Word List 37 Flashcards
transmute
to change or later in form, appearance, or nature and especially to a higher form
e.g. The stories of their lives were transmuted into works of fiction.
transport
to carry away with strong and often intensely pleasant emotion
strong or intensely pleasurable emotion
e.g. transports of joy
transpose
to change in form or nature; transform
to transfer from one place or period to another; shift
to change the relative place or normal order of; alter the sequence of
e.g. transpose letters to change the spelling
travesty
a burlesque translation or literary or artistic imitation usually grotesquely incongruous in style, treatment, or subject matter
a debased, distorted, or grossly inferior imitation
e.g. a travesty of justice
treatise
a book, article, etc., that discusses a subject carefully and thoroughly
e.g. a treatise on higher education
trenchant
keen, sharp
vigorously effective and articulate; also, caustic
sharply perceptive; penetrating
clear-cut, distinct
e.g. a trenchant wit/analysis
trenchant remarks
a trenchant view of current conditions
a trenchant divisions between right and wrong
trepidation
a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation; apprehension
e.g. Shaking with trepidation, I stepped into the old abandoned house.
tribunal
a court or forum of justice
something that decides or determines
e.g. An international tribunal was formed to deal with war crimes.
the tribunal of public opinion
trifle
something of little value, substance, or importance
to talk in a jesting or mocking manner or with intent to delude or mislead
to treat someone or something as unimportant
e.g. argue over such mere trifles
spend a lazy afternoon trifling on the front porch
trite
hackneyed or boring from much use; not fresh or original
e.g. a trite argument
troupe
company, troop; especially, a group of theatrical performers
truant
one who shirks duty; especially, one who stays out of school without permission
truculent
feeling or displaying ferocity; cruel, savage
deadly, destructive
scathingly harsh; vitriolic
aggressively self-assertive; belligerent
e.g. truculent remarks/criticism/fans
trudge
to walk or march steadily and usually laboriously
e.g. trudge through the snow
truss
to tie up (someone) with their arms at their sides
to dress (someone) in elaborate or uncomfortable clothing
to support, strengthen, or stiffen by or as if by a truss
a strong frame of beams, bars, or rods that support a roof or bridge
a special belt that is worn by someone who has a hernia
e.g. He was trussed up in a heavily padded suit, complete with face mask and protective gloves.
tuber
a short, thick, round stem that is a part of certain plants (such as the potato), that grows underground, and that can produce a new plant
tumult
disorderly agitation or milling about of a crowd usually with uproar and confusion of voices; commotion
violent agitation of mind or feelings
e.g. a country in tumult
in a tumult of emotions
turgid
being in a state of distension; swollen, tumid; especially, exhibiting turgor
excessively embellished in style or language; bombastic, pompous
e.g. turgid leeches having had their fill of blood
turgid prose
turmoil
a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or commotion
e.g. a period of political turmoil
in a constant turmoil
turncoat
one who switches to an opposing side or party; specifically, traitor
e.g. The plot of the story revolved around the gangster’s relentless determination to learn the identity of the turncoat.
turpitude
inherent baseness; depravity
e.g. Pictorial advertisements for chic clothing and fragrances often employ drug addiction and other forms of moral turpitude.
probity
adherence to the highest principles and ideals; uprightness
e.g. A person of indisputable probity must head the disciplinary panel.
turquoise
a bluish-green stone used in jewelry
a bluish-green color
tusk
an elongated greatly enlarged tooth (as of an elephant or walrus)
tussle
a physical contest or struggle; scuffle
an intense argument, controversy, or struggle
also
e.g. a tussle for control of the company
twinge
to feel a sudden sharp local pain
to sudden sharp stab of pain
a moral or emotional pang
e.g. an occasional twinge in my leg
a twinge of conscience/guilt
tyro
a beginner in learning; novice
ubiquitous
existing or being everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread
e.g. ubiquitous advertisements
a ubiquitous fashion
umbrage
shade, shadow
a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult
e.g. took umbrage at the slightest suggestion of disrespect
adumbrate
to report or represent in outline
to indicate faintly
to foreshadow or symbolize
e.g. James Madison adumbrated the necessity that the Senate be somewhat insulated from public passions.
