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157 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Abstruse
Difficult to understand; obscure: "an abstruse philosophical inquiry."
Recondite
little known; abstruse. Denotes topics that are known and understood by only a few experts.
Prodigal
wastefully or recklessly extravagant
Amatory
of or pertaining to lovers or lovemaking
Amity
A friendly relationship, from Latin "amicus"
Inamorata
a female lover
Perambulator
Someone who makes a tour of inspection on foot
Amphibian (non zoological)
A person or thing having a twofold nature
Animus
1. Hostility or ill feeling
2. Motivation to do something
3. (Psych) Jung's term for the masculine part of a woman's personality
Equanimity
Mental or emotional stability, especially under tension. Composure, even temper.
Magnanimous
very generous or forgiving, esp. toward a rival or someone less powerful
Antediluvian
of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood;
(chiefly humorous) ridiculously old-fashioned.
Misanthrope
a person who dislikes humanity and avoids human society.
Androgen
any substance that promotes masculine characteristics; a male sex hormone, such as testosterone
Anthropocentric
regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, esp. as opposed to God or animals.
Antipodal
relating to or situated on the opposite side of the earth; diametrically opposed to something.
Apocalypse
complete final destruction of the world; an event involving destruction or damage on a large scale. Kaplan says "revelation, discovery; disclosure." ?
Apogee
The point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it's furthest from the earth. Opposite of Perigee.
(fig.) the highest point in the development of something; climax or culmination of something
Apocryphal
of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.
Apostasy
the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief
Oligarchy
a small group of people having control of a country, organization or institution
Autocrat
a ruler who has absolute power; someone who insists on complete obedience; an imperious or domineering person
Belittle
make seem unimportant
Belie
1. fail to give a true notion or impression of; disguise or contradict
2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray
(misrepresent, contradict)
Biennial
Happening every two years. Contrast with "biannual" which means twice a year.
Bilateral
having or relating to two sides; affecting both sides
- involving two parties, usually countries.
Decadent
Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline; luxuriously self-indulgent.
Recidivist
a convicted criminal who reoffends, esp. repeatedly
Recant
say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, esp. one considered heretical
Susceptible
1. likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing; easily influenced by feelings or emotions; sensitive.
2. (predic.) (susceptible of) capable or admitting of
Percipient
adj.: (of a person) having a good understanding of things; perceptive.
(noun) esp. in philosophy, or psychic phenomena: a person who is able to perceive things.
Precept
1. a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought
2. a writ or warrant, e.g. "the commissioner issued precepts requiring the companies to provide information"
Precipitate
1. cause (an event or situation, typically one that is bad or undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely.
2. cause to move suddenly and with force
3. send something into a particular state or condition

