Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
49 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
|
tommyrot (TOM-ee-rot) noun
|
Nonsense; foolishness.
[From English dialectal tommy (fool), shortening of Thomas + English rot.] |
From English
|
|
|
merry-andrew (MER-ee AN-droo) noun
|
A clown.
[From English merry + generic use of proper name Andrew.] |
From English
|
|
|
garth (garth) noun
|
A small yard surrounded by a cloister. Also known as cloister garth.
[From Middle English, from Old Norse (garthr) yard. From Indo-European gher- (to enclose or grasp) also court, orchard, kindergarten, French jardin (garden), choir, courteous, Hindi gherna (to surround), yard, and horticulture.] |
From Old Norse
|
|
|
gulosity (gyoo-LOS-i-tee) noun
|
Gluttony; greediness.
[From Late Latin gulositas, from Latin gulosus (gluttonous), from gula (gullet, gluttony).] |
From Latin
|
|
|
synesthesia or synaesthesia (sin-uhs-THEE-zhuh, -zhee-uh) noun
|
1. A sensation felt part of the body when stimulus is applied to another.
2. (In literature) Using an unrelated sense to describe something, e.g. warm sounds or fragrant words. [From New Latin syn- (together) + -esthesia, from Greek aisthesis (sensation or perception). From Indo-European au- (to perceive) also audio, audience, audit, obey, oyez, auditorium, anesthesia, and aesthetic are derived.] |
From Latin
|
|
|
anagnorisis (an-ag-NOR-uh-sis) noun
|
The moment of recognition or discovery (in a play, etc.)
[From Greek anagnorizein (to recognize or discover). From Indo-European root gno- (to know) that is the ancestor of such words as know, can, notorious, notice, connoisseur, recognize, diagnosis, ignore, annotate, noble, and narrate.] |
From Greek
|
|
|
bricolage (bree-ko-LAZH) noun
|
Something created using a mix of whatever happens to be available.
[From French bricolage (do-it-yourself job), from bricoler (to putter around, to do odd jobs), from bricole (trifle), from Italian briccola.] |
From French
|
|
|
shivaree (shiv-uh-REE) noun, also chivaree, chivari, charivari
|
A noisy, mock serenade to a newly married couple, involving the banging of kettles, pots and pans.
[From French charivari (din, hullabaloo).] |
From French
|
|
|
trow (tro) verb tr., intr.
|
To believe, think, suppose, or trust.
[From Middle English, from Old English, from Indo-European deru- (to be firm) that's the source of such other words as truth, trust, betroth, tree, endure, and druid.] |
From Old English
|
|
|
verily (VER-uh-lee) adverb
|
In truth, indeed, truly, certainly.
[From Middle English verraily, from verrai/verray (very), from Old French verai (true), from vulgar Latin veracus, from Latin verax (truthful).] |
From Latin
|
|
|
mayhap (may-HAP, MAY-hap) adverb
|
Perhaps.
[From the phrase 'it may hap', from Middle English hap, from Old Norse happ (luck, chance).] |
From Old Norse
|
|
|
howbeit (hou-BEE-it) adverb
|
Nevertheless.
Although. [Originally from the expression 'how be it' (however it may be). Two cousins of this word are sobeit (provided that; if) and albeit (although it be). Only albeit remains in wider currency.] |
|
|
|
howbeit (hou-BEE-it) conjunction
|
Although.
[Originally from the expression 'how be it' (however it may be). Two cousins of this word are sobeit (provided that; if) and albeit (although it be). Only albeit remains in wider currency.] |
|
|
|
levin (LEV-in) noun
|
Lightning; a bright light.
[From Middle English levene. From Indo-European leuk- (light) that's resulted in other words such as lunar, lunatic, light, lightning, lucid, illuminate, illustrate, translucent, lux, and lynx.] |
From Middle English
|
|
|
schadenfreude (SHAAD-n-froi-duh) noun
|
Pleasure derived from others' misfortunes.
[From German Schadenfreude, from Schaden (damage, harm) + Freude (joy).] |
From German
|
|
|
agitprop (AJ-it-prop) noun
|
Propaganda, especially one that's political in nature,
disseminated through art, drama, literature, etc. [From Russian Agitprop, from agitatsiya (agitation) + propaganda.] |
From Russian
|
|
|
ananda (AH-nan-duh) noun
|
Pure bliss.
