Words Flashcards
Profane
relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious.
“a talk that tackled topics both sacred and profane”
synonyms: secular, lay, nonreligious, temporal; formallaic
“subjects both sacred and profane”
antonyms: religious, sacred
(of a person) not initiated into religious rites or any esoteric knowledge.
“he was an agnostic, a profane man”
2.
(of a person or their behavior) not respectful of orthodox religious practice; irreverent.
“desecration of the temple by profane adolescents”
synonyms: irreverent, irreligious, ungodly, godless, unbelieving, impious, disrespectful, sacrilegious
“a profane man”
antonyms: reverent
(of language) blasphemous or obscene.
synonyms: obscene, blasphemous, indecent, foul, vulgar, crude, filthy, dirty, smutty, coarse, rude, offensive, indecorous
“profane language”
verb
verb: profane; 3rd person present: profanes; past tense: profaned; past participle: profaned; gerund or present participle: profaning
1.
treat (something sacred) with irreverence or disrespect.
“it was a serious matter to profane a tomb”
synonyms: desecrate, violate, defile, treat sacrilegiously
“invaders profaned our sacred temples”
Allusions
: a statement that refers to something without mentioning it directly
1 : an implied or indirect reference especially in literature; also : the use of such references
Clout
: the power to influence or control situations
: a hit especially with the hand
Full Definition
1 dial chiefly British : a piece of cloth or leather : rag
2 : a blow especially with the hand; also : a hard hit in baseball
3 : a white cloth on a stake or frame used as a target in archery
4 : pull, influence
Examples
She used her political clout to have another school built.
the country’s economic/financial clout
When she was naughty, she would get a clout from her mother.
Origin: Middle English, from Old English clūt; akin to Middle High German klōz lump, Russian gluda.
First use: before 12th century
Synonyms: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, 1blow, crack, cuff, dab, douse [British], fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup [dialect], lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop (also whap)
Synonyms: bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, hit, crack, hammer, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap
2clout
baseball : to hit (the ball) very hard
: to hit (someone or something) hard especially with your hand
Full Definition
transitive verb
1 : to cover or patch with a clout
2 : to hit forcefully
Examples
He clouted 19 home runs last year.
He’ll clout me around the head if he finds out what I’ve done.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, 1blow, crack, cuff, dab, douse [British], fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup [dialect], lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop (also whap)
Synonyms: bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, hit, crack, hammer, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap
Degenerate
: having low moral standards : not honest, proper, or good
Full Definition
1 a : having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state
b : having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type; especially : having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state
c : degraded 2
2 : being mathematically simpler (as by having a factor or constant equal to zero) than the typical case <a>
3 : characterized by atoms stripped of their electrons and by very great density ; also : consisting of degenerate matter <a>
4 : having two or more states or subdivisions
5 : having more than one codon representing an amino acid; also : being such a codon
synonyms see vicious
de·gen·er·ate·ly adverb
de·gen·er·ate·ness noun
Origin: Middle English degenerat, from Latin degeneratus, past participle of degenerare to degenerate, from de- + gener-, genus race, kind — more at kin.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: decadent, decayed, effete, overripe, washed-up
Antonyms: undecadent
Synonyms: backslider, debauchee, debaucher, decadent, deviate, libertine, perv, pervert, profligate, rake, rakehell, rip
Synonyms: atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, deteriorate, descend, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen
Antonyms: ameliorate, improve, meliorate</a></a>
Fiend
: an evil spirit : a demon or devil; a very evil or cruel person; a person who is very enthusiastic about something
1 a : devil 1
b : demon
c : a person of great wickedness or maliciousness
2 : a person extremely devoted to a pursuit or study : fanatic <a>
3 : addict 1 <a>
4 : wizard 3 <a>
Examples
a murderous fiend
a fiend in human form
He’s a real golf fiend.
Origin: Middle English, from Old English fīend; akin to Old High German fīant enemy, Sanskrit pīyati he reviles, blames.
First use: before 12th century
Synonyms: baddie (or baddy), beast, brute, caitiff, devil, evildoer, villain, heavy, hound, knave, meanie (also meany), miscreant, monster, nazi, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, reprobate, rogue, savage, scalawag (or scallywag), scamp, scapegrace, scoundrel, varlet, wretch</a></a></a>
Caddy
cad·dy\ˈka-dē\
noun: a small box or chest;1 : a small box, can, or chest used especially to keep tea in
2 : a container or device for storing or holding objects when they are not in use
Other forms: plural caddies
Examples
an antique tea caddy from the colonial period
Origin: Malay kati catty.
First use: 1792
Synonyms: bin, box, chest, case, casket, locker, trunk
Veritable
adjective: true or real: being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary — often used to stress the aptness of a metaphor <a>
ver·i·ta·ble·ness noun
ver·i·ta·bly -blē\ adverb
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from verité.
