Wordly Wise Final Exam Review Flashcards
acquiesce
v. To accept as inevitable; to comply passively
abeyance
n. A state of (usually temporary) inactivity or suspension
antipathy
n. A consistent aversion or dislike
altruism
n. The putting of others’ well-being ahead of one’s own; unselfishness
amity
n. Peaceful relations; friendship
antithetical/antithesis
adj. Being in direct and outspoken opposition
n. The direct contrast of one thing with another; the exact opposite
behemoth
n. Something or someone of enormous size or power
bucolic
adj. Of or relating to country life; rustic; pastoral
buttress
n. 1. A projecting structure that supports a wall or building
2. Anything that supports or protects
v. To support or strengthen
consolidate
v. 1. To join together; to unite
2. To strengthen or make firm
convene
v. 1. To summon or cause to assemble
2. To gather or assemble; to meet formally
debase
v. To lower the quality, character, or status of; to devalue
deleterious
adj. Hurtful; injurious
disparate
adj. 1. Containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
2. Showing a marked difference or inequality
duplicitous/duplicity
adj. Marked by deception
n. Deceit in speech or actions; deliberate deception
efficacy
n. The power to bring about the desired result; effectiveness
effrontery
n. A boldness that is offensive because of its lack of tact; audacity
entice
v. To lead or persuade by arousing desire or hope; allure
espouse
v. To advocate or embrace, especially a cause or idea
exalt
v. To raise in rank, wealth, or honor; to praise highly; glorify
expedient
adj. 1. Useful for some purpose; convenient
2. Concerned primarily or exclusively with serving one’s own interests
n. A means employed to bring about a certain result
extrapolate
v. To estimate or infer by projecting from or expanding upon known information
fabricate
n. 1. To make by putting parts together; to construct
2. To invent in order to deceive
facade
n. 1. The front or face of a building
2. A superficial appearance; an illusion
flaunt
v. To parade or display conspicuously or boldly
forthright
adj. Direct; straightforward; frank
genesis
n. An origin, creation, or beginning
genteel
adj. Polite, elegant, stylish; sometimes overly so
graphic
adj. 1. Evoking a sharp mental picture; vivid
2. Concerning the pictorial arts, as drawing, painting, etc.
grisly
adj. Horrible to contemplate or look upon; grim and ghastly
imperturbable
adj. Calm and assured
impinge
(Used with on) v. 1. To go beyond desirable or established limits; to encroach
2. To come into contact with, especially forcefully
inordinate
adj. Beyond what is ordinary or reasonable in amount or scope; excessive
intrinsic
adj. Relating to the essential nature of something; real or actual
introspective
adj. Inclined to look inward and examine one’s thoughts and feelings
itinerant
adj. Traveling from place to place
n. One who goes from place to place
listless
adj. Indifferent, spiritless; showing a lack of motivation or interest
lineage
n. Line of descent; ancestry
maraud
v. To roam in search of plunder
mercenary
adj. Serving merely for money or gain; greedy
n. A soldier who fights for whoever pays him
metier
(A French word now part of our vocabulary) n. Work or activity for which one is particularly suited
negate
v. 1. To deny or refute the existence or truth of
2. To make ineffective or invalid
penitent
adj. Sorry for having done wrong
postulate
v. To assume as a fact based on the best available evidence
n. Something assumed to be self-evident; a fundamental principal
pristine
adj. Like new; spotless; free of dirt and decay
prevail
v. 1. To prove superior in power or strength
2. To remain in effect or use; to be current or widespread
pragmatic
adj. Concerned with practical solutions rather than abstract theory
precept
n. A general principle or rule of action
proclivity
n. A strong inclination towards something
propensity
n. A natural inclination or tendency
propound
v. To put forward for consideration; to propose
purport
v. To give or present the often false impression of being someone or intending something
raconteur
(A French word now part of our vocabulary) n. One who tells stories with skill and wit
reconcile
v. 1. To reestablish an amicable relationship
2. To bring to quiet submission
3. To bring into harmony or agreement
redoubtable
adj. Worthy of respect; formidable
sensuous
adj. 1. Coming from or acting on the senses
2. Producing an agreeable effect on the senses
stance
n. 1. The way a person stands; the position of a person’s feet
2. A position regarding politics or ideas; point of view
sacrosanct
adj. Highly sacred or holy; not to be violated
substantiate
v. To verify or confirm by presenting evidence
sunder
v. To break or force apart; to sever
tantamount
n. Equivalent to; the same as
tenet
n. A principle or belief held to be true, especially by members of an organization
tenure
n. The condition of holding property, an office, or a position; also the period during which it is held
thrall
n. A loss of one’s ability to act freely; a state over which one appear to have no control
n. Slavery or bondage
transcend
v. To go above the limits of; to exceed or surpass
travail
n. 1. Activity that is arduous and burdensome; toil
2. Suffering or anguish
unsavory
adj. 1. Having an unpleasant look, taste, or smell
2. Morally offensive
vicissitudes
n. pl. Fluctuations in conditions; changes of fortune
viable
adj. 1. Capable of living, growing, or developing
2. Capable of success; workable
zealous
adj. Very enthusiastic; fervent; passionate on behalf of someone or something
