words i see Flashcards
inquiry (n.)
an act of asking for information; an official investigation
When you ask the guy behind the counter if they’ve got any aspirin, you’re making an inquiry. Almost any search for information or knowledge is an inquiry, though an inquiry is often an official search.
incentive (n.)
a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.
“there is no incentive for customers to conserve water”
If your mom wants you to mow the lawn but you don’t feel like it, she might offer to treat you to ice cream after as an incentive. An incentive is something that stimulates you to take action or work harder.
undertaking (n.)
a formal pledge or promise to do something.
“I give an undertaking that we shall proceed with the legislation”
a task that is taken on; an enterprise.
“a mammoth undertaking that involved digging into the side of a cliff face”
Painting a house is a serious undertaking––it looks simple but involves a lot of preparation and hard work. An undertaking is a job or a task you commit to. The word also can mean the profession of funeral management.
perfidy (n.)
deceitfulness; untrustworthiness.
If you shared your most embarrassing secrets with a friend who then told them to everyone he knows, his betrayal could be described as perfidy.
treacherous (adj.)
guilty of or involving betrayal or deception.
“a treacherous Gestapo agent”
(of ground, water, conditions, etc.) hazardous because of presenting hidden or unpredictable dangers; dangerous; risky
“a vacationer was swept away by treacherous currents”
picturesque (adj.)
visually attractive, especially in a quaint or pretty style.
“the picturesque covered bridges of New England”
(of language) unusual and vivid.
“his picturesque speech contrasted with his rough appearance”
despondent (adj.)
in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
“she grew more and more despondent
aphorism (n.)
a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”.
“the old aphorism “the child is father to the man””
Use the noun aphorism when you have something compact and astute to say, such as “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
astute (adj.)
having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage; sharp
“an astute businessman”
Someone who is astute is clever and has good judgment. The kid running around with a bucket stuck on his head? Not so astute.
shrewd (adj.)
If you are shrewd in your spending, you can make a small salary go a long way. Use the adjective shrewd to describe a person or thing that is smart or clever in a practical sort of way.
cahoot (n.)
PARTNERSHIP, LEAGUE —usually used in plural
He was robbed by a man who was in cahoots with the bartender.
interminably (adj.)
all the time; seemingly without stopping; “a theological student with whom I argued interminably”; “her nagging went on endlessly” endlessly.
exaltation (n.)
a feeling or state of extreme happiness.
“she beams with exaltation”
the action of elevating someone in rank, power, or character.
“the resurrection and exaltation of Christ”
the action of praising someone or something highly.
“the exaltation of the army as a place for brotherhood”
lark (n.) (v.)
something done for fun, especially something mischievous or daring; an amusing adventure or escapade.
“I only went along for a lark”
enjoy oneself by behaving in a playful and mischievous way.
“he jumped the fence to go larking the rest of the day”
saloon (n.)
A saloon is an old-fashioned name for a bar or a tavern. Suggest meeting at the local saloon after work and your friends might give you a funny look, but they’ll know what you mean.
preoccupation (n.)
the state or condition of being preoccupied or engrossed with something; a subject or matter that engrosses someone.
“their main preoccupation was how to feed their families”
Preoccupation is a state where you’re absorbed in something. You may have a preoccupation with video games or Hello Kitty, for example, if you can’t keep your mind off those things.
conspicuous (adj.)
standing out so as to be clearly visible.
“he was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam’s apple”
attracting notice or attention.
“he showed conspicuous bravery”
Keep your eye on the adjective conspicuous for something that stands out so much you notice it right away — like that zit in the center of your friend’s forehead.
outfit (v.)
provide (someone) with a set of clothes or equipment or supplies.
“an auction of dolls outfitted by world-famous designers”
interrelationship (n.)
the way in which each of two or more things is related to the other or others.
“the interrelationship between the comprehension and production of early vocabulary”
axiom (n.)
a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.
“the axiom that supply equals demand”
An axiom is a statement that everyone believes is true, such as “the only constant is change.” Mathematicians use the word axiom to refer to an established proof.
contemporary (adj.) (n.)
living or occurring at the same time.
“the event was recorded by a contemporary historian”
belonging to or occurring in the present.
“the tension and complexities of our contemporary society”
a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another.
“he was a contemporary of Darwin”
Things that are contemporary are either happening at the same time or happening now. Contemporary art is recent art.
irrespective (adj.)
not taking (something) into account; regardless of; disregarding "child benefit is paid irrespective of income levels"
Irrespective means regardless or in spite, and it is almost always followed by the word “of.” Irrespective of your desire to stay inside on a bitterly cold day, the dog still needs to be walked.
tangible (adj.) (n.)
perceptible by touch.
“the atmosphere of neglect and abandonment was almost tangible”
clear and definite; real.
“the emphasis is now on tangible results”
When you can touch something, it’s tangible: “I need tangible proof that aliens exist — I want to shake their little green hands!”
perceptible (adj.)
(especially of a slight movement or change of state) able to be seen or noticed; detectable
“a perceptible decline in public confidence”
dithyramb (n.)
a wild choral hymn of ancient Greece, especially one dedicated to Dionysus.
substantial (adj.)
of considerable importance, size, or worth.
“a substantial amount of cash”
concerning the essentials of something.
“there was substantial agreement on changing policies”
rhapsode (n.)
a person who recites epic poems, especially one of a group in ancient Greece whose profession it was to recite the Homeric poems from memory.
scheme (n.) (v.)
a large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting a particular idea into effect.
“a clever marketing scheme”
make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong.
A scheme is an elaborate plan or plot. It’s going to take a really solid scheme, probably involving teleportation or some sort of temporary cloning, to make an appearance at both parties at once.
dank (adj.)
disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold.
“huge dank caverns”
soliloquy (n.)
an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play; monologue, speech
“Edmund ends the scene as he had begun it, with a soliloquy”
couplet (n.)
A couplet is two lines of poetry that usually rhyme. Here’s a famous couplet: “Good night! Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow / That I shall say good night till it be morrow.”
civic (adj.)
relating to a city or town, especially its administration; municipal.
“civic and business leaders”
relating to the duties or activities of people in relation to their town, city, or local area.
“they could not be denied access to education, the vote, and other civic rights”
If something is related to or benefits an individual citizen, it can be described as civic. People often say that it is your civic duty to vote.
bureaucracy (n.)
a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
rendezvous (n.) (v.)
a meeting at an agreed time and place, typically between two people.
“Edward turned up late for their rendezvous”
meet at an agreed time and place.
“I rendezvoused with Bea as planned”
Rendezvous is a very French way to say “meeting” or “date.” So go ahead and call your next dentist appointment or lunch date with friends a rendezvous.
verboten (adj.)
forbidden, especially by an authority.
“bank fishing is verboten on Strathbeg”
repugnant (adj.)
extremely distasteful; unacceptable.
“the thought of going back into the fog was repugnant to him”
Repugnant refers to something you detest so thoroughly it threatens to make you physically sick, like the idea of marrying your sister. Or wearing last year’s jeans.
detest (v.)
If you detest something, you dislike it intensely. The word can apply to things and also to people. You might detest your ex-boyfriend and you might also detest rainy Mondays and broccoli.