[From Sanskrit ananda (joy).] |
From Sanskrit
|
|
|
soupcon or soupçon (soop-SON, SOOP-son) noun
|
A very small amount.
[From French soupçon (suspicion), from Latin suspicere (to look from below, or suspect). From Indo-European spek- (to observe) also suspect, spectrum, bishop (literally, overseer), espionage, despise, and telescope.] |
From Latin
|
|
|
schlimazel or shlimazel (shli-MAH-zuhl) noun
|
Someone prone to having extremely bad luck.
[From Yiddish shlim (bad, wrong) + mazl (luck). A related term is mazel tov (literally, good luck) used to convey congratulations or best wishes.] |
From Yiddish
|
|
|
wonk (wongk) noun
|
An expert who studies a subject or issue thoroughly and excessively.
[Of unknown origin.] |
|
|
|
ducat (DUK-uht) noun
|
1. An admission ticket.
2. A piece of money. 3. Any of various gold coins formerly used in some European countries. [From Middle English, from Late Latin ducy (a territory ruled by a duke or a duchess).] |
From Latin
|
|
|
boffo (BOF-o) adjective
|
1. (Of a movie, play, or some other show) Extremely successful.
2. (Of a laugh) uproarious, hearty. [Of uncertain origin. Probably a blend of box office or an alteration of buffo, bouffe, or boffola. The term was popularized by Variety, a magazine for the U.S. entertainment industry.] |
|
|
|
boffo (BOF-o) noun
|
1. A great success.
2. A hearty laugh. 3. A gag or punch-line that elicits uproarious laughter. [Of uncertain origin. Probably a blend of box office or an alteration of buffo, bouffe, or boffola. The term was popularized by Variety, a US entertainment industry magazine.] |
|
|
|
frag (frag) noun
|
Fragmentation grenade: a grenade designed to scatter shrapnel over a large area.
[From shortening of fragmentation.] |
|
|
|
frag (frag) verb tr.
|
To kill (especially an unpopular superior) by throwing a grenade or other explosive.
[From shortening of fragmentation.] |
|
|
|
boffin (BOF-in) noun
|
A scientist, especially one involved in research.
[Of unknown origin.] |
|
|
|
lassitude (LAS-i-tood, -tyood) noun
|
Weariness; listlessness; lethargy.
[From French, from Latin lassus (weary). From Indo-European le- (to let go or slacken) also late, last, alas, allegiance, and lenient.] |
From Latin
|
|
|
calefacient (cal-uh-FAY-shunt) noun
|
A substance (e.g. mustard) that produces a sensation of warmth when applied to a part of the body.
[From Latin from calere (to be warm) + facere (to make). Also chafe, chauffeur (literally, a stoker) and nonchalant.] |
From Latin
|
|
|
calefacient (cal-uh-FAY-shunt) adjective
|
Producing warmth; heating.
[From Latin from calere (to be warm) + facere (to make). Other (some hot, some not) words derived from same root are chafe, chauffeur (literally, a stoker) and nonchalant.] |
From Latin
|
|
|
salubrious (suh-LOO-bree-uhs) adjective
|
Promoting health or well-being; wholesome.
[From Latin salubris, from salus (health), from Indo-European sol- (whole) also solid, soldier, salutary, sage, salute, salvage, safe, solicit, solemn, and consolidate.] |
From Latin
|
|
|
armillary (AHR-muh-ler-ee, ahr-MIL-uh-ree) adjective
|
Of or pertaining to rings, circles, or hoops.
[From Latin armilla (bracelet, ring), from armus (shoulder).] |
From Latin
|
|
|
bonhomie (bon-uh-MEE) noun
|
Friendliness; affability; geniality.
[From French bonhomie, from bonhomme (good-natured man), from bon (good) + homme (man).] |
From French
|
|
|
hebetudinous (heb-i-TOOD-n-uhs -TYOOD-) adjective
|
Dull or lethargic, especially relating to the mind.
[From Late Latin hebetudo (dullness), from Latin hebes (dull).] |
From Latin
|
|
|
polyonymous (pol-ee-ON-uh-muhs) adjective
|
Having or known by many names.
