Wretched of the Earth Flashcards
Inhabitant
a person or an animal that lives in a particular place
Kinglet
- ) a minor king(derogatory)
2. ) a very small greenish bird with a bright orange or yellow crown.
Overlord
(especially in the past) a person who has power over many other people
Bourgeoisie
- ) the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes
- ) (in Marxist contexts) the capitalist class who own most of society’s wealth and means of production.
Capitalism
an economic system in which a country’s businesses and industry are controlled and run for profit by private owners rather than by the government
Sham
- ) a situation, feeling, system, etc. that is not as good or true as it seems to be
- ) a person who pretends to be something that they are not
- ) behaviour, feelings, words, etc. that are intended to make somebody/something seem to be better than they really are
Go-between
an intermediary or negotiator.
Intermediary
a person or an organization that helps other people or organizations to make an agreement by being a means of communication between them
Negotiator
a person who is involved in formal discussions between people who are trying to reach an agreement, especially as part of their job
Colony
- ) a country or an area that is governed by people from another, more powerful, country
- ) group of people who go to live permanently in a colony
- ) a group of people from the same place or with the same work or interests who live in a particular city or country or who live together
- ) a small town set up by an employer or an organization for its workers
- ) a group of plants or animals that live together or grow in the same place
Govern
- ) to legally control a country or its people and be responsible for introducing new laws, organizing public services, etc.
- ) to control or influence somebody/something or how something happens, functions, etc.
Manufacture
- ) to make goods in large quantities, using machine
- ) to invent a story, an excuse, etc.
- ) to produce a substance
Elite
- ) belonging to a group of people in society that is small in number but powerful and with a lot of influence, because they are rich, intelligent, etc.
- ) (especially in sport) having or showing the greatest ability at the highest level of competition
Principle
- ) a moral rule or a strong belief that influences your actions
- ) a law, a rule or a theory that something is based on
- ) a belief that is accepted as a reason for acting or thinking in a particular way
- ) a general or scientific law that explains how something works or why something happens
Glutinous
sticky
Parthenon
a Doric temple of Athena built on the acropolis at Athens in the fifth century b.c.
Doric
used to describe the oldest style of architecture in ancient Greece that has thick plain columns and no decoration at the top
Dorian
a member of an ancient Hellenic race that completed the overthrow of Mycenaean civilization and settled especially in the Peloponnisos and Crete
Hellenic
of or connected with ancient or modern Greece
Hellen
the person from which all Hellenes (Greeks) were descended.
Hellene
a person from Greece, especially ancient Greece
Hellenistic
of or connected with the Greek history, language and culture of the 4th–1st centuries BC
Mycenaean
- ) relating to or denoting a late Bronze Age civilization in Greece represented by finds at Mycenae and other ancient cities of Peloponnesus.
- ) an inhabitant of Mycenae or member of the Mycenaean people.
Mycenae
late Bronze Age city located between two hills on the Argolid plain of the Peloponnese, Greece.
Argolis/ Argolida
Argolis or Argolida is one of the regional units of Greece
Peloponnisos/ peloponnese
a peninsula and geographic region in southern Greece.
Mykines/
Mycines
- ) the westernmost of the 18 main islands of the Faroe Islands
- ) known before 1916 as Charvati, is a village and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece.
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands is a self-governing archipelago, part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It comprises 18 rocky, volcanic islands between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Municipality
a town, city or district with its own local government; the group of officials who govern it
Archipelago
a group of islands and the sea surrounding them
Humanism
system of thought that considers that solving human problems with the help of reason is more important than religious beliefs. It emphasizes the fact that the basic nature of humans is good.
Hellenize
make Greek or Hellenistic in form or character.
Assimilate
- ) to fully understand an idea or some information so that you are able to use it yourself
- ) to become, or allow somebody to become, a part of a country or community rather than remaining in a separate group
- ) to make an idea, a person’s attitude, etc. fit into something or be acceptable
Monstrosity
something that is very large and very ugly, especially a building
Wail
- )to make a long, loud, high noise because you are sad or in pain
- ) to cry or complain about something in a loud high voice
- ) (of things) to make a long, loud, high sound
Exploitation
- ) a situation in which somebody treats somebody else in an unfair way, especially in order to make money from their work
- ) the use of land, oil, minerals, etc.
- ) the fact of using a situation in order to get an advantage for yourself
Disconsolate
very unhappy and disappointed
Litany
- )a series of prayers to God for use in church services, spoken by a priest, etc., with set responses by the people
- ) long boring account of a series of events, reasons, etc.
Prix Goncourt
a prize in French literature, given by the académie Goncourt to the author of “the best and most imaginative prose work of the year”
Prose
writing that is not poetry
Académie
Learned Society
Edmond de Goncourt
a French writer, literary critic, art critic, book publisher and the founder of the Académie Goncourt.
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, according to Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will, are awarded “to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind”.
Alfred Nobel
Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, businessman, and philanthropist. He held 355 different patents, dynamite being the most famous.
Setif
Algerian city and the capital of the Sétif Province.
