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536 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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capricious
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subject to whim, impulsive, unpredictable
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laconic
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using few words, terse or concise
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dogmatic
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aggressively and arrogantly certain about unproven principles
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paucity
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smallness of number, fewness, scarcity, death
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tangential
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incidental, peripheral, divergent, only slightly or loosely related
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commodious
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roomy
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empirical
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based on observation or experience
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deferential
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showing respect for another's authority
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banal
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drearily commonplace and often predictable; trite
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erudite
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having or showing profound knowledge
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rhapsodize
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to engage in excessive enthusiasm
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nuance
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a subtle difference in meaning or opinion
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draconian
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exceedingly harsh; very severe
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draco malfoy lol
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toady
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one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
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amalgamate
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to bring together, unite
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circumlocution
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indirect and wordy in language
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enigma
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something or someone who baffles understanding and cannot be explained
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didactic
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intended to instruct (overly moralistic)
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ebullient
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extremely lively, enthusiastic
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hackneyed
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unoriginal, trite
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impecunious
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poor, lacking in money
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licentious
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displaying a lack of moral or legal restraints
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licensed to kill
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cataclysmic
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severely destructive
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cantankerous
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disagreeable to deal with; contentious; peevish
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canker sore
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ubiquitous
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being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time; peevish
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chad servedio, hermione
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germane
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being both pertinent and fitting
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surreptitious
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obtained, done, or made by clandestine (secret) or stealthy means
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serpent
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apocryphal
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fictitious, false, or wrong
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dearth
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a lack, scarcity
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indigenous
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originating in a particular region
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maudlin
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weakly sentimental
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nebulous
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vaguely defined, cloudy
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obsequious
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excessively compliant or submissive (use of flattery)
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my addiction is your submission ;)
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perfunctory
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showing little interest or enthusiasm
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sanctimonious
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giving a hyporcritical appearance of piety
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tantamount
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equivalent in value or significance
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umbrage
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resentment; offense
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vapid
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lacking liveliness; dull
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digress
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to turn aside, especially from the main subject in writing or speaking; stray
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vicarious
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felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another
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prosaic
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matter-of-fact; straightforward; lacking an imagination and spirit; dull
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bolster
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to buoy up or hearten; strengthen
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voracious
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having or marked by an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; greedy
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bilk
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to defraud, cheat, or swindle
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antipathy
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a strong feeling of dislike, aversion, or repugnance
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ancillary
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relating to or being auxiliary or secondary
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tertiary
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of the third rank, order, stage, or formation
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heretical
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characterized by, revealing, or approaching departure from established beliefs or standards
divergent or different from conventional beliefs and standards. |
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martinet
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one who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules
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whet
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to make keener; stimulate
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conspicuous
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easy to notice; obvious standing out
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depreciate
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to lessen the price or value of
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egregious
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conspicuously bad or offensive
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quiescent
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being quite, still, or at rest; inactive
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minutiae
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a small or trivial detail
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gregarious
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seeking and enjoying the company of other; sociable; outoing
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urbane
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polite, refined, and often elegant in manner
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surmount
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to overcome an obstacle; conquer
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expository
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rhetorical discourse intended to give information about or an explanation of difficult material
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retract
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to take something back or disavow it
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vitiate
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to reduce the value or impair the quality of; to make ineffective, invalidate
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choleric
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easily angered; bad-tempered
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bombastic
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grandiloquent; pompous speech or writing
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ambivalent
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characterized by a mixture of opposite feelings or attitudes; uncertain or unable to decide about which course to follow
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censorious
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highly critical
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usurp
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to seize and hold (such as the powers of another) by force and without legal authority
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beguile
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to take away from by or as if by guile; to cheat
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serendipitous
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being lucky in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
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sedition
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conduct or language in citing rebellion against the authority of a state
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secular
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not pertaining to or connected with religion (godless society)
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vacillate
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to sway from one side to the other; oscillate; to swing indecisively from one course of action to another
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narcissist
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someone in love with themselves
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mutability
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the quality of being able or capable of change or mutation
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obdurate
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hardened in wrongdoing or wickedness; stubbornly impenitent
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propitious
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highly favorable
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resplendent
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shiny; glowing
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sacrosanct
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holy; something that should not be criticized
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truculent
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ready to fight; cruel
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undulate
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to move in waves
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viscous
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not free flowing; syrupy
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flaccid
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limp; not firm or strong
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reprobate
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a morally unprincipled person
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facetious
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amusing; humorous; not meant to be taken seriously or literally
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anomaly
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deviation or departure from the normal or common order, from, or rule
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precipitate
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to cause to happen especially suddenly or prematurely
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racontuer
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a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.
