Writing Flashcards
Surmise
suppose it’s true w/out evidence
Degenerate
loss of physical, mental or moral qualities
indigent
poor
culmination
highest/climactic point
repugnant
distasteful/disrespectful
distasteful
offensive/unpleasant
disgusting
feeling of revulsion/disapproval
revulsion
loathing
annex
to add on, like to a document
lobby
a room that one or more corridors/rooms lead or a group of people seeking to influence politicians and public officials
subscribe
agree/receive something regularly via payment
archetype
a typical example/imitation of an original
relegate
consign or dismiss to inferior rank
impudent
disrespectful
clandestine
done secretively
precedent
earlier event/action used as an example
pariah
outcast
mainstream
normal/conventional
conventional
in accordance with what is generally done or believed
accordance
to conform
conform
compliance
hegemony
leadership/dominance of one country/social group over others
caste
hereditary classes - privileges or oppression inherited by descendants
visceral
it’s about deep inward feelings rather than intellect
contemporary
living/occurring at the same time
caucus
closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction to decide on and promote an agreed-upon policy
subsidize
aid or promote with public money
contrive
create in an artistic or ingenious manner/bring about by stratagem or w difficulty
inquisition
trick of war to outwit the enemy/scheme to gain something
lest
for fear that
avail
use/help/benefit
blue collar
factory jobs/hard labor
glaring
obvious/reflecting strong light/staring fiercely
prevalent
widespread
farce
absurd
dissident
person who opposes official policy
belie
disguise/betray/contradict
disparity
great difference
debate
formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting in which opposing arguments are put forward
debase
reduce in quality or value/degrade
efface
erase from something/(self) make oneself insignificant
succumb
fail to resist
audacious
taking bold risks/disrespectful
conspicuous
standing out/attracting attention/clearly visible
engross
absorb all the attention/gain or keep exclusive possession of
inundated
overwhelm/flood
exhort
strongly urge
upbraid
scold
daunt
make someone feel intimidated or apprehensive
alight
descend from the train, bus or air/(alight on) means to find by chance
variegated
exhibiting different colors
sect
group of people w different religious beliefs separated from an established Church/philosophical or political group regarded as extreme or dangerous
delinquent
in arrears/tendency to commit crime
brazen
bold w/out shame
lament
passionate expression of sorrow
intercede
intervene on behalf of another
disquiet
anxiety/worry
disquietude
state of anxiety/worry
deluge
severe (or biblical) flood of water/rain/ideas
vigilant
keeping careful watch for danger
jurisdiction
power to make legal decisions/judgments
confer
grant/bestow/have discussions to exchange ideas
patron
person who gives financial support to another person or organization/customer
economics
the social science that studies the production, distribution and consumption of goods/services. Study of behavior, decisions and interaction of people. Study of the transfer of wealth. Study of how individuals, governments and businesses allocate scarce resources. Study of how people use resources and respond to incentives
penitent
repentant/feeling and showing sorrow and regret for doing wrong
penal
relating to punishment
relinquish
give up
trepidation
fear/agitation about what might happen
labor union
organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, informed to protect and further the workers’ rights and interests
plausible deniability
a subject (like a high official) can safely deny knowledge of what someone else did because there’s no evidence to prove they know
explicit
stated clearly, leaving no room for doubt
implicit
suggested, leaving room for doubt
disaffected
dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them
excise
tax levied on goods produced or sold w/in a country and on licenses for certain activities/cut out
defect
shortcoming/lack
vehement
showing strong feeling
blue collar
factory jobs/hard labor
white collar
salaried, educated professional
displace
take over place or position/force someone to leave somewhere
industry
economic activity of processing of raw materials/manufacture of goods in factories
industrialize
build up a system of industries
pink collar
clerical/nursing
shore up
support/keep something from falling by placing something under or against it
policy
principle adopted by a party, govt, business, individual
regulation
rule maintained by an authority
depredation
attacking/plundering
plunder
steal using force
fanfare
media attention/short ceremonial tune to introduce someone
sentiment
attitude/opinion/belief
forefront
leading and most important position
ravage
damage
ageism
discriminations based on age
convey
transport from one place to another
unassuming
not arrogant/modest
decorum
good behavior
matriculate
be enrolled in college
appropriate
take without permission (verb)/proper considering the circumstances
conciliatory
intended to placate or pacify
jalopy
old car in a dilapidated condition
dubious
doubting/suspect
sullen
gloomy/sulky/depressed
undertake
take on/promise to do something
ardent
enthusiastic/passionate
echelon
