Word List 6 Flashcards
calamity
a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortune or loss
a disastrous event marked by great loss and last distress and suffering
e.g. an economic calamity
calculated
engaged in, undertaken, or displayed after reckoning or estimating the statistical probability of success of failure
planned or contrived to accomplish a purpose; deliberate, intended
e.g. a calculated risk
a calculated attempt to deceive voters
calculating
marked by prudent analysis or by shrewd consideration of self-interest; scheming
calculus
a concretion usually of mineral salts around organic material found in especially in hollow organs or ducts
cauldron
a large pot
calibrate
to ascertain the caliber of; to determine, rectify, or mark the graduations of (as a thermometer tube)
to adjust precisely for a particular function
e.g. carefully calibrate the dosage of a medicine
caliper
(oft. pl.) instrument for measuring the diameter or tubes or round objects
callous
being hardened and thickened; having calluses
feeling no emotion; feeling or showing no sympathy for others; hard-heartened
e.g. a callous refusal to help the poor
callow
lacking adult sophistication; immature
e.g. a story about a callow youth who learns the value of hard work and self-reliance
calumniate
to utter maliciously false statements, charges, or imputations about
to injure the reputation of by calumny
e.g. The short-lived Sedition Act of 1798 made it illegal to calumniate the president.
calumny
a misrepresentation intended to harm another’s reputation
the act of uttering such misrepresentation
e.g. He was the target of calumny for his unpopular beliefs.
cameo
a piece of jewelry that has a carved design shown against a background of different color
a small role in a movie, play, etc., that is performed by a well-known actor
canary
a small usually yellow or green tropical bird that is kept as a cage bird and singer
candid
free from bias, prejudice, or malice; fair
marked by honest sincere expression
e.g. a candid observer
a candid discussion
dissemble
to hide under a false appearance
to put on the appearance of; simulate
e.g. He dissembled happiness at the news that his old girlfriend was getting married - to someone else.
candor
freedom from prejudice or malice; fairness
unreserved, honest, or sincere expression; forthrightness
e.g. the candor with which he acknowledged a weakness in his own case
canny
clever, shrewd; prudent
careful, steady; restrained
quiet, snug
e.g. a canny player, good at psyching out his opponents
canny investments
warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers
canon
an accepted principle or rule
a criterion or standard of judgment
canopy
a clothing covering suspended over a bed; a cover (as of cloth) fixed above a person of high rank or a sacred object protective covering (the uppermost spreading branchy layer of a forest) or (awning, marquee) an ornamental rooflike structure
cant
to give a cant or oblique edge to; bevel
to set at an angle; tilt
inclination, slope
the private language of the underworld; jargon
cantankerous
difficult or irritating to deal with
e.g. a cantankerous old woman who insisted that nothing should ever be allowed to change
canto
one of the major divisions of a long poem
canvass
to examine in detail, specifically to examine (votes) officially for authenticity
discuss, debate
to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments
also
e.g. He had the audacity to speak, think, and write, as if he were entitled to canvass affairs of State.
canvass the city for the Republican Party
canvass voters for one of the candidates
cape
a point or extension of land jutting out into water as a peninsula or as a projecting point
capitulate
to surrender often after negotiation of terms
to cease resisting; acquiesce
e.g. The country still refuses to capitulate despite its weakening army and dwindling resources.
caprice
a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action; a sudden usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes
a disposition to do things impulsively
e.g. the caprices of weather
Employees have complained of being at the mercy of the manager’s every whim and caprice.
capricious
- caprice; impulsive, unpredictable
e. g. The court ruled that the punishment was arbitrary and capricious.
captious
marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections
calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument
e.g. a captious and cranky eater who’s ever met a vegetable he didn’t hate
as captious question
carafe
a glass container that has a wide mouth and that is used to serve drinks (such as water or wine) during a meal; also the amount in a carafe
carapace
a hard shell on the back of some animals
a protective, decorative, or disguising shell
e.g. the carapace of reserve he built around himself
cardinal
a priest of the Roman Catholic Church who ranks immediately below the Pope
of basic importance
very serious or grave
careworn
showing the effect or grief or anxiety; looking sad, tired, or worried
e.g. a careworn face
carol
a song of joy or mirth
to sing especially in a joyful manner; to sing carols
carouse
a drunken revel
to drink liquor freely or excessively
to take part in a carouse; engage in dissolute behavior
carp
to find fault or complain querulously
a large variable Asian soft-finned freshwater fish
e.g. He is tired of always being carped at by his critics.
carrion
dead and putrefying flesh; also flesh unfit for food
e.g. Vultures live chiefly on carrion.
caste
a division of society based upon differences of wealth, rank, or occupation
e.g. a higher/ an upper caste
castigate
to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism
e.g. The author castigated the prime minister as an ineffective leader.
casual
subject to, resulting from, or occurring by change
without regularity; occasional
e.g. a casual meeting
casual employment
a casual friend
cataclysm
catastrophe
a momentous and violent event marked by overwhelming upheaval and demolition; an event that brings great change
e.g. The revolution could result in worldwide cataclysm.
catacomb
an underground place where people are buried
categorical
absolute, unqualified
of, relating to, or constituting a category
e.g. He issued a categorical denial about his involvement in the deal.
chrysalis
a pupa of a butterfly; an insect pupa
a protective covering; a sheltered state or stage of being or growth
e.g. A budding writer could not emerge from his chrysalis too soon.
catharsis
purgation
e.g. Acting is a (means of) catharsis for her.
catholic
comprehensive, universal, especially broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests
e.g. a museum director with catholic tastes in art
caucus
a private meeting of leaders of a political party
caulk
to stop up and make tight against leakage
e.g. He carefully caulked the area around the windows.
