Word Lists Flashcards
bigot
narrow-minded
noxious
harmful, deadly, poisonous
talisman -
lucky charm
bilk
cheat, defraud
engender
cause
hangar
storage area for a plane
knotty
complex, difficult to solve
nuance
something subtle, fine shade of meaning
tangent
going off main subject
billowing
swelling, fluttering, waving
cower
recoil in fear or servility, shrink away from
harangue
noisy, attacking speech
plaintiff
petitioner
abrogate
cancel, deny, repeal
harbingers
indicators, highly convoluted
nuzzle
cuddle, snuggle
plaudit
statement giving strong praise
ensconce
establish firmly in a position
laceration
a cut
obdurate
stubborn
reprieve
respite, postponement of a sentence
tedium
boredom
abstemious
self-denying, refraining from indulging
crepuscular
active at dawn and dusk
lackluster
dull, monotonous, bland
rescind
retract, repeal
temper
to moderate, soften
blunderbuss
ancient weapon or clumsy person
plumage
feathers of a bird
resignation
acceptance of fate
accolade
tribute, honor, praise
acquiesce
to give into
curtail
to cut short
epicure
someone who appreciates good food and drink
lampoon
ridicule, spoof
poignant
deeply moving, strongly affecting emotions
respite
break, intermission
terse
concise, to the point
acrophobia
fear of heights
hiatus
interruption, pause
languid
tired, slow
braggart
someone who boasts
debunking
exposed false claims or myths
epitomized
typified, characterized, personified
hidebound
rigid in opinions
languish
decay, fade away
polemical
causing debate or argument
restorative
a tonic, able to restore
retention
preservation, withholding
timorous
cowardly, fearful
decorum
dignified, correct behavior
largess
generosity
pontificate
speak pompously or dogmatically
tirade
stream of verbal abuse
bristle
to show irritation
decoy
lure, trap, trick
erratic
wandering, irregular
titter
giggle quietly
broach
start to discuss, approach
deference
respect
obtuse
mentally dull
tome
large book
espous
to promote, take up, support
hone
sharpen, increase, whet
obviate
avoid, make unncessary
poseur
someone who puts on an act
riddled
full of (usually full of holes)
torpid
inactive, lazy, stagnant
bulwark
fortification, barricade, wall
etymology
study of word origins
legend
key to map
odious
hateful
torpor
dormancy, sluggishness, inactivity
hypochondriac
person obsessed with health, having imaginary illnesses
officious
domineering, intrusive, meddlesome
posthumous
after death
rigor
thoroughness
totter
walk unsteadily