WL 39 Flashcards
simpering
adj. smirking
sirocco
n. warm. sultry wind blown from Africa to southern Europe
skeptic
n. doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view
slander
n. defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements
slattern
n. untidy or slovenly person
sleight
n. dexterity
slither
v. slip or slide
sluice
n. artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water
smattering
n. slight knowledge
sobriquet
n. nickname
solace
n. comfort in trouble
somatic
adj. pertaining to the body; physical
sophist
n. teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning
sophistication
n. artificiality; unnaturalness; act of employing sophistry in reasoning
sophomoric
adj. immature; shallow
soporific
n. sleep producer
spate
n. sudden flood
spatula
n. broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
spectrum
n. colored band produced when beam of light passes through a prism
spoliation
n. pillaging; depredation
spoonerism
n. accidental transposition of sounds in successive words
spume
n. froth; foam
staccato
adj. played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound
stalemate
n. deadlock
stalwart
adj. strong, brawny; steadfast
statutory
adj. created by statute or legislative action
stereotyped
adj. fixed and unvarying representation
stertorous
adj. having a snoring sound
stigma
n. token of disgrace; brand
stilted
adj. bombastic; inflated
stratum
n. layer of earth’s surface; layer of society
stultify
v. cause to appear foolish or consistent
suave
adj. smooth; bland
subjective
adj. occurring or taking place within the subject; unreal
subliminal
adj. below the threshold
subsidy
n. direct financial aid by government, etc.
substantive
adj. essential; pertaining to the substance
sudorific
adj. pertaining to perspiration
sumptuary
adj. limiting or regulating expenditures
superimpose
v. place over something else
supernal
adj. heavenly; celestial
supernumerary
n. person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extra
supple
adj. flexible; pliant
suppurate
v. create pus
suture
n. stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing
syllogism
n. logical formula utilizing a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion
symmetry
n. arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity
talon
n. claw of bird
tantamount
adj. equal
tarantula
n. venomous spider
tarn
n. small mountain lake
tatterdemalion
n. ragged fellow
taut
adj. tight; ready
tautology
n. unnecessary repetition; pleonasm
teleology
n. belief that a final purpose or design exists for the presence of individual beings or of the universe itself
temerarious
adj. rash
tenacity
n. firmness; persistency; adhesiveness
tendentious
adj. having an aim; designated to further a cause
tenebrous
adj. dark; gloomy
tergiversation
n. evasion; fickleness