Words Flashcards
1
Q
hurly burly
A
busy, boisterous activity
2
Q
foible
A
a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character
3
Q
begrudgery
A
resentment of any person who has achieved success or wealth
4
Q
disparagement
A
the act of speaking about someone in a negative or belittling way
5
Q
grudge
A
a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury
6
Q
ad infinitum
A
again and again in the same way; forever
7
Q
specter
A
a ghost
8
Q
sleight
A
the use of dexterity or cunning, especially so as to deceive
9
Q
all-consuming
A
completely filling one’s mind and attention; obsessive
10
Q
pantheon
A
all the gods of a people or religion collectively
11
Q
metafiction
A
fiction in which the author self-consciously alludes to the artificiality or literariness of a work by parodying or departing from novelistic conventions (especially naturalism) and traditional narrative techniques.
12
Q
atone
A
make amends or reparation
13
Q
reprise
A
repeat (a piece of music or a performance)
14
Q
semiotics
A
the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation
15
Q
praxis
A
practice, as distinguished from theory
16
Q
inculcate
A
instill (an attitude, idea, or habit) by persistent instruction
17
Q
proficient
A
competent or skilled in doing or using something
18
Q
stanza
A
a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse
19
Q
asceticism
A
severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons
20
Q
sanctity
A
the state or quality of being holy, sacred, or saintly
21
Q
convent school
A
a Christian community under monastic vows, especially one of nuns
22
Q
imbrication
A
overlap
23
Q
advocacy
A
public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy
24
Q
wedlock
A
the state of being married
25
remuneration
money paid for work or a service
26
chagrin
distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated
27
egregious
outstandingly bad; shocking
28
leeway
the amount of freedom to move or act that is available
29
pigeonhole
- assign to a particular category or class, especially in a manner that is too rigid or exclusive
- put aside for future consideration
30
animosity
strong hostility
31
agnostic
a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God
32
garland
- a wreath of flowers and leaves, worn on the head or hung as a decoration
- adorn or crown with a garland
33
trompe l'oeil
visual illusion in art, especially as used to trick the eye into perceiving a painted detail as a three-dimensional object
34
precocious
(of a child) having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual
35
flair
- a special or instinctive aptitude or ability for doing something well
- stylishness and originality
36
quip
- a witty remark
| - make a witty remark
37
exalt
hold (someone or something) in very high regard; think or speak very highly of
38
caprice
a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior
39
verisimilitude
the appearance of being true or real
40
omnibus
a volume containing several novels or other items previously published separately
41
puffery
exaggerated or false praise
42
peruse
read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way
43
lament
- a passionate expression of grief or sorrow
| - mourn (a person's loss or death)
44
decry
publicly denounce
45
wrongheaded
having or showing bad judgment; misguided
46
bequeath
leave (a personal estate or one's body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will
47
occult
supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs, practices, or phenomena
48
wring
squeeze and twist (something) to force liquid from it
49
quip
- a witty remark
| - make a witty remark
50
virtuoso
a person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit
51
deplore
feel or express strong disapproval of (something)
52
pact
a formal agreement between individuals or parties
53
inscrutable
impossible to understand or interpret
54
mirth
amusement, especially as expressed in laughter
55
elation
great happiness and exhilaration
56
exhilaration
a feeling of excitement, happiness, or elation
57
will-o'-the-wisp
a person or thing that is difficult or impossible to find, reach, or catch
58
despair
lose or be without hope
59
sarcophagus
a stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription and associated with the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and Greece
60
sepulchral
- relating to a tomb or interment
| - gloomy; dismal
61
pensive
engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought
62
implacable
- unable to be placated
| - relentless; unstoppable
63
elegiac
relating to or characteristic of an elegy, a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead
64
epitaph
a phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone
65
flippancy
lack of respect or seriousness; frivolousness
66
indefatigable
(of a person or their efforts) persisting tirelessly
67
allegorical
constituting or containing allegory, a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one
68
vicissitude
a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
69
moribund
- (of a person) at the point of death
| - (of a thing) in terminal decline; lacking vitality or vigor
70
yeoman
a man holding and cultivating a small landed estate; a freeholder
71
shrivel
- wrinkle and contract or cause to wrinkle and contract, especially due to loss of moisture
- lose momentum, will, or desire; become insignificant or ineffectual
- cause to feel worthless or insignificant
72
burlesque
an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody
73
vaudeville
a type of entertainment popular chiefly in the US in the early 20th century, featuring a mixture of specialty acts such as burlesque comedy and song and dance
74
polemic
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
75
guerilla
- a member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces
- referring to actions or activities performed in an impromptu way, often without authorization
76
epistemology
the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion
