Word List 32 Flashcards
beholden
adj. obligated; indebted
benignity
n. state of being kind, benign, gracious
benison
n. blessing
bereavement
n. state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved
bifurcated
adj. divided into two branches; forked
billingsgate
n. abusive language
blase
adj. bored with pleasure or dissipation
bowdlerize
v. expurgate; censor
brackish
adj somewhat saline
breviary
n. book containing daily prayers
brindled
adj. tawny or grayish with streaks or spots
bugaboo
n. bugbear; object f baseless terror
buskin
n. thick soled half boot worn by actors of Greek tragedy
callow
adj. unfledged; youthful
capillary
adj. having a very fine bore
carafe
n. glass water bottle; decanter
carillon
n. a set of bells capable of being played
cartographer
n. maker of maps or charts
caryatid
n. sculptured column of a female figure
casuistry
n. subtle or sophisticated reasoning resulting in minute distinctions
catalyst
n. agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged
catharsis
n. purging or cleansing of any passage of the body
caucus
n. private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy
celerity
n. speed; rapidity
centripetal
adj. tending toward the center
chiromancy
n. plmistry
codicil
n. supplement to the body of a will
compendium
n. brief comprehensive summary
complicity
n. participation; involcement
compromise
v. adjust; endanger the interests or reputation of
concordat
n. agreement, usually between the papal authority and the secular
conduit
n. aqueduct; passageway for fluids
conjecture
n. surmise; guess
convoluted
adj. coiled around; involved; intricate
cordon
n. extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress
cormorant
n. greedy, rapacious bird
coruscate
v. glitter; scintillate
cozen
v. cheat; hoodwink; swindle
credo
n. creed
crepuscular
adj. pertaining to twilight
crotchety
adj. eccentric; whimsical