2009 September Week 3

Front 1

SYCOPHANT

Back 1

a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

Front 2

SYLLOGISM

Back 2

1. Logic. an argument the conclusion of which is supported by two premises, of which one (major premise) contains the term (major term) that is the predicate of the conclusion, and the other (minor premise) contains the term (minor term) that is the subject of the conclusion; common to both premises is a term (middle term) that is excluded from the conclusion. A typical form is “All A is C; all B is A; therefore all B is C.”
2. deductive reasoning.
3. an extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument

Front 3

SYMMETRY

Back 3

1. the correspondence in size, form, and arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a plane, line, or point; regularity of form or arrangement in terms of like, reciprocal, or corresponding parts.
2. the proper or due proportion of the parts of a body or whole to one another with regard to size and form; excellence of proportion.
3. beauty based on or characterized by such excellence of proportion.
4. Mathematics.
a. a geometrical or other regularity that is possessed by a mathematical object and is characterized by the operations that leave the object invariant: A circle has rotational symmetry and reflection symmetry.
b. a rotation or translation of a plane figure that leaves the figure unchanged although its position may be altered.
5. Physics. a property of a physical system that is unaffected by certain mathematical transformations as, for example, the work done by gravity on an object, which is not affected by any change in the position from which the potential energy of the object is measured.

Front 4

TACIT

Back 4

1. understood without being openly expressed; implied: tacit approval.
2. silent; saying nothing
3. unvoiced or unspoken

Front 5

TACTIURN

Back 5

1. inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation.
2. dour, stern, and silent in expression and manner.

Front 6

TAWDRY

Back 6

1. (of finery, trappings, etc.) gaudy; showy and cheap.
2. low or mean; base: tawdry motives.

Front 7

TEDIUM

Back 7

the quality or state of being wearisome; irksomeness; tediousness.

Front 8

TEMERITY

Back 8

reckless boldness; rashness.

Front 9

TEMPESTUOUS

Back 9

1. characterized by or subject to tempests
2. of the nature of or resembling a tempest
3. tumultuous; turbulent

Front 10

TENACIOUS

Back 10

1. holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold
2. highly retentive: a tenacious memory.
3. pertinacious, persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.
4. adhesive or sticky; viscous or glutinous.
5. holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough.

Front 11

TENUOUS

Back 11

1. thin or slender in form, as a thread.
2. lacking a sound basis, as reasoning; unsubstantiated; weak: a tenuous argument.
3. thin in consistency; rare or rarefied.
4. of slight importance or significance; unsubstantial: He holds a rather tenuous position in history.
5. lacking in clarity; vague: He gave a rather tenuous account of his past life.

Front 12

TEPID

Back 12

1. moderately warm; lukewarm: tepid water.
2. characterized by a lack of force or enthusiasm

Front 13

TERMAGANT

Back 13

1. a violent, turbulent, or brawling woman.
2. (initial capital letter) a mythical deity popularly believed in the Middle Ages to be worshiped by the Muslims and introduced into the morality play as a violent, overbearing personage in long robes.

Front 14

TOUT

Back 14

1. to solicit business, employment, votes, or the like, importunately.
3. to solicit support for importunately.
4. to describe or advertise boastfully; publicize or promote; praise extravagantly: a highly touted nightclub.
7. a person who solicits business, employment, support, or the like, importunately.
a. a person who gives information on a horse, esp. for a fee.

Front 15

TRANSITORY

Back 15

1. not lasting, enduring, permanent, or eternal.
2. lasting only a short time; brief; short-lived; temporary.