Words Flashcards
vapid
not stimulating or challenging
triplicate
make three copies of something
inimical
hostile
apotheosis
perfect form of something
vernal
appropriate to spring
fetid
smelling extremely unpleasant
stolid
calm, dependable, emotionless
clandestine
kept secret, illicit
obsequious
excessively obedient
sycophancy
obedient behavior towards someone important to gain an advantage
indignant
showing anger or annoyance at perceived unfair treatment
munificient
larger or more generous than necessary
banal
obvious, boring
fecundity
ability to produce new growth, fertility
piquant
pleasantly stimulating
vituperative
bitter, abusive
fastidious
attentive to detail
pedagogical
related to teaching
propritiation
appeasing someone
fey
giving impression of vague unworldliness
clarion
loud and clear
tenebrous
dark, shadowy
invective
insulting, critical language
Bohemianism
practice of unconventional lifestyle, wanderers/vagabonds
precocious
having developed certain abilities sooner than expected
diffidence
modesty or shyness resulting from lack of self-confidence
equivocal
ambiguous
defalcation
intentional misuse of money by a financial official
brusque
abrupt or offhand
sordid
arousing moral distaste
festoon
adorn with decorations
acrimonious
angry or bitter
madrigal
part-song for several voices
rodomontade
boastful talk
ardent
enthusiastic or passionate
avuncular
relating to an uncle
bucolic
relating to pleasant aspects of countryside life
abstemious
not self-indulgent when it comes to food and drink
ineffable
too great or extreme to be defined in words
elocution
skill of clear and expressive speech
coterie
small group of people with shared interests, exclusive
prevarication
avoiding telling the truth
thanatoid
deathly
facinorous
atrociously wicked
lapidicolous
living under stones, blind
septuagenarian
someone who is 70-79 years old
reconnoiter
make a military observation of
Hijra
an exodus or migration
cantankerous
argumentative and uncooperative
unctuous
excessively flattering
anathema
something or someone one vehemently dislikely
throng
large, densely packed crowd
confusticate
confuse or bewilder someone
flummox
perplex or bewilder
parapet
low protective wall
enmity
feeling actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
cacophony
a harsh mixture of sounds
esoteric
intended to only be understoof by a small number of people with specialized knowledge
saccharine
excessively sweet or sentimental
profusion
a large quantity of something
beatific
blissfully happy
perfunctory
carried out with minimal effort or resolution
opulence
great wealth or luxuriousness
zeitgeist
defining spirit or mood of a historical period as shown by its ideas and beliefs
parlance
a particular way of speaking or using words, especially common to those with a shared job or interest
promulgate
promote or make widely known
officious
assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way
roque
form of croquet played on hard court
sclerotic
becoming rigid and unresponsive
parastatal
having some political authority and serving the state indirectly
torrid
very hot and dry
apparatchik
member of Communist Party apparat
hegemony
leadership or dominance, especially by a country or social group
filigree
ornamental work of fine wire formed into delicate tracery
alacrity
brisk and cheerful readiness
assuage
make an unpleasant feeling less intense
inchoate
just begun or not fully developed, rudimentary
staid
respectable, unadventurous
anodyne
not likely to provoke dissent, inoffensive
fief
a person’s sphere of control
ignominy
public shame or disgrace
stodgy
dull and uninspired
prosaic
having the style of prose; lacking poetic beauty
quirt
short-handed whip
jingoistic
characterized by extreme patriotism
soporific
tending to induce drowsiness
jocund
cheerful and lighthearted
magnate
a wealthy, influential businessperson
guile
sly or cunning intelligence
permutation
a way in which a set or number of things can be arranged or organized
puerile
childishly silly and trivial
laconical
concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious
fusillade
a series of shots all fired in quick succession or at the same time
largess
generosity in bestowing gifts upon others
languid
weak or faint from illness or fatigue
malefic
capable of causing harm or destruction, especially by supernatural means
attenuate
reduce the force, effect, value of
erethism
a state of abnormal mental excitement or irritation
canard
unfounded rumor or story
conflagration
an extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property