Words I Don't Know 1 Flashcards
Encomium
A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
Example: “though I wasn’t expecting an encomium from Adrianne, her letter of rec was surprisingly thoughtful, sincere, and lauded my role in her lab.”
Semiotic
Relating to signs and symbols, this field explores how meaning is created and communicated, especially that communicates visually.
Ex: the study of information passed between living organisms is called zoosemiotics.
Putsch
A violent attempt to overthrow the government.
Ex: His followers taking his broad support as evidence of others’ fanaticism, the MAGA-head attempt at putsch resulted in failure when only 6 patriots showed up to protests Biden’s swearing in.
Ignominious
Deserving or causing public shame or disgrace.
Ex: His ignominious rant about government regulations led to most loyal customers avoiding his steakhouse.
Winnow
1) To blow a current of air through grain to remove chaff
2) Blow, like the wind does
Ex: By leaving my loose note pages in front of an open window, I inadvertently winnowed the heavier pages from the light.
Abscond
To leave hurriedly and secretly, generally in a sneaky way to avoid arrest or punishment for unlawful action
Ex: I quickly absconded from the party before anyone noticed the fresh puke now coating the host’s guest bathroom floor.
Canard
1) An unfounded rumor or story
2) part of an airplane (probably won’t be using this definition much)
Ex: There’s an old canard about a haunted house in the woods.
Effrontery
To have insolent or impertinent behavior
Ex: I can’t believe you have the effrontery to speak to me that way!
Demagogue
A political leader who seeks support not by speaking rationally about issues, but by appealing to the emotions, desires, and prejudices of the public.
Ex: Though libs won’t admit it, Obama was as much a demagogue as his successor.
Abject
1) (of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree
2) (of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity
Ex 1: I experienced abject horror at the realization I forgot to send Adrianne a critical document for the IACUC inspection.
Ex 2: Watching the new lab member’s abject obsequiousness to the PI made my skin crawl.
Myopic
Nearsighted, either literally or figuratively; lacking imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight
Ex: It was rather myopic of him to sabotage his career for such paltry short-term gains.
Repugnance
Basically reacting to something repugnant, a feeling of intense disgust
Ex: I felt intense repugnance at the discovery of the rotten chicken breasts hidden in the back of the fridge.
Equanimity
Mental calmness, composure, and even temper even/especially under duress.
Ex: Though I could feel my heart rate creeping up, I maintained equanimity after the shocking discovery.
Epistemology
Epistemology is the philosophy of knowledge. It tries to answer the question “What is knowledge?” and how it is acquired. It also deals with beliefs, truth, and justification.
Paucity
The presence of something in very small amounts
Ex: The paucity of evidence supporting our hypothesis meant we had to abandon that line of research.
Irreverent
Showing a lack of respect for a thing(s) generally taken seriously.
Ex: His irreverence for the visiting scholar belied his true feelings for feminist study.
Opine
To state one’s opinion
Ex: “The pomegranate is the greatest fruit” he opined, correctly.
Polity
A form or process of a civil government or constitution, or an organized society, or a state as a political entity.
Ex: The federal government’s inability, or refusal, to handle the 2020 pandemic led to its ultimate dissolution as a polity.
Foible
1) A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character.
2) the weaker part of a sword blade, from the middle to the point.
Ex: My tendency to whistle as I work was a minor foible to my roommates.
Didactic
1) Something intended to teach, especially some moral lesson as an ulterior motive
2) To do something in the manner of a teacher, especially in a patronizing way
Ex: My mother was didactic in every sense of the word; every story had some moral conclusion, delivered in that measured tone that meant she did not expect you to immediately understand the lesson.
Pejorative
As an adjective: Expressing contempt or disapproval
Ex: His pejorative tone belied his disapproval at my purchase.
As a noun: A word expressing contempt or disapproval
Ex: To my mom, “face tattoo” is a pejorative.
Asynchronous
1) Of two or more objects, not occurring at the same time
2) A computer timing protocol where an operation begins once it receives the signal that a preceding operation has been completed
Ex: Unfortunately, our asynchronous schedules made it impossible to ever hangout.
Clarion
Literally: a shrill marrow-tubed war trumpet
Figuratively: loud and clear
Ex: After this most recent insult, he gave the clarion call to war.
Proffer
Verb: Hold out something for someone to accept
Noun: an offer or proposal
Ex: I proffered a loaf of bread in lieu of a monetary gift.
Note: though “proffer” is essentially a synonym of “offer,” “proffer” is a bit more formal and polite to use.