caustic
capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action; corrosive
marked by incisive sarcasm
e.g. She wrote a caustic report about the decisions that led to the crisis.
causalgia
a constant burning pain resulting from injury to a peripheral nerve
cavalier
a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship
a mounted soldier; knight
suave, urbane; debonair
marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters
e.g. a cavalier attitude toward money
caveat
a warning enjoining one from certain acts or practices
e.g. His investment advice comes with a caveat: that the stock market is impossible to predict with absolute accuracy.
cavern
a big cave
cavil
to raise trivial and frivolous objection
e.g. A customer caviled about the price.
cavort
to leap or dance about in a lively manner
to engage in extravagant behavior
e.g. Otters cavorted in the stream.
children cavorting on the first sunny day of spring
cede
to yield or grant typically by treaty
assign, transfer
e.g. She reluctantly ceded her position as leader.
celebrated
famous, renowned
cement
to unite or make firm by or as if by cement
e.g. A win would cement her reputation as a strong competitor.
censure
a judgment involving condemnation; an official reprimand
the act of blaming or condemning sternly
to find fault with and criticize as blameworthy
e.g. The country faces international censure for its alleged involvement in the assassination.
a vote to censure the president for conduct that was unbecoming to his office
censorious
marked by or given to censure; critical
e.g. The stunt earned her the scorn of her censorious older sister.
census
official counting of a country’s population
centaur
a mythical figure, half man and half horse
centurion
ancient Roman officer commanding a unit of 100 soldiers
cerebral
of or relating to the brain or the intellect
appealing to intellectual appreciation; primary intellectual in nature
e.g. a cerebral drama
a cerebral jurist who has given much thought to what makes our nation’s constitution work
certitude
the state of being or feeling certain
certainty of act or event
e.g. believe with certitude that he is the best candidate
cessation
a temporary or final ceasing (as of action); stop
e.g. Relapses after cessation of treatment are common.
cession
- cede
chafe
irritate, vex
to warm by rubbing especially with the hands
to rub so as to wear away; abrade
e.g. The dripping of the faucet chafed his nerves.
When the strap is too tight, it chafes the baby’s skin.
hegemony
preponderant influence or authority over others; domination
the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group
e.g. the government’s hegemony over the tribal community
European intellectuals have long debated the consequences of the hegemony of American popular culture around the world.
quandary
a state of perplexity or doubt
e.g. The unexpected results or the test have created a quandary for researchers.
in a quandary about
chaff
the husks separated in threshing or winnowing
chagrin
disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure
to vex or unsettle by disappointing or humiliating
e.g. She had gained five pounds over the winter, much to her chagrin.
He was chagrined to learn that his help was not needed.
chalice
a drinking cup; goblet, especially the eucharistic cup
chameleon
any of a family of lizards with prehensile tail, independently movable eyeballs, and unusual ability to change the color of the skin
a person given to often expedient or facile change in ideas or character
e.g. At the summer resort he acquired a reputation as a social chameleon - someone who could be whatever his hosts wanted hi to be.
char
to convert to charcoal or carbon usually by heat; burn
to burn slightly or partly; scorch
e.g. The fire charred the beams.
charade
a game in which some of the players try to guess word or phrase from the actions of another player who may not speak
charlatan
quack
one making usually showy pretenses to knowledge or ability; fraud, faker
e.g. the celebrated faith healer who turned out to be a charlatan
charter
a document issued by a government that gives rights to a person or a group
a document which declares that a city, town, school, or corporation has been established
a document that describes the basic laws, principles, etc., of a group
a special privilege, immunity, or exemption
a tour, vacation, or trip by charter arrangement
e.g. a charter boat/flight
chary
discreetly cautious about dangers and risks
slow to grant, accept, or expand
e.g. chary investors who weren’t burned by the dot-com bust
a person very chary of compliments
chase
to ornament (metal) by indenting with a hammer and tools without cutting an edge
chasm
abyss; gorge
a marked division, separation, or difference
e.g. a chasm in time
The chasm between the super-rich and everyone else has so widened that our elites seem to inhabit a different country.
chastise
to inflict punishment on; to censure severely, castigate
e.g. The coach is always chastising the players for minor mistakes.
chauvinist
a person who is aggressively and blindly patriotic, especially one devoted to military glory
also applied to gender
cherubic
of or having the nature of a cherub, or an angel represented as a rosy-cheeked child with wings; angelic
having a plump, pretty innocence
e.g. a cherubic face and a dazzling smile
chicanery
deception by artful subterfuge or sophistry; trickery
e.g. That candidate only won the election through chicanery.
somber
so shaded as to be dark and gloomy
of a dismal or depressing character; grave, melancholy
conveying gloomy suggestions or ideas
e.g. Her death put us in a somber mood.
a somber portrait of life on the street
a somber suit
chide
to voice disapproval to; reproach in a usually mild and constructive manner; scold
e.g. She chided us for arriving late.
chimera
an imaginary monster compounded of incongruous parts
an illusion or fabrication of the mind, especially an unrealizable dream
e.g. Economic stability in that country is merely a chimera.
chisel
a metal tool with a sharpened edge at one end used to chip, carve, or cut into a solid material
to cut or work with or as if with a chisel
to employ shrewd or unfair practices on in order to obtain one’s end; also to obtain by such practices
e.g. chisel a job
He chiseled me out of 50 dollars.
choice
worthy of being chosen; selected with care
of high quality; of a grade between prime and good
choleric
easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger; hot-tempered
angry, irate
chimerical
existing only as the product of unchecked imagination; fantastically visionary or improbable
e.g. For the time being, interplanetary travel remains a chimerical feature of life in the 21st century.