Hanoi
the capital of Vietnam
Simulacrum
something that looks like somebody/something else or that is made to look like somebody/something else
Sovereignty
- )complete power to govern a country
- ) the state of being a country with freedom to govern itself
- )
Imperialism
- ) a system in which one country controls other countries, often after defeating them in a war
- ) the fact of a powerful country increasing its influence over other countries through business, culture, etc.
Imperialist
- ) connected with a system in which one country controls other countries, often after defeating them in a war
- ) (of a powerful country) increasing its influence over other countries through business, culture, etc.
Feudalism
the social system that existed during the Middle Ages in Europe in which people were given land and protection by a nobleman, and had to work and fight for him in return
Feudal
connected with or similar to feudalism
Nobleman
a man from a family of high social rank; a member of the nobility
Nobility
- ) people of high social position who have titles such as that of duke or duchess
- ) the quality of being noble in characer
Duke
- ) a nobleman of the highest rank
2. ) (in some parts of Europe, especially in the past) a male ruler of a small independent state
Duchess
- ) the wife of a duke
2. ) a woman who has the rank of a duke
Noble
- ) having or showing fine personal qualities that people admire, such as courage, honesty and care for others
- ) belonging to a family of high social rank (belonging to the nobility)
- ) very impressive in size or qualit
Stratification
the division of something into different layers or groups
Colonize
- ) to take control of an area or a country that is not your own, especially using force, and send people from your own country to live there
- ) to live or grow in large numbers in a particular area
Colonialism
the practice by which a powerful country controls another country or other countries
Proletariat
the class of ordinary people who earn money by working, especially those who do not own any property
Lumpen proletariat
The unorganized and unpolitical lower orders of society who are not interested in revolutionary advancement.
Revolution
- ) an attempt, by a large number of people, to change the government of a country, especially by violent action
- ) a great change in conditions, ways of working, beliefs, etc. that affects large numbers of people
- ) a complete circular movement around a point
Revolutionary
- )connected with political revolution
2. ) involving a great or complete change
Sovereignty
- ) complete power to govern a country
2. ) the state of being a country with freedom to govern itself
Shanty
- ) a small house, built of pieces of wood, metal and cardboard, where very poor people live, especially on the edge of a big city
- ) a song that sailors traditionally used to sing while pulling ropes, etc.
Veritable
a word used to emphasize that somebody/something can be compared to somebody/something else that is more exciting, more impressive, etc.
Socialism
a set of political and economic theories based on the belief that everyone has an equal right to a share of a country’s wealth and that the government should own and control the main industries
Katanga
Katanga was one of the four large provinces created in the Belgian Congo in 1914. It was one of the eleven provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1966 and 2015,
Socialist
- ) connected with socialism
2. ) governed by or belonging to a party that believes in socialism
Mystification
a feeling of being confused because you do not understand something
Neocolonialism
the use of economic or political pressure by powerful countries to control or influence other countries
Emancipation
the act of freeing somebody, especially from legal, political or social controls that limit what they can do
Machiavellianism
a personality trait centered on manipulativeness, callousness, and indifference to morality.
Biserta/ Bizerte
a town of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia
Elisabethville
Former name for modern day Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the country’s southeasternmost part, along the border with Zambia.
Universality
- ) the fact of being done by or involving all the people in the world or in a particular group
- ) the fact of being true or right at all times and in all places
Mete
- ) dispense or allot justice, a punishment, or harsh treatment
- ) (in biblical use) measure out.
Dispense
- ) to give out something to people
- ) to provide something, especially a service, for people
- ) to prepare medicine and give it to people, as a job
Allot
to give time, money, tasks, etc. to somebody/something as a share of what is available
Measure out
to take the amount of something that you need from a larger amount
Mechanism
- ) a set of moving parts in a machine that performs a task
- ) a method or a system for achieving something
- ) a system of parts in a living thing that together perform a particular function
Irrefutable
that cannot be proved wrong and that must therefore be accepted
Agitator
a person who tries to persuade people to take part in political protest
Agent Provocateur
a person who is employed to encourage people in political groups to do something illegal so that they can be arrested
Comrade
- ) a person who is a member of the same communist or socialist political party as the person speaking
- ) a friend or other person that you work with, especially as soldiers during a war
Solidarity
support by one person or group of people for another because they share feelings, opinions, aims, etc.
Dialectic
- ) (philosophy) a method of discovering the truth of ideas by discussion and logical argument and by considering ideas that are opposed to each other
- ) (formal) the way in which two aspects of a situation affect each other
Liberal
- ) willing to understand and respect other people’s behaviour, opinions, etc., especially when they are different from your own; believing people should be able to choose how they behave
- ) wanting or allowing a lot of political and economic freedom and supporting steady social, political or religious change
- ) connected with the British Liberal Party in the past, or a Liberal Party in another country
- ) generous; given in large amount
- ) education is about increasing somebody’s general knowledge and experience rather than particular skills
- ) not completely accurate or exact
Covetous
having a strong desire for the things that other people have
Numerus Clausus
a quantity fixed as the maximal number or percentage (as of applicants of a particular race or class) admissible to an academic institution.
