War and Peace Flashcards
infamy
infamies
noun
plural: infamies
- Evil reputation.
He earned infamy for his crimes. - Evil, wicked, or terrible act.
The people suffered the infamies of their ruler.
condone
condones
condoned
condoning
Verb
1. Accept (behaviour that is considered morally wrong or offensive).
The college cannot condone any behaviour that involves illicit drugs.
atrocity
atrocities
Noun
1. an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury.
I am shocked by the atrocity of this man’s crimes.
Atrocities were committed by forces on both sides of the conflict.
- Unpleasantly ugly
Your dress is an atrocity.
perpetrate
perpetrates
perpetrated
perpetrating
Verb
Carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral action).
I can’t believe my friend would perpetrate such act of betrayal.
The men were planning to perpetrate a robbery.
serenity
Noun
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
I admired her serenity in the midst of so much chaos.
For the outdoorsman, there is no way to experience serenity better than enjoying nature.
The silence and serenity here are awesome
disconcerted
Adjective
1. Unsettled or confused.
Keith looked momentarily disconcerted and embarrassed.
I was very disconcerted to find that everyone else already knew it.
I was a little disconcerted by his reply.
His vague reply disconcerted us completely.
Patronize
Patronizes
Patronizing
Verb
1. To speak to or behave towards someone as if they are stupid or not important.
He hated being patronized and pitied by those who didn’t believe his story.
Stop patronising me - I understand the play as well as you do.
I find you tone somewhat patronizing.
perceptible
Adjective
1. Discernible/noticeable especially of a slight movement or change of state (that can be seen, heard, felt, tasted, smelled, or noticed)
The sound was barely perceptible.
His lips curved in a barely perceptible smile.
His pulse was barely perceptible (= difficult to feel) upon arrival at the hospital.
There was a perceptible change in the audience’s mood.
conventional
Adjective
1. based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed. Socially acceptable.
She’s very conventional in her views.
I don’t want a conventional marriage.
pall
palls
Noun
1. a thick, dark cloud of smoke.
The firework display is beginning to pall.
- A negative feeling or mood.
The bad news cast a pall over the evening.
A pall of embarrassment descended on the room.
listless
Adjective
1. (of a person or their manner) lacking energy or enthusiasm.
having no energy and enthusiasm and unwilling to do anything needing effort:
He’s seemed listless and a little depressed ever since he got his exam results.
He spoke in a cold, listless tone.
languidly
Adverb
1. Slowly and with little energy, often in an attractive way.
She had stretched out languidly on the bed.
He played the slow movements languidly.
Balloons bobbed languidly in the still afternoon air.
brim
brims
brimmed
brimming
Verb
Be full to the point of overflowing..
Her eyes brimmed with tears.
She’s brimming with confidence.
vivacity
Noun
(Especially in a woman) the quality of being attractively lively and animated.
He was struck by her vivacity, humour and charm.
vivacious
Adjective
happy/enthusiastic and lively in a way that is attractive used especially of a woman.
Her vivacious and elegant mother.
scoundrel
Noun
person that behaves very badly towards other people, especially by cheating them or deceiving them.
I gave the scoundrel a slap in the face.
When he tried to cheat us out of our money, we realized the salesman was a scoundrel.
vehemence
Noun
1. The forceful expression of strong feelings: eagerness
She argued with such vehemence against the proposal that they decided to abandon it.
“No!” she said with sudden vehemence.
They were taken aback by the vehemence of the response.
I was surprised by the vehemence in my own voice.
He denied the rumours with surprising vehemence.
eloquent
Adjective
Using language to express ideas or opinions clearly and well, so that they have a strong effect on others. Persuasive, motivational.
The queen, dressed in an elegant manner, gave an eloquent speech
articulate
articulate
articulates
articulated
articulating
Adjective
1. Having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.
The First Lady was an intelligent and articulate spokeswoman for a lot of reasons.
Verb
1. Pronounce (something) clearly and distinctly.
He articulated each word with precision.
- Express (an idea or feeling) fluently and coherently.
They were unable to articulate their emotions. - Form a joint/connected by joints.
The wing is articulated to the thorax.