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winnow
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to sort through and select the desirable part of something or to get rid of the unwanted or undesirable part.
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altruism
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unselfish concern for the welfare of other; selflessness
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rue
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to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow for
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desultory
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occurring haphazardly; random; moving or jumping from on thing to another; disconnected
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cryptic
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having hidden meaning; mystifying
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languor
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lack of physical or mental energy; listlessness
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tacit
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implied by or inferred from actions or statements; not spoken
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catharsis
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a release of emotional tension, as after an overwhelming experience, that restores or refreshes the spirit
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discreet
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showing prudence and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect (careful)
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aesthetic
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of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste
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calumny
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a false statement maliciously made to injure another's reputation
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ennui
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listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; boredom
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nugatory
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of little or no importance; trifling
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purloin
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to steal, often in violation of trust
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restive
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uneasily impatient under restriction, opposition, criticism, or delay
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conundrum
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a puzzle or baffling problem
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expiate
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to make amends for, alone for
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fastidious
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meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards
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ignominious
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humiliating; disgracing
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legerdemain
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deception, slight of hand
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molify
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to soften in temper
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obstreperous
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noisy, unruly
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rapport
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mutual understanding and harmony
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solicitous
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concerned, attentive
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vociferous
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loud, boisterous
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torpid
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lethargic, dormant, lacking motion
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oblique
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diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward
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sublime
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lofty, grand, exalted, highly praised
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moicum
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a small amount of something
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insolent
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rude, arrogant, overbearing
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mendacious
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having a lying, false character
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nefarious
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heinously villainous
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myriad
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consisting of a very great number
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neophyte
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someone who is young or inexperienced
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cacophony
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tremendous, disharmonious
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nominal
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trifling, insignificant
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agnostic
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believing that the existence of god can be proven or disproven
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blandish
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to coax by using flattery
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anachronistic
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being out of correct chronological order
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impugn
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to attack as false or questionable, challenge in argument
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amorphous
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without definite shape or type
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untenable
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being such that defense or maintenance is impossible
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brevity
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concise expression; terse
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titular
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having the title and usually honors belonging to an office without the duties, functions, or responsibilities
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ephemeral
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lasting for a markedly brief time
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salient
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strikingly conspicuous; prominent
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dispassionate
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devoid of or unaffected by passion, emotion, or BIAS
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vituperate
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to berate
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antediluvian
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extremely old and antiquated
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temerity
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audacity, recklessness
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diatribe
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a bitter, abusive denunciation
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mercurial
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characterized by rapid change or temper mentality
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meritorious
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worthy of esteem or reward
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exasperate
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to irritate, irk
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invective
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an angry verbal attack
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fallacious
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incorrect; misleading
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equivocal
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ambiguous, uncertain, undecided
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contemporaneous
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existing during the same time
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behemoth
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something of tremendous size or power
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brusque
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abrupt and curt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt
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copious
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large in quantity; abundant
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diffident
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lacking or marked by a lack of self confidence; shy and timid
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belligerent
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inclined or eager to fight; hostile or aggressive; of, pertaining to, or engaged in warfare.
