Word List 47 Flashcards
Torpor (n)
lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy
Throughout the winter, nothing aroused the bear from his torpor, he would not emerge from hibernation until spring
(torpid adj)
Torrid (adj)
passionate; hot or scorching
The novels published by Harlequin Romances feature torrid love affairs, some se in torrid climates
Touchstone (n)
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion
What touchstone can we use to measure the character of a person?
Tract (n)
a region of indefinite size
The King granted William Penn a tract of land in the New World
Tractable (adj)
docile; easily managed
Although Susan seemed a tractable young woman, she had a stubborn streak of independence that occasionally led her to defy the powers-that-be when felt they were in the wrong
Traduce (v)
expose to slander
His opponents tried to traduce the candidate’s reputation by spreading rumours about his past
Travail (n)
painful physical or mental labor; drudgery; torment
Like every other recent law school graduate she knew, Shelby based the seemingly endless travail of cramming for the bar exam
Travesty (n)
harshly distorted imitation; parody
Trenchant (adj)
forceful and vigorous; cutting
With his trenchant wit, reviewer Frank Rich cut straight to the heart of the matter
Trepidation (n)
fear; nervous apprehension
Sharon felt some trepidation about how she would do in her interview
Trite (adj)
hackneyed; commonplace
Truculence (n)
aggressiveness; ferocity
Tyne’s reviews were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence
Tumult (n)
commotion; riot; noise
Turncoat (n)
traitor
The British considered Benedict Arnold a lobbyist; the Americans considered him a turncoat
Turpitude (n)
depravity
A visitor may be denied admittance to this county if she has been guilty of moral turpitude