level or rank
remunerate
pay for services
pathos
evoke pity/sadness
maladjusted
unable to cope w the demands of a normal social environment
zealous
showing zeal. zeal is enthusiasm
indispensable
necessary
indefinite
lasting for unknown length of time/vague
induce
persuade/bring about/produce electric charge
aggrieve
resentment at having been unfairly treated
staunch
loyal
impasse
deadlock/no progress
delegation
body of delegates
grievance
real or imagined wrong for which there is resentment
commerce
buying and selling
council
legislative body elected to manage a city, council or other municipal district
repudiate
refuse to accept/deny
obstinate
refusing to change one’s opinion or action
vex
make someone feel annoyed, frustrated, worried
pedantry
excessive concern w minor details
erudite
smart
assent
approval/agreement
inveigle
persuade someone to do something through deception or flattery
solicit
ask for
loiter
stand around idly w/out purpose
municipal
relating to a city or town or its governing body
contingent
dependent on/subject to chance (the contingent nature of this circumstance)
antithesis
direct opposite of someone or something else
faction
small organized dissenting group w/in a larger one, esp in politics
enjoin
instruct or urge to do something
sacrilegious
involving or committing sacrilege
subversive
seeking or intended to subvert
poignant
evoking sadness
egalitarian
principle that all people are equal/a person who advocates for egalitarian principles
tempered
having a specified temper or disposition (ill-tempered)/act as a neutralizing or counterbalancing force to something
remedial
giving or intended as a remedy or cure/intended for students experiencing learning difficulties
affirmative action
(in context of allocation of resources or employment) the practice and policy of favoring individuals belonging to groups known to have been previously discriminated against/aka positive discrimination
vestige
trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists/the smallest amount
benign
gentle, kind, not harmful
outset
the start/from the beginning
pervasive
something unwelcome that’s spreading widely through an area of group of people
insidious
evil
moratorium
temporary prohibition of an activity/legal authorization to debtors to postpone payment
discourse
written or spoken communication
subjugate
bring under domination or control
sanction
official approval/threatened penalty for disobeying a rule
scapegoat
person blamed for the mistakes and wrongdoing of others
polemic
strong verbal or written attack
miscegenation
interbreeding of people of different races
sacrilege
violation of what is sacred
spew
pour out in large quantities
exodus
mass departure of people
influx
mass entry of people
metropolitan
relating to a metropolis
consensus
agreement
law
individual rule in a system of laws
country
nation w its own government
standard
level of quality
incendiary
stirring up conflict/starting fires
dissension
disagreement that leads to discord
sovereign
supreme ruler
closure
ending a debate/act of closing anything/resolution
ratify
validate through signature or formal consent
dispute
disagree
untenable
can’t be maintained or defended against an attack or objection
xenophobia
intense or irrational fear/prejudice against people from other countries
homophobia
intense or irrational fear of homosexuals
transphobia
intense or irrational fear of trans people
unfortunate
unlucky
scuttle
metal container w lid and handle used to fetch coal
peddle
try to sell or promote something
social
relating to society
tyrant
cruel, oppressive ruler
machination
plot/scheme
imbibe
drink
pander
gratify/indulge
raid
sudden attack
loot
steal/slang for money
tenacious
not giving up easily
rancorous
bitterness/resentment
deterrent
thing that discourages
forum
meeting where ideas are exchanged
epidemic
widespread occurrence in a community
pandemic
widespread occurrence over a country or the world
prejudice
opinion not based on reason or actual experience
discrimination
unjust treatment of different categories of people/distinguishing the difference between two things/discern what is high quality
stereotype
widely held, oversimplified idea or image of a person or thing
method
way of doing things
pompous
irritatingly self-important
dogma
principles laid down by authorities as incontrovertibly true
dogmatic
inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true
intuit
understand or work out by instinct
proliferate
multiply
defunct
no longer existing or functioning
muck
dirt
mire
swampy ground
stifle
suffocate/restrain
decisive
settling an issue and producing a definite result
saturate
cause to become soaked w something that no more can be absorbed
foliage
collective plant leaves
temporary
not permanent
temporality
existing w/in or having relationship w time
series
of things, events or people of a similar kind coming one after another
counteract
act against something to neutralize it
establish
set up/bring about
regime
authoritarian government
domestic
relating to the running of a home
history
relating to past events
penetrate
getting through something (to spy on an org, into a market)
malleable
easily influenced/pliable
redundant
unnecessary/superfluous
distinguish
perceive as different
prodigy
a person (esp young) w exceptional abilities
dynamic