Dint
because of (something) : by means of (something)
Flogging
a punishment in which somebody is hit many times with a whip or stick
Stupefy
to surprise or shock somebody; to make somebody unable to think clearly
Malcontents
a person who is not satisfied with a situation and who complains about it, or causes trouble in order to change it
Suffice
to be enough for somebody/something
Suffice it to say
used to suggest that although you could say more, what you do say will be enough to explain what you mean
Sly boots
a sly person.
Sly
- ) acting or done in a secret or dishonest way, often intending to trick people
- )suggesting that you know something secret that other people do not know
Lazy boots
a lazy person (often as a form of address).
Decolonization
the process of a colony or colonies becoming independent
Djinns
(in Arabian stories) a spirit with magic powers
ineffaceable
unable to be erased or forgotten.
Efface
- ) to make something disappear; to remove something
2. ) to not attract attention to yourself; to make yourself seem unimportant
Brigand
a member of a group of criminals that steals from people, especially one that attacks travellers
Martyr
- ) a person who is killed because of their religious or political beliefs
- ) a person who tries to get sympathy from other people by telling them how much he or she is suffering
- ) a person who suffers very much because of an illness, problem or situation
Exalt
- ) to make somebody rise to a higher rank or position, sometimes to one that they do not deserve
- ) to praise somebody/something very much
Expiratory
having power to atone for or offered by way of expiation or propitiation.
Atone
1.) to act in a way that shows you are sorry for doing something wrong in the past
Expiation
the act of accepting punishment for something that you have done wrong in order to show that you are sorry
Propitiation
the act of stopping somebody from being angry by trying to please them
Dehumanization
the act of making somebody lose their human qualities such as kindness, pity, etc.
Mime
(especially in the theatre) the use of movements of your hands or body and the expressions on your face to tell a story or to act something without speaking; a performance using this method of acting
Communion
- ) a ceremony in the Christian Church during which people eat bread and drink wine in memory of the last meal that Christ had with his disciples
- ) the state of sharing or exchanging thoughts and feelings; the feeling of being part of something
- ) a group of people with the same religious beliefs
Mumbo Jumbo
language or a ceremony that seems complicated and important but is actually without real sense or meaning
Psychosis
a serious mental illness that makes a person lose contact with reality
Jeer
to laugh at somebody or shout rude remarks at them to show that you do not respect them
Acropolis
(in an ancient Greek city) a castle, or an area that is designed to resist attack, especially one on top of a hill
Torrent
- ) a large amount of water moving very quickly
2. ) a large amount of something that comes suddenly and violently
Barbarous
- ) extremely cruel and making you feel shocked
2. ) showing a lack of education and good manners
Guerilla
a member of a small group of soldiers who are not part of an official army and who fight against official soldiers, usually to try to change the government
Chivalrous
(of men) polite, kind and behaving with honour, especially towards women
Barbarism
- )a state of not having any education, respect for art, etc.
- ) cruel or violent behavior
Dissension
disagreement between people or within a group
ALN
Also known as the National Liberation Army, was the armed wing of the nationalist National Liberation Front of Algeria during the Algerian War
Dien Bien Phu
a city in the northwestern region of Vietnam.
Adversary
a person that somebody is opposed to and competing with in an argument or a battle
Particularism
- ) exclusive attachment to one’s own group, party, or nation.
- ) the principle of leaving each state in an empire or federation free to govern itself and promote its own interests, without reference to those of the whole.
- ) the doctrine that some but not all people are elected and redeemed.
Divert
- ) to make somebody/something change direction
- ) to use money, materials, etc. for a different purpose from their original purpose
- ) to take somebody’s thoughts or attention away from something
- ) to entertain people
De jure
according to the law
Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau
a French poet, playwright, novelist, designer, filmmaker, visual artist and critic.
Fraternity
- ) a group of people sharing the same profession, interests or beliefs
- ) a club for a group of male students at an American college or university
- ) a feeling of friendship and support that exists between the members of a group
Patriotism
love of your country and the desire to defend it
Statutory
fixed by law; that must be done by law
Statute
- ) a law that is passed by a parliament, council, etc. and formally written down
- ) a formal rule of an organization or institution
Charter
- ) a written statement describing the rights that a particular group of people should have
- ) a written statement of the principles and aims of an organization
- ) an official document stating that a government or political leader allows a new organization, town or university to be established and gives it particular rights
- ) a law or policy that seems likely to help people do something bad
- ) the hiring of a plane, boat, etc.
Aristocratic
belonging to or typical of the aristocracy
Aristocracy
(in some countries) people born in the highest social class, who have special titles
Bourgeois
- ) a person who belongs to the middle class
- ) a person who is interested mainly in possessions and social status and supporting traditional values
- ) a person who supports the interests of capitalism
Buoy
- ) an object which floats on the sea or a river to mark the places where it is dangerous and where it is safe for boats to go
- ) to make somebody feel cheerful or confident
- ) to keep somebody/something floating on water
- ) to keep prices at a high or acceptable level
Swastika
an ancient symbol in the form of a cross with its ends bent at an angle of 90°, used in the 20th century as the symbol of the German Nazi party
Bugeaud
Thomas Robert Bugeaud, marquis de la Piconnerie, duc d’Isly was a Marshal of France and Governor-General of Algeria.
