Word Smart 5 Flashcards
Aspersion (uh SPER zhun)
n. an act of defamation or maligning
Defame
v. damage the good reputation of (someone); slander or libel
Malign
adj. evil in nature or effect; malevolent
v. speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner
Assiduous (uh SID yoo us)
adj. diligent, hard-working
Diligent
adj. having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties
Conscientious
adj. (of a person) wishing to do what is right, esp. to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly
adj. relating to a person’s conscience
Assuage (uh SWAYJ)
v. to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify
Assuage is used to describe the lessening or easing of things that cause pain or distress
Astringent (uh STRIN junt)
adj. having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe
Attenuate (uh TEN yoo ayt)
v. to rarefy, weaken or make thinner, lessen
Audacious (aw DAY shus)
adj. daring and fearless; recklessly bold
Audacity
the quality of being audacious
bold
adj. (of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous
Augury (aw GYUH ree)
n. omen, portent, the reading of omens
Augur
v. to predict
n. the person or thing doing the foretelling
August (aw GUST)
adj. majestic, venerable
venerable
adj. accorded a great deal of respect, esp. because of age, wisdom, or character
Auspice (AW spis)
n. protection or support, patronage
Auspice
sign or portent
Portent
n. a sign or warning that something, esp. something momentous or calamitous is likely to happen
n. future significance
spiteful
adj. showing or caused by malice
malice
n. the intention or desire to do evil; ill will
calamitous
adj. involving calamity; catastrophic; disastrous
e. g. such calamitous events as fires, hurricanes, and floods.
momentous
adj. (of a decision, event, or change) of great importance or significance, esp. in its bearing on the future
