Word Definitions Flashcards
vicarious
adj
1) experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person
esoteric
adj
1) intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest
syn: obscure
lugubrious
adj
1) looking or sounding sad or dismal
syn: mournful, gloomy
phlegmatic
adj
1) (of a person) having and unemotional or stolidly calm disposition
syn: calm, coolheaded
synesthesia
noun
1) the production of a sense impression relating to one sense or body part by stimulation of another sense/body part
flagitious
adj
1) (of a person or someone’s actions) criminal; villainous
diminution
noun
1) a reduction in size, extent or importance of something
2) (MUSIC) shortening of the time values of notes in a melodic part
syn: curtailing, cutback
sedentary
adj
1) (of a person) tending to spend a lot of time seated; somewhat inactive
syn: sitting, seated, desk-bound
fluoridation
noun
1) the addition of fluorides to the public water supply to reduce the incidence of tooth decay
deleterious
adj
1) causing harm or damage
syn: harmful, damaging, detrimental
exhort
verb
1) strongly encourage or urge to do something
syn: encourage, urge
paradigms
noun
1) a typical example or pattern of something, a model
syn: model, pattern, example
self dealing
verb
1) when a fiduciary acts in their own best interest in a transaction, rather than the best interest of their clients
surrealism
noun
1) a 20th century avant-garde movement in art and literature which sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind
morality
noun
1) principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour
syn: ethics, correctness
epistemology
noun
1) (PHIL) the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity and scope. investigates what distinguishes justified belief from opinion
doleful
adj
1) expressing sorrow; mournful
syn: mournful, woeful
stolidly
adj
1) (of a person) calm, dependable and showing little emotion or animation
syn: impassive, phlegmatic, unemotional
disposition
noun
1) a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character
syn: temperament, nature, character
2) the way in which something is placed or arranged, esp in relation to other things
syn: arrangement
abstruse
adj
1) difficult to understand, obscure
syn: obscure
arcane
adj
1) understood by few, mysterious or secret
syn: mysterious, secret
rarefied
adj
1) (of air, esp at high altitudes) of lower pressure; thin
2) distant from the lives and concerns of ordinary people
syn: exclusive, select, private
recondite
adj
1) (of a subject or knowledge) little known
syn: obscure, abstruse
curtail
verb
1) reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on
2) (ARCHAIC) deprive someone of (something)
syn: reduce, cut
attenuation
noun
1) the reduction of the force, effect of value of something
enjoin
verb
1) urge or request someone solemenyl or earnestly to do something
fiduciary
adj
1) (LAW) involving trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and beneficiary
noun
1) a trustee
placid
adj
1) (of a person or animal) not easily upset or excited
syn: even-tempered, calm
regimentation
noun
1) very strict control over the way a group of people behave or the way something is done
churlish
adj
1) rude in a mean-spirited and surly way
syn: rude, ill-mannered
ideology
noun
1) a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy
syn: beliefs, ideas, ideals
2) the ideas and manner of thinking characteristic of a group, social class, or individual
ephemeral
adj
1) lasting for a very short time
syn: transitory, transient, fleeting
fraught
adj
1) (of a situation) filled with or likely to result in something undesirable
2) causing or affected by anxiety or stress
surly
adj
1) bad-tempered and unfriendly
syn: bad-tempered, ill-natured, grumpy
transitory
adj
1) not permanent
syn: temporary
doctrine
noun
1) a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group
creed
noun
1) a system of Christian or other religious belief; a faith
2) a set of beliefs or aims which guide someone’s action
pragmatic
adj
1) dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations
syn: practical, matter-of-fact, realistic
confluence
noun
1) the junction of two rivers, especially rivers of approximately equal width
syn: convergence, meeting, junction
2) an act or process of merging
canting
S
sanctity
q
magnanimity
Q
