Word List 4 Flashcards
attenuate
to make thin or slender; (in consistency) rarefy
to lessen the amount, force, magnitude, or value of; weaken
e.g. Earplugs will attenuate the loud sounds of the machinery.
an investment attenuated by significant inflation over the years
attest
to affirm to be true or genuine, specifically to authenticate officially
to be proof of; manifest
to bear witness; testify
e.g. I can attest that what he has said is true.
The certificate attests the authenticity of the painting.
attribute
an inherent characteristic
an object closely associated with or belonging to a specific person, thing, or office
to explain by indicating a cause
e.g. The interviewer asked me what I consider to be my best attribute.
A scepter is the attribute of power.
The psychotherapist is a little too quick to attribute every emotional problem or character defect to an unhappy childhood.
attune
to bring into harmony; tune
to make aware or responsive
e.g. After years spent in academia, he’s finding it difficult to attune himself to the corporate culture.
audacious
intrepidly daring; adventurous
recklessly bold; rash
contemptuous of law, religion, or decorum; insolent
marked by originality and verve
e.g. an audacious mountain climber
She made an audacious decision to quit her job.
audacious experiments
augur
one held to foretell events by omens
to foretell especially from omens
to give promise of; presage
e.g. ancient Roman augurs who predicted the future by reading the flight of birds
The extended interview augurs well for your acceptance into that law school.
august
marked by majestic dignity or grandeur
e.g. We visited their august mansion and expansive grounds.
The family claims an august lineage.
auspice
observation of an augur; a prophetic sign, especially a favorable sign
(pl.) kindly patronage and guidance
e.g. This program for inner-city youths is under the auspices of a national corporation.
He interpreted the teacher’s smile as an auspice that he would get an A on his presentation.
auspicious
showing or suggesting that future success is likely; propitious
attended by good fortune; prosperous
e.g. She told him that she couldn’t dance with him just them, but her auspicious smile encouraged him to ask again later.
an auspicious year
austere
stern and cold in appearance or manner; somber, grave
morally strict or giving little or no scope for pleasure; ascetic
markedly simple or unadorned
e.g. an austere critic
They lived an austere life in the country.
They chose austere furnishings for the office.
authoritarian
of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority
of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people
e.g. He grew up with an authoritarian older sister who though she was the queen of the world.
an authoritarian regime
autocrat
a person (as a monarch) ruling with unlimited authority one who has undisputed influence or power
auxiliary
offering or providing help; functioning in a subsidiary capacity
supplementary
e.g. an auxiliary branch of the state university
an auxiliary power plant
auxin
any of various usually acidic organic substances that promote cell elongation in plant shoots and usually regulate other growth processes (as root initiation)
avalanche
a large mass of snow, ice, earth, rock, or other material in swift motion down a mountainside or over a precipice
a sudden great or overwhelming rush or accumulation of something
e.g. hit by an avalanche of paperwork
avarice
excessive or insatiable desire or wealth or gain; greediness, cupidity
e.g. The corporate world is plagued by avarice and a thirst for power.
aver
to verify or prove to be true
to declare positively
e.g. He averred that he was innocent.
averse
having an active feeling of repugnance or distaste
e.g. averse to strenuous exercise
aversion
- averse
e.g. He regards drunkenness with aversion.
She expressed an aversion to parties.
avert
to turn away or aside (as the eyes) in avoidance
to see coming and ward off; avoid
e.g. The diplomatic talks narrowly averted a war.
aviary
a place for keeping birds confined
apiary
a place where bees are kept
aviatrix
a woman who is an aviator
avid
desirous to the point of greed; urgently eager; greedy
characterized by enthusiasm and vigorous pursuit
e.g. avid for publicity
He is an avid admirer of horror movies.
avow
to declare assuredly
to declare openly, bluntly, and without shame
e.g. He avowed that the colonization of Mars in our lifetime is not only possible but probably.
They avowed their undying love for each other.
svelte
slender, lithe
having clean lines; sleek
urbane, suave
e.g. a svelte figure
The svelte dancer seemed to float across the stage.
glib
marked by ease and informality; nonchalant
showing little forethought or preparation; offhand
lacking depth and substance; superficial
marked by ease and fluency in speaking or writing often to the point of being insincere or deceitful
e.g. Politicians need to do more than provide glib answers to difficult questions.
He only has glib solutions to knotty problems.
awl
a pointed tool for making surfaces or piercing small holes (as in leather or wood)
awning
a rooflike cover extending over or in front of a place (as over the deck or in front of a door or window) as a shelter
e.g. He stayed under the awning outside the shop during the rainstorm.
awry
in a turned or twisted position or direction; askew
off the correct or expected course; amiss
e.g. His cravat is put on awry.
Most people try to act cool, like nothing is awry, when nearly everything is tilted.
axiom
a maxim widely accepted on its intrinsic merit
a statement accepted as true as the basis for argument or inference
axle
a bar on which a wheel or a pair of wheel turns
babble
to talk enthusiastically or excessively
to utter meaningless or unintelligible sounds
e.g. He’ll babble on about sports all night if you let him.
Her cousins were babbling in an unfamiliar dialect.
backdrop
a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage
background
e.g. The mountains provided a perfect backdrop for the wedding photos.
The novel unfolds against a backdrop of war.
backhanded
indirect, devious, especially sarcastic
using or made with a backhand
e.g. “You throw okay, for a girl” is a bit of a backhanded compliment.
barge
a roomy usually flat-bottomed boat used chiefly for the transport of goods on inland waterways
cadge
to persuade someone to give you (something) for free; beg, sponge
e.g. She cadged a free cup of coffee from her sister.
badger
any of various burrowing mammals
to harass or annoy persistently
e.g. She finally badgered me into cutting my hair.
badinage
playful repartee; banter
e.g. the sophisticated badinage of the characters in plays by Oscar Wilde
bail
a temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security given for the due appearance of the prisoner; also the security given
to release under bail
to help from a predicament (used with out)
e.g. The magistrate granted him bail.
bailing out impoverished countries
bait
to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks
entice, lure
e.g. The interviewer kept baiting the politician by asking him whether he was lying.