Commonwealth
- ) an organization consisting of the United Kingdom and other countries, including most of the countries that used to be part of the British Empire
- ) used in the official names of, and to refer to, some states of the US (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia)
- ) an independent country that is strongly connected to the US
- )used in the names of some groups of countries or states that have chosen to be politically linked with each other
- ) a period (1649–60) in English history when the country was governed without a king or queen. For the first four years after the death of King Charles I, the country was governed by the House of Commons. Then in 1653 the army gave power to Oliver Cromwell with the title of Lord Protector. The years 1653–9 are therefore known as the Protectorate . The Commonwealth ended with the Restoration of King Charles II.
House of Commons
- ) (in the UK and Canada) the part of Parliament whose members are elected by the people of the country
- ) the building where the members of the House of Commons meet
Parliament
- ) the group of people who are elected to make and change the laws of a country
- ) the parliament of some countries, including the United Kingdom. In the UK, Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords
- ) a particular period during which a parliament is working; Parliament as it exists between one general election and the next
House of Lords
(in the UK) the part of Parliament whose members are not elected by the people of the country
Oliver Cromwell
English soldier and statesman, who led parliamentary forces in the English Civil Wars and was lord protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1653–58) during the republican Commonwealth.
Lord Protector
the title given to Oliver Cromwell and later to his son Richard (1626-1712) during the period after the English Civil War known as the Protectorate (1653-9). During this time Cromwell and his son claimed powers to rule the country, including the power to rule without Parliament.
Protectorate
- ) a country that is controlled and protected by a more powerful country
- ) the state or period of being controlled and protected by another country
Restoration
- ) the work of repairing and cleaning an old building, a painting, etc. so that its condition is as good as it originally was
- ) the act of bringing back a system, a law, etc. that existed previously
- ) the act of returning something to its correct place, condition or owner
- ) the time in Britain after 1660 when, following a period with no king or queen, Charles II became king
Involution
- ) the shrinkage of an organ in old age or when inactive, e.g. of the uterus after childbirth.
- ) a function, transformation, or operator that is equal to its inverse, i.e. which gives the identity when applied to itself.
Tom Toms
a medium-sized cylindrical drum used in jazz bands, etc; a drum beaten with the hands, associated with North American Indian, African, or Eastern cultures.
Motorhorns
a warning horn used on a motor vehicle
Algerie Francois
French Algeria, also known as Colonial Algeria, refers to the French colonisation of Algeria. French rule in the region began in 1830 with the invasion of Algiers and lasted until the end of the Algerian War of Independence in 1962.
Metz
Metz is a city in France’s northeastern Grand Est region,
Bordeaux
a port city in southwestern France.
Degradation
- ) a situation in which somebody has lost all self-respect and the respect of other people
- ) the process of something being damaged or made worse
Merciless
showing no sympathy or kind treatment
Lance
a weapon with a long wooden handle and a pointed metal end that was used by people fighting on horses in the past
- ) to cut open an infected place on somebody’s body with a sharp knife in order to let out the pus (= a yellow substance produced by infection
- ) move suddenly and quickly and be very sharp
Aristocracy
people born in the highest social class, who have special titles
Phenomenon
1.) a fact or an event in nature or society, especially one that is not fully
understood
2.) a person or thing that is very successful or impressive
Diplomatic
- ) connected with managing relations between countries (= diplomacy)
- ) having or showing skill in dealing with people in difficult situations
Tabula Rasa
- ) a situation in which there are no fixed ideas about how something should develop
- ) the human mind as it is at birth, with no ideas or thoughts in it
Substantification
The act, process, or result of substantifying.
Substantive
dealing with real, important or serious matters
Bayonet
a long, sharp knife that is fastened onto the end of a rifle and used as a weapon in battle
Grandiose
seeming very impressive but too large, complicated, expensive, etc. to be practical or possible
Emanate
to produce or show something
Exemplary
- ) providing a good example for people to copy
- ) severe; used especially as a warning to others
- ) typical of its kind; illustrating a general rule
Clerical
- ) connected with office work
2. ) connected with the clergy (= priests)
Clergy
the priests or ministers of a religion, especially of the Christian Church
Napalm
a sticky substance like jelly, made from petrol, that burns and is used in making bombs
Aristotelian
connected with Aristotle or his philosoph
Superfluous
unnecessary or more than you need or want
Conciliation
a process that aims to end an argument between people or groups
Medina
a city in western Saudi Arabia
Barracks
- ) a large building or group of buildings for soldiers to live in
- ) any large ugly building or buildings
Barrack
connected with a barracks
Mire
an area of deep mud
Substructure
a base or structure that is below another structure and that supports it
Superstructure
- ) a structure that is built on top of something, for example the upper parts of a ship or the part of a building above the ground
- ) the systems and beliefs in a society that have developed from more simple ones
Marxist
a person who follows the political and economic theories of Karl Marx
Marxism
a person who follows the political and economic theories of Karl Marx
Appropriation
- ) the act of taking something that belongs to somebody else, especially without permission
- ) the act of keeping or saving money for a particular purpose
- ) a sum of money to be used for a particular purpose, especially by a government or company
Treatise
a long and serious piece of writing on a particular subject
Manichean
based on the belief that there are two opposites in everything, for example good and evil or light and dark
Quintessence
- ) the perfect example of something
2. ) the most important features of something
Monseiur Meyer
a French freight broker and Radical politician from the port city of Le Havre
Freight broker
A freight broker is an intermediary between a shipper and freight service provider.
