Week 4 - Deck 1

Question 1

vignette

Answer 1

n. a brief evocative description, account, or episode

Question 2

etymology

Answer 2

n. the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
[]the origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning.

Question 3

dialectical

Answer 3

adj.

1. relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions: “dialectical ingenuity”
2. concerned with or acting through opposing forces: “a dialectical opposition between social convention and individual libertarianism.”

Question 4

vain

Answer 4

adj.
1. having or showing an excessively high opinion of one’s appearance, abilities, or worth:
“their flattery made him ~”

2. [attrib.] producing no result; useless:
   “a ~ attempt to tidy up the room”
   “the ~ hope of finding work.”

Question 5

intimate

Answer 5

v. [with obj.]
imply or hint
[]state or make known
“He has intimated his decision to retire.”

Question 6

intimation

Answer 6

n. an indication or hint:
“the first ~s of trouble”

[]the action of making something known, esp. in an indirect way.
“it took ten years from the intimation of a claim to the assessment of damages.”

Question 7

incredulous

Answer 7

adj. (of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something:
“an ~ gasp”

Question 8

incredulity

Answer 8

n. the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something:
“he stared down the street in ~”

Question 9

petty

Answer 9

adj.
1. of little importance; trivial:
“the ~ divisions of party politics”

characterized by an undue concern for trivial matters, esp. in a small-minded or spiteful way:
“he was prone to ~ revenge on friends and family”