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293 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abate |
(of something perceived as hostile, threatening or negative) to become less intense or widespread
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abdicate
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fail to fulfill or undertake a duty or responsibility
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aberration
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a departure from what is normal or expected, typically one that is unwelcome
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abeyance
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a state of suspension or temporary disuse
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abnegation
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the act or rejecting or renouncing something
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absolve
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set or declare free from blame, guilt or responsibility
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acquiesce
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accept reluctantly, but without protest
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acrimonious
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(typically of speech or a debate) angry & bitter
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ad hoc
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formed, arranged or done for a particular purpose only; from the Latin, meaning, "for this"
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adroit
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clever or skillful in using the hands or mind
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aggregate
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a whole formed by combining several (typically different) elements
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aide-de-camp
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a military officer acting as a confidential assistant to a senior officer
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allegory
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a story, poem or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one
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anecdote
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a short and interesting or amusing story about a real incident or person
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annotate
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add notes to (a text or diagram), giving explanation or comment
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antechamber
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a small room leading to a main room
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antipathy
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a deep-seated feeling of dislike
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arbitrage
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the simultaneous buying & selling of securities, currency or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms to take advantage of differing prices for the same asset
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archetype
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a very typical example of a certain person or thing
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arduous
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involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult & tiring
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assiduous
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showing great care & perseverance
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attache'
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a person the staff of an ambassador, typically with a specialized area of responsibility
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attenuate
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reduce the force, effect or value of
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audacity
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a willingness to take bold risks / or, rude or disrespectful behavior
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august
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impressive & respected
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auspicious
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conducive to success; favorable
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axiom
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a statement or proposition regarded as being established, accepted or self-evidently true
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bellwether
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an indicator or predictor of something
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bifurcation
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the division of something into two branches or parts
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boorish
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rude and unmannerly
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brigand
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a member of a gang that ambushes & robs people in forests & mountains
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bucolic
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of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside & country life
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cabal
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a secret political clique or faction
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cajole
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persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery
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canard
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an unfounded rumor or story
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capricious
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given to sudden & unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
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carbine (historical)
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a short musket or rifle used by cavalry
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carpetbagger
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a person from the northern states who went to the South after the Civil War to profit from Reconstruction / or, a person perceived as an unscrupulous opportunist
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catharsis
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the process of releasing, and therefore providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions
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caustic
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able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action / or, sarcastic in a scathing & bitter way
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cauterize
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burn the skin or flesh of a wound with a heating instrument or caustic substance, typically to stop bleeding or prevent the wound from becoming infected
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caveat
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a warning or proviso of specific conditions, limitations or stipulations
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caveat emptor
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from the Latin meaning "let the buyer beware"; the principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality & suitability of goods before a purchase is made
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censure
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express severe disapproval of, typically in a formal statement
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chagrin
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distress or embarrassment of having failed or been humiliated
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colloquialism
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a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one that is used in ordinary or familiar conversation
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communique'
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an official announcement or statement
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compulsory
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required by a law or rule
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conclave
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a private meeting / or, the meeting place for an assembly
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conflagration
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an extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property
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conflate
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combine into one
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connotation
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the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression, in addition to its explicit or primary meaning / or, something suggested or implied by a word or thing, rather than being explicitly named or described
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conscription
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compulsory enlistment for state service, typically into the armed forces
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consul
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an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect & promote the government's interests & citizens there
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contrite
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feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt
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convoluted
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extremely complex and difficult to follow
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corduroy road
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a road made of tree trunks laid across a swamp
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crocodile tears
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tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere
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crucible
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a place or occasion of severe test or trial
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cursory
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hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
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de facto
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in fact, whether by law or right or not; another way of saying "in reality" / in Latin, means "of fact"
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de jure
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in Latin, means "of law" / by right; according to law / contrasted with de facto
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demur
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raise doubts or objections, or show reluctance
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demure
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reserved, modest & shy
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denigrate
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criticize unfairly
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despot
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a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in cruel or oppressive way
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desultory
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lacking a plan, purpose or enthusiasm
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diametrically
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used to emphasize how completely different two or more things are
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discourse
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communication of thought by words; talk; conversation / or, a formal discussion in speech or writing of a particular subject
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disenfranchise
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deprive (someone) the right to vote; or, deprive (someone) a right or privilege
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disparate
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essentially different in kind, allowing no comparison
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divest
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to deprive of rights, power or possessions
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dossier