Freight
goods that are transported by ships, planes, trains or lorries; the system of transporting goods in this way
Depravity
the state of being morally bad; morally bad acts
DDT
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound
Constitution
the system of laws and basic principles that a state, a country or an organization is governed by
Heresy
- ) a belief or an opinion that is against the principles of a particular religion; the fact of holding such beliefs
- ) a belief or an opinion that disagrees strongly with what most people believe
Evangelicalism
the strong belief of some Christian groups in the authority of the Bible and the importance of people being saved through faith
2.) the strong belief of some Christian groups in the authority of the Bible and the importance of people being saved through faith
Communiques
an official statement or report, especially to newspapers
Gesticulation
the act of moving your hands and arms about in order to attract attention or make somebody understand what you are saying
Bestiary
a collection of descriptions of, or stories about, various types of animal, especially one written in the Middle Ages
Picturesque
- ) pretty, especially in a way that looks old-fashioned
2. ) producing strong mental images by using unusual words
Bereft
- ) completely without something; having lost something
2. ) sad and lonely because you have lost something
Distend
to swell (= become larger and rounder than before) or make something swell because of pressure from inside
Vegetative
- ) relating to plant life
2. ) (of a person) alive but showing no sign of brain activity
General de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French army officer, statesman and former French President
Francis Mauric
François Charles Mauriac was a French novelist, dramatist, critic, poet, and journalist, a member of the Académie française, and laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Moorings
- ) the ropes, chains, etc. by which a ship or boat is moored
- ) the place where a ship or boat is moored
Rearguard
a group of soldiers that protect the back part of an army especially when the army is retreating after it has been defeated
Dignity
- ) a calm and serious manner that deserves respect
- ) the fact of being given honour and respect by people
- ) a sense of your own importance and value
Phraseology
the particular way in which words and phrases are arranged when saying or writing something
Tenterhook
(to be) very anxious or excited while you are waiting to find out something or see what will happen
Dichotomy
a division or contrast between two groups or things that are completely opposite to and different from each other
Heterogeneity
the state of consisting of many different kinds of people or things
President Senghor
Léopold Sédar Senghor was a Senegalese poet, politician and cultural theorist who, for two decades, served as the first president of Senegal.
Expound
to explain something by talking about it in detail
Individualism
- ) the quality of being different from other people and doing things in your own way
- ) the belief that individual people in society should have the right to make their own decisions, etc., rather than be controlled by the government
auto-da-fé
the practice of burning people who did not accept the religious beliefs of the Spanish Inquisition
Nom de Guerre
an assumed name under which a person engages in combat or some other activity or enterprise.
Tunis
Tunis is the sprawling capital of Tunisia, a country in North Africa.
Simone de Beauvoir
French writer, intellectual, existentialist philosopher, political activist, feminist, and social theorist
Homi K. Bhabha
an Indian English scholar and critical theorist. He is the Anne F. Rothenberg Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University
Jeune Afrique
French-language pan-African weekly news magazine, founded in 1960 in Tunis and subsequently published in Paris.
El Biar
a suburb of Algiers, Algeria
Bandung Conference
The first large-scale Asian–African or Afro–Asian Conference—also known as the Bandung Conference —was a meeting of Asian and African states, most of which were newly independent, which took place on 18–24 April 1955 in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.
Barrage
- ) the continuous firing of a large number of guns in a particular direction, especially to protect soldiers while they are attacking or moving towards the enemy
- ) a large number of something, such as questions or comments, that are directed at somebody very quickly, one after the other, often in an aggressive way
- ) a wall or barrier built across a river to store water, prevent a flood, etc.
mais plus ca change
the more that changes, the more it’s the same thing : the more things change, the more they stay the same —often shortened to plus ça change.
Assia Djebar
Algerian novelist, translator and filmmaker.
Shibboleth
- ) an old idea, principle or phrase that is no longer accepted by many people as important or appropriate to modern life
- ) a custom, word, etc. that distinguishes one group of people from another
Polemic
- )speech or a piece of writing that argues very strongly for or against something/somebody
- ) the practice or skill of arguing strongly for or against something/somebody
Antilles
is an archipelago bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the south and west, the Gulf of Mexico to the northwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east.
Archipelago
a group of islands
Antillean
Of or relating to the Antilles
Universalism
- ) (Christian Theology) the belief that all humankind will eventually be saved.
- ) loyalty to and concern for others without regard to national or other allegiances.
quotidian
ordinary; typical of what happens every day
futurity
the future time.