First use: 15th century</a>
used as an intensifier, often to qualify a metaphor.
“the early 1970s witnessed a veritable price explosion”
synonyms: real, bona fide, authentic, genuine, indubitable, utter; informalsure as shootin’
“a veritable price explosion”
elusive
adjective: elusive; difficult to find, catch, or achieve.”success will become ever more elusive”
synonyms: difficult to find; evasive, slippery; informalalways on the move
difficult to remember or recall.
“the elusive thought he had had moments before”
synonyms: indefinable, intangible, impalpable, ambiguous
“an elusive quality”
Prolific
adjective: producing a large amount of something 1 : producing young or fruit especially freely : fruitful
2 archaic : causing abundant growth, generation, or reproduction
3 : marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity <a>
synonyms see fertile
pro·lif·i·ca·cy -ˈli-fi-kə-sē\ noun
pro·lif·i·cal·ly -fi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
pro·lif·ic·ness -fik-nəs\ noun
Examples
a famously prolific author who could produce several works of fiction and nonfiction a year
Origin: French prolifique, from Middle French, from Latin proles + Middle French -figue -fic.
First use: 1650
Synonyms: cornucopian, fat, fecund, fructuous, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, fertile, rich
Antonyms: barren, dead, infertile, sterile, unfertile, unfruitful, unproductive</a>
Comprehensive
com·pre·hen·sive\ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv, -prē-\
adjective: including many, most, or all things
: of or relating to a comprehensive school
Full Definition
1 : covering completely or broadly : inclusive
2 : having or exhibiting wide mental grasp
com·pre·hen·sive·ly adverb
com·pre·hen·sive·ness noun
Examples
a comprehensive overview of European history since the French Revolution
a comprehensive listing of all the paintings generally attributed to the Dutch artist Rembrandt
comprehensive plans for covering just about any conceivable terrorist attack
Origin: (see comprehension ).
First use: 1614
Synonyms: all-embracing, all-in [chiefly British], all-inclusive, broad-gauge (or broad-gauged), compendious, complete, encyclopedic, cover-all, cyclopedic, embracive, exhaustive, full, global, inclusive, in-depth, omnibus, panoramic, thorough, universal
Antonyms: imperfect, incomplete, partial
Ruffian
: a strong and violent person (especially a man) who threatens and hurts other people: a brutal person : bully
ruffian adjective
ruf·fi·an·ism -ə-ˌni-zəm\ noun
ruf·fi·an·ly adjective
Examples
a gang of ruffians preying upon people who ventured into that section of town
Origin: Middle French rufian.
First use: 1531
Synonyms: bully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, gorilla, hood, hooligan, mobster, mug, plug-ugly, punk, roughneck, rowdy, hoodlum, thug, tough, toughie (also toughy), yob [British], yobbo [British]
Gospel
an idea or set of ideas that someone believes and often tries to make other people believe; the teachings of the Christian religion
: any one of the first four books of the Christian Bible that tell of the life of Jesus Christ
Full Definition
1 a often capitalized : the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation
b capitalized : one of the first four New Testament books telling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; also : a similar apocryphal book
c : an interpretation of the Christian message
2 capitalized : a lection from one of the New Testament Gospels
3 : the message or teachings of a religious teacher
4 : something accepted or promoted as infallible truth or as a guiding principle or doctrine
5 : gospel music
gos·pel·ly \ˈgäs-pə-lē\ adjective
Origin: Middle English, from Old English gōdspel (translation of Late Latin evangelium), from gōd good + spell tale — more at spell.
First use: before 12th century
Synonyms: credo, doctrine, dogma, creed, ideology (also idealogy), philosophy, testament
2gospel
adjective
1 a : having a basis in or being in accordance with the gospel : evangelical
b : marked by special or fervid emphasis on the gospel <a>
2 : of, relating to, or being religious songs of American origin associated with evangelism and popular devotion and marked by simple melody and harmony and elements of folk songs and blues
First use: before 12th century
Synonyms: credo, doctrine, dogma, creed, ideology (also idealogy), philosophy, testament</a>
Promiscuous
: having or involving many sexual partners
: including or involving too many people or things : not limited in a careful or proper way
Full Definition
1 : composed of all sorts of persons or things
2 : not restricted to one class, sort, or person : indiscriminate
3 : not restricted to one sexual partner
4 : casual, irregular
pro·mis·cu·ous·ly adverb
pro·mis·cu·ous·ness noun
Examples
since I just collect stamps that I happen to like, my collection is pretty promiscuous
Origin: Latin promiscuus, from pro- forth + miscēre to mix — more at pro-, mix.
