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30 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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jurisprudence
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(n.) the philosophy of law
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Maria decided to follow the family tradition and study jurisprudence.
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jocular
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(adj.) characterized by joking or jesting
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He is a jocular fellow that always has people in stitches.
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peccadillo
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(n.) a misdeed; a sin
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He meant no harm, it was just a peccadillo.
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importune
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(v.) to harass with persistent demands
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The politician importuned the press not to talk about his wife's drinking problem.
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portent
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(n.) a sign of something to come; an omen
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The solar eclipse was a grave portent in the ancient Mayan world.
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abstruse
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(adj.) difficult to understand; perplexing
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The high level logic puzzle was very abstruse.
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ramify
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(vb.) to divide into subgroups, branches, or parts; to spread out
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Instead of ramifying the city, the election brought people together.
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intransigence
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(n.) unwillingness to compromise or change one's views
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The Republican party is known for its intransigence concerning gay marriage.
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supplicate
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(v.) to beseech and ask for in a humble manner
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The priest always advised people to not only wish for other things, but also to take time to supplicate.
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malefactor
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(n.) a person who commits a crime or wrongdoing
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Police are still searching for the malefactor who stole from the collection box.
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pellucid
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(adj.) clear; translucent
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The waters of the Caribbean are pellucid.
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upbraid
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(v.) to scold, to criticize strongly
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The Supreme Court upbraided the Executive Branch for responding slowly to Hurricane Katrina.
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indolence
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(n.) inactivity; marked by avoiding exertion
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Her indolence at work caused her to lose her job.
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hoary
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(adj.) having a silver or gray color
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The frost covered the field in an hoary ice.
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reactionary
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(adj.) resistance to social change; conservative
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The reactionary man wanted to maintain the status quo.
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gainsay
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(v.) to challenge against something; to speak out against
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The lawyer attempted to gainsay the testimony.
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vicissitude
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(n.) a natural alteration or variation in something
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The vicissitudes of the weather patterns did not affect the migration of the birds.
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ignominious
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(adj.) deserving of public humiliation; disgraceful
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She made a hasty retreat after her ignominious behavior at the family reunion.
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acquiesce
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(v.) to agree or consent to without protesting
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The maestro acquiesced to the audience's request for an encore.
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inept
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(adj.) unskilled; inefficient; incompetent
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She was inept when it came to playing the piano.
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lachrymose
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(adj.) tearful or mournful
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The book contained lachrymose stories that were very moving.
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nonentity
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(n.) a person or thing of no importance, influence, or significance
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The new employee was perceived as a nonentity in his company.
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adulate
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(v.) to praise or admire excessively
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Though I have conquered the mountain peak, there is no need to adulate me.
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asperity
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(n.) harshness or roughness; difficulty
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The long drought had given the landscape a characteristic asperity.
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plumb
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(v) to measure depth or to examine fully
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She wanted to plumb the meaning of the poem.
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prate
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(v.) to talk incessantly and unintelligibly
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I'd rather read a book than listen to you prate.
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provident
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(adj.) planning cautiously for future needs; having foresight
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He was provident when preparing his will.
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chary
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(adj.) understandably cautions or careful
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After giving up a home run, the pitcher was chary of throwing the same pitch.
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quaff
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(v.) to drink thirstily or greedily
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His father would quaff a beer or two after work.
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veracious
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(adj) habitually truthful; honest
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Monica is a veracious employee who can always be counted on.
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