[From Greek polyonymos, from poly- (many) + -onyma (name).] |
From Greek
|
|
|
magisterial (maj-uh-STEER-ee-uhl) adjective
|
1. Having the characteristics of a master or teacher; authoritative.
2. Domineering or overbearing. 3. Of or relating to a magistrate. [From Latin magister (master), from Indo-European meg- (great) also magnificent, maharajah, mahatma, master, mistress, maestro, maximum, and magnify.] |
From Latin
|
|
|
heretic (HER-i-tik) noun
|
One who holds unorthodox or unconventional beliefs.
[From Middle English heretik, from Greek hairetikos (able to choose), from haireisthai (to choose).] |
From Greek
|
|
|
heretic (HER-i-tik) adjective
|
Not conforming to established beliefs.
[From Middle English heretik, from Greek hairetikos (able to choose), from haireisthai (to choose).] |
From Greek
|
|
|
fogram or fogrum (FO-gruhm) noun
|
A person with old-fashioned or overly conservative attitudes.
[Of uncertain origin.] |
|
|
|
stump speech (stump speech) noun
|
A political speech, delivered on a campaign tour.
[Originally, campaigning politicians often stood on tree stumps when addressing voters. Today, the stump is used metaphorically in expressions such as "stump speech" (a campaign speech) or "on the stump" (on the campaign trail).] |
|
|
|
spin doctor (spin DOK-tuhr) noun
|
A representative who is adept in presenting a favorable interpretation of events, utterances, and actions for a politician or some other public figure; one who manipulates news.
[Spin, from ballgames where spinning a ball helps a player project it in the desired direction; doctor (expert) or to doctor (to tamper or falsify).] |
|
|
|
October surprise (ok-TOH-buhr suhr-PRYZ) noun
|
A last minute surprise, especially one orchestrated by a candidate to influence an election.
[An October surprise stems from the belief that a significant event taking place just before the election would influence the voters and change the result. The term originated in the 1980 US presidential elections.] |
|
|
|
ward heeler (ward HEE-luhr) noun
|
A low-level political operative who solicits votes and performs chores for his political bosses or political machine. Also called heeler.
[From ward, a subdivision of a city for voting or administrative purposes. Heeler, from a hanger-on following at the heels of his boss, and reference to his door-to-door canvassing for votes. The term has negative connotations and a ward heeler is generally considered to be an unscrupulous character.] |
|
|
|
ostracize (OS-truh-syz) verb tr.
|
To exclude or shun from a group.
[From Greek ostrakizein, from ostrakon (shell or potsherd), from the fact that in ancient Greece these were used as ballots in voting to banish someone. From Indo-European ost- (bone) also oyster, osteopathy, ossify, and Sanskrit asthi (bone).] |
From Greek
|
|
|
Cook's tour (kooks toor) noun
eponym |
A guided but cursory tour, covering only the main features.
[After Thomas Cook (1808-1892), English travel agent.] |
Eponym
|
|
|
Horatio Alger (huh-RAY-shee-oh, ho- AL-juhr) adjective
eponym |
Of, or characteristic of the novels of Horatio Alger, Jr. which
depicted an impoverished youth who achieved success and great wealth through hard work, honesty, and virtue. [After Horatio Alger, Jr. (1832-1899), author of hundreds of novels and stories for young adults. His books were immensely successful, selling hundreds of millions of copies.] |
Eponym
|
|
|
sardoodledom (SAR-doo-duhl-duhm) noun
eponym |
Plays having contrived melodramatic plot, concentrating excessively on the technique to the exclusion of characterization.
[After Victorien Sardou (1831-1908), French playwright; coined by playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950).] |
Eponym
|
|
|
Cyprian (SIP-ree-uhn) adjective
eponym |
1. Of, or pertaining to Cyprus.
2. Lewd. 1. A native or inhabitant of Cyprus; a Cypriot. 2. A lewd person. [From Greek Kypros (Cyprus), birthplace of Aphrodite (also called Cypris), the goddess of love and beauty.] |
Eponym
|
|
|
Cyprian (SIP-ree-uhn) noun
eponym |
1. A native or inhabitant of Cyprus; a Cypriot.
2. A lewd person. [From Greek Kypros (Cyprus), birthplace of Aphrodite (also called Cypris), the goddess of love and beauty.] |
Eponym
|
|
|
darbies (DAR-bees) noun
eponym |
Handcuffs; manacles.
[Shortening of Father Darby's/Derby's bands (or bonds). Apparently after the rigid terms of a 16th century English usurer of that name.] |
Eponym
|