Ontology
- ) A branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of existence
- ) a list of concepts and categories in a subject area that shows the relationships between them
Piety
the state of having or showing a deep respect for somebody/something, especially for God and religion; the state of being pious
Pious
- ) having or showing a deep respect for God and religion
2. ) pretending to be religious, moral or good in order to impress other people
Pious Hope
something that you want to happen but is unlikely to be achieved
Equitable
fair and reasonable; treating everyone in an equal way
NGO (Non-Governmental Organization)
a nonprofit organization that operates independently of any government, typically one whose purpose is to address a social or political issue.
“thousands of people have been displaced, seeking refuge at police stations, churches, and temporary accommodation set up by NGOs”
Psychoaffective
Obsolete term now known as schizoaffective. Schizoaffective disorder is a combination of symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorder, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Symptoms may occur at the same time or at different times.
Obsolete
no longer used because something new has been invented
Deplorable
very bad and unacceptable, often in a way that shocks people
Egregious
extremely bad
Tyranny
- ) unfair or cruel use of power or authority
2. ) the rule of a tyrant; a country under this rule
Tyrant
a person who has complete power in a country and uses it in a cruel and unfair way
Exportable
- To send or transport (a commodity, for example) abroad, especially for trade or sale.
- To cause the spread of (an idea, for example) in another part of the world; transmit.
- Computers
a. To send (data) from one program to another: “You’ll need to export your spreadsheet file into a desktop publishing program” (Jon Pepper).
b. To use an application to store (data) on disk, usually for use by another program.
Commodity
- ) a product or a raw material that can be bought and sold
- ) a thing that is useful or has a useful quality
Enshrine
to make a law, right, etc. respected or official, especially by stating it in an important written document
Neoliberal
relating to a type of liberalism that believes in a global free market, without government regulation, with businesses and industry controlled and run for profit by private owners
Technocratic
having or showing expert knowledge in science, engineering, etc. and having a lot of power in politics and/or industry
IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international financial institution, headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of 190 countries “working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.”
Joseph Stiglitz
Joseph Eugene Stiglitz is an American economist and public policy analyst, who is University Professor at Columbia University. He is a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and the John Bates Clark Medal.
Peremptory
(especially of somebody’s manner or behaviour) expecting to be obeyed immediately and without questioning or refusing
Ubiquitous
seeming to be everywhere or in several places at the same time; very common
BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party is one of two major political parties in India, along with the Indian National Congress. It has been the ruling political party of the Republic of India since 2014. The BJP is a right-wing party, and its policy has historically reflected Hindu nationalist positions.
Spatial
relating to space and the position, size, shape, etc. of things in it
Metropole
The metropole is the homeland or central territory of a colonial empire.
Periphery
- ) the outer edge of a particular area
2. ) the less important part of something, for example of a particular activity or of a social or political group
Univocal
(of a word or term) having only one possible meaning; unambiguous.
Fin de Siécle
- ) relating to or characteristic of the end of a century, especially the 19th century.
- ) decadent
Decadent
- ) characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline.
- ) luxuriously self-indulgent.
Antonio Francesco Gramsci
was an Italian Marxist philosopher, journalist, linguist, writer, and politician. He wrote on philosophy, political theory, sociology, history, and linguistics.
Palimpsest
an ancient document from which some or all of the original text has been removed and replaced by a new text
Kosovo
Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a partially recognised state in Southeast Europe. It lies at the centre of the Balkans, occupying an area of 10,887 km², with a population of c. 1.8 million
Gujarat
a state on the western coast of India with a coastline of 1,600 km
Syncretic
characterized or brought about by a combination of different forms of belief or practice.
Enigmatic
mysterious and difficult to understand
Natal
relating to the place where or the time when somebody was born
Bedfast
confined to bed (by illness)
Marcus Guevara
Marcus Guevara is a Texas native and the author of the philosophical book “Hacking Theology”. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a master’s degree in Cybersecurity. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree, Marcus started his career as an integrations software developer.
Angela Davis
Angela Yvonne Davis is an American political activist, philosopher, academic, scholar, and author. She is a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. A Marxist, Davis was a longtime member of the Communist Party USA and is a founding member of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism.
nos·tal·gie de la boue
a desire for degradation and depravity.
Depravity
the state of being morally bad; morally bad acts
Degradation
- ) a situation in which somebody has lost all self-respect and the respect of other people
- ) the process of something being damaged or made worse
Martinician
Martinique is a rugged Caribbean island that’s part of the Lesser Antilles.
Greater Antilles / Upper Antilles
The Greater Antilles is a grouping of the larger islands in the Caribbean Sea, including Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. Six island states share the region of the Greater Antilles, with Haiti and the Dominican Republic sharing the island of Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Haiti and The Dominican Republic
Lesser Antilles/ Lower Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. Most of them are part of a long, partially volcanic island arc between the Greater Antilles to the north-west and the continent of South America.
Gillo Pontecorvo
Gilberto “Gillo” Pontecorvo was an Italian filmmaker. He worked as a film director for more than a decade before his best known film La battaglia di Algeri was released. It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 19
Mujahideen
Muslims who fight on behalf of the faith or the Muslim community (ummah).
