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39 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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muslin
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Noun /ˈməzlən/ muslins plural Lightweight cotton cloth in a plain weave a white muslin dress
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soliloquy
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Noun /səˈliləkwē/ soliloquies plural An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, esp. by a character in a play A part of a play involving such an act
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casuistry
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Noun /ˈkaZHo͞oəstrē/ Synonyms: noun: sophistry casuistries plural The use of clever but unsound reasoning, esp. in relation to moral questions; sophistry The resolving of moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances
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corpulent
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Adjective /ˈkôrpyələnt/ Synonyms: adjective: stout, portly, obese, fat, plump, pursy, fleshy (of a person) Fat
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superciliously
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sneeringly: with a sneer; in an uncomplimentary sneering manner; "`I don't believe in these customs,' he said sneeringly"
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verisimilitude
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Noun /ˌverəsəˈmiliˌt(y)o͞od/ Synonyms: noun: probability, likelihood, plausibility The appearance of being true or real the detail gives the novel some verisimilitude
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ungainly
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Adjective /ˌənˈgānlē/ Synonyms: adjective: awkward, clumsy, gawky, unwieldy, hulking, gauche, maladroit, uncouth, ungraceful adverb: awkwardly ungainlier comparative; ungainliest superlative (of a person or movement) Awkward; clumsy an ungainly walk
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acquiescent
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Adjective /ˌakwēˈesənt/ Synonyms: adjective: compliant, yielding, submissive (of a person) Ready to accept something without protest, or to do what someone else wants the unions were acquiescent and there was no overt conflict
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compunction
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Noun /kəmˈpəNG(k)SHən/ Synonyms: noun: remorse, regret, repentance, penitence, contrition, qualm, scruple, rue, pangs of conscience compunctions plural A feeling of guilt or moral scruple that follows the doing of something bad spend the money without compunction A pricking of the conscience he had no compunction about behaving blasphemously
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volubly
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chattily: in a chatty manner; "`when I was a girl,' she said chattily, `I used to ride a bicycle'"
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facetious
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Adjective /fəˈsēSHəs/ Synonyms: adjective: jocose, humorous, jocular, waggish, comic, funny, comical, playful, witty Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant
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fastidious
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Adjective /fasˈtidēəs/ Synonyms: adjective: choosy, choosey, particular, nice, squeamish, dainty, finical, fussy Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail he chooses his words with fastidious care Very concerned about matters of cleanliness the child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers sticky or dirty
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deference
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Noun /ˈdefərəns/ Synonyms: noun: respect, regard, esteem, reverence, obeisance, estimation, homage Humble submission and respect he addressed her with the deference due to age
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sententious
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Adjective /senˈtenCHəs/ Given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner he tried to encourage his men with sententious rhetoric
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rueful
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Adjective /ˈro͞ofəl/ Synonyms: adjective: sad, sorrowful, mournful, woeful, sorry, doleful, lugubrious, lamentable, woesome, regretful, plaintive, deplorable Expressing sorrow or regret, esp. when in a slightly humorous way she gave a rueful grin
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avowal
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a statement asserting the existence or the truth of something
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calumny
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Noun /ˈkaləmnē/ Synonyms: noun: slander, aspersion, libel, defamation, obloquy, slur, smear, scandal, calumniation calumnies plural The making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone's reputation; slander A false and slanderous statement
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surreptitious
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Adjective /ˌsərəpˈtiSHəs/ Synonyms: adjective: secret, furtive, stealthy, clandestine, underhand, undercover, hole-and-corner, occult, sneaking, hidden Kept secret, esp. because it would not be approved of they carried on a surreptitious affair
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servile
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Adjective /ˈsərvəl/ /-ˌvīl/ Synonyms: adjective: obsequious, slavish, subservient, menial Having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others bowing his head in a servile manner Of or characteristic of a slave or slaves
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phalanstery
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Noun /ˈfalənˌsterē/ phalansteries plural A group of people living together in community, free of external regulation and holding property in common
