WL 40 Flashcards
termagant
n. shrew, scolding, brawling woman
terminology
n. terms used in a science or art
terrapin
n. american marsh tortoise
tesselated
adj. inlaid, mosaic
testator
n. maker of a will
theosophy
n. wisdom in divine things
timorous
adj. fearful, demonstrating fear
titillate
v. tickle
tocsin
n. alarm bell
tonsure
n. shaving of head, especially by persons entering a religious order
touchstone
n. stone used to fest the fineness of gold alloys; criterion
trencherman
n. good eater
triolet
n. eight-line stanza
troglodyte
n. cave-dweller
trope
n. figure of speech
truckle
v. curry favor, act in an obsequious way; fawning
tutelary
adj. protective; pertaining to a guardianship
ukase
n. official degree, usually Russian
unilateral
adj. one-sided
untoward
adj. unfortunate; annoying
ursine
adj. bearlike; pertaining to a bear
usufruct
n. right of enjoying things belonging to another
valance
n. short drapery hanging above windowframe
valedictory
adj. pertaining to farewell
valetudinarian
n. invalid
vassal
n. in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord
vendetta
n. feud; private warfare
verbatim
adv. word for word
vermicular
adj. pertaining to a worm
Vertiginous
adj. causing dizziness; giddy
viable
adj. capable of maintaining life
vitreous
adj. pertaining to or resembling glass
vivisection
n. act of dissecting living animals
wastrel
n. profligate; squanderer; waster
welkin
n. sky
welter
v. wallow
whorl
n. ring of leaves around stem; ring
yeoman
n. man owning small estate; middle-class farmer
yokel
n. country bumpkin