First use: 1601
Synonyms: assorted, eclectic, heterogeneous, indiscriminate, kitchen-sink, magpie, mixed, motley, patchwork, piebald, miscellaneous, raggle-taggle, ragtag, varied
Sallow
: adjective: slightly yellow in a way that does not look healthy
Full Definition
: of a grayish greenish yellow color
sal·low·ish \ˈsa-lə-wish\ adjective
sal·low·ness \ˈsa-lō-nəs, -lə-\ noun
Origin: Middle English salowe, from Old English salu; akin to Old High German salo murky, Russian solovyĭ yellowish gray.
First use: before 12th century
: any of several Old World broad-leaved willows (as Salix caprea) including important sources of charcoal and tanbark
Origin: Middle English, from Old English sealh; akin to Old High German salha sallow, Latin salix willow.
First use: before 12th century
Rosy
adjective: having a pink color: having or producing hope for success or happiness in the future
Full Definition
1 a : of the color rose
b : having a pinkish usually healthy-looking complexion : blooming
c : marked by blushes
2 : characterized by or tending to promote optimism <a>
Other forms: ros·i·er; ros·i·est
ros·i·ness noun
Examples
rosy cheeks/peaches
A young man with a rosy future.
She has a rosy outlook on life.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: blooming, florid, flush, full-blooded, glowing, red, ruddy, rubicund, sanguine
Antonyms: ashen, ashy, doughy, livid, lurid, mealy, pale, paled, palish, pallid, pasty, peaked, peaky, sallow, sallowish, wan</a>
Convivial
con·viv·ial\kən-ˈviv-yəl, -ˈvi-vē-əl:adj. of or relating to social events where people can eat, drink, and talk in a friendly way with others
Full Definition
: relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company <a> <a>
con·viv·i·al·i·ty -ˌvi-vē-ˈa-lə-tē\ noun
con·viv·ial·ly -ˈviv-yə-lē, -ˈvi-vē-ə-lē\ adverb
Examples
the hiking club attracts a wide range of convivial people who share a love of the outdoors
Origin: Late Latin convivialis, from Latin convivium banquet, from com- + vivere to live — more at quick.
First use: circa 1668
Synonyms: boon, clubbable (also clubable), clubby, companionable, extroverted (also extraverted), gregarious, outgoing, sociable, social
Antonyms: antisocial, insociable, introverted, nongregarious, reclusive, unsociable, unsocial</a></a>
Hie
intransitive verb:to go quickly : hasten
transitive verb: to cause (oneself) to go quickly
Other forms: hied; hy·ing or hie·ing
Examples
we had best hie home before the snow gets worse
Origin: Middle English, from Old English hīgian to strive, hasten.
First use: 12th century
Synonyms: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb [slang], bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hurry, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom
Antonyms: crawl, creep, poke
Acclaim
: to praise (someone or something) in a very strong and enthusiastic way 1 : applaud, praise
2 : to declare by acclamation
intransitive verb
: to shout praise or applause
ac·claim·er noun
Origin: Latin acclamare, literally, to shout at, from ad- + clamare to shout — more at claim.
First use: 1606
Synonyms: glory, accolade, applause, bay(s), credit, distinction, homage, honor, kudos, laud, laurels, props [slang], réclame, sun
Synonyms: accredit, applaud, cheer, crack up, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout, doff one’s hat to (or doff one’s cap to)
Antonyms: knock, pan, slam
2acclaim
noun
: strong approval or praise
Full Definition
1 : the act of acclaiming
2 : praise, applause
Examples
The critics have acclaimed her performance.
Her performance was acclaimed by the critics.
He has been acclaimed as one of the best players in the league.
First use: 1667
Synonyms: glory, accolade, applause, bay(s), credit, distinction, homage, honor, kudos, laud, laurels, props [slang], réclame, sun
Synonyms: accredit, applaud, cheer, crack up, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout, doff one’s hat to (or doff one’s cap to)
1.
enthusiastic and public praise.
“she has won acclaim for her commitment to democracy”
synonyms: praise, applause, cheers, ovation, tribute, accolade, acclamation, salutes, plaudits, bouquets; approval, approbation, admiration, congratulations, commendation, kudos, welcome, homage; compliment, a pat on the back
antonyms: criticism
Incontinent
adjective1.having no or insufficient voluntary control over urination or defecation.
2.lacking self-restraint; uncontrolled.
“the incontinent hysteria of the fans”
synonyms: unrestrained, lacking self-restraint, uncontrolled, unbridled, unchecked, unfettered; uncontrollable, ungovernable
antonyms: restrained
Origin
late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French, or from Latin incontinent-, from in- ‘not’ + continent- ‘holding together’ (see continent2). Sense 1 dates from the early 19th century.
Paunch
noun: a belly that sticks out especially on a man : a fat stomach1 a : the belly and its contents b : potbelly 2 : rumen
Examples
He sat with his hands folded over his paunch.
He used to be very thin but now he has a slight paunch.
a paunchy middle-aged man
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French *panche, pance, from Latin pantic-, pantex.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: bay window, beer belly, belly, corporation, gut, potbelly, pot
