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30 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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dispirited
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lacking in spirit
The coach used all the tricks at his command to buoy up the enthusiasm of his team, which I had become dispirited at the loss of the star player. |
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flippancy
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trifling gaiety
Your flippancy at this serious moment is offensive. |
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pivotal
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central; critical;
De Klerk's decision to set Nelson Mandela free was pivotal; without Mandela's release, there was no possibility that the African National Cogress would entertain talks with the South African government. |
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amok
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in a state of rage
The police had to be called in to restrain him after he ran amok in the department store. |
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nebulous
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vague; hazy; cloudy
She had only a nebulous memory of her grandmother's face. |
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relinquish
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abandon
I will relinquish my claims to this property if you promise to retain my employees. |
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treatise
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article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly
He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan playwrights for his graduate degree. |
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staid
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sober; sedate;
Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn. |
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convert
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one who has adopted a different religion or opinion
On his trip to Japan, though the President spoke at length about the merits of American automobiles, he made few converts to his beliefs. |
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inveterate
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deep-rooted; habitual;
She is an inveterate smoker and cannot break the habit. |
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deluge
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flood; rush;
When we advertised the position, we received a deluge of applications. |
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fructify
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bear fruit
This peach tree should fructify in three years. |
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legerdemain
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sleight of hand
The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain. |
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fledgling
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inexperienced
While it is necessary to provide these fledgling poets with an opportunity to present their work, it is not essential that we admire everything they write. |
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piquant
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pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating;
The piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of the meal. |
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amicable
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friendly
The dispute was settled in an amicable manner with no harsh words. |
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surfeit
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satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything
Every Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an overabundance of holiday treats. |
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adroit
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skillful
His adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased his employers. |
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cognizance
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knowledge
During the election campaign, the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the international situation. |
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squalid
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dirty; neglected; poor
It is easy to see how crime can breed in such a squalid neighborhood. |
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convention
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social or moral custom; established practice;
Flying in the face of convention, George Sand (Amandine Dudevant) shocked her contemporaries by taking lovers and wearing men's clothes. |
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invective
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abuse
He had expected criticism but not the invective that greeted his proposal. |
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insuperable
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insurmountable; invincible;
In the face of insuperable difficulties they maintained their courage and will to resist. |
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panegyric
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formal praise
The modest hero blushed to hear the speakers delivering panegyrics about his valorous act. |
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savor
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formal praise
Relishing his triumph, Costner especially savored the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure. |
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flair
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talent
She has an uncanny flair for discovering new artists before the public has become aware of their existence. |
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pillage
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plunder
The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it in ruins. |
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ameliorate
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improve
Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums. |
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capacious
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spacious
In the capacious areas of the railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting for their train. |
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moribund
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at the point of death
The doctors called the family to the bedside of the moribund patient. |
