WordWright II Flashcards
pious
(adj.) devoutly religious
votive
(adj. ) offered or consecrated in fulfillment of a vow
(n. ) an object offored in fulfillment of a vow
connoisseur
(n.) an expert judge in matters of taste
teem
(v.) be full of or swarming with
limber
(v.) warm up in preparation for exercise or activity, esp. sports
ascribe
(v.) attritubute something to (a cause)
inaugurate
(v.) begin or introduce (a system, policy, or period)
parlance
(n.) a particular way of speaking or using words, esp. a way common to those with a particular job or interest
enhance
(v.) intensify, increase, or further imporive the quality, value, or extent of
predator
(n.) an animal that naturally preys on others; a person or group that ruthlessly exploits tohers
deity
(n.) a god or goddess (in a polytheistic religion
mystic
(n.) a person who seeks by contemplation & self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute
proxy
(n.) the authority to represent someone else, esp. in voting; a figure that can be used to represent the value of something in a calculation
auspice
(n.) a divine or prophetic token
venerable
(adj.) accorded a great deal of respect, esp. because of age, wisdom, or character
deploy
(v.) to move (troops) into position for military action
pastime
(n.) an actvity that someone does regurlary for ejoyment rather than work; a hobby
uninitiated
(adj.) without special knowledge or experience
aficionado
(n.) a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime
dissipate
(v.) disperse or scatter; squander or fritter away (money, energy, or resources)
contour
(n. ) an outline, esp. one repsenting or bounding the shape or form of something
(v. ) to mold into a specific shape, typically one designed to fit into something else; mark (a map or diagram) with contour lines
disgruntled
(adj.) angry or dissatisfied
augury
(n.) a sign of what will happen in the future; an omen
vindication
(n.) the defense, such as evidence or argument, that serves to justify a claim or deed
perverse
(adj.) showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of the consequences
avian
(adj.) of or relating to birds
hypothetical
(adj.) of, based on, or serving as a hypothesis
aphoristic
(adj.) marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
evocative
(adj.) bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind
etymology
(n.) the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history
predatory
(adj.) relating to or denoting an animal or animals preying naturally on others; seeking to exploit or oppress others
ecological
(adj.) relating to or concerned with the relation of living organisms to one another and to their phsyical surroundings
dominion
(n.) sovereignty; control; the territory of a sovereign or government
ponderous
(adj.) slow and clumsy because of great weight
aside
(adv. ) to one side; out of the way
(n. ) a remark or passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play
theology
(n.) the study of the nature of God and religious belief
rumination
(v.) to think carefully and deeply about something
fanciful
(adj.) (of a person or their thoughts and ideas) overimaginative and unrealisitc
auspicious
(adj.) conducive to success; favorable
ornithology
(n.) the scientific study of birds
ominous
(adj.) giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant in going to happen; threatening; inauspicious
portent
(n.) a sign or warning that something, esp. something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen; an exceptional or wonderful person or thing
context
(n.) the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed
