Word List 19 Flashcards
hypotenuse
the side of a right-angled triangle that is opposite of the right angle
the length of a hypotenuse
hysteria
a psychoneurosis marked by emotional excitability and disturbances of the psychic, sensory, vasomotor, and visceral functions
behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable gear or emotional excess
e.g. Wartime hysteria led to many unfair accusation of treachery.
iconoclast
a person who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration
a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions
e.g. Notorious as an iconoclast, that music critic isn’t afraid to go after sacred cows.
idiom
the language peculiar to a people or to a district, community, or class; dialect
an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself
a style or form of artistic expression that is characteristic; broadly, manner, style
e.g. the modern jazz idiom
a new culinary idiom
idle
lacking worth or basis; vain
not occupied or employed
shiftless, lazy; having no evident lawful means of support
to spend time in idleness; to move idly
to make idle
e.g. There has been a lot of idle speculation about what might happen, but no one really knows.
idle pleasure/workers/farmland
She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
workers idled by a strike
idolater
a worshiper of idols
a person that admires intensely and often blindly one that is not usually a subject of worship
idyllic
pleasing or picturesque in natural simplicity
of, relating to, or being an idyll
e.g. an idyllic retreat in the countryside
igneous
of, relating to, or resembling fire; fiery
relating to, resulting from, or suggestive of the intrusion or extrusion of magma or volcanic activity
formed by solidification of magma
e.g. igneous rocks
ignoble
of low birth or common origin; plebeian
characterized by baseness, lowness, or meanness
e.g. an ignoble child who would one day grow up to a prince among playwrights
Such an ignoble act is completely unworthy of a military officer.
ignominious
marked with or characterized by disgrace or shame; dishonorable
deserving or shame or infamy; despicable
humiliating, degrading
e.g. Some of his friends considered the job of janitor to be ignominious fate for the laid-off executive.
The prison guards degraded themselves with their inhumane, ignominious treatment of the prisoners.
ignominy
deep personal humiliation and disgrace
disgraceful or dishonorable conduct, quality, or action
e.g. She had to endure the ignominy of being forced to resign.
illegitimate
not recognized as lawful offspring
not rightly deduced or inferred; illogical
departing from the regular; erratic
not sanctioned by law; illegal
e.g. They were fired from their jobs for illegitimate reasons.
illicit
not permitted; unlawful
e.g. illicit copes of the software
an illicit affair
illiterate
having little or no education; unable to read or write
showing or marked by a lack of familiarity with language and literature
showing or marked by a lack of acquaintance with the fundamentals of a particular field of knowledge
e.g. She is politically illiterate and has never voted in an election.
an illiterate magazine
illuminati
(cap.) any of various groups claiming special religious enlightenment
persons who are or who claim to be unusually enlightened
elite
e.g. a book launching party to which only New York’s cultural illuminati were invited
members of the academic illuminati
imbibe
to receive into the mind and retain
to assimilate or take into solution
drink; to take in or up
e.g. imbibe moral principles
imbibe vast quantities of coffee
imbroglio
a confused mess
an intricate or complicated situation; an acutely painful or embarrassing misunderstanding
embroilment; scandal
e.g. a celebrated imbroglio involving some big names in the New York literary scene
imbue
to permeate or influence as if by dyeing
to provide with something freely or naturally; endow
e.g. A feeling of optimism imbues her works.
Her training at the school for the deaf imbues her with a sense of purpose that she had never known before.
immaculate
having no stain or blemish; pure
containing no flaw or error
e.g. an immaculate record of service
macula
spot, blotch; macule
an anatomical structure having the form of a spot differentiated from surrounding tissues; especially, macula lutea
immanent
indwelling, inherent
being within the limits of possible experience or knowledge
e.g. Beauty is not something imposed but something immanent.
A question as to whether altruism is immanent in all individuals or is instead acquired from without.
immemorial
extending or existing since beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition
e.g. the immemorial roots of human spirituality
stories passed down from time immemorial
immerse
to plunge into something that surrounds or covers; especially, to plunge or dip into a fluid
engross, absorb
e.g. She had immersed herself in writing short stories.
imminent
ready to take place; especially, hanging threateningly over one’s head
e.g. in imminent danger of being run over
There patients are facing imminent death.
immolate
to offer in sacrifice; especially, to kill as a sacrificed victim
to kill or destroy often by fire
e.g. a man who immolated himself as an act of protest
a ceremony in which they immolated their cherished possessions so that the gods would send rain
immure
to enclose within or as if within walls; imprison
to build into a wall; especially, to entomb in a wall
e.g. Scientists at the research station in Alaska are immured by the frozen wastelands that surround them.
