WORD MEANINGS Flashcards
benefaction
good deed, act of charity or kindness
condonation
act of overlooking or of forgiving, an offence or a transgression
chauvinism
excessive patriotism
volition
the faculty or power of using one’s free will
placidity
calmness
taciturnity
unwillingness to engage in conversation
dilettantism
a lack of the level of skill associated with an expert or profession
circumlocution
talking around; method of talking indirectly or in a roundabout way
soliloquy
talking or a speech ‘to oneself’
tumid
abnormally bloated especially by fluids or gas
filigree
delicate and intricate ornamentation
rubric
category
intemprance
excess in action and immoderate indulgence of appetites
narcissist
someone who is extremly self centered
tautology
useless repetition
uxorious
foolishly fond of or submissive to your wife
Agonist
A chemical substance that binds to and activates certain receptors on cells, causing a biological response.
Incarcerated
imprison
Appalling
causing shock or dismay; horrific
Remand
Place on bail or in custody, especially when a trial is adjourned
Remand
Place on bail or in custody, especially when a trial is adjourned
Amplify
- increase the volume of (sound)
- enlarge upon or add detail to (a story or statement).
Referendum
a vote in which all the people in a country or an area are asked to give their opinion about an important political or social issue
Insidious
unpleasant or dangerous and develops gradually without being noticed.
Rhetoric
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
Affect
To influenceE
Effect
A result
Allusion
An indirect reference
Illusion
A false or misleading reference
Assure/Ensure
Give a confirmation
Insure
Used in financial sense
Conscious
Being awake or aware
Conscience
A sense of right or wrong
Elicit
To evoke or draw out (a reaction from someone)
Illicit
Illegal
Migrate
Relocate within the same land
Emigrate
Move away from one’s country
ex: I emigrated from Canada
Immigrate
Move to another country
ex: I immigrated to USA
Eminent
Prominent or famous
Imminent
Pending or expected soon
Immanent
Inherent or ever-present
Empathy
Psychological attachment where one imagines another’s experience
Sympathy
Compassion with a person or another entity
Infer
Gather or summarise it
Imply
To hint something
Breach
- Act of breaking or failing to observe a law.
- A gap in a wall, barrier or defence, especially one made by an attacking army.
Archipelago
An extensive group of islands
Mulling
think about (a fact, proposal, or request) deeply and at length.
Fraught
(of a situation or course of action) filled with or likely to result in (something undesirable).
Scion
a young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting.
Imperative
of vital importance; crucial.
Proxies
the authority to represent someone else, especially in voting.
Sacrilege
Violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred
Entrenched
(of an attitude, habit, or belief) firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change
Insurrection
a violent uprising against an authority or government.
Climactic
High point, the most intense part of a movie or song
Complement
Complete something
Concurrent
At the same time
Confidant
A female trusted friend
Espoused
adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life).
Prescient
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.
Ancillary
providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, system, etc.
Cognisance
knowledge or awareness
Contend
Struggle to surmount (a difficulty)
Reneging
go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract.
Nefarious
(action) wicked or criminal
(adjective )
Travesty
a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something.
Eulogy
A speech, piece of writing containing great praise
Perpetual
Never ending
Admonish
Warn or reprimand someone firmly
Hasten
Be quick to do something
Benign
Gentle and kindly
Serendipity
the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Decadence
Moral or cultural decline
Austerity
Sternness or severity of manner or attitude
Relegated
Assign and inferior rank or position
Pertinently
relevant or applicable to a particular matter
Consonance
agreement or compatibility between opinions or actions
Contemplate
look thoughtfully for a long time at.
Gnarly
difficult, dangerous, or challenging.
Pertinent
Ammoral
Neither moral nor immoral. Do not care about morality
Abdicate
Withdraw or relinquish
Apposite
Strikingly appropriate or relevant
Amity
Friendship or peaceful cooperation
Muster
Assemble or display
Plausible
Seemingly valid or believable
Retribution
Punishment for a wrong or criminal act
Deterrence
Discouraging an action or event by instilling doubt or fear of consequence
Catastrophe
An event causing great and usually sudden damage or suffering; disaster
Leverage
Use something to maximum advantage
Emanated
( feeling) issue or spread out from ( a source)
Onerous
Involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty
Proliferation
Rapid increase in number or amount of something
Indubitable
Impossible to doubt
Fidelity
Faithfulness to a person, cause or belief
Coercive
Using force to persuade people
Populist
A person, especially politician who strives to appeal to ordinary people
Tactic
An action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end
Tenable
Able to be defende against attack or objection
Tenacity
Quality of not quitting, persistence
Impeded
Delay or prevent by obstructing them
Blostered
Provided with padded support
Abate
Become less intense or widespread
Verity
A true principle or belief
Avarice
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Apprise
Inform or tell
Appraise
Assess the value or quality
Stupefy
Make( someone) unable to think or feel properly
Up braid
Find fault with ( someone)
Relics
an object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical interest.
bastion
an institution, place, or person strongly maintaining particular principles, attitudes, or activities.