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a collection of documents about a particular person, event or subject
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draconian
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(of laws or their application) excessively harsh & severe
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dubious
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hesitating or doubtful / or, not to be relied on; suspect; not likely to be true
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duty
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a payment levied on the import, export, manufacture or sale of goods
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dyspeptic
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of or having indigestion or the consequent irritability or depression
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efficacy
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the ability to produce a desired or intended result
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effusion
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an instance of giving off something such as light, liquid or gas
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egalitarian
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of, relating to, or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights & opportunities
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elucidate
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explain; make clear
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emeritus
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(of the former holder of an office, especially a college professor) having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor
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enclave
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a place or group that is different in character from those surrounding it / or, a secured area inside another secured area
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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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enfilade
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a volley of gunfire directed along a line from end to end
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enigmatic
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difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious
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entreaty
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an earnest or humble request
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envoy
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a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission
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ephemeral
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lasting for a very short time
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equivocate
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use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself
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ergo
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therefore
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erudite
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having or showing great knowledge or learning
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eschew
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deliberately avoid using; abstain from
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euphemism
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a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarassing
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event horizon
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any point of no return
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evocative
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bringing strong images, memories or feelings to mind
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exigency
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an urgent need or demand, or a situation calling for immediate action or attention
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feedstock
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raw material to fuel or supply a machine or an industrial process
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foible
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a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character
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furtive
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attempting to avoid attention or notice, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive
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garrison
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the troops stationed in a fortress or town to defend it
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gaunt
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grim or desolate in appearance
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habeas corpus
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Latin for "have the body" / a writ requiring a person to appear before the court in person, generally to ascertain whether or not that detention of that person is lawful / habeas corpus cannot be suspended unless the public safety may require it in cases of invasion or rebellion
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hitherto
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until now or until the point in time under discussion
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hyperbole
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exaggerated statements or claims not to be taken literally
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imbue
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inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality
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impudent
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not showing due respect for another person
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incorrigible
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(or a person or their tendencies) not able to be improved, corrected or reformed
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indignant
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feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment
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ingratiate
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bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them
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insolent
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showing a rude & arrogant lack of respect
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intransigent
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unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something
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intrinsic
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belonging to a thing, by its very nature
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Jim Crow
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the former practice of segregating black people in the US / from the name of a black character in a 19th-century plantation song
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jocose
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joking or playful; humorous
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juggernaut
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a huge, powerful & overwhelming force or institution
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kleptocrat
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a ruler who uses political power to steal his or her country's resources
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kowtow
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act in an excessively subservient manner / from a Chinese custom of kneeling and touching the ground with the forehead in worship or submission
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largesse
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generosity in bestowing gifts or money upon others
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levy (verb)
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impose a tax, fee or fine
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litany
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a tedious recital or repetitive series
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lobotomize
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reduce the ability to function or the mental or emotional capacity
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lunette
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something crescent-shaped / or, a fortification with two faces, forming a projecting angle, with two flanks
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lurid
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presented in very vividly shocking or sensational terms
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magnanimous
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very forgiving or generous, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself
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malaise
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a general feeling of uneasiness, discomfort or illness, whose exact cause is difficult to identify
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malfeasance
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wrongdoing, especially by a public official
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martial law
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military government involving the suspension of ordinary law
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meritocracy
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a system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement
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metaphor
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a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable
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mete
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dispense or allot justice, a punishment, or harsh treatment
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miscreant
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a person who behaves badly or in a way that breaks the law
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mitigate
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make less serious, severe or painful
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mollify
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appease the anger or anxiety of someone
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morass
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an area of muddy or boggy ground / or, a confused or complicated situation
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moribund
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(of a person): at the point of death; (of a thing): in terminal decline
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myopic
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lack of intellectual insight, imagination or foresight
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myriad
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an extremely great or countless number
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nadir
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the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization
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nascent
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just coming into existence and beginning to show signs of potential
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ne'er-do-well
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a person who is lazy & irresponsible
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nefarious
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criminal or wicked
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obligatory
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required by a legal, moral, or other rule
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oblique
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neither parallel nor at a right angle to a specified or implied line / or, not explicit or direct in addressing a point
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odious
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extremely unpleasant; repulsive
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oligarchy
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a small group of people holding control of a country, institution or organization
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opine