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taciturn
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habitually untalkative
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acerbic
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biting, bitter in tone or taste
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precocious
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manifesting or characterized by unusually early development or maturity, especially in mental aptitude
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clairvoyant
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able to perceive things that normal people cannot
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immutable
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not subject or susceptible to change
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convoluted
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intricate, complicated
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obstinate
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stubbornly adhering to an attitude, opinion, or course of action; difficult to manage, control, subdue; refractory
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parochial
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narrowly restricted in scope or outlook; provincial
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categorical
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being without exception or qualification; absolute
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dissonance
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lack of agreement, consistency, or harmony; conflict
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extraneous
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not constituting a vital element or part; inessential or unrelated to the topic or matter at hand; irrelevant
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bloviate
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to speak at length in a pompous or boastful manner
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fickle
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shifting in character, inconstant
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aplomb
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self confident assurance; poise
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impervious
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impenetrable; incapable of being affected
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limpid
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clear; transparent
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pugnacious
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quarrelsome; combative
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quotidian
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daily
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sinuous
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lither; serpentine
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truncate
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to shorten by cutting off
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unctuous
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smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, or manner
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vicissitude
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event that happens by chance
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indubitably
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too apparent to be doubted; unquestionable
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fervid
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marked by great passion or zeal
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furtive
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characterized by stealth; surreptitious
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corpulence
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the condition of being excessively fat; obesity
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effervescent
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marked by high spirits or excitement
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venerate
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to regard with respect, reverence, or heartfelt deference
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propensity
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an innate inclination; a tendency
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inane
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complacently foolish
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heinous
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grossly wicked or reprehensible; abominable
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auspicious
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attended by favorable circumstances; propitious
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spurious
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lacking authenticity or validity in essence or origin; not genuine; false
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lugubrious
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mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree
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pernickety
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over particular; fussy
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inimitable
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incapable of being coped or imitated; surpassing imitation; matchless
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extrapolate
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to infer an unknown from something that is unknown
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conjecture
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the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence or proof
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abet
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to aid, help, or encourage
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bane
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a burden
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demarcation
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the marking of boundaries or categories
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engender
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to bring about, create, or generate
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hegemony
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domination over others
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linchpin
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something that holds separate parts togther
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querulous
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whiny, continually complaining
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punctilious
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eager to follow rules or conventions; attentive to small detail
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gesticulate
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to make or use gestures, especially in an animated or excited manner with or instead of speech
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anachronism
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something or someone who is not in its correct historical or chronological time, especially a thing or person who belongs to an earlier time
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esoteric
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intended for or understood by only a particular group
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levity
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lightness of manner of speech, especially when inappropriate; frivolity
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eclectic
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made up of or combining elements from a variety of sources
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jocular
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characterized by jokes and good humor
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decadence
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a period of deterioration or decline, as in morals or art; decay
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whimsical
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erratic behavior or degree of unpredictability
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adroit
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deft; skill and adept under pressing conditions
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bellicose
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warlike in manner or temperament; pugnacious
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adroit
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deft; skill and adept under pressing conditions
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gratuitous
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given or granted without return or recompense; unearned
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diffident
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lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid
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belabor
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to discuss repeatedly or at length; harp on
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exvulpate
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to clear of guilt or blame
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deleterious
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having a harmful effect; injurious
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endemic
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natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous
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gumption