77
heed
pay attention to; take notice of
78
polemicist
a person who engages in controversial debate
79
peaceable
inclined to avoid argument or violent conflict
80
commotion
a state of confused and noisy disturbance
81
unsullied
not spoiled or made impure
82
inexorable
impossible to stop or prevent
83
anathema
something or someone that one vehemently dislikes
84
obtuse
annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand; difficult to understand
85
oblique
not explicit or direct in addressing a point
86
knell
the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral
87
eugenics
the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics. Developed largely by Francis Galton as a method of improving the human race, it fell into disfavor only after the perversion of its doctrines by the Nazis
88
dialectic
the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions; inquiry into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions
89
pervasive
(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people
90
mote
a tiny piece of a substance
91
licentious
promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters
92
amalgam
a mixture or blend
93
bootleg
make, distribute, or sell (illicit goods, especially liquor, computer software, or recordings) illegally
94
nymph
a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations
95
desert
a person's worthiness or entitlement to reward or punishment
96
squander
waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner
97
calamity
an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster
98
cloak
dress in a cloak; hide, cover, or disguise (something)
99
garb
clothing or dress, especially of a distinctive or special kind
100
compulsion
the action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint; an irresistible urge to behave in a certain way, especially against one's conscious wishes
101
antics
foolish, outrageous, or amusing behavior
102
obscure
not discovered or known about; uncertain
103
charlatan
a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill; a fraud
104
masquerade
a false show or pretense
105
draconian
(of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe
106
espouse
adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life)
107
unconscienable
not right or reasonable
108
tout
attempt to sell (something), typically by pestering people in an aggressive or bold manner
109
cull
select from a large quantity; obtain from a variety of sources
110
hearken
listen
111
stilted
(of a manner of talking or writing) stiff and self-conscious or unnatural
112
sacrosanct
(especially of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with
113
precipice
a very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one
114
oratory
a small chapel, especially for private worship
115
hew
chop or cut (something, especially wood) with an ax, pick, or other tool
116
chink
a narrow opening or crack, typically one that admits light
117
aerie
a large nest of a bird of prey, especially an eagle, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff
118
hermit
a person living in solitude as a religious discipline
119
pillage
rob (a place) using violence, especially in wartime
120
eremitic
hermitic
121
grandiloquent
pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, especially in a way that is intended to impress
122
penitent
- feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant
- a person who repents their sins or wrongdoings and (in the Christian Church) seeks forgiveness from God
123
vernacular
- (of language) spoken as one's mother tongue; not learned or imposed as a second language
- (of architecture) concerned with domestic and functional rather than monumental buildings
124
populist
a member or adherent of a political party seeking to represent the interests of ordinary people
125
revelry
lively and noisy festivities, especially when these involve drinking a large amount of alcohol
126
vicarious
experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person
127
proverbial
(of a word or phrase) referred to in a proverb or idiom; well known, especially so as to be stereotypical
128
extemporaneous
spoken or done without preparation
129
jest
a thing said or done for amusement; a joke
130
burnish
polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing
131
dwindle
diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength
132
garble
reproduce (a message, sound, or transmission) in a confused and distorted way
133
semblance
the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different
134
protean
tending or able to change frequently or easily; able to do many different things; versatile
135
lacuna
an unfilled space or interval; a gap
136
extol
praise enthusiastically
137
stillbirth
the birth of an infant that has died in the womb
138
complacent
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements
139
insolence
rude and disrespectful behavior
140
reprove
reprimand or censure (someone)
141
fount
a source of a desirable quality or commodity
142
hale
(of a person, especially an elderly one) strong and healthy
143
vociferate
shout, complain, or argue loudly or vehemently
144
pounce
1. (of an animal or bird of prey) spring or swoop suddenly so as to catch prey
2. a sudden swoop or spring
145
impugn
dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive); call into question
146
uphold
confirm or support (something that has been questioned)
147
destitute
1. without the basic necessities of life
| 2. not having
148
sloth
reluctance to work or make an effort; laziness
149
sluggard
a lazy, sluggish person
150
loll
sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way
151
precept
a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought
152
toil
work extremely hard or incessantly
153
exaltation
a feeling or state of extreme happiness
154
pomp
ceremony and splendid display, especially at a public event
155
solemnity
the state or quality of being serious and dignified