Cadre
a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession.
Facade
a deceptive outward appearance
Exacerbating
make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse
Conspicuous
clearly visible
Entrench
firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change; ingrained
Strenuous
requiring or using great effort or exertion.
Containment
the action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits.
Vigilance
the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.
Accustom
make someone or something accept (something) as normal or usual.
Augment
make (something) greater by adding to it; increase.
Induct
admit (someone) formally to a post or organization.
Fazed
to surprise and worry someone
Thwart
- prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.
- from one side to another side of (an area); across.
Render
Provide or give( a service, help, etc)
Precarious
not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.
Precarity
the state of being precarious or uncertain.
Overhaul
take apart (a piece of machinery or equipment) in order to examine it and repair
Deplorable
Deserving strong condemnation; completely unacceptable.
Exacerbate
make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
Scuttle
to move quickly, with small, short steps, especially in order to escape:
Defunct
no longer existing or functioning.
Impunity
exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.
Laxity
1.lack of strictness or care.
2. looseness of a limb or muscle.
Explicit
stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.
Abjure
Formally reject
Renounce
formally declare one’s abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession)
Execrate
feel or express great loathing for.
Acquiesce
Accept something reluctantly, but without protest
Abject
(of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree.
Creepy
Ramification
a complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event.
Consequences
Fervently
Very enthusiastically or passionately
Futilely
In a way that has no effect or achieves nothing
Upbraid
Find fault with (someone); scold
Mow down
kill someone by firing a series of bullets or other missiles.
Imminent
About to happen
Forgo
Go without, refrain from
Forego
To go before, precede
Venal
Corrupt
Venial
Pardonable
Adjure
Urge or request
Abjure
Formally leave ( a belief, cause, or claim)
Rein
Check or guide ( a horse) by pulling on its reins, a narrow strap attached at one end
Disbursement
the act of paying out money especially from a fund
Erasure
the removal of writing, recorded material, or data.
Injunction
an authoritative warning or order.
Searing
extremely hot or intense.
Accolades
an award or privilege granted as a special honour or as an acknowledgement of merit.
Remnant
a part or quantity that is left after the greater part has been used, removed, or destroyed.
Lynched
(of a group of people) kill (someone) for an alleged offence without a legal trial, especially by hanging.
Dubious
hesitating or doubting.
Fanciful
over-imaginative and unrealistic.
Heterogeneity
the quality or state of being diverse in character or content.
Diatribe
A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something
Hegemony
Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social grp over others
exacerbating
make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
Incarcerate
Imprison or confine
Incrusion
An invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one
Hegemony
leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.
Herald
- an official employed to oversee state ceremonial, precedence, and the use of armorial bearings, and (historically) to make proclamations, carry official messages, and oversee tournaments.
- a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen.
Untrammelled
not deprived of freedom of action or expression; not restricted or hampered.
Centenary
the hundredth anniversary of a significant event.
Alienation
succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do something in terms of feelings of isolation
Stance
the way in which someone stands, especially when deliberately adopted; a person’s posture
Patronize
treat in a way that is apparently kind or helpful but that betrays a feeling of superiority.
Concerted
jointly arranged or carried out; coordinated.
Plenary
( meeting) to be attended by all participants at a conference or assembly, who otherwise meet in smaller groups.
Fruition
the realization or fulfilment of a plan or project.
Plethora
a large or excessive amount of something.
Vociferous
Being very loud and forcefull
Cagey
reluctant to give information owing to caution or suspicion.
Portend
be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.
Drabness
Dullness
Intensive
Focused on a subject or area and being extremely thorough
Protege
Learn someone else’s skills to do their work in their absence
Maverick
An independent minded person
Sycophant
Someone who pleases a person in power to gain favours
Conformist
Someone who adheres to a group
Augment
To make larger or more extensive
Attenuate
Reduce in force or value
Abrogate
Abolish by formal means
Abdicate
Renounce ( formally abandon) a high office
Fortuitous
By chance or accident
Flair
A natural talent or aptitude
Flare
A bright light or flame
Cacophony
Harsh mixture of sounds
Contemptuous
Disrespectful, arrogant, condescending
Contemptible
Despicable and worthless
Allusion
Indirect reference
Illusion
Fake out
Aural
Ear or hearing
Tedious
Dull and tiresome
Pitfall
Negative aspects or failures
Elicit
To draw out or bring forth a response
Illicit
Unlawful, illegal
Tortuous
Full of twists and turns
Rationalisation
Process of explaining or justifying behavior or an attitude with logical reasons even if not appropriate
Coherence
Quality of being logical and consistent
Critique
Act of analyzing and evaluating something
Resilience
Capacity to recover quickly from difficulties
Empathy
Ability to understand and share the feelings of another
Fortitude
Courage in pain or adversity
Engender
Causing or giving rise to a situation
Galvanize
Shock or excitement someone into taking action
Obfuscate
To make unclear
Harmonize
Produce a pleasing visual combination
Incessant
Continuing without pause or interruption
Belies
Disguises or contradicts
Transient
Lasting only for a short time
Ephemeral
Lasting for a very short time
Underscores
Emphasizes or highlights
Underscores
Emphasizes or highlights
Audacious
Willingness to take a surprisingly bold risk
Insidious
Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects
Invidious
Something offensive or defamatory
Vane
Device that shows the direction of the wind
Definitively
Something is conclusive or final
Ebbing
move away from the land
Insipid
lacking flavour; weak or tasteless.