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boldness of enterprise; initiative or aggressiveness; guts or spunk
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mordacious
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caustic; sarcastic
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pecuniary
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of or pertaining to money
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charlatan
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a person who pretends to have more knowledge or skill than he posses; a quack
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colloquial
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characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
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lambaste
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to reprimand or berate harshly; censure; excoriate
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retinue
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the retainers or attendants accompanying a high-ranking person
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pusillanimous
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lacking courage or resolution, cowardly, faint-hearted, timid
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rife
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abundant, plentiful, or numerous
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encyclical
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a letter intended for wide or general circulation (within the catholic church, a letter from the pope to the bishops)
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chancery
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a court having jurisdiction in equity; court of equity
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satiate
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to supply with anything to great excess so as to disgust or weary; surfeit
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cursory
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performed with haste and scant attention to detail
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impetuous
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characterized by sudden and forceful energy or emotion; impulsive and passionate
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elucidate
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to make clear or plain, especially by explanation; clarify
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palpable
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capable of being handled, touched, or felt; tangible
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ruffian
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a tough or rowdy person
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sententious
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terse and energetic in expression; pithy; abounding in aphorisms
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equanimity (n)
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he quality of being calm and even tempered; composure
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contiguous (adj)
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sharing and edge or boundary; touching
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baleful
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portending evil; ominous; harmful or malignant in intent or effect
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devious (adj)
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indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading
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unassailable adj
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impossible to dispute or disprove; undeniable
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efface v
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to rub or wipe our; erase
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peruse
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to read or examine, typically with great care
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stoic adj
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seeming indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain
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innocuous adj
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not likely to offend or provoke to strong emotion; insipid
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clandestine adj
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kept or done in secret, often in order to conceal an illicit or improper purpose
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prodigious adj
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impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous
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mitigate v
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to moderate in force or intensity; alleviate
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superfluous adj
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being beyond what is is required or sufficient
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augment v
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to make something greater, as in size, extent, or quantity
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officious adj
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marked by excessive eagerness in offering unwanted services or advices to others
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iconoclast n
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one who attacks and seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions
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sagacious adj
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having or exhibiting wisdom and calm judgment
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volition n
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the act or an instance of making a conscious choice or decision
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incongruous adj
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lacking in harmony; incompatible; not in agreement, as with principles; inconsistent
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verbose adj
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using or containing a great or an unusually excessive number of words; wordy
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pedestrian adj
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lacking in vitality, imagination, distinction; commonplace; prosaic or dull
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throes n
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any violent convulsive or struggle
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myopic adj
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lack of discernment or long-range perspective in thinking or planning
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plenary adj
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full, complete, entire, absolute unqualified
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exiguous adj
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scanty, meager, small, slender
|
|
|
|
predilection n
|
a tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference
|
|
|
|
impotent adj
|
lacking power or ability; utterly unable to do something
|
|
|
|
quandary n
|
a state of uncertainty or perplexity
|
|
|
|
fledgling n
|
a young or inexperienced person
|
|
|
|
assuage v
|
to make something burdensome or painful less intense or severe; to satisfy or appease; to pacify or calm
|
|
|
|
insipid adj
|
lacking in qualities that excite stimulate, or interest; dull
|
|
|
|
enmity n
|
deep-seated, often mutual hatred
|
|
|
|
dichotomy n
|
division into two usually contradictory parts or opinions
|
|
|
|
cherubic adj
|
having a sweet nature befitting an angel
|
|
|
|
epicure n
|
a person with refined taste, especially in food or wine
|
|
|
|
salubrious adj
|
conducive or favorable to health or well-being
|
|
|
|
verdant adj
|
green with vegetation; covered with green growth
|
|
|
|
sanguine adj
|
confidently optimistic and cheerful
|
|
|
|
discursive adj
|
covering a wide field of subjects; rambling
|
|
|
|
implicit adj
|
implied or understood though not directly expressed
|
|
|
|
explicit adj
|
fully and clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied
|
|
|
|
subterfuge n
|
a deceptive stratagem or device
|
|
|
|
perturb v
|
to disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious
|
|
|
|
transgress v
|
to go beyond or over a limit or boundary; exceed or overstep
|
|
|
|
encumber v
|
to put a heavy load on; burden; to hinder or impede the action or performance of
|
|
|
|
gauche adj
|
lacking social polish tactless
|
|
|
|
ardent adj
|
displaying or characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion; fervent
|
|
|
|
dilatory adj
|
tending to postpone or delay
|
|
|
|
blithe adj
|
joyous, merry, or gay in disposition; glad; cheerful
|
|
|
|
diacritical adj
|
serving to distinguish; distinctive
|
|
|
|
odoriferous adj
|
having or giving off an odor
|
|
|
|
mellifluous adj
|
sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding
|
|
|
|
dolorous adj
|
full of, expressing, or casing pain or sorrow; grievous; mournful
|
|
|
|
perambulate v
|
to walk through, about, or over; travel through; traverse
|
|
|
|
beatify v
|
to make blissfully happy
|
|
|
|
emulate v
|
to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass
|
|
|
|
perfidious adj
|
deliberately faithless; treacherous; deceitful
|
|
|
|
veracious adj
|
habitually speaking the truth; truthful; honest
|
|
|
|
circumspect adj
|
watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent
|
|
|
|
pernicious adj
|
causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful
|
|
|
|
dispensation n
|
an exemption or release from an obligation or rule, ranted by an authority
|
|
|
|
pantheon; n
|
the place of heroes or idols of any group, individual, movement, party, etc.