adj.: done, made, or acting suddenly or without careful consideration
occurring suddenly or abruptly
Capitulate
cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender
Carnage
the killing of a large number of people.
Castigate
reprimand severely
Chastise
rebuke or reprimand severely;
(dated) punish, esp. by beating
Discrete
individually separate and distinct
Discreet
careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, esp. in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage
- intentionally unobtrusive
Ascertain
find out for certain; make sure of
Anachronism
a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned.
- an act of attributing a custom, event, or object to a period to which it doesn't belong
Circuit
(v). move all the way around. e.g. "the trains will follow the northern line, circuiting the capital."
Circumambulate
Walk all the way around something
Preclude
prevent from happening; make impossible; prevent someone from doing something
Disclaim
refuse to acknowledge; deny.
- renounce a legal claim to (a property or title).
Conciliate
1. stop someone from being angry or discontented; placate; pacify
- act as a mediatore
- reconcile; make compatible
2. (archaic) gain esteem or goodwill
Commensurate
corresponding in size or degree; in proportion. E.g., "salary will be commensurate with experience."
Accretion
the process of growth or increase; typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter
- a thing formed by such growth or increase
Cryptology v. cryptography
(a) the science of interpreting secret writings, codes, ciphers, etc.
(b) procedures of making and using secret writing
Inculpate
accuse or blame; incriminate
Didactic
intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
- in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way
Endemic
1 (of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area
2. (of plant or animal) native or restricted to a certain country or area
Interdict
an authoritative prohibition.
(v). to prohibit or forbid
2. intercept and prevent the movement of (a prohibited commodity or person)
Condign
(of punishment or retribution) appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing; fitting and deserved.
Indolent
1. wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
2. (of a disease condition)causing little or no pain;
3. slow to develop, progress or heal; persistent.
Dubiety
doubtfulness
Dyspepsia
indigestion
Efface
erase (a mark) from a surface;
(fig.) make oneself appear insignificant or inconspicuous
Epithet
1. an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned
2. such a word or phrase as a term of abuse
3. a descriptive title
Arrant
Complete, utter: e.g., "what arrant nonsense!"
Eugenics
the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics
Euphony
the quality of being pleasing to the ear, esp. through a harmonious combination of words
- the tendency to make phonetic change for ease of pronunciation
Extrapolate
Extend the application of (a method or conclusion, esp. one based on statistics) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue;
2. estimate or conclude in this way
Effervescent
giving off bubbles; fizzy
Flambeau
a flaming torch, esp. one made with several thick wicks dipped in wax.
Conflagration
an extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property
Fractious
easily irritated; bad tempered.
2. difficult to control; unruly
Refractory
1. stubborn, unmanageable
2. resistant to a process or stimulus
3. not yielding to treatment
4. resistant to heat; hard to melt or fuse
Fusillade
a series of shots fired or missiles thrown all at the same time or in quick succession

v. attack or shoot down by a series of shots
Suffuse
gradually spread through or over
Diffuse
spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people; scatter.
Egress
the action of going out or leaving a place; a way out; the right or freedom to come out or go out

(v). go out of or leave a place
Ingratiate
bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them
Heterodox
not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs
Indigent
(adj.) poor; needy
(n.) a needy person
Junta
1. a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force
2. a deliberative or administrative council in Spain or Portugal
Abjure
solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim)
Adjure
urge or request solemnly or earnestly to do something
Ablution
the act of washing oneself (often used for humorously formal effect)
- a ceremonial act of washing parts of the body or sacred containers
Predilection
a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something
Magnanimous
generous in forgiving an insult or injury
Maladroit
ineffective or bungling; clumsy
Malaprop/malapropism
the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect
Malfeasance
wrongdoing, esp. by a public official
Minatory
expressing or conveying a threat
Remit
1. cancel or refrain from exacting or inflicting
2. send money in payment or as a gift
3. refer to some authority
4. (rare) postpone, (archaic) diminish
Promiscuous (alt.)
demonstrating or implying an undiscriminating or unselective approach; indiscriminate or casual;
consisting of a wide range of different things
Monitor
one that admonishes cautions or reminds
Moribund
(of a person) at the point of death
(of a thing) in terminal decline; lacking vitality or vigor
Cognate
1. having the same linguistic derivation as another; from the same original word or root
2. (formal) related; connected
- related to or descended from a common ancestor

(noun)
1. (law) a blood relative
Gastronomy
the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food.
- the cooking of a particular area
Neologism
a newly coined word or expression; the coining or use of new words
Neophyte
A person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief
- a new convert to a religion
- a novice in a religious order, or a newly ordained priest
Obstreperous
Noisy and difficult to control, often in an unruly and aggressive way, usually in defiance of authority
Vociferous
vehement or clamorous
Obfuscate
render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible
- bewilder
Obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
Omnibus
1. a volume containing several novels or other items previously published separately
2. (dated) a bus

