Word List 44 Flashcards
helm
the entire apparatus for steering a ship
a position of control; head
steer
direct, control
e.g. a new dean at the helm of the medical school
The director has helmed many action movies.
helot
serf, slave
helve
a handle of a tool or weapon; haft
e.g. The head of the ax was crudely lashed to a wooden helve.
henpeck
to subject (one’s husband) to persistent nagging and domination
e.g. Neighbors say she henpecked him into giving up golf and selling his clubs.
herald
an official messenger in the past
one that precedes or foreshadows
to give notice of; announce
to greet especially with enthusiasm; hail
e.g. The early flowers are heralds of spring.
Rain heralds the arrival of spring.
doctors heralding a new drug
heyday
the period of one’s greatest popularity, vigor, or prosperity
e.g. In its heyday, the circus was a major form of entertainment for small-town America.
hilt
a handle especially of a sword or dagger
(to the hilt: completely)
e.g. play the role to the hilt
hinterland
a region lying inland from a coast
a region remote from urban areas
e.g. The colonies hugged the coastline, while the hinterland remained largely unexplored.
hobble
to limp along
fetter; hamper, impede
e.g. hobble across the room
hobbled by self-doubt
holocaust
a thorough destruction involving extensive loss of life
a mass slaughter of people; especially, genocide
e.g. a nuclear holocaust
holograph
a document wholly in the handwriting of its author; also, the handwriting itself
homely
suggestive or characteristic of a home
unaffectedly natural; simple
not elaborate or complex
plain or unattractive in appearance
e.g. the homely appeal of farm life
a homely face
homily
a usually short sermon
a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme
an inspirational catchphrase; also, platitude
e.g. a brief homily on forgiveness
horology
the science of measuring time
the art of making instruments for indicating time
howler
one that howls
a humorous and ridiculous blunder
hubbub
noise, uproar
confusion, turmoil
e.g. go to the country to escape the hubbub of the city
all the hubbub surrounding the film star
idolatry
the worship of a physical object as a god
immoderate attachment or devotion to something
e.g. Her idolatry of her favorite rock star is one step removed from stalking.
illiberal
not requiring the background of a liberal arts education
not broad-minded; bigoted
opposed to liberalism
e.g. an illiberal society that viewed any artistic depiction of the nude as inherent indecent
illustrious
notably or brilliantly outstanding because of dignity or achievement or actions; eminent
e.g. an illustrious military career
an illustrious physicist who is a sure bet for a Nobel
imprecate
to invoke evil on; curse
e.g. With her dying breath the witch imprecated the villagers for their relentless persecution of her.
imputation
attribution, ascription
accusation
insinuation
e.g. deny any imputation of unfairness
impute
to lay the responsibility or blame for often falsely or unjustly
to credit to a person or a cause; attribute
e.g. People often impute his silence to unfriendliness and not to the shyness it really represents.
incrustation
a crust or hard coating
a growth or accumulation
indite
make up, compose
to put down in writing
e.g. indite a poem/message
inexpedient
not expedient; inadvisable
e.g. a nutritionally dubious, inexpedient method for losing weight
inexpiable
not capable of being atoned for
e.g. Apparently, the gubernatorial candidate is guilty of the inexpiable sin of speaking out too openly and honestly about the state’s financial woes.
infatuate
to cause to be foolish; deprive of sound judgement
to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration
ingress
entrance
the power or liberty of entrance or access
e.g. a seal preventing ingress of moisture
an area with restricted ingress