|
|
|
|
boorish; adj
|
rude and clumsy in behavior
|
|
|
|
debacle; n
|
a sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout
|
|
|
|
enumerate; v
|
to mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in a list
|
|
|
|
trenchant; adj
|
incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting
|
|
|
|
abjure; v
|
to renounce, repudiate, or retract, esp. with formal solemnity; recant
|
|
|
|
ingenuous; adj
|
lacking in cunning, guile, or worldliness; openly straightforward or frank; candid
|
|
|
|
ingenious; adj
|
characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction
|
|
|
|
oracle; n
|
an authoritative person who divines the future
|
|
|
|
mores; n
|
the accepted traditional customs and usages of a particular social group
|
|
|
|
placate; v
|
to allay the anger of, especially by making concessions; appease
|
|
|
|
credulous; adj
|
disposed to believe too readily; gullible
|
|
|
|
assail; v
|
to attack verbally, as with ridicule or censure
|
|
|
|
incontrovertible; adj
|
impossible to dispute; unquestionable
|
|
|
|
capitulate; v
|
to give up all resistance; acquiesce
|
|
|
|
dither; v
|
to act irresolutely; vacillate
|
|
|
|
catholic; c
|
broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad minded, liberal
|
|
|
|
dubious; adj
|
doubtful; marked by or occasioning doubt; of uncertain outcomes
|
|
|
|
pique; v
|
to arouse an emotion or provoke to action
|
|
|
|
exodus; n
|
a going out; a departure or emigration, usually a large number of people
|
|
|
|
demagogue n
|
a person, esp. orator or political leader who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people
|
|
|
|
itinerant n
|
a person who travels from place to place, esp for duty of business
|
|
|
|
fiat n
|
an authoritative decree, sanction, or order
|
|
|
|
superficial adj
|
affecting or being on or near the surface; trivial; insignificant
|
|
|
|
concoct v
|
devise, make up, contrive
|
|
|
|
truancy n
|
the act or condition of being absent without permission
|
|
|
|
overt adj
|
open to knew or knowledge, not concealed or secret
|
|
|
|
denude v
|
to divest or covering; make bare
|
|
|
|
litigious adj
|
tending to engage in lawsuits
|
|
|
|
antithetical adj
|
being in diametrical opposition
|
|
|
|
prescience n
|
knowledge of things before they exist or happen; foreknowledge; foresight
|
|
|
|
extemporanious adj
|
done, spoken, performed, etc., without special advance preparation; impromptu; delivered with the help of few or no notes
|
|
|
|
onus n
|
a difficult or disagreeable obligation, task, burden
|
|
|
|
foible n
|
a minor weakness or failing of character; slight flaw or defect
|
|
|
|
ecclesiastical adj
|
of or pertaining to the church or the clergy; churchly; clerical; not secular
|
|
|
|
obligatory adj
|
required as a matter of obligation; mandatory
|
|
|
|
ingratiate v
|
to establish oneself in the favor or good graces of others, esp. by deliberate effort
|
|
|
|
redact v
|
to put into suitable literary form; revise; edit
|
|
|
|
purport v
|
to present, esp. deliberately, the appearance of being; profess or claim, often falsely
|
|
|
|
husband v
|
to use frugally; conserve
|
|
|
|
inculcate v
|
to impress something upon the mind or another by frequent instruction or repetition; instill
|
|
|
|
schism n
|
a separation or division into factions
|
|
|
|
plurality n
|
more than half of the whole; the majority
|
|
|
|
repudiate v
|
to reject as having no authority or binding force; to cast off or disown
|
|
|
|
pertinacity n
|
the quality of being pertinacious; persistence; firmness; determination; resolution
|
|
|
|
browbeat v
|
to intimidate by overbearing looks or words; bully
|
|
|
|
rudimentary adj
|
of or relating to basic facts or principles; elementary
|
|
|
|
perpetuate v
|
to cause to continue indefinitely; make perpetual
|
|
|
|
litmus n
|
a general and simple test, often used during hearing for potential federal judges, such as "your vote on this issue is a litmus test of your political philosophy
|
|
|
|
proselytize v
|
to convert a person from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another
|
|
|
|
contravene v
|
to come or be in conflict with; go or act against; deny or oppose
|
|
|
|
imposition n
|
something imposed, as a burden or duty; an unusual or extraordinary burdensome requirement or task
|
|
|
|
moratorium n
|
an authorized period of delay or waiting
|
|
|
|
propriety n
|
conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior or manners
|
|
|
|
arbitrary adj
|
subject to individual will or judgement without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion
|
|
|
|
spate n
|
a sudden almost overwhelming, outpouring
|
|
|
|
complicit adj
|
choosing to be involved in an illegal or questionable act, especially with others; having complicity
|
|
|
|
impotent adj
|
without force or effectiveness
|
|
|
|
edict n
|
any authoritative proclamation or command
|
|
|
|
specious adj
|
apparently good or right though lacking in real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible
|
|
|
|
voluptuous adj
|
arising from or contributing to the satisfaction of sensuous or sensual desires
|
|
|
|
spurious adj
|
lacking authenticity or validity in essence or origin; not genuine; false
|
|
|
|
vacuous adj
|
lack of content or ideas; stupid
|
|
|
|
bourgeois n
|
a member of the middle class; in marxist theory, a member of the property owning class; a capitalist (two definitions based on how used)
|
|
|
|
proletariat n
|