Immured by a controlling, possessive mother, the young woman had no outside social life.
demure
reserved, modest
affectedly modest, reserved, or serious; coy
e.g. the demure charm of the cottage
imp
a small demon; fiend
a mischievous child; urchin
e.g. a story about a crumbling mansion infested with a brood of imps
demur
to disagree politely with another person’s statement or suggestion
to politely refuse to accept a request or suggestion (often used with to or at)
e.g. She suggested that he would win easily, but he demurred, saying he expected the election to be close.
Don’t hesitate to demur to the idea if you have any qualms.
exception
the act of excepting; exclusion
one that is excepted; especially, a case to which a rule does not apply
question, objection
e.g. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
I take strong exception to your assessment of his singing ability.
impair
to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing in some material respect
e.g. His health was impaired by overwork.
impale
to pierce with or as if with something pointed; especially, to torture or kill by fixing on a sharp stake
to fix in an inescapable or helpless position
impalpable
incapable of being felt by touch; intangible
so finely divided that no grains or grit can be felt
not readily discerned by the wind
e,g. The rich colors used in the wall coverings and furniture give the room an impalpable warmth.
An difference between the two sounding systems is impalpable to all but the most discerning audiophiles.
palpitate
to beat rapidly and strongly; throb
e.g. My heart began to palpitate when I was announced as the winner.
impart
to give, convey, or grant fro or as if from a store
to communicate the knowledge of; disclose
e.g. Her presence imparted a sense of importance to the meeting.
impart his scheme to no one
impasse
a predicament affording no obvious escape
deadlock
an impassable road or way; cul-de-sac
e.g. An arbitrator was called in to break the impasse.
She had reached an impasse in her career.
impassioned
filled with passion or zeal; showing great warmth or intensity of feeling
e.g. an impassioned plea for justice
impassive
unsusceptible to physical feeling; insensible
unsusceptible to or destitute of emotion; apathetic
giving no sign of feeling or emotion; expressionless
e.g. Her face remained impassive throughout the trial.
overwrought
extremely excited; agitated
elaborated to excess; overdone
e.g. The witness became overwrought as she described the crime.
impeach
to bring an accusation against
to charge with a crime or misdemeanor
to remove from office especially for misconduct
to cast doubt on; especially, to challenge the credibility or validity of
e.g. impeach the president
The defense lawyers tried to impeach the witness’s testimony by forcing him to admit that he had changed his story.
impeccable
not capable of sinning or liable to sin
free from fault or blame; flawless
e.g. spoke impeccable French
The etiquette was celebrated for her absolutely impeccable manners.
peccadillo
a slight offense
impecunious
having very little or no money usually habitually; penniless
e.g. They were so impecunious that they couldn’t afford to give one another even token Christmas gifts.
peculate
embezzle
pecuniary
consisting of or measured in money
of or relating to money
e.g. That makes good pecuniary sense.
The judge recused himself from the case because he had a pecuniary interest in the company that was being sued.
impediment
- impede
e. g. It is tough going for the burros on the canyon trail, even without the added impediment of heavy loads.
impel
to urge or drive forward or on by or as if by the exertion of strong moral pressure; force
to impart motion to; propel
e.g. She felt impelled to give a speech after the performance.
impend
to hover threatening; menace
to be about to occur
e.g. For confirmed pessimists, some disaster always seems to be impending.
impenetrable
incapable of being penetrated or pierced
inaccessible to knowledge, reason, or sympathy; impervious
incapable of being comprehended; inscrutable
impenitent
not penitent ; not feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
e.g. an impenitent criminal who said he’d do it all over again, given the chance
rueful
exciting pity or sympathy; pitiable
mournful, regretful
e.g. rueful squalid poverty by every wayside
troubled her with a rueful disquiet
imperative
expressive of a command, entreaty, or exhortation
having power to restrain, control, and direct
not to be avoided or evaded; necessary
e.g. an imperative duty
imperator
a commander in chief or emperor of the ancient Romans
imperial
of, relating to, befitting, or suggestive of an empire or an emperor
sovereign; regal, imperious
of superior or unusual size or excellence
e.g. a member of the imperial family
envisioned an imperial city that would rival the capitals of Europe for beauty and magnificence
imperious
befitting or characteristic of one of eminent rank or attainments; commanding, dominant
marked by arrogant assurance; domineering
intensely compelling; urgent
e.g. an imperious movie star who thinks she’s some sort of princess
impersonate
to assume or act the character of; personate
e.g. a comedian with a talent for impersonating famous politicians and actors
impertinence
irrelevance, inappropriateness
incivility, insolence
an instance of impertinence
e.g. A disciplinarian of the old school, he refused to tolerate any impertinence from his children.
the impertinence of deliberately ignoring waiting customers while they finished their conversation
imperturbable
marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness; serene
e.g. Although he seems outwardly imperturbable, he can get very angry at times.
