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50 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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multifarious
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(adj) having great diversity or variety
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The Swiss Army knife has multifarious functions and capabilities; among other things, it can act as a knife, a saw, a toothpick, and a slingshot.
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munificence
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(n) generosity in giving
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The royal family's munificence made everyone else in their country rich.
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myriad
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(adj) consisting of a very great number
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It was difficult to decide what to do Friday night because the city presented as with a myriad possibilities for fun.
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nadir
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(n) the lowest point of something
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My day was boring, but the nadir came when I accidentally spilled a bowl of spaghetti on my head.
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nascent
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(adj) in the process of being born or coming into existence
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Unfortunately, my brilliant paper was only in its nascent form on the morning that it was due.
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nefarious
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(adj) heinously villainous
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Althoug Dr. Meanman's nefarious plot to melt the polar icecaps was terrifying, it was so impractical that nobody really worried about it.
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neophyte
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(n) someone who is young or inexperienced
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As a neophyte in the literary world, Malik had trouble finding a publisher for his first novel.
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obdurate
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(n) unyeilding to persuasion or moral influences
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The obdurate old man refused to take pity on the kittens.
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obfuscate
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(v) to render incomprehensible
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The detective did not want to answer the newspaperman's questions, so he obfuscated the truth.
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oblique
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(adj) diverging from a straight line or course
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Martin's oblique language confused those who listened to him.
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obsequious
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(adj) excessively compliant or submissive
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Mark acted like Janet's servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner.
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obstreperous
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(adj) noisy, unruly
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Billy's obstreperous behavior prompted the librarian to ask him to leave the reading room.
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obtuse
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(adj) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect
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Political opponents warned that the prime minister's obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.
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odious
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(adj) instilling hatred or intense displeasure
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Mark was assigned the odious task of cleaning the cat's litter box.
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officious
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(adj) offering one's services when they are neither wanted nor needed
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Brenda resented Allan's officious behavior when he selected colors that might best improve his artwork.
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opulent
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(adj) characterized by rich abundance verging on ostentation
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The opulent furnishings of the dictator's private compound contrasted harshly with the measger accommodations of her subjects.
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ostensible
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(adj) appearing as supalliatech, seemingly
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Jack's ostensible reason for driving was that airfare was too expensive, but in reality, he was afraid of flying.
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palliate
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(v) to reduce the severity of
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The doctor trusted that the new medication would palliate her patient's discomfort.
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pallid
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(adj) lacking color
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Dr. van Helsing feared that Lucy's pallid complexion was due to an unexplained loss of blood.
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panacea
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(n) a remedy for all ills or difficulties
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Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.
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paragon
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(n) a model of excellence or perfection
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The mythical Helen of Troy was considered a paragon of female beauty
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pariah
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(n) an outcast
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Following the discovery of his plagiarism, Professor Hurley was made a paraiah in all academic circles.
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parsimony
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(n) frugality, stinginess
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Many relatives believed that my aunt's wealth resulted from her parsimony.
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pathos
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(n) an emotion of sympathy
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Martha filled with pathos upon discovering the scrawny, shivering kitten at her door.
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paucity
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(adj) small in quantity
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Gilbert lamaented the paucity of twentieth-century literature courses available at the college.
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pejorative
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(adj) derogatory, uncomplimentary
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The evening's headline news covered an international scandal caused by a pejorative senator had made in reference to a foreign leader.
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pellucid
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(adj) easily intelligible, clear
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Wishing his book to be pellucid to the common man, Albert Camus avoided using complicated grammar when composing The Stranger.
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penurious
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(adj) miserly, stingy
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Stella complained that her husband's penurious ways made it impossible to live the lifestyle she felt she deserved.
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perfidious
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disloyal, unfaithful
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After the official was caught selling government secrets to enemy agents, he was executed for his perfidious ways.
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perfunctory
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showing little interest or enthusiasm
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The radio broadcaster announced the news of the massacre in a surprisingly perfunctory manner.
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pernicious
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(adj) extremely destructive or harmful
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The new government feared that the Communist sympathizers would have a pernicious influence on the nation's stability.
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perspicacity
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(adj) shrewdness, perceptiveness
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The detective was too humble to acknowledge that his perspicacity was the reason for his professional success.
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pertinacious
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(adj)stubbornly persistent
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Harry's parents were frustrated with his pertinacious insistence that a monster lived in his closet; then they opened the closet door and were eaten.
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petulance
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(n) rudeness, irritability
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The nanny resigned after she could no longer tolerate the child's petulance.
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pithy
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(adj) concisely meaningful
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My father's long0winded explanation was a stark constrast to his unusually pithy statements.
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platitude
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an uninspired remark, cliche
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After reading over her paper, Helene concluded that what she had thought were profound insights were actually just platitudes.
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plethora
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(n) an abundance, excess
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The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.
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polemic
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(n) an aggressive argument against a specific opinion
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My brother launched into a polemic against my argument that capitalism was an unjust economic system.
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portent
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(n) an omen
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When a black cat crossed my sister's path while she was walking to school, she took it as a portent that she would do badly on her spelling test.
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precocious
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(adj) advanced, developing ahead of time
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Dereck was so academically precocious that by the time he was 10 years old, he was already in the ninth grade.
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prescient
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(adj) to have foreknowledge of events
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Questioning the fortune cookie's prediction, Ray went in search of the old hermit who was rumored to be prescient.
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primeval
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original, ancient
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The first primates to walk on two legs, called Australopithecus, were the primeval descendants of modern man.
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probity
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(n) virtue, integrity
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Because he was never viewed as a man of great probity, no one was surprised by Mr. Samson's immoral behavior.
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proclivity
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(n) a strong inclination toward something
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In a sick twist of fate, Harold's childhood proclivity for toruring small animals grew into a desire to become a surgeon.
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promulgate
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to proclaim, make known
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The film professor promulgated that both in terms of sex appeal and political intrigue, Sean Connery's James Bond was superior to Roger Moore's.
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propensity
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(n) an inclination, preference
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Dermit has a propensity for dangerous activities such a bungee jumping.
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propitious
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(adj) favorable
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The dark storm cloud visible on the horizon suggested that the weather would not be propitious for sailing.
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prosaic
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(adj) plain, lacking liveliness
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Heather's prosaic recital of the poem bored the audience.
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proscribe
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(v) to condemn, outlaw
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The town council voted to proscribe the sale of alcohol on weekends.
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protean
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(adj) able to change shape; displaying great variety
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Among Nigel's protean talents was his ability to touch the tip of his nose with his tongue.
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