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hold & state as one's opinion
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ordnance
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mounted guns; artillery
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ostensibly
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apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually
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panacea
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a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases
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paradigm
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a typical example or pattern of something; a model / or, a framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a community, discipline or group
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paradox
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a situation, person or thing that combines contradictory qualities or features
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parapet
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any low protective wall or barrier (extending up or out) at the edge of a roof, balcony, bridge, or the like / or, a raised elevation above the main wall or rampart of a permanent fortification
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paroxysm
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a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion, physical response, or activity
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paucity
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the presence of something only in small or insufficient qualities or amounts; scarcity
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piecemeal
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one thing at a time / or, in parts, pieces or fragments / or, characterized by unsystematic measures taken over a period of time
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pejorative
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expressing contempt or disapproval; disparaging; unfavorable
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pensive
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engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought
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perfunctory
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carried out with minimal effort or reflection
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pernicious
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having a harmful effect in a gradual or subtle way
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perpetuity
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the state or quality of lasting forever
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persona non grata
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Latin for "an unacceptable or unwelcome person" / someone in disfavor, who is not welcome and whose presence is not desired
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placate
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make (someone) less angry or hostile
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plutocracy
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government by the wealthy / plutocrat: a person whose power derives from their wealth
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pontificate
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express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous or dogmatic
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pragmatism
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a practical, matter-of-fact way of approaching or assessing situations or of solving problems; guided by practical observation & experience rather than theory / or, a model or tendency in philosophy to determine truth or meaning of all concepts by their practical consequences
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preclude
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prevent from happening; make impossible
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privation
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the state in which things that are essential for human well-being such as food & warmth are scarce or lacking
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pro rata
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Latin for "according to the rate" / proportional
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proffer
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hold out (something) to someone for acceptance; an offer or proposal
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promulgate
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promote or make widely known an idea or cause
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proscription
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a denouncement or condemnation / proscribe: forbid, especially by law
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proviso
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a condition attached to an agreement
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provost marshal
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the head of military police in camp or on active service
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pugnacious
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quick or eager to argue, quarrel or fight
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purport
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appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely
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raconteur
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a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful & amusing way
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rakish
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having or displaying a dashing, jaunty or slightly disreputable quality or appearance
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rampart (usually plural)
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a defensive wall of a castle or walled city, having a broad top with a walkway and a stone parapet / or, a defensive or protective barrier
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repatriate
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(noun): a person or thing that returns to the point of birth or origin / (verb): to bring or send back to the point of origin or birth
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repudiate
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refuse to accept or be associated with / or, deny the truth or validity of
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reticent
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not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily
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sacrosanct
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regarded as too important or too valuable to be interfered with
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salient
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(adjective): most noticeable or important / (noun): an outward bulge in a line of military attack or defense
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salvo
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a simultaneous discharge of artillery or other guns in battle
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scion
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a descendent of a notable family or one with a long lineage
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sic
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used in brackets after a copied or quoted word that appears odd or erroneous to show that the word is quoted exactly as it stands in the original / Latin for thus, such
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sobriquet
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a person's nickname
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stonewall
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deny or block, especially in politics, by refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive replies
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stratagem
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a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end
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strident
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loud & harsh; grating
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subjugate
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bring under domination or control, especially by conquest
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sublime
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of such beauty, excellence, or grandeur as to inspire great admiration or awe
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succor
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assistance & support in times of hardship & distress
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syntax
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the arrangement of words & phrases to create well-formed sentences
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tantamount
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equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as
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tenuous
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very weak or slight
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totalitarianism
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of or relating to a system of government that is centralized & dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state
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treatise
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a written work dealing formally & systematically with a subject
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turgid
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swollen & congested
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ubiquitous
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found, appearing or present everywhere
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unambiguous
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not open to more than one interpretation
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unequivocally
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leaving no doubt; unambiguous
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vagary
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an unexpected & inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior
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vanguard
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the foremost part of an advancing army or naval force
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venerate
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regard with great respect; revere
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victual
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food or provisions, typically as prepared for consumption
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vignette
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a brief skit or retelling of something that occurred / or, a photograph, illustration or engraving whose edges taper off / or, a decoration in a book
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virulent
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bitterly hostile / or, (of a poison or disease) extremely severe or harmful in its effects
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vis-a-vis
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face-to-face / or, a counterpart / or, compared with
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vitriol
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cruel or bitter criticism
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wanton
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(of a cruel or violent act) deliberate & unprovoked
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winsome
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appealing or attractive in appearance or character
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wonk
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a studious or hardworking person / or, a person who knows a lot about the details of a particular field (like politics) and talks a lot about the subject
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worldview
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a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world
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writ
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a form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority to act, or to abstain from acting, in some way