The walls were not more than adumbrated by the meager light.
umpire
one having authority to decide finally a controversy or question between parties
to act as umpire
e.g. acts as umpire in the all-too-frequent squabbles between the two other roommates
The use of our home entertainment system are umpired by dad.
unbecoming
not becoming; especially, not according with the standards appropriate to one’s position or condition of life
e.g. unbecoming conduct
uncanny
seeming to have a supernatural character or origin; eerie, mysterious
e.g. an uncanny resemblance to someone I had seen
an uncanny sense of direction
unconscionable
not guided or controlled by conscience; unscrupulous
excessive, unreasonable
shockingly unfair or unjust
e.g. an unconscionable villain
an unconscionable number of errors for an important government report
uncouth
strange or clumsy in shape or appearance; outlandish
lacking in polish and grace; rugged
unctuous
fatty, oily; smooth and greasy in texture or appearance
plastic
full of unction; especially, revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality
e.g. an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters
undercut
to offer to sell things or work for a lower cost than (another person or company) to make (something) weaker or less effective
e.g. They undercut the competing company by 10%.
Her behavior undercuts her own credibility.
undergird
to form the basis or foundation of; strengthen, support
e.g. Facts and statistics subtly undergird his commentary.
The theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology.
underhanded
marked by secrecy, chicanery, and deception; not honest and aboveboard; sly
e.g. an underhanded attempt to gain power
underling
one who is under the orders of another; subordinate, inferior
e.g. The real estate tycoon has a whole army of underlings to attend to the details.
underwrite
to give money to support and agree to be responsible for any losses
to agree to pay for a certain kind of loss or damage by offering
e.g. underwrite a project
unexceptionable
not open to objection or criticism; beyond reproach; unimpeachable
e.g. unexceptionable integrity
unfailing
constant, unflagging
everlasting, inexhaustible
infallible, sure
e.g. unfailing courtesy/optimism
an unfailing judge of personal character
unflappable
marked by assurance and self-control
unfounded
lacking a sound basis; groundless, unwarranted
e.g. an unfounded accusation
ungainly
lacking in smoothness or dexterity; clumsy
hard to handle; unwieldy
having an awkward appearance
e.g. ungainly movements / an ungainly couch
ungrudging
being without envy or reluctance
e.g. an ungrudging support of charities
unguent
a soothing or healing salve; ointment
unimpassioned
without passion or zeal
unimpeachable
reliable beyond a doubt
not liable to accusation; irreproachable
e.g. unimpeachable evidence
an unimpeachable reputation
uninitiate
not initiated; inexperienced
univocal
having one meaning only
unambiguous
e.g. those who believed that the language of the Bible is univocal: it is never metaphorical but intended to be taken literally
unkempt
not combed
deficient in order or neatness; also, rough, unpolished
e.g. unkempt hair/hotel rooms
unkempt prose
unmitigated
not lessened; unrelieved
being so definitely what is stated as to offer little chance of change or relief
e.g. sufferings unmitigated by any hope of early relief
an unmitigated failure
unpalatable
distasteful
unpleasant, disagreeable
prepossessing
tending to create a favorable impression; attractive
unravel
to disengage or separate the threads of; disentangle
to resolve the intricacy, complexity, or obscurity of; clear up
e.g. unravel a mystery
unregenerate
not regenerate
not reformed; unreconstructed
obstinate, stubborn
e.g. unregenerate pagans/conservatives
struggling against unregenerate impulses
unregenerate impulses
unremitting
constant, incessant
e.g. unremitting efforts to improve the lives of people in her city
unremitting rain/pain
unreserved
not limited or partial; entire, unqualified
not cautious or reticent; frank, open
e.g. unreserved enthusiasm/admiration
unscathed
wholly unharmed; not injured
e.g. escaped from the wreckage unscathed
His reputation was left relatively unscathed by the scandal.
unscrupulous
unprincipled; not honest or fair
unseemly
not according with established standards of good form or taste
not suitable for time or place; inappropriate, unreasonable
e.g. unseemly bickering
unseemly amount of money
unstinting
not restricting or holding back; giving or being given freely or generously
e.g. a volunteer unstinting with his time
unstinting praise
untapped
not subjected to tapping
not drawn upon or utilized
e.g. an untapped keg
untapped markets
untold
not told or related
kept secret
too great or numerous to count; incalculable, vast
e.g. Untold generations have lived and died in this ancient land.
untoward
difficult to guide, manage, or work with; unruly, intractable
marked by trouble or unhappiness; unlucky
not favorable; adverse, unpropitious
improper, indecorous
e.g. reason with the untoward child
untoward side effects
unwieldy
not easily managed, handled, or used; cumbersome
e.g. an outdated and unwieldy system