(adj.) comprising several items
Panegyric
a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something
Panoply
a complete or impressive collection of things
- a splendid display
- a complete set of arms or suit of armor
Paragon
a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality
- a person or thing viewed as a model of excellence
- a perfect diamond of 100 carats or more
Pusillanimous
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid
Pedant
a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning
Antipodes
the direct opposite of something
Perfunctory
carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection; performed merely as routine duty
Pertinacious
holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action
Perspicacious
having a ready insight into and understanding of things
Peripatetic
(adj.) 1. traveling from place to place, esp. working or based in various places for relatively short periods
2. Aristotelian (origin: with reference to Aristotle's practice of walking to and fro while teaching)

noun:
1. a person who travels from place to place
Philatelist
collection and study of postage stamps
Philology
branch of knowledge that deals with the structure, historical development, and relationship of a language or languages
- literary or classical scholarship
Complaisant
willing to please others; obliging; agreeable
Duplicity
1. deceitfulness; double-dealing
2. (archaic) doubleness
Deportment
a person's behavior or manners
Disport
(v.) (archaic or humorous) enjoy oneself unrestrainedly; frolic
(n.) a diversion from work or serious matters; recreation or amusement
(archaic) a pastime, game, or sport
Importune
ask (someone) pressingly and persistently for or to do something
- approach to offer one's services as a prostitute
Presentiment
an intuitive feeling about the future, esp. one of foreboding
Proselytize
convert or attempt to convert from one religion, belief, or opinion to another
- advocate or promote a belief or course of action
Propound
put forward (an idea, theory, or point of view) for consideration by others
Approbation
approval or praise
Opprobrium
harsh criticism or censure
- public disgrace arising from someone's shameful conduct
- (arch.) an occasion or cause of reproach or disgrace
Reprobate
an unprincipled person (often used humorously or affectionately)
- (arch.) (esp. in Calvinism) a sinner who is not of the elect and is predestined to damnation

(adj.) unprincipled.
(v.) express or feel disapproval of
Probity
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency
Compunction
a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that follows the doing of something bad. (usually with negative, e.g. without compunction, had no compunction)
Punctilious
showing great attention to detail or correct behavior
Perquisite
Another term for perk.
- a thing regarded as a special right or privilege enjoyed as a result of one's position
Quiescence
in a state or period of inactivity or dormacy
Abeyance
a state of temporary disuse or suspension
- (law) the position of being without, or waiting for, an owner or claimant
Abrogate
repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement)
Arrogate
take or claim (something) for oneself without justification
Execrable
extremely bad or unpleasant
Desultory
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
- (of conversation) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused
- occurring randomly or occasionally
Unconscionable
Not right or reasonable;
unreasonably excessive
Proscribe
forbid, esp. by law;
- denounce or condemn
- (historical) outlaw (someone)
Obsequious
Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
Assiduous
showing great care and perseverance
Insensate
lacking physical sensation;
lacking sympathy or compassion, unfeeling
- completely lacking sense or reason
Dissolute
lax in morals; licentious
Circumspect
wary and unwilling to take risks
Specious
superficially plausible, but actually wrong
- misleading in appearance, esp. misleadingly attractive
Subterfuge
deceit used in order to achieve one's goal
- a statement or action resorted to in order to deceive
Supposition
an uncertain belief
Supercilious
Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others
Tendentious
expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, esp. a controversial one
Apotheosis
The highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax
- the elevation of someone to divine status
Tractable
easy to control or influence; easy to deal with
Intransigent
Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something
Contravene
violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, code of conduct)
- conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), esp. to its detriment
Adventitious
happening or carried on according to chance rather than design or inherent nature
- coming from outside, not native
Veracious
speaking or representing truth
Verisimilitude
the appearance of being true or real
Aver
state or assert to be the case
Verdant
green with grass or other rich vegetation; of the bright green color of lush grass
(other) inexperienced
Verdure
lush green vegetation; fresh green color; a condition of freshness
Clandestine
kept secret or done secretly, esp. because illicit
Joie de vivre
exuberant enjoyment of life. Lit. "Joy of living"
Equivocate
use ambiguous language as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself
Avocation
a hobby or minor occupation