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relegate
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Verb /ˈreləˌgāt/ relegated past tense; relegated past participle; relegates 3rd person singular present; relegating present participle Consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position they aim to prevent women from being relegated to a secondary role
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proviso
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Noun /prəˈvīzō/ Synonyms: noun: condition, stipulation, reservation, qualification, reserve, clause, provision, salvo provisos plural A condition attached to an agreement he left his unborn grandchild a trust fund with the proviso that he be named after the old man
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cap·tious
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Adjective /ˈkapSHəs/ Synonyms: adjective: carping (of a person) Tending to find fault or raise petty objections
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allay
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Verb /əˈlā/ allayed past participle; allayed past tense; allays 3rd person singular present; allaying present participle Diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry) the report attempted to educate the public and allay fears Relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger) some stale figs partly allayed our hunger
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ep·i·thet
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Noun /ˈepəˌTHet/ epithets plural An adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned old men are often unfairly awarded the epithet “dirty.” Such a word or phrase as a term of abuse he felt an urge to hurl epithets in his face A descriptive title the epithet “Father of Waters,” poetically used for the Mississippi River
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prostration
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Noun /präˈstrāSHən/ prostrations plural The action of lying stretched out on the ground The state of being extremely weak or subservient the refusal to call a strike reflects the union leadership's prostration before the company Extreme physical weakness or emotional exhaustion
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panegyric
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Noun /ˌpanəˈjirik/ Synonyms: adjective: eulogistic, laudatory, encomiastic noun: eulogy, encomium, praise panegyrics plural A public speech or published text in praise of someone or something Vera's panegyric on friendship
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apocryphal
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Adjective /əˈpäkrəfəl/ (of a story or statement) Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true an apocryphal story about a former president Of or belonging to the Apocrypha the Apocryphal Gospel of Thomas
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alacrity
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Noun /əˈlakritē/ Synonyms: noun: readiness, willingness, eagerness Brisk and cheerful readiness she accepted the invitation with alacrity
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Schiller
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Noun idealist A person who is guided more by ideals than by practical considerations
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odious
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Adjective /ˈōdēəs/ Synonyms: adjective: hateful, obnoxious, detestable, loathsome, abominable, abhorrent, nasty, loathful, repulsive, execrable, heinous, hideous, revolting, accursed, vile, repugnant, foul Extremely unpleasant; repulsive
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entreaty
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Noun /enˈtrētē/ Synonyms: noun: supplication, prayer, appeal, plea, obsecration, request, adjuration, petition entreaties plural An earnest or humble request the king turned a deaf ear to his entreaties
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execrable
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Adjective /ˈeksikrəbəl/ Synonyms: adjective: abominable, odious, loathsome, abhorrent, detestable, accursed, revolting, nasty, obnoxious, hideous, repulsive, vile, heinous, accurst, loathful, hateful Extremely bad or unpleasant execrable cheap wine
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ar·rears
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Noun (plural) /əˈri(ə)rz/ Synonyms: noun: arrearage arrears plural Money that is owed and should have been paid earlier he was suing the lessee for the arrears of rent
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suffuse
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Verb /səˈfyo͞oz/ suffused past participle; suffuses 3rd person singular present; suffusing present participle; suffused past tense Gradually spread through or over her cheeks were suffused with color the first half of the poem is suffused with idealism
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obdurate
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Adjective /ˈäbd(y)ərit/ Synonyms: adjective: obstinate, stubborn, headstrong, dogged, pertinacious, stiff-necked verb: obdure Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action
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veneration
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Noun /ˌvenəˈrāSHən/ Synonyms: noun: reverence, worship, respect, adoration, esteem, awe venerations plural Great respect; reverence the traditional veneration of saints
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conflagration
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Noun /ˌkänfləˈgrāSHən/ Synonyms: noun: fire, blaze conflagrations plural An extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property
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taciturn
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Adjective /ˈtasiˌtərn/ Synonyms: adjective: reticent, silent, uncommunicative, reserved (of a person) Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little
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