the class of wage earners, esp. those who earn their living by manual labor or who are dependent for support on a daily basis or casual employment; the working class; in marxis theory, the class of workers, esp. industrial wage earners, who do not possess capital or property and must sell their labor to survive
|
|
|
|
cajole v
|
to urge, coax
|
|
|
|
diminutive adj
|
small or miniature
|
|
|
|
parity n
|
equality, as in amount, status, or character
|
|
|
|
verbiage n
|
overabundance or superfluity of words, as in writing or speech; wordiness; verbosity; manner or style of expressing something in words; wording
|
|
|
|
pungent adj
|
sharply affecting the organs of taste or smell, as if by a penetrating power; biting; acrid
|
|
|
|
squalid adj
|
foul and repulsive, as from lack of care or cleanliness; neglected and filth
|
|
|
|
meander v
|
to move aimlessly and idly without fixed direction
|
|
|
|
contrite adj
|
feeling great sorrow and regret for one's ins or offenses; penitent
|
|
|
|
assiduous adj
|
constant in application or attention; diligent
|
|
|
|
sundry adj
|
various or diverse; miscellaneous
|
|
|
|
unbecoming adj
|
not appropriate, attractive, or flattering
|
|
|
|
supercilious adj
|
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
|
|
|
|
austere adj
|
severe or stern in disposition or appearance; somber and grave
|
|
|
|
writhe v
|
to twist, as in pain, struggle, or embarrassment
|
|
|
|
aloof adj
|
distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote
|
|
|
|
parsimony n
|
unusual or excessive frugality; extreme economy or stinginess
|
|
|
|
morose adj
|
sullenly melancholy; gloomy
|
|
|
|
reticence n
|
the state or quality of being reluctant; unwillingness
|
|
|
|
extol v
|
to praise highly, exalt
|
|
|
|
hindrance n
|
something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
|
|
|
|
ameliorate v
|
to make or become better, improve
|
|
|
|
carp v
|
to find fault in a disagreeable way; complain fretfully
|
|
|
|
accrue v
|
to come to one as a gain, addition, or increment
|
|
|
|
chimerical adj
|
given to unrealistic fantasies; fanciful; quixotic
|
|
|
|
denigrate v
|
to attack the character or reputation of; speak ill of; defame
|
|
|
|
contumely n
|
insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment
|
|
|
|
impertinent adj
|
intrusive or presumptuous, as persons or their actions; insolently rude; uncivil; not pertinent or relevant; irrelevant
|
|
|
|
turpitude n
|
vile, shameful, or base character; depravity; a vile or depraved act
|
|
|
|
fracas n
|
a noisy, disorderly disturbance or fight; riotous brawl; uproar
|
|
|
|
detente n
|
a relaxing of tension, esp. between nations, as by negotiations or agreements
|
|
|
|
perfidious adj
|
deliberately faithless; treacherous; deceitful
|
|
|
|
matriarch n
|
the female head of a family or tribal line
|
|
|
|
patriarch n
|
the male head of a family or tribal line
|
|
|
|
importune v
|
to press or beset with solicitations; demand with urgency or persistence; to beg for something urgently or persistently
|
|
|
|
felicity n
|
the state of being happy, esp. in a high degree, bliss
|
|
|
|
impenitent adj
|
not feeling regret about one's sin or sins; obdurate
|
|
|
|
beleaguer v
|
to surround or beset, as with troubles
|
|
|
|
pandemic v
|
general; universal; (of a disease) prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; epidemic over a large area
|
|
|
|
phlegmatic adj
|
not easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish
|
|
|
|
delirious adj
|
wild with excitement, enthusiasm, etc
|
|
|
|
cabal n
|
a small group of secret plotters, as against a government or person in authority
|
|
|
|
forge v
|
to form or make, esp. by concentrated effort
|
|
|
|
preclude v
|
to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; make impossible
|
|
|
|
farce n
|
foolish show; mockery; a ridiculous sham
|
|
|
|
destitute adj
|
without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter
|
|
|
|
seminal adj
|
highly original and influencing the development of future events
|
|
|
|
fractious adj
|
refractory or unruly; readily angered; peevish; irritable; quarrelsome
|
|
|
|
defile v
|
to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase; to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate; to sully, as a person's reputation
|
|
|
|
familial adj
|
characteristic of a family; appearing in individuals by heredity
|
|
|
|
sardonic adj
|
characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering
|
|
|
|
inchoate adj
|
not yet completed or fully developed; rudimentary; not organized; lacking order
|
|
|
|
interpolate v
|
to introduce something additional or extraneous between other things or parts; interject; interpose; to insert new or spurious matter
|
|
|
|
petulance n
|
unreasonably irritable or ill tempered; peevish
|
|
|
|
saccharine adj
|
excessively sentimental; exaggeratedly sweet
|
|
|
|
abject adj
|
being the most miserable kind; wretched
|
|
|
|
incontrovertible adj
|
impossible to dispute; unquestionable
|
|
|
|
latent adj
|
present or potential but not evident or active
|
|
|
|
succor n
|
assistance in time of distress; relief
|
|
|
|
gradation n
|
a series of gradual, successive stages; a systematic progression
|
|
|
|
remunerate v
|
to pay a person a suitable equivalent in return for goods provided, services rendered, or losses incurred; recompense
|
|
|
|
lethargy n
|
a state of sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy
|
|
|
|
lackey n
|
a servile follower; a toady (a yes man)
|
|
|
|
c./ca.