Ali Shariati
Ali Shariati Mazinani was an Iranian revolutionary and sociologist who focused on the sociology of religion.
Sociology
the scientific study of the nature and development of society and social behaviour
Giles Kepel
Gilles Kepel, is a French political scientist and Arabist, specialized in the contemporary Middle East and Muslims in the West. He is Professor at the Université Paris Sciences et Lettres and director of the Middle East and Mediterranean Program at PSL, based at Ecole Normale Supérieure.
Arabist
- ) a person who studies Arabic civilization or language
2. ) relating to Arabic civilization or language.
Contemporary
- ) living or occurring at the same time.
- ) belonging to or occurring in the present.
- ) a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another.
Mostakbimie
The arrogant
Rnostadafine
The weakened or disinherited
Khomeini
Sayyid Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, also known as Ayatollah Khomeini, was an Iranian political and religious leader.
Richard Perle
Richard Norman Perle is an American political advisor who served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs under President Ronald Reagan. He began his political career as a senior staff member to Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson on the Senate Armed Services Committee in the 1970s.
Trepidation
great worry or fear about something unpleasant that may happen
Supranational
involving more than one country
Hegemonic
showing control by one country, organization, etc. over other countries, etc. within a particular group
Quasi-
- ) that appears to be something but is not really so
2. ) partly; almost
Aramrtya Sen
is an Indian economist and philosopher, who since 1972 has taught and worked in the United Kingdom and the United States
Proleptic
the foreshadowing, or anticipation, of future event
Poignant
having a strong effect on your feelings, especially in a way that makes you feel sad
Psyche
the mind; your deepest feelings and attitudes
Célèbre
- ) a legal case that excites widespread interest
2. ) a notorious person, thing, incident, or episode
Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic.
Phenomenology
the branch of philosophy that deals with what you see, hear, feel, etc. in contrast to what may actually be real or true about the world
Dissonance
1.) a combination of musical notes that do not sound pleasant together
2.) lack of agreement
Cognitive Dissonance
the state of having thoughts that are not consistent, especially relating to beliefs, behaviour and attitudes
Mission Civilisatrice
As the primary rationalization for colonialism, the “civilizing mission” signified France’s attempt to convert its colonial subjects into French people. Whereas the British tended to reject the notion that an Indian, for example, might become British, the French believed that if properly taught French values and the French language, Algerians and Vietnamese alike would slowly evolve and become French.
Associationism
the theory that we think and learn by connecting many different very simple ideas in our minds
Albert Memmi
Albert Memmi was a French-Tunisian writer and essayist of Tunisian-Jewish origin
Caustic
- ) (of a chemical substance) able to destroy or dissolve (remove or destroy by a chemical process) other substances
- ) critical in a bitter or sarcastic way
Senatus Consulte
A sénatus-consulte was a feature of French law during the French Consulate, First French Empire and Second French Empire.
Phantasmic
Of, relating to, or in the nature of an illusion; lacking reality:
FLN
The National Liberation Front is a nationalist political party in Algeria. It was the principal nationalist movement during the Algerian War and the sole legal and ruling political party of the Algerian state until other parties were legalised in 1989.
Exilic
relating to a period of exile, especially that of the Jewish people in Babylon in the 6th century BC.
Exile
- ) the state of being sent to live in another country that is not your own, especially for political reasons or as a punishment
- ) a person who chooses, or is forced, to live away from his or her own country political exiles
Liquidation
- ) the process of closing a company, selling what it owns and paying its debts
- ) the action of selling something to get money or to avoid losing money
Metropolis
a very large or important city — usually singular
Pompous
having or showing the attitude of people who speak and behave in a very formal and serious way because they believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people
Pragmatic
dealing with the problems that exist in a specific situation in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on ideas and theories
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
was a German philosopher considered one of the most important figures in German idealism.
Nil
- ) none at all : zero
2. ) a score of zero
Lament
to express sorrow, regret, or unhappiness about something
Lamentation
an expression of great sorrow or deep sadness
Lucid
- ) very clear and easy to understand
2. ) able to think clearly
Lucid Dream
Lucid dreams are when you know that you’re dreaming while you’re asleep. You’re aware that the events flashing through your brain aren’t really happening. But the dream feels vivid and real. You may even be able to control how the action unfolds, as if you’re directing a movie in your sleep.Ju
Interlocutor
a person who is having a conversation with you
Metropolitan
of or relating to a large city and the surrounding cities and towns
Racketeers
a person who makes money through illegal activities
Compradores
a person within a country who acts as an agent for foreign organizations engaged in investment, trade, or economic or political exploitation.
Peasant
- ) poor farmer or farm worker who has low social status — used especially to refer to poor people who lived in Europe in the past or to poor people who live in some countries around the world today
- ) : a person who is not educated and has low social status
Peasantry
all the peasants living in an area or country
Demolition
deliberate destruction of a building or other structure
Mercenary
- ) a soldier who is paid by a foreign country to fight in its army : a soldier who will fight for any group or country that hires him
- ) hired to fight
- ) caring only about making money
Eclipse
- ) an occasion when the sun looks like it is completely or partially covered with a dark circle because the moon is between the sun and the Earth
- ) an occasion when the moon looks like it is completely or partially covered with a dark circle because the Earth’s shadow is on it
- ) a loss of power, success, popularity, etc.
