ex: He surrendered to an overpowering lassitude.
73
window sash (n.)
the frame holding the pane of a window
ex: He slammed the window sash, shattering the glass.
74
casement (cay ss ment) (n.)
a window sash that opens on hinges at the side
also : a window with such a sash
ex: Its original steel casement windows were untouched.
75
sagacious (sa gay shus) (adj.)
sagacity (sa ga sa tee) (n.)
* of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment : discerning (adj.)
ex: He is a sagacious judge of character.
* the quality of being sagacious (n.)
ex: He's a novelist of surprising sagacity.
76
pyramidal (pa ram eh duhl) (adj.)
* like a form of four triangles that meet in a point at the top
ex: The pyramidal structure of Melee-Magthere, the school of fighters.
77
unction (unc shun) (n.)
* the act of anointing as a rite of consecration or healing
* something used for anointing : ointment, unguent
ex: That unction now seems like too little, too late.
78
bathos (ba thos) (n.)
* (especially in a work of literature) an effect of anticlimax created by an unintentional lapse in mood from the sublime to the trivial or ridiculous.
ex: The serious message of the film is ruined by the bathos of its ridiculous ending.
79
expostulate (ex pos tchu late) (v.)
* to reason earnestly with a person for purposes of dissuasion or remonstrance
ex: The concerned parents tried to expostulate with their daughter when she announced her intention to live on her own in New York.
80
cui bono (kwee bone oh) (LATIN phrase)
* to whom is it a benefit?
ex: The question to ask in a leak case is always, cui bono?
81
grange (gray ng) (n.)
* farm (especially : a farmhouse with outbuildings)
* one of the lodges of a nat'l fraternal association originally made up of farmers
ex:
82
plebiscite (pleb eh sight) (n.)
* a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler
ex: The issue will be decided by plebiscite.
83
lachrymose (lack ra mo sss) (adj.)
* given to tears or weeping : tearful // causing tears
ex: He tends to become lachrymose when he was drunk.
ex: It was a lachrymose drama.
ex: the lachrymose story of a grieving parent and a dying world
84
phlegmatic (fleg ma tic) (adj.)
* having or showing a slow and stolid temperament
ex: Enter, then, Penélope Cruz, the raging storm to Driver’s phlegmatic calm
85
sententiously (sen ten shus ly) (adv.)
in a sententious way (= trying to appear wise, intelligent, and important)
ex: These gentlemen deliver their opinions sententiously.
86
tortuous (tor chew us) (adj.)
* marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns : winding
ex: a tortuous path
* marked by devious or indirect tactics : crooked, tricky
ex: a tortuous conspiracy
87
caddish (cad dish) (adj.)
cad (cad) (n.)
* dishonorable, especially toward a woman (typically used of a man)
ex: He's an impoverished charmer with caddish tendencies
* a man who acts with deliberate disregard for another's feelings or rights (n.)
ex: He's a selfish cad.
88
unction (unc shun) (n.)
* the act of anointing as a rite of consecration or healing
* something used for anointing : ointment, unguent
* religious or spiritual fervor or the expression of such fervor
* a strong show of emotion, especially one that is not sincere
ex: Napoleon knelt to receive the triple unction from the Pope on head, arms, and hands.
89
coxcomb (cox comb) (n.)
* a jester's cap adorned with a strip of red
* a conceited foolish person : fop
ex: You are right; I am a prating coxcomb.
90
sententious (sin ten shus) (adj.)
* given to or abounding in excessive moralizing
* try to appear wise, intelligent, important, in a way that is annoying
ex: He's a smug and sententious writer.
91
cosmogony (cos mog ah nee) (n.)
* a theory of the origin of the universe
* the creation or origin of the world or universe
ex: The mien of the Frost Giants was reflective of their symbolic role in the Norse cosmogony.
92
embower (em bough ur) (v.)
* to shelter or enclose in or as if in a bower
ex: like a rose embowered in its own green leaves
93
bedclothes (bed clothes) (n.)
* coverings for a bed, such as sheets and blankets
ex: Crisp nights call for hibernation-worthy bedclothes.
94
twit (twit) (v.) (n.)
* to subject to light ridicule or reproach // to make fun of as a fault (v.)
ex: You shouldn’t have twitted her about her looks!
* a silly annoying person : fool // act of twitting; taunt (n.)
ex: Only a complete twit would insult his hosts.
95
counterpane (counter pane) (n.)
* bedspread
ex: Get your muddy boots off that clean counterpane.
96
toothsome (tooth some) (adj.)
* agreeable, attractive // sexually attractive
ex: She's a toothsome blonde
* of palatable flavor and pleasing texture : delicious
ex: What crisp toothsome fried chicken!
97
chum (ch um) (n.) (v.)
* a close friend : pal (n.)
ex: college chums who go way back
* to be a close friend // to spend time with someone as a friend —usually used with around (v.)
ex: They always chum around together.
98
harrow (har row) (v.) (n.)
* torment, vex
ex: It was harrowed by war
* a cultivating tool set with spikes, teeth, or disks and used primarily for breaking up and smoothing the soil (n.) (v.)
ex: The farmer harrowed the fields.
99
elocution (ell oo cue shun) (n.)
elocutionist (ell oo cue shun ist) (n.)
* the art of effective public speaking
* an effective public speaker
ex: He took lessons in elocution.
100