process or system/positive in attitude and full of energy
institution
society or org founded for a religious, educational, social purpose
natal
relating to he place or time of one’s birth
disgrace
loss of reputation as the result of dishonorable action/person or thing regarded as shameful
correspond
communicate by exchanging letters/match or agree almost exactly
phenomena
remarkable thing, person or event
integrate
bring into equal participation/combine with another so they become whole
projectile
object propelled through the air
encampment
place w temporary accommodations consisting of huts or tents, typically for troops or nomads
suffrage
the right to vote in political elections
scaffold
raised wooden platform used formerly for the public execution of criminals
transnational
extending or operating across national boundaries
imbibe
drink
flatter
insincere praise
idle
avoiding work/lazy
proverb
short pithy stating a general truth
compel
force or pressure to do something
colloquium
academic conference or seminar
fortune
luck/money
fortunate
favored/materially well-off aka prosperous
mechanism
system of parts working together in a machine
diplomacy
dealing with people in a sensitive, effective way/profession of managing international relations
diplomat
official representing a country abroad
interconnection
mutual connection between two or more things
intersection
point at which two or more things intersect or meet
connection
linking together
cultivate
prepare for gardening/grow or maintain/develop
colonialism
full or partial control over another country, occupying it w settlers and exploiting it economically
liberal
open to new thing, /willing to discard traditional values/respectful of individual rights and freedoms
neoliberal
modified form of liberalism that favors free-market capitalism
euphoria
intense excitement and happiness
pretentious
attempt to impress by feigning having more importance, talent, money than is actually possessed
circumstance
a situation
propriety
conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior
defamation
damaging the good reputation of another
seminar
meeting for training
moreover
as a further matter/besides
chapter
division of a book/someone’s life/a nation’s history/organization
symbiotic
interaction between two organisms living in close physical association
proprietor
owner
movement
changing physical location/people working together for social, political change
legislator
person who makes laws
legislation
laws
scoff
speak to or about something or someone in a derisive, mocking way
exploit
use up in an unfair, selfish way
settler
a person who moves w a group of people to a new country
free market capitalism
society in which an open market sets prices. Supply and prices are based on the demand of the people
proprietary
relating to ownership
distinguish
treat and see as different
distinct
different/physically separate
counterbalance
weight that balances another weight
quality
degree of excellence/standard of something measured against something else
attribute
something caused by something else/permanent quality
inherent
permanent characteristic
disposition
inherent qualities of mind and character
advocate
person who speaks on behalf of another/person who publicly supports a policy
policy
principle of action
undermine
erode the foundation/lessen the effectiveness or power
subvert
undermine authority
concise
giving a lot of info clearly in a few words
express
convey an idea
pithy
concise and forcefully expressive
islamophobia
extreme or irrational fear/prejudice of Islamic religion and Muslims
superfluous
unnecessary
incontrovertible
can’t be denied
oppress
keep someone in subservience and hardship through authority
subservient
obey without question
hardship
suffering
private
not shared w others
tension
stretched tight/mental and emotional strain
metropolis
capital or chief city in a country or area
principle
fundamental truth/rule/morally correct behavior
danger
possibility of suffering harm, injury, trouble
bestow
to confer give (a gift/award)
sorrow
feeling of deep distress aka pain
repentant
expressing and feeling remorse aka guilt (knowing one did wrong)
commodity
raw material or agricultural produce that can be bought and sold/a useful, valuable thing
placate
make someone less angry
pacify
quell/bring peace
dilapidated
in a state of disrepair
enthusiastic
intense approval/enjoyment
delegate
person that represents others/entrust a task to a junior associate
emigrate
leave one’s own home country to settle permanently in another
edifice
a large building/complex system of beliefs
evoke
bring about
daunt
make one feel intimidated or apprehensive aka fearful
underpin
support from below by laying a foundation
snuff
extinguish
anxious
worry, unease
economy
wealth and resources of a country
narrative
spoken or written story
industrialization
development of industries in a country
era
long and distinct period of time with a particular feature aka attribute
luminary
person who inspires or influences (aka affect) others
impose
force something unwelcome to be accepted
circuit
circular line that starts and finishes at the same place
forge
create a new relationship or condition/copy/shape by heating a metal object in a fire
relic
object surviving from an earlier time
tangential
relating to a tangent
practice
