Gre Mon, 5 Mar 07

Front 1

puissance

Back 1

power, might, force

Front 2

consternation

Back 2

To my consternation, when I reached home I found I had lost the key of the house. (paralyzing dismay)

Front 3

quixotic

Back 3

Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality.
Capricious; impulsive: "At worst his scruples must have been quixotic, not malicious" (Louis Auchincloss).

Front 4

neoteric

Back 4

modern; new; recent

Front 5

inexorable

Back 5

unyielding; unalterable: inexorable truth; inexorable justice.

Front 6

plenipotent

Back 6

invested with or possessing full power

Front 7

euphonious

Back 7

pleasant in sound; agreeable to the ear; characterized by euphony: a sweet, euphonious voice

Front 8

eponymous

Back 8

giving one's name to a tribe, place, etc.: Romulus, the eponymous founder of Rome.

Front 9

fungible

Back 9

(esp. of goods) being of such nature or kind as to be freely exchangeable or replaceable, in whole or in part, for another of like nature or kind.

Front 10

nonplussed

Back 10

puzzled
to render utterly perplexed; puzzle completely

Front 11

demurred

Back 11

1. to make objection, esp. on the grounds of scruples; take exception; object: They wanted to make him the treasurer, but he demurred.
2. Law. to interpose a demurrer.
3. Archaic. to linger; hesitate.
–noun 4. the act of making objection.
5. an objection raised.

Front 12

occlude

Back 12

to close, shut, or stop up (a passage, opening, etc.).

Front 13

charlatan

Back 13

A person who makes elaborate, fraudulent, and often voluble claims to skill or knowledge; a quack or fraud.

Front 14

progenitors

Back 14

progenitors

Front 15

parvenus

Back 15

n. A person who has suddenly risen to a higher social and economic class and has not yet gained social acceptance by others in that class.

Front 16

cognoscenti/cognoscente

Back 16

A person with superior, usually specialized knowledge or highly refined taste; a connoisseur.

Front 17

inquietude

Back 17

. A state of restlessness or uneasiness; disquietude.

Front 18

opprobrious

Back 18

Synonyms 1. reproachful, abusive, vituperative, contemptuous. 2. dishonorable, ignominious.

Front 19

venal

Back 19

1. willing to sell one's influence, esp. in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary: a venal judge.
2. able to be purchased, as by a bribe: venal acquittals.

Front 20

inutile

Back 20

of no use or service.

Front 21

nihilistic

Back 21

1. total rejection of established laws and institutions.
2. anarchy, terrorism, or other revolutionary activity.
3. total and absolute destructiveness, esp. toward the world at large and including oneself: the power-mad nihilism that marked Hitler's last years.

Front 22

demagogue

Back 22

A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
A leader of the common people in ancient times.

Front 23

mercenary

Back 23

1. working or acting merely for money or other reward; venal.
2. hired to serve in a foreign army, guerrilla organization, etc.