Week 4 Flashcards

1
Q

Alacrity

A

Briskness, lively action

The waiter moved with alacrity because he perceived* they were big tippers.

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2
Q

Disdain

A

Contempt

When the curtain came down, the critic’s face registered the disdain she felt for the lackluster* play.

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3
Q

Belligerent

A

Warlike

His belligerent manner caused him to lose one friend after another.

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4
Q

Intimidate

A

To overawe

Y2K concerns of the January 1, 2000 problems with computers failed to intimidate our company.

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5
Q

Feint

A

A false attack

The Germans were duped* by the Allies’ feint toward the south, leaving the way open for the Normandy invasion.

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6
Q

Pugnacious

A

Quarrelsome

Since everyone can outpunch my cousin, he cannot afford to be pugnacious.

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7
Q

Promulgate

A

To make known officially

We implored* the faculty advisor to promulgate the requirements for the presidency of the club.

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8
Q

Brash

A

Impudent

My mother liked the salesman’s brash personality, but he irritated most people.

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9
Q

Scoff

A

I don’t understand modern art, but I neither loathe* nor scoff at it.

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10
Q

Belittle

A

To make seem less important

Although Ralph can’t play, he doesn’t hesitate to belittle the efforts of our football team.

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11
Q

Tangible

A

Having actual form

Mr. Dixon belittled* our request for tangible proof of his loyalty.

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12
Q

Laceration

A

Jagged wound

The medic reached into his kit to find a bandage for the urly laceration.

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13
Q

Castigate

A

To correct by punishing

The kindly foreman was too reticent* to openly castigate the clumsy new worker.

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14
Q

Sordid

A

Dirty, base

Stories of their sordid youth poured forth from the unhappy felons*.

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15
Q

Octogenarian

A

Person in his or her eighties

When the teenager announced her engagement to the octogenarian, the public suspected it to be a publicity stunt.

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16
Q

Solace

A

Easing of grief

In trying to offer solace to the pilot’s wife, the reporter inadvertently* made the situation worse.

17
Q

Aspirant

A

Candidate for high position

The publisher scoffed* at the reports that he was an aspirant for the job of Secretary of State.

18
Q

Dregs

A

Most worthless part

At the bottom of the beautiful wine bottle, only the dregs remained.

19
Q

Frenzy

A

Wild fit

In a frenzy, the teenager overturned every drawer while searching for the car kays.

20
Q

Scurrilous

A

Coarse, vulgar and evil

Vigilant* censors protect the public from listening to scurrilous language on television.