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acumen
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the ability to make good judgments & quick decision, typically in a particular domain
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adjutant
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a military officer who acts as an administrative assistant to a senior officer
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altruism
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the belief in, or practice of, selfless concern for the wellbeing of others
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anachronism
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a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned
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armistice
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an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time
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arrant
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dated / or, utter; complete
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assay
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determine the content or quality of
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autocrat
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a ruler who has absolute power
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bellicose
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demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
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belligerent (noun)
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a nation or person engaged in war or conflict
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bivouac
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a temporary camp without tents or cover
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bombastic
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high-sounding language with little meaning; used to impress people
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bonnie
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beautiful, attractive
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capitulate
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cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender
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catalytic
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relating to or involving the action of a person or thing that precipitates an event
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chattel
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a personal possession
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conjecture
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an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information
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conoidal
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approximately conical in shape
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demagogue
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a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires & prejudices rather than by using rational argument
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depose
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remove from office suddenly & forcefully
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despoil
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steal or violently remove valuable or attractive possessions from
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dour
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relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance
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elan
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energy, style & enthusiasm
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eminent
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referring to a person of high rank or repute; or, used to emphasize the presence of a positive quality
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emissary
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a person sent on a special mission
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excise
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a tax levied on certain goods & commodities produced or sold within a country, and on licenses granted for certain activities
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expedient (noun)
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a means of attaining an end, especially one that in convenient but considered improper or immoral
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fortnight
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a period of two weeks
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furlough
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a leave of absence, especially that granted to a member of the armed services
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hegemony
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leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over another
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hoary
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old & trite / or, grayish-white
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hubris
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excessive pride or self-confidence
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ignominious
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deserving or causing public disgrace or shame
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impetuous
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acting or doing quickly, without thought or care
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inanition
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lack of mental or spiritual vigor & enthusiasm
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inexorable
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impossible to stop or prevent
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invective
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insulting, abusive or highly critical language
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jaunty
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having or expressing a lively, cheerful & self-confident manner
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levies (historical)
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a body of troops that have been enlisted
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lilt
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a pleasant, gentle accent
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martinet
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a strict disciplinarian
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mercurial
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subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
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muster (military)
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a formal gathering of troops, especially for inspection, display or exercise
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neuralgia
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intense, typically intermittent pain along the course of a nerve, especially in the head or face
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nexus
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a connection linking two or more things
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quartermaster
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a military officer responsible for providing quarters, rations, clothing & other supplies
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onerous
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involving an amount of effort & difficulty that is oppressively burdensome
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ostentatious
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designed to impress or attract notice; characterized by vulgar or pretentious display
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pestiferous
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harboring infection & disease
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posthaste
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with great speed or immediacy
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preponderance
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the quality or fact of being greater in power, numbers or importance
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prodigious
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remarkably or impressively great in extent, size or degree
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prosaic
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lacking poetic beauty / or, commonplace / or, unromantic
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red herring
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something, especially a clue, that is or is intended to be misleading or distracting
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redoubt
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a temporary or supplementary fortification
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redress
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remedy or set right
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ribald
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referring to sexual matters in an amusingly rude or irreverent way
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rolling mill
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a factory or machine for rolling steel or other metal into sheets
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rolling stock
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locomotives, carriages, wagons or other vehicles used on a railroad
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sanguine
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cheerfully optimistic
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sardonic
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grimly mocking or cynical
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serendipity
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the occurrence & development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way
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servile
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having or showing an extreme willingness to serve or please others
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schism
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a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief
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scuttle
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to sink (one's own ship) deliberately, or deliberately cause a scheme to fail
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slapdash
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done too hurriedly & carelessly
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specie
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money in the form of coins rather than notes
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stolid
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calm, dependable and showing little emotion or animation
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superfluous
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unnecessary, especially through being more than enough
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surreptitious
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kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
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tacit
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understood or implied without being stated
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tariff
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a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports
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technocrat
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an advocate or exponent of a government or control of society by an elite of technical experts
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trite
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overused and consequently of little importance
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untenable
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not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection
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will-o'-the-wisp
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a person or thing that is difficult or impossible to find, reach, or catch
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juxtaposition |
placing or positioning close together (or side-by-side) for comparison or for contrasting effect |