application of an idea/business of a doctor or lawyer/repeated action to become proficient at it
progressive
developing gradually, step by step
feminist
person who supports feminism
emphatic
expressing forcibly and clearly
feminism
advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes
passionate
showing or caused by strong feelings
dictator
ruler that obtained power over a country by force
outwit
defeat or deceive by greater ingenuity
autocrat
ruler who has absolute power
tendency
inclination toward a characteristic or behavior
mandate
official order to do something
steward
person employed to manage another’s property or other people
conquest
subjugation of a place or people by military force
capacious
a lot of space/roomy
embed
fix firmly to become integral aka essential
formulaic
containing a verbal formula or set form of words
condone
accept
fluent
express easily and articulately (clearly)
obsolete
no longer needed
anti-Semite
prejudice against Jews
prerogative
right or privilege exclusive to an individual or class
iterate
perform or utter (aka say)
messianic
relating to the messiah (leader or savior of a group or cause)
coherent
logical and consistent
subprime
loan arrangements for borrowers w poor credit that have unfavorable conditions such as high interest rates
determine
cause something to occur/ascertain
temporal
relating to secular, worldly affairs/relating to time
consign
deliver to a person to be sold/assign
content
state of peaceful happiness
retroactive
taking effect from a date in the past
retro
imitative of a style from the recent past
implicate
convey indirectly/bear some responsibility for an action
putative
generally considered or reputed to be (the putative artist of the painting)
communism
from Karl Marx - a far-left wing of economic theory that advocates class war and a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs
socialism
advocates for a society in which the means of production, distribution and exchange should be owned and regulated by the community as a whole - it’s a transitional state between the overthrow of capitalism to the realization of communism
capitalism
economic system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state
presumptuous
failing to observe the limits of what is appropriate
scold
rebuke (aka disapprove) angrily
formal
prim (aka stiff/constituting an important situation/officially sanctioned
bizarre
strange/unusual
alleged
said w/out proof
satiate
fully satisfied
ceremony
formal (conventional) occasion
insatiable
impossible to satisfy
proclivity
tendency to choose or do something
modern
relating to present/recent times
extralegal
not w/in the law
vigilante
self-appointed group of citizens who take law enforcement into their own hands w/out legal authority
dispel
make disappear
purport
falsely claim to be or do something
dismantle
take to pieces
endeavor
attempt to achieve something
deprave
immoral/wicked
cruel
willfully cause pain or suffering w no remorse
marginal
situated at the edge or margin of something
marginalize
treat as insignificant
incise
mark or decorate w a cut
sharp
having an edge or point able to cut/smart/sudden/intense
campaign
organized action to achieve a goal
crusade
campaign concerning a political, social or religious issue
coup
illegal seizure of power from a govt
co-opt
appoint to membership by invitation of existing members/adopt an idea for one’s own use
substance
real, physical matter/essential meaning
substantive
important existence
subordinate
lower in rank
commemorate
show respect/celebrate aka honor
formative
having an important, lasting influence on a person’s development
genocide
deliberate killing of a group of people based on a particular characteristic
scourge
a whip/person or thing that causes great suffering
aloud
audibly, not in a whisper
warp
distort aka twist out of shape
culture
manifestation of human intellect through art, music, writing, etc.
ethnicity
belonging to a group w a common national or cultural tradition
bureau
a drawer/office or govt dept for doing business
bureaucrat
official in a govt dept
bureaucracy
system of govt in which most important decisions are made by state officials then by elected representatives
Marxist
supporter of the theories of Karl Marx
admonish
warn firmly
conjunct
join together
prescribe
recommend as something beneficial
calculate
determine mathematically/intend to have an effect
per capita
for each person
polarize
divide into two contrasting groups
crosshatch
shade an area with intersecting sets of parallel lines
overlay
something laid as a covering over something else
collude
unlawfully cooperate in secret
solidarity
agreement/unity
indict
formally accuse of a crime
democrat
supporter of democracy/member of the political party
republican
supporter of a republic/member of the political party
populist
person who tries to convince people that their concerns are disregarded by the elite
socioeconomic
interaction of social (relating to society) and economic factors
sociocultural
combining social and cultural factors
enable
give the authority to do something
abolish
put an end to
vast
immense, big
ensconce
settle (make permanent home) someone into a comfortable place
inquest
judicial inquiry to ascertain facts relating to an incident
plausible
reasonable
engender
cause a feeling/something to happen
manifesto
public declaration of policy and aims, esp. before an election
