Word List 21 Flashcards
Founder (v/n)
fall completely; sink / originator
Fracas (n)
brawl, melee
The military police stopped the fracas in the bar and arrested the belligerents
Frantic (adj)
wild
At the time of collision, many people became frantic with fear
Frenetic (adj)
frenzied; frantic
The novels of the generation reflect a frenetic, restless pursuit of new sensation and experience
Frigid (adj)
intensely cold
Frivolous (adj)
lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree
Though Nancy enjoyed Bill’s frivolous, light-hearted companionship, she sometimes wondered if he could ever be serious
Frolicsome (adj)
playful; full of liveliness
The frolicsome puppy tried to lick the face of its master
Fulminate (v)
denounce thunderously; explode
Known for his “fire and brimstone” sermons, the preacher fulminated against sinners and backsliders, consigning them to the flames of hell
Fulsome (adj)
disgustingly excessive
Disgusted by her fans fulsome admiration, the movie star retreated from the public, crying, “I want to be alone!”
Functionary (n)
official
As his case was transferred from one functionary to another, he began to despair of ever reaching a settlement
Funereal (adj)
sad; solemn
Furor (n)
frenzy; great excitement
Furtive (adj)
stealthy; sneaky
Noticing the furtive glance the customer gave the diamond bracelet on the counter
Gadfly (n)
animal-biting fly; an irritating person
Gaffe (n)
social blunder
Gainsay (v)
deny
She was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report
Galvanize (v)
stimulate by shock; stir up; revitalise
News that the prince was almost at their door galvanised the ugly stepsisters into a frenzy of combing and primping
Gambit (n)
opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed
Gamut (n)
entire range
In a classic put-down of actress Katharine Hepburn, the critic Dorothy Parker wrote that the actress ran the gamut of emotions from A to B
Garbled (adj)
mixed up; jumbled; distorted
Garish (adj)
overbright in color; gaudy
She wore a rhinestone necklace with a garish red and gold dress trimmed with sequins
Garrulous (adj)
loquacious; wordy; talkative
My Uncle Henry out-talked every other people I know. He is the most garrulous person in this county
(garrulity n)
Gauche (adj)
clumsy; coarse and uncouth
Gawk (v)
stare foolishly
Gazette (n)
official periodical publication
He read the gazettes regularly for the announcement of his promotion
Geniality (n)
cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy
Genteel (adj)
well-bred; elegant
We are looking for a man with a genteel appearance who can inspire confidence by his cultivated manner
Germanic (adj)
pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand
The lawyer objected that the testimony being offered was not germane to the case at hand
Germinal (adj)
pertaining to a germ; creative
Such an idea is germinal; I am certain that it will influence thinkers and philosophers of many generations
Germinate (v)
cause to sprout
After the seeds germinated and developed their permanent leaves, the plants may be removed and transplanted to the garden
Gesticulation (n)
motion; gesture
Operatic performers are trained to make exaggerated gesticulations because of the large auditoriums in which they peform
Ghastly (adj)
horrible
