Word List 18 Flashcards
hack
to cut or sever with repeated irregular or unskillful blows; to cut or shape by or as if by crude or ruthless strokes
annoy, vex (usually used with off)
a person who works solely for mercenary reasons; hireling; a writer who works on order; also, a writer who aims solely for commercial success
e.g. hacking out new election districts
hackneyed
lacking ion freshness or originality
e.g. hackneyed slogans
halcyon
of or relating to the halcyon or its nesting period
calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent
hale
free from defect, disease, or infirmity; sound
retaining exceptional health and vigor
e.g. a hale and hearty old man
halfhearted
lacking heart, spirit, or interest
e.g. He made a halfhearted attempt to contact them.
hallmark
a mark or device laced or stamped on an article of trade to indicate origin, purity, or genuineness
a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature
e.g. the dramatic flourishes which are the hallmark of the trial lawyer
hallow
to make holy or set apart for holy use
to respect greatly; venerate
halting
marked by a lack of sureness or effectiveness
e.g. Progress in the negotiations has been halting.
hamper
to restrict the movement of by bonds or obstacles; impede
to interfere with the operation of; disrupt
curb, restrain
to interfere with; encumber
e.g. The project was hampered by budget restraints.
hangar
shelter, shed; especially, a covered and usually enclosed area for housing and repairing aircraft
hangdog
sad dejected
sheepish
e.g. a hangdog expression
hanker
to have a strong or persistent desire; yearn (often used with for or after)
e.g. By the middle of the winter, they were hankering for a warm day.
haphazard
marked by lack of plan, order, or direction
e.g. a haphazard tour of the city
Considering the haphazard way you measured the ingredients, it’s a wonder the cookies came out this good.
harangue
a speech addressed to a public assembly
a ranting speech or writing
lecture
also
e.g. He delivered a long harangue about the evils of popular culture.
The eminent professor harangued for three hours on his favorite subject.
harbinger
one that pioneers in or initiates a major change; precursor
one that presages or foreshadows what is to come
also
e.g. Her father’s successful job interview was seen as a harbinger of better times to come.
the hope that the housing slump does not harbinger a general economic depression
hardheaded
stubborn, willful
concerned with or involving practical considerations; sober, realistic
e.g. some hardheaded advice
hardy
bold, brave; audacious, brazen
inure to fatigue or hardship; robust
capable of withstanding adverse conditions
e.g. Hardy fans stuck with the team through good times and bad.
hardy outdoor furniture
harness
the gear other than a yoke of a draft animal; gear, equipment, especially military equipment
occupational surroundings or routine; close association
to put harness on
utilize
e.g. a parachute harness
get back into harness after a vacation
ability to work in harness with others
Engineers are finding new ways to harness the sun’s energy to heat homes.
harp
to dwell on or recur to a subject tiresomely or monotonously (usually used with on)
harpsichord
a stringed instrument resembling a grand piano but usually having two keyboards and two or more strings for each note and producing tones by the plucking or strings with plectra
harridan
an ill-tempered scolding woman; shrew
e.g. If you were married to that harridan, you, too, would take to drink.
harrow
torment, vex
harry
to make a pillaging or destructive raid on; assault
to force to move along by harassing
to torment by or as if by constant attack
e.g. harrying the terrified horses down out of the mountains
hasten
to move or act quickly
to urge on; accelerate
e.g. hasten the activation of yeast with heat
hasten the coming of a new order
hatch
a small door or opening (as in an airplane or spaceship)
to bring into being; originate, especially to concoct in secret
e.g. an escape hatch
hatch a plot
haughty
blatantly and disdainfully proud
e.g. He rejected their offer with a tone of haughty disdain.
hauteur
arrogance, haughtiness
e.g. She looked at him with the hauteur of someone who is accustomed to being instantly obeyed.
haven
harbor, port
a place of safety; refuge
a place offering favorable opportunities or conditions
e.g. a haven for artists
The national park provides a safe haven for wildlife.
havoc
wide and general destruction; devastation
great confusion and disorder
e.g. The disease can play havoc with the body’s immune system.
The blackout caused havoc in the city.
headlong
headfirst without deliberation; recklessly without pause or delay lacking in calmness or restraint; precipitate plunging headfirst
e.g. plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher
terrified forest creatures in a headlong retreat from the rapidly spread fire
headstrong
not easily restrained; impatient of control, advice, or suggestions
directed by ungovernable will
e.g. a headstrong businessman
violent headstrong actions
headway
motion or rate of motion in a forward direction
advance, progress
e.g. The ant was making little headway carrying a crumb that was about five times its size.
hearken
listen
to give respect attention
e.g. Hearken! I hear the distant beat of the hooves of many horses.
hearken to his words of wisdom
hearten
to give heart to; cheer
e.g. heartened by the victory
heartrending
heartbreaking
e.g. a heartrending choice between saving his daughter or his son
heavy-handed
clumsy
oppressive, harsh
e.g. the government’s most heavy-handed efforts to muzzle social protest
heckle
to harass and try to disconcert with questions, challenges, or gibes; badger
e.g. Several protesters were heckling the speaker at the rally.
hectic
of, relating to, or being a fluctuating but persistent fever
red, flushed
characterized by activity, excitement, or confusion
e.g. the hectic days preparing for the holiday
hector
to play the bully; swagger
to intimidate or harass by bluster or personal pressure
e.g. The judge ordered the attorney to stop hectoring the witness.
hedge
a fence or boundary formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees; barrier, limit
a means of protection or defense (as against financial loss)
to enclose or protect with or as if with a hedge; encircle
to hem in or obstruct with or as if with a barrier; hinder
to protect oneself from losing or failing by a counterbalancing action
to evade the risk of commitment especially by leaving open a way of retreat; trim
e.g. She hedged when she was asked to support the campaign.
He hedged his earlier comments about the need for new management.
hedonism
the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life
a way of life based on or suggesting the principles of hedonism
e.g. Their spring break trip in Mexico became an exercise in heedless hedonism.
heed
to pay attention
to give consideration or attention to; mind
also
e.g. She failed to heed the warnings.
took heed of the students’ learning disability so as to arrive at reasonable expectation for him
hegemony
preponderant influence or authority over others; domination
the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group
e.g. the consequences of the hegemony of American popular culture around the world
heinous
hatefully or shockingly evil; abominable
e.g. heinous crimes
