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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Remiss
- it would be very remiss of me not to pass on that information - the government has been remiss in its duties |
Lacking care or attention to duty; negligent
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Animosity
-he no longer felt any animosity toward her - the animosity between the King and his brother - the five decided to put aside their animosities |
Strong hostility
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non·plussed
- he would be completely nonplussed and embarrassed at the idea |
(of a person) Surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react
(of a person) Not disconcerted; unperturbed |
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Badinage
- cultured badinage about art and life |
Humorous or witty conversation
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Reprieve (ree-preeve)
- under the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were reprieved - the threatened pits could be reprieved |
Cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, esp. someone condemned to death)
Abandon or postpone plans to close or put an end to (something) |
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Mordant
- a mordant sense of humor |
Having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting
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Obviate
- the Venetian blinds obviated the need for curtains - a parachute can be used to obviate disaster |
Remove (a need or difficulty)
Avoid; prevent |
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Privation
- years of rationing and privation - the privations of life at the front - cold is the privation of heat |
A state in which things that are essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking
The loss or absence of a quality or attribute that is normally present |
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Vouchsafe (vouch safe)
- it is a blessing vouchsafed him by heaven - you'd never vouchsafed that interesting tidbit before |
Give or grant (something) to (someone) in a gracious or condescending manner
Reveal or disclose (information) |
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Cognisant
- statesmen must be cognisant of the political boundaries within which they work |
Having knowledge or being aware of
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Hornswoggled
- you mean to say you were hornswoggled? |
Get the better of (someone) by cheating or deception
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Dishabille
- the relaxed dishabille of Lely's portraits - the paintings of Venus all shared the same state of dishabille |
The state of being only partly, or scantily clothed
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Austerity
- he was noted for his austerity and his authoritarianism OR - the room was decorated with a restraint bordering on austerity OR - a simple life of prayer and personal austerity OR - a period of austerity - austerity measures |
Sternness or severity of manner or attitude
Extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance Conditions characterized by severity, sternness, or asceticism Difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce a budget deficit, esp. by reducing public expenditure |
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Abreast
- the path was wide enough for two people to walk abreast - they were riding three abreast OR - the cart came abreast of the Americans in their rickshaw OR - keeping abreast of developments |
Side by side and facing the same way
Alongside or even with something Up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information |
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Frivolous
- rules to stop frivolous lawsuits |
Not having any serious purpose or value
(of a person) Carefree and not serious |
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Curt
- his reply was curt |
Rudely brief
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Terse
- a terse statement |
Sparing in the use of words; abrupt
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Pithy
- she expressed herself pithily |
(of language or style) Concise and forcefully expressive
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Compendious
- a compendious study - that was a compendious explanation, old chap |
Containing or presenting the essential facts of something in a comprehensive but concise way
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Laconic
- his laconic reply suggested a lack of interest in the topic |
(of a person, speech, or style of writing) Using very few words
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Pejorative
- permissiveness is used almost universally as a pejorative term |
Expressing contempt or disapproval
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