Girth
the measurement around the middle of something, especially a person’s waist.
Galvanized
shock or excite (someone) into taking action.
Steward
1.a person employed to look after the passengers on a ship, aircraft, or train.
2.a person responsible for supplies of food to a college, club, or other institution.
Steward
1.a person employed to look after the passengers on a ship, aircraft, or train.
2.a person responsible for supplies of food to a college, club, or other institution.
Ecstasy
State of consciousness where a person is less aware of their surroundings
Zealots
Political movement in 1st century judaism
Pessimism
a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.
Salient
1.most noticeable or important
2. (of an angle) pointing outwards.
Curmudgeon
Brutish
resembling or characteristic of a brute.
Brute: a savagely violent person or animal.
Ascendant
rising in power or influence.
Rampant
Flourishing or spreading unchecked
Senile
having or showing the weaknesses or diseases of old age, especially a loss of mental faculties
Amplify
increase the volume of (sound), especially using an
Dwindled
gradually diminishing in size, amount, or strength
Predatory
seeking to exploit others.
Revitalisation
the action of imbuing (inspire or permeate with (a feeling or quality).) something with new life and vitality (the state of being strong and active; energy.)
Repatriation
the return of someone
Perpetrators
a person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act
Deformities
not having the normal or natural shape or form; misshapen.
Arduous
involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.
Vigilante
a member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority, typically because the legal agencies are thought to be inadequate.
Belied
fail to give a true impression of (something).
Tempestuous
characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion.
Articulate
having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.
Viscera
the internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen
Denigration
criticize unfairly; disparage
Edifice
a large, imposing building.
Ramifications
a complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event.
Gauging
estimate or determine the amount, level, or volume of.
Insurrection
a violent uprising against an authority or government.
Obnoxious
Unpleasant or offensive
Coherence
Logical consistency
Lucidity
Transparency
Obfuscate
To make something unclear or confusing
Rebuke
Express sharp disapproval or criticism
Trivialize
Making something seen less important, serious or complex than it really is.
Chastised
Reprimand or scold
Temporal
Opposed the spiritual affairs; secular; mayerialistic
Bolt
1.To move or run away in an attempt to escape
2. Flash of lighting
3. Lock a door
Bale
Large wrapped or bound bundle of paper, hay, cotton.
Effusive
Expressing great enthusiasm
Contemporary
Belonging to or occurring in the present
Dramatics personae
Character of a novel or play
Suo moto
Court use their inherent powers and take care of a prevailing case
Quid pro quo
Exchange a favour for another favour
Status quo
The original position
Benign
Gentle and kind
Expatriate
Banish someone
Placative
Something that is intended to make someone less angry
Expedite
Acceleration
Innocuous
Harmless
Amplify
Boost; increase the strength of
Resusciate
Revive; restore
Orchestrating
Organizing
Debilitating
Feel emotionally drained
Enervating
Feel emotionally drained
Dubious
Doubtful
Proclivity
Fondness; natural inclination
Penchant
Strong or habitual liking for something
Conspicuously
Clearly
Deplorable
Deserving strong condemnation
Contrivance
The act of intentionally arranging for something to happen by clever planning or something that is arranged in this way
Gruffly
Low, harsh, gravelly voice
Timid
Lack of courage or confidence
Glee
great delight, especially from one’s own good fortune or another’s misfortune.
Aminity
The quality of being pleasant or agreeable
Vigilante
alertly watchful especially to avoid danger
Domicide
The Global Destruction Of Home
Prosaic
unimaginative, ordinary, usual
Retributive
C relating to, or intended to be, deserved and severe punishment( given back)
Facade
- the principal front of a building, that faces on to a street or open space.
- a deceptive outward appearance
Perusal
the action of reading or examining somethi
Preclude
prevent from happening; make impossible.
Erring
having failed to adhere to the proper or accepted standards; having done wrong.
Menace
a person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat or danger.
Lynching
kill (someone) for an alleged offence without a legal trial, especially by hanging.
Abutting
(of a building or an area of land) be next to or have a common boundary with.
Precarity
the state of being precarious or uncertain.
Sedentary
tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive.
Gestational
the common term used during pregnancy to describe how far along the pregnancy is.
Expedited
make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly.
Botched
unsuccessful because of being poorly done