|
circa "around" shows date is approx.
|
|
|
|
e.g.
|
for example
|
|
|
|
ib./ibid
|
in the same passage/ page, as quoted above
|
|
|
|
sic.
|
indicates misspelling or error in quoted source
|
|
|
|
i.e.
|
that is more precisely "it is"
|
|
|
|
op. cit.
|
quoted work is already cited but not the preceding citation
|
|
|
|
et seq
|
refer to a certain passage and the following
|
|
|
|
sc./scil.
|
namely
|
|
|
|
cn
|
to whom the is, named
|
|
|
|
ct.
|
compared, consult
|
|
|
|
viz
|
namely
|
|
|
|
et al
|
and others
|
|
|
|
permeate v
|
to spread or flow throughout; pervade
|
|
|
|
inscrutable adj
|
difficult to fathom or understand; impenetrable
|
|
|
|
eviscerate v
|
to deprive of vital or essential parts
|
|
|
|
judicious adj
|
having or exhibiting sound judgement; prudent
|
|
|
|
baleful adj
|
portending evil; ominous; harmful or malignant in intent or effect
|
|
|
|
anathema n
|
one who is greatly reviled, loathed, or shunned; a vehement denunciation; a curse
|
|
|
|
fortuitous adj
|
happening or produced by chance; accidental; lucky; fourtuante
|
|
|
|
incorrigible adj
|
not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed
|
|
|
|
vainglory n
|
inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievement; excessive pride
|
|
|
|
rapturous adj
|
characterized by the showing of great pleasure or enthusiasm
|
|
|
|
bemuse v
|
to puzzle, confuse, or bewilder someone
|
|
|
|
artifice n
|
clever or cunning devices or expedients, esp. used to trick or deceive others
|
|
|
|
solicitous adj
|
showing interest or care for the care of other
|
|
|
|
contrivance n
|
a thing that is created skillfully and inventively to serve a particular purpose
|
|
|
|
capacious adj
|
having a lot of space inside; roomy
|
|
|
|
aberrant adj
|
departing from an accepted standard
|
|
|
|
serene adj
|
calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil
|
|
|
|
verve n
|
vigor and spirit or enthusiasm
|
|
|
|
mordant adj
|
having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting (esp. concerning humor)
|
|
|
|
sedulous adj
|
showing dedication and diligence
|
|
|
|
perspicacious adj
|
having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning
|
|
|
|
edification n
|
instruction or enlightenment, esp. when morally or spiritually uplifting
|
|
|
|
carping adj
|
tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or hairsplitting way
|
|
|
|
encomium n
|
a formal expression of praise; a lavish tribute
|
|
|
|
intransigent adj
|
refusing to compromise; irreconcilable
|
|
|
|
invidious adj
|
offensive; hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment
|
|
|
|
temporize v
|
to stall or act evasively in order to gain time, avoid a confrontation, or postpone a decision
|
|
|
|
animadversion n
|
a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval
|
|
|
|
celerity n
|
swiftness; rapidity of motion or action
|
|
|
|
maelstrom n
|
a whirlpool or great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction
|
|
|
|
suppliant adj
|
asking humbly and earnestly
|
|
|
|
cavort v
|
to romp or prance around exuberantly; to make merry
|
|
|
|
decry v
|
to condemn, express strong disapproval
|
|
|
|
feckless adj
|
lacking in spirit and strength; ineffective; weak
|
|
|
|
piquant adj
|
stimulating to the taste or mind; spicy; pungent; appealingly provocative
|
|
|
|
primordial adj
|
developed or created at the very beginning; going back to the most ancient times or earliest stage; fundamental, basic
|
|
|
|
propinquity n
|
nearness of blood (kinship); nearness in place or time (proximity)
|
|
|
|
unwonted adj
|
not usual or expected; not in character
|
|
|
|
exigency n
|
urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency
|
|
|
|
bastion n
|
a fortified place; stronghold
|
|
|
|
incumbent adj
|
obligatory; required
|
|
|
|
mordant adj
|
biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh
|
|
|
|
enervate v
|
to weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of; enfeeble; hamstring
|
|
|
|
figment n
|
a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion
|
|
|
|
ignominy n
|
shame and disgrace
|
|
|
|
penchant n
|
a strong attraction or inclination
|
|
|
|
reputed adj
|
according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation; alleged
|
|
|
|
sophistry n
|
reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy
|
|
|
|
complicity n
|
involvement in qrongdoing; the state of being an accomplice
|
|
|
|
sumptuous adj
|
costly, rich, magnificent
|
|
|
|
derelict n
|
someone or something that is abandoned or neglected
|
|
|
|
effigy n
|
a crude image of a despised person
|
|
|
|
perspicacity n
|
keenness in observing and understanding
|
|
|
|
convivial adj
|
festive, sociable, having fun together, genial
|
|
|
|
coterie n
|
a circle of acquaintances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest
|
|
|
|
effrontery n
|
shameless boldness, impudence
|
|
|
|
indigent adj
|
needy, impoverished
|
|
|
|
inordinate adj
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far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive
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jettison v
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to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome
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pertinacious adj
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very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied
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picayune adj
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of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters
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badinage n
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light and playful conversation; banter
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fatuous adj
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stupid or foolish in a self satisfied way
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macabre adj
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grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject
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portend v
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to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of
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circumspect adj
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watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent
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pretext n
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a fictitious reason given in order to conceal the real one
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chicanery n