- ) to cause an eclipse of (the sun or moon)
- ) to make (something) less important or popular
- ) to do or be much better than (someone or something)
Alienate
- ) to make (someone) unfriendly : to cause (someone) to stop being friendly, helpful, etc., towards you
- ) to cause (someone) to feel that she or he no longer belongs in a particular group, society, etc.
Alien
- ) not familiar or like other things you have known : different from what you are used to
- ) from another country
- ) too different from something to be acceptable or suitable
- ) from somewhere other than the planet Earth
- ) a person who was born in a different country and is not a citizen of the country in which he or she now lives
- ) a creature that comes from somewhere other than the planet Earth
Fascism
- ) A way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government
- ) very harsh control or authority
Georges Eugéne Sorel
Georges Eugène Sorel was a French social thinker, political theorist, historian, and later journalist. He has inspired theories and movements grouped under the name of Sorelianism.
Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels, sometimes anglicised as Frederick Engels, was a German philosopher, critic of political economy, historian, political theorist and revolutionary socialist.
Numerus Clausus
a quantity fixed as the maximal number or percentage (as of applicants of a particular race or class) admissible to an academic institution.
Malcontent
a person who is always or often unhappy or angry about something
Servitude
the condition of being a slave or of having to obey another person
Genocide
the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group
Indelible
- ) (of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed.
2. ) not able to be forgotten or removed.
Bile
- ) a yellow or greenish liquid that is made by the liver and that helps the body to digest fats
- ) anger or hatred
Egoism/ Egotism
the feeling or belief that you are better, more important, more talented, etc., than other people
Recrimination
an angry statement in which you accuse or criticize a person who has accused or criticized you
Cohesive
closely united; causing people to be closely united
Imbibe
- ) to drink (something)
2. ) to drink alcohol
Inaptitude
lack of suitability or skill
Solemn
- ) very serious or formal in manner, behavior, or expression
- ) sad and serious
- ) done or made sincerely
Multitudinous
very many
Interminable
having or seeming to have no end : continuing for a very long time
Epoch
a period of time that is very important in history
Odyssey
1.) A long journey full of adventures
2 A series of experiences that give knowledge or understanding to someone
Mercantilism
- ) belied in the benefits of profitable trading; commercialism.
- ) the economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances, which a government should encourage by means of protectionism.
Commercialism
- ) emphasis on the maximizing of profit.
- ) the attitude or actions of people who are influenced too strongly by the desire to earn money or buy goods rather than by other values
Protectionism
the practice of helping businesses and industries in your own country by making laws that limit and tax products imported from other countries
Apartheid
a former social system in South Africa in which black people and people from other racial groups did not have the same political and economic rights as white people and were forced to live separately from white people
Prowess
great ability or skill
Damocles
a courtier of ancient Syracuse held to have been seated at a banquet beneath a sword hung by a single hair
Courtier
a member of a royal court
Quarry
- ) an animal or person that is being hunted or chased
- ) a place where large amounts of stone are dug out of the ground
- ) to dig or take (stone or other materials) from a quarry
- ) to make a quarry in (a place) — usually used as (be) quarried
Hauteur
haughtiness of manner; disdainful pride.
Sept
a clan, originally one in Ireland.
Petrification
- ) the process by which organic matter exposed to minerals over a long period is turned into a stony substance.
- ) a state of extreme fear, making someone unable to move.
- ) an organic object that has been turned to stone.
Vis-a-vis
A French phrase meaning face to face, used to mean in relation to.
Vendetta
- ) A very long and violent fight between two families or groups : blood feud
- ) A series of acts done by someone over a long period of time to cause harm to a disliked person or group
Ethnologist
a person who studies different societies and cultures
Perenniality
the quality or condition of being perennial
Perennial
- ) of a plant : living for several years or for many years : having a life cycle that is more than two years long
- ) existing or continuing in the same way for a long time
- ) happening again and again
Phantasm
something that exists only in a person’s mind
Phantasmic
Of, relating to, or in the nature of an illusion; lacking reality
Moudjahidine
Arabic term that broadly refers to Islamic guerrillas who engage in jihad, interpreted in a jurisprudence of Islam as the fight on behalf of God, religion or the community.
Jihad
a war fought by Muslims to defend or spread their beliefs
Jurisprudence
the study of law
Sentinels
- ) a soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch.
- ) a thing that acts as an indicator of the presence of disease.
Caustic
- ) able to destroy or burn something by chemical action
2. ) very harsh and critical
Hillock
A small hill
Conjure
- ) to make (something) appear or seem to appear by using magic
- ) to make you think of (something)
- ) to create or imagine (something)
Exorcise
to force (an evil spirit) to leave
Ablution
the act of washing yourself — usually plur
Séance
a meeting where people try to communicate with the spirits of dead people