restive
stubbornly resisting control; balky
marked by impatience or uneasiness; fidgety
e.g. The restive horse threw his head and refused to move when the rider urged it forward.
spend a restive night worrying about the next day’s exam
impervious
not allowing entrance or passage; impenetrable
not capable of being damaged or harmed
not capable of being affected or disturbed
e.g. a coat impervious to rain
a carpet impervious to rough treatment
a man impervious to criticism
The rain forest is impervious to all but the most dedicated explorers.
impetuous
marked by impulsive vehemence or passion
marked by force and violence of movement or action
e.g. an impetuous temperament
an impetuous wind
impetus
a driving force; impulse, incentive, stimulus
e.g. His discoveries have given impetus to further research.
The reward money should be enough impetus for someone to come forward with information about the robbery.
impinge
to strike or dash especially with a sharp collision
to have an effect; make an impression
encroach, infringe
e.g. I heard the rain impinge upon the earth.
waiting for the gem of a new idea to impinge upon my wind
impinge on other people’s rights
implant
to fix or set securely or deeply
to set permanently in the consciousness or habit patterns; inculcate
e.g. a hearing aid surgically implanted in the ear
a music teacher who stove to implant within his students a love of the classics
implausible
not plausible; provoking disbelief
e.g. He gave an implausible excuse for showing up late for work.
verisimilar
having the appearance of truth; probable
depicting realism
replete
fully or abundantly provided or filled
fat, stout; complete
e.g. a book replete with delicious details
implicate
to involve as a consequence, corollary, or natural inference; imply
to bring into intimate or incriminating connection
to involve in the nature or operation of something
e.g. His business partner was implicated in the theft.
implicit
capable of being understood from something else though unexpressed; implied
involved in the nature or essence of something though not revealed, expressed, or developed; potential
being without doubt or reserve; unquestioning
e.g. There is a sense of moral duty implicit in her writings.
A sculptor may see different figures implicit in a block of stones.
I have implicit trust in her honesty.
implode
to burst inward
to undergo violent compression; to collapse inward as if from external pressure; also, to become greatly reduced as if from collapsing
to break down or fall apart from within; self-destruct
e.g. a controlled demolition during which the entire building imploded in a matter of seconds
The firm imploded from greed and factionalism.
implore
to call upon in supplication; beseech
to call or pray for earnestly; entreat
e.g. implored the crowd to be quiet
deplore
to feel or express grief for; to regret strongly
to consider unfortunate or deserving of deprecation
e.g. Many critics deplore his methods.
impolitic
not politic; unwise
imponderable
not ponderable; incapable of being weighed or evaluated with exactness
e.g. the imponderable beauties of Beethoven’s sonatas
import
to bear or convey as meaning or portent; signify
imply
importance; especially, relative importance
purport, signification
importune
troublesomely urgent; overly persistent in request or demand; troublesome; importunate
to press or urge with troublesome persistence
annoy, trouble
e.g. He stood on the street corner, importuning passersby for help.
dispose
to give a tendency to; incline
to put in place; set in readiness; arrange
bestow
e.g. Faulty diet disposes one to sickness.
disposing troops for withdrawal
imposing
impressive in size, bearing, dignity, or grandeur
e.g. The president of the back is exactly the sort of imposing figure that one might expect.
impostor
one that assumes false identity or title for the purpose of deception
imposture
the act or practice of deceiving by means of an assumed character or name
an instance of imposture
e.g. He was accused of imposture.
impoverish
to make poor
to deprive of strength, richness, or fertility, by depleting or draining of something essential
e.g. Poor farming practices impoverished the soil.
impregnable
incapable of being taken by assault; unconquerable
unassailable; also, impenetrable
e.g. an impregnable fortress that had foiled one invader after another over the centuries
impresario
the promoter, manager, or conductor of an opera or concert
a person who puts on or sponsors an entertainment (as a television show or sports event)
manager, director
impressionable
capable of being easily influenced
e.g. The teacher was accused of forcing his political beliefs on impressionable teenagers.
improvident
not provident; not foreseeing and providing for the future
e.g. the improvident view that the wearing away of the ozone layer need not concern us
Her improvident habits left her with no retirement savings.
imprudent
not prudent; lacking discretion, wisdom, or good judgment
e.g. It’s politically imprudent to stir up such controversy during an election year.
a very sweet girl, but so imprudent that no one trusts her with a secret
impudent
marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others; insolent
e.g. the guest’s impudent inquiries about the cost of just about everything we had in the house
impugn
to assail by words or arguments; oppose or attack as false or lacking integrity
e.g. He impugned his rival’s character.
pugnacious
having a quarrelsome or combative nature; truculent
e.g. There’s one pugnacious member on the committee who won’t agree to anything.
impuissance
weakness, powerlessness
vindicate
avenge
to free from allegation or blame; to provide justification or defense for; justify
confirm, substantiate
to maintain a right to
e.g. These discoveries vindicate their theory.
She will be completely vindicated by the evidence.
impunity
exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss
e.g. She mistakenly believed that she could insult people with impunity
Law were flouted with impunity.
punitive
inflicting, involving, or aiming at punishment
e.g. The federal government will take punitive actions against the company that polluted the river.
inadvertent
not focusing the mind on a matter; inattentive
unintentional
e.g. an inadvertent omission
an inadvertent encounter with a rattlesnake in the brush
inalienable
incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred
e.g. inalienable rights
inane
empty, insubstantial
lacking significance, meaning, or point; silly
e.g. The film’s plot is inane and full of cliches.
inanity
- inane
e. g. the jaw-dropping inanity of the singer’s comments on the awards show
inanimate
not endowed with life or spirit
lacking consciousness or power of motion
not animated or lively; dull
e.g. “Pathetic fallacy” is the literary term for the ascription of human feelings or motives to inanimate natural elements.
inappreciable
to small to be perceived
e.g. an inappreciable change in the temperature
inaugurate
to induct into an office with suitable ceremonies
to dedicate ceremoniously; observe formally the beginning of
to bring about the beginning of
e.g. inaugurate a new school
inaugurated the college’s athletic program for women
augury
divination from auspices or omens; also, an instance of this
omen, portent
e.g. Some people believe that a broken mirror is an augury of seven years’ bad luck.
inborn
present from or as if from birth
hereditary, inherited
e.g. an inborn talent for music
incandescent
white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat
marked by brilliance especially of expression
characterized by glowing zeal; ardent
e.g. the incandescent coals of our campfire
a speaker incandescent with righteous anger over the treatment of the refugees
incandescent wit
incantation
a use of spells or verbal charms spoken or sung as a part of ritual or magic; also, a written or recited formula of words designed to produce a particular effect
incarcerate
to put in prison
to subject to confinement
incarnate
invested with bodily and especially human nature and form
made manifest or comprehensible; embodied
red; incarnadine
also
e.g. a fiend incarnate
No one culture incarnates every important human value.
the general view that Hitler incarnated extreme egotism and indeed evil itself
carnage
the flesh of slain animals or men
great and usually bloody slaughter or injury (as in battle)
carnal
relating to or given to crude bodily pleasures and appetites
bodily, corporeal; worldly
e.g. The preacher warned that those who were interested only in carnal pursuits would not see the kingdom of heaven.
a missionary who tends to the carnal needs of the people as well as to their spiritual concerns
incendiary
a person who commits arson; arsonist
a substance or weapon used to start fires
a person who excites factions, quarrels, or sedition; agitator
also
extremely hot
e.g. incendiaries who were intent on overthrowing the government
reckless incendiary remarks during a period of heightened racial tensions
incendiary chili peppers
incense
pleasing attention; flattery
to arouse the extreme anger or indignation
e.g. count on the office manager to spread the incense whenever there’s a visiting VIP from the headquarter
propitiate
to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of; appease
e.g. The temple was once the site of sacrifices - both to honor the gods in times of plenty and to propitiate them in times of trouble.
inception
an act, process, or instance of beginning; commencement
e.g. The project has been shrouded in controversy from its inception.
from inception to completion
incessant
continuing or following without interruption; unceasing
e.g. The incessant noise from an outside repair crew was a real distraction during the test.
inchoate
not completely formed or developed yet; incipient, formless, incoherent
e.g. inchoate feelings of affection for a man whom she had, up till now, thought of as only a friend
incipient
beginning to come into being or to become apparent
e.g. an incipient solar system
I have an incipient dislike and distrust of that guy, and I only met his this morning
incise
to cut into
to carve figures, letters, or devices into; engrave
e.g. The clay is incised to create a design.
incisive
impressively direct and decisive (as in manner or presentation)
e.g. an incisive analysis
an incisive unsentimental writer
She’s known for her incisive mind and quick wit.
inclement
physically severe; stormy
(archaic) severe in temper or action; unmerciful
e.g. The weather reporter warned that the holiday weekend would be spoiled by inclement weather.
incogitant
thoughtless, inconsiderate
not having the faculty of thought
e.g. incogitant litterbugs
incommensurate
lacking a basis or comparison in respect to a quality normally subject to comparison; incommensurable
inadequate
disproportionate
e.g. a confidence incommensurate with their ability
cogitate
to ponder or meditate (on) usually intently
e.g. cogitate about chances of failing
cogitate on her career plans
inconsequential
illogical
irrelevant
of no significance; unimportant
e.g. an inconsequential problem compared to the other issues
an inconsequential error that does nothing to lessen the value of the report