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trickery or deception by quibbling or sophistry
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sophistry n
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a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning
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fecund adj
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producing or capable of producing offspring, fruit, vegetation, etc. in abundance; prolific; fruitful
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diabolical adj
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having the qualities of a devil; fiendish; outrageously wicked
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felicitous adj
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well suited for the occasion, as an action, manner, or expression;; apt; appropriate
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perspicacity n
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acutely perceptive or discerning; keenness of mental perception and understanding; discernment
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temerity n
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rashness or boldness
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umbrage n
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offense; annoyance; displeasure
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ineluctable adj
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incapable of being evaded; inescapable
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importunate adj
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urgent or persistent in solicitation, sometimes annoyingly so; troublesome; annoying
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turpitude n
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vile, shameful, or base character; depravity; a vile or depraved act
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stupefied adj
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to overwhelm with amazement; astound; astonish
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beseech v
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to beg eagerly for; solicit
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indolent adj
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lazy
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beleaguer v
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to trouble persistently; harass
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tumult n
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great emotional or mental agitation
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perturb v
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to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; agitate
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extenuate v
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to serve to make (fault, offense, etc) seem less serious; to underestimate, underrate, or make light of
opp. of accentuate |
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jaunt n
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a short journey, one taken for pleasure
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subsist v
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to have existence; to main alive, manage to make a living or maintain life
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rectitude n
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uprightness, righteousness; correctness
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promulgate v
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to proclaim or issue officially; to make known far and wide
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pittance n
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a woefully meager allowance, wage, or portion
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progeny n
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descendants, offspring, children, followers, disciples
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pillort n
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a device for publicly punishing offenders; a means for exposing one to public contempt or ridicule
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iniquity n
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wickedness, sin; grossly immoral act
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epicurean adj
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devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; fond of good food, comfort, and ease
hedonist |
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blandishment n
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anything designed to flatter or coax; sweet talk
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consign v
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to give to another's care, charge, or control
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canard n
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a false rumor; fabricated story
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cognizant adj
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aware, knowledgeable, informed
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efficacy n
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the power to produce a desired result
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decorous adj
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well behaved, dignified, socially proper
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hapless adj
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marked by a persistent absence of good luck
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perfunctory
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done in a superficial or halfhearted manner; without interest or enthusiasn
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importune v
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to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently
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nadir n
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the lowest point
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espouse v
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to take up and support; to become attached to, adopt
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defunct adj
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no longer in existence or functioning; dead
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