prodigy
a person (esp. young) w exceptional abilities
pander
gratify or indulge (aka enjoy)
commercial
engaged with commerce (aka buying and selling), intended to make a profit
apparatus
complex structure within a system or org
render
provide/give
border
line separating two geographical areas
disparate
so different they can’t be compared
sesquicentennial
150th anniversary of an event
organization
body of people w a purpose like a business, society, association (aka group of ppl organized for a purpose)
enact
make law
dialect
language peculiar to a specific region or social group
dialectic
investigating the truth of opinions
perpetuate
continue indefinitely
perpetrate
commit harmful, illegal action
exempt
free from obligation
construct
build/form
pronounce
make the sound of a word in the correct way/formally announce
agency
organization/action to produce an effect
reside
to live in a place/belong by right
commodify
turn into a valuable (important), useful thing
decadent
luxuriously self-indulgent/moral or cultural decline
capitulate
surrender, cease to resist
grammar
structure of language - syntax aka arrangement of words, meaning, morphology aka forms of words
constitute
be part of a whole/establish by law/be equivalent to/combine to form a whole
Semitic
relating to people who speak Semitic languages like Hebrew and Arabic
settle
reach an agreement/pay a debt/secure one’s life in a permanent job or home/rest in a comfy position
manifest
clear or obvious to the eye or mind
contrive
create or bring about by deliberate use of skill and artifice (clever tricks)/do something foolish or create an undesirable situation
expedient
suitable, appropriate, convenient, practical, although immoral
Disparage
Say something or someone has little worth
Arbitrary
Random
Counterpart
A person or thing holding a position or performing a function that corresponds to that of another person or thing in another place
Remnant
Remains
Gradation
Scale of successive changes
Cursory (details, characteristics…)
Hasty therefore not thorough
Bale
Bundle of paper, hay, cotton, etc.
Fetish
Sexual desire is linked to a part of the body or item, excluding ones personhood
Personhood
Quality of being an individual person
Deter
Discourage
Reprehensible
Deserving censure or condemnation
Censure
Express severe disapproval
Condemn
Express complete disapproval
Affront
Action or remark that causes outrage or offense
Illicit
Forbidden by law/rules
Ubiquitous
Present everywhere
Implicit
Implied but not plainly expressed
Explicit
Stated clearly, leaving no room for doubt
Discretion
Freedom to decide what should be done
Abdicate
Fail to fulfill or undertake/renounce ones throne
Coffer
Chest for holding valuables
Injunction
Authoritative warning/order
Jurisprudence
Theory of law
Gauzy
Resembling gauze, thin and translucent
Attenuated
Reduced in force, effect or value/thin
Gossamer
Fine, funky substance consisting of cobwebs
Slipshod
Lack of care, thought, organization
Contiguous
Sharing a common border/touching
Gilded
Embellished with gold
Diatribe
Forceful and bitter verbal attack
Gerrymander
Manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor a political party or class
Clemency
Mercy/lenience
Commute
Travel a distance/shorten
Profligate
Recklessly extravagant or wasteful
Chagrin
Distress or embarrassment
Vestibule
Chamber or lobby opening into another
Prodigy
Young genius
Abjection
Downcast
Hyaline
Glassy
Crest
Peak
Daub
Make dirty
Bestow
To gift
Deterge
Cleanse
Empirical
Based on evidence
Tempestuous
Stormy
Ebullient
Joyous
Connoisseur
Expert judge
Wistful
Longing
Dearth
Shortage
Arduous
Difficult
Diurnal
Daily
Terse
Sparing in the use of words/abrupt
Cacophony
Loud, disorganized sounds
Iconoclast
Person against widely accepted beliefs
Menacing
Dangerous/threatening
Drab
Dull/lacking color
Tempestuous
Turbulent/stormy
Dubious
Hesitating/doubting/not to be relied upon
pipedream
Unattainable or fanciful (over imaginative/unrealistic) hope
Culture
Ideas, customs and social behaviors or a particular people or society
Cultural appropriation
Adoption of elements of a minority culture by the majority culture. There is an innate power imbalance that is being upheld. The people in power get to keep it and continue to rob the voice of the less empowered people. Not a true cultural exchange because there is nothing traded that provides value to both parties. It also leads to stereotypes. It doesn’t show the diversity of one group of people
Zeitgeist
The spirit or mood of a period of history as shown by the ideas or beliefs of that time. Intellectual, cultural and moral climate of a time
Nomenclature
The choosing of names for things
Occult
Supernatural, mystical and magical beliefs & practices/Hidden
Economy
Wealth and resources of a region or country, especially in relation to production and consumption of goods and services
Anglo (diff uses of the word)
Of English descent, born or living in the US is Anglo-American .
a white, English-speaking American as distinct from a Hispanic or other American is Anglo.
Of or relating to both england and France is Anglo-French
Lexicon
the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge
Lexigram
a symbol representing a word, especially one used in learning a language.
Connotation
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning