My Random Words 4

Front 1

callous

Back 1

adjective
unkind or cruel; without sympathy or feeling for other people:
It might sound callous, but I don't care if he's homeless. He's not living with me!

1 a : being hardened and thickened b : having calluses <callous hands>
2 a : feeling no emotion b : feeling or showing no sympathy for others : HARD-HEARTED <a callous indifference to suffering>

Front 2

impassion

Back 2

to arouse the feelings or passions of

Front 3

impassive

Back 3

1 a archaic : unsusceptible to pain b : unsusceptible to physical feeling : INSENSIBLE c : unsusceptible to or destitute of emotion : APATHETIC
2 : giving no sign of feeling or emotion : EXPRESSIONLESS

Front 4

agitate

Back 4

verb [T]
to make someone feel anxious and not calm:
I didn't want to agitate her by telling her.

Front 5

calumniate

Back 5

1 : to utter maliciously false statements, charges, or imputations about
2 : to injure the reputation of by calumny

Front 6

calamity

Back 6

noun [C]
a serious accident or bad event causing damage or suffering:
A series of calamities ruined them - floods, a failed harvest and the death of a son.

calamitous
adjective

Front 7

perjury

Back 7

noun [U] LEGAL
the crime of telling lies in court when you have promised to tell the truth:
She was sentenced to two years in jail for committing perjury (= telling lies in a law court).

Front 8

deposition

Back 8

noun [C] LEGAL
a formal written statement made or used in a court of law:
Before the court case, we had to file/give a deposition.
Our lawyer took a deposition from us.
a sworn deposition

Front 9

cameo

Back 9

a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell

Front 10

ingratiation

Back 10

to gain favor or favorable acceptance for by deliberate effort -- usually used with with <ingratiate themselves with the community leaders -- William Attwood>

Front 11

candor

Back 11

the quality of being truthful and honest, especially about a difficult or embarrassing subject:
"We really don't know what to do about it, " she said with surprising candour.

Front 12

subterfuge

Back 12

noun [C or U]
a trick or a dishonest way of achieving something:
It was clear that they must have obtained the information by subterfuge.

Front 13

brashness

Back 13

adjective DISAPPROVING
(of people) showing too much confidence and too little respect, or (of clothes) too bright and colourful:
a brash young banker
Don't you think that suit's a bit brash for a funeral?

Front 14

cane

Back 14

noun
1 [C or U] the long, hard, hollow stem of particular plants such as bamboo, sometimes used to make furniture or support other plants in the garden

2 [C] a long stick used especially by old, ill or blind people to help them walk

3 [S] a long, thin stick used in the past as a school punishment

Front 15

canon

Back 15

noun [C usually plural] FORMAL OR SPECIALIZED
a rule, principle or law, especially in the Christian Church

Front 16

technocrat

Back 16

1 : an adherent of technocracy (government by technicians; specifically : management of society by technical experts)
2 : a technical expert; especially : one exercising managerial authority

Front 17

exacerbate

Back 17

verb [T]
to make something which is already bad worse:
This attack will exacerbate the already tense relations between the two communities.

Front 18

virtuoso

Back 18

noun [C] plural virtuosos or virtuosi
a person who is extremely skilled at something, especially at playing an instrument or performing:
Famous mainly for his wonderful voice, Cole was also a virtuoso on the piano.

virtuosity
noun [U] FORMAL

Front 19

betray

Back 19

verb [T]
to show feelings, thoughts or a particular characteristic without intending to:
If he is nervous on stage, he does not betray it.
Although she often seems quite cold and harsh, her smiling eyes betray her true nature.

Front 20

foreshadow

Back 20

verb [T] FORMAL
to act as a warning or sign of a future event:
The recent outbreak of violence was foreshadowed by isolated incidents in the city earlier this year.

Front 21

sedative

Back 21

noun [C]
a drug used to calm a person or animal or to make them sleep

Front 22

drowsy

Back 22

adjective
being in a state between sleeping and being awake:
The room is so warm it's making me feel drowsy.

Front 23

psychosis

Back 23

noun [C or U] plural psychoses
any of a number of the more severe mental diseases that make you believe things that are not real:
She fell into a drug-induced psychosis.

Front 24

wanderlust

Back 24

noun [U]
the desire to travel far away and to many different places:
In July wanderlust takes over the whole nation.

Front 25

miser

Back 25

noun [C] DISAPPROVING
someone who has a great desire to possess money and hates to spend it

Front 26

pugnacious

Back 26

: having a quarrelsome or combative nature : TRUCULENT
synonym see BELLIGERENT

Front 27

foolhardy

Back 27

: foolishly adventurous and bold : RASH
synonym see ADVENTUROUS

Front 28

rash

Back 28

adjective
careless or unwise, without thought for what might happen or result:
That was a rash decision - you didn't think about the costs involved.
[+ to infinitive] I think it was a bit rash of them to get married when they'd only known each other for a few weeks.

Front 29

narcotic

Back 29

noun [C]
1 MAINLY US an illegal drug such as heroin or cocaine:
He faces three years in jail for selling narcotics.

2 SPECIALIZED a drug which makes you want to sleep and prevents you feeling pain:
Morphine is a narcotic.

Front 30

relapse

Back 30

verb [I] FORMAL
to become ill or start behaving badly again, after making an improvement:
She managed to stop using drugs for a month, but then relapsed.
He looked happy for a brief while, before relapsing into silent misery.

Front 31

lethargic

Back 31

adjective
lacking in energy; feeling unwilling and unable to do anything:
I was feeling tired and lethargic.

Front 32

resuscitate

Back 32

verb [T]
to bring someone or something back to life or consciousness:
Her heart had stopped, but the doctors successfully resuscitated her.

Front 33

tonic

Back 33

noun
1 [C] a liquid medicine which has the general effect of making you feel better rather than treating a particular health problem that you might have

2 [S] INFORMAL something that makes you feel stronger or happier:
The magazine is lively and interesting - the pictures alone are a tonic.

Front 34

stygian

Back 34

adjective LITERARY
extremely and unpleasantly dark:
Stygian gloom

Front 35

abysmal

Back 35

1 a : having immense or fathomless extension downward, backward, or inward <an abysmal cliff> b : immeasurably great : PROFOUND <abysmal ignorance> c : immeasurably low or wretched <abysmal living conditions of the poor>
2 : ABYSSAL

Front 36

contentious

Back 36

adjective
causing or likely to cause disagreement:
a contentious decision/policy/issue/subject
She has some rather contentious views on education.

Front 37

fortuitous

Back 37

adjective FORMAL
(of something that is to your advantage) not planned, happening by chance:
The timing of the meeting is certainly fortuitous.
The collapse of its rivals brought fortuitous gains to the company.

Front 38

cataclysm

Back 38

noun [C] LITERARY
a great destructive event or sudden violent change

Front 39

onerous

Back 39

adjective FORMAL
difficult to do or needing a lot of effort:
the onerous task of finding a peaceful solution
the onerous duties of motherhood

Front 40

feckless

Back 40

adjective FORMAL
describes people or behaviour with no energy and enthusiasm:
He was portrayed as a feckless drunk.

Front 41

illusory

Back 41

adjective (ALSO illusive) FORMAL
not real; based on illusion:

Front 42

pliant

Back 42

adjective
1 Pliant people are easily influenced or controlled by other people:
I don't think it's a good thing for children to be too pliant.

2 able to bend easily without breaking:
These toys are made of pliant rubber, so they won't break.

3 being able and willing to accept change or new ideas:
The management has adopted a more pliant position, and has agreed to listen to the staff's requests.

Front 43

upbraid

Back 43

1 : to criticize severely : find fault with
2 : to reproach severely : scold vehemently
synonym see SCOLD

Front 44

reproach

Back 44

verb [T]
to criticize someone, especially for not being successful or not doing what is expected:
His mother reproached him for not eating all his dinner.
[R] You have nothing to reproach yourself for/with.

Front 45

dote

Back 45

to love someone completely and believe they are perfect:
He dotes on the new baby.

Front 46

recast

Back 46

verb [T] recast, recast
to change the form of something, or to change an actor in a play or film:
She recast her novel as a musical comedy.
In despair, the theatre director recast the leading role.

Front 47

predicate

Back 47

verb [T] FORMAL
to state that something is true:
[+ that] It would be unwise to predicate that the disease is caused by a virus before further tests have been carried out.

Front 48

postulate

Back 48

verb [I or T] FORMAL
to suggest a theory, idea, etc. as a basic principle from which a further idea is formed or developed:
It was the Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, who postulated that the Earth was at the centre of the universe.

Front 49

cessation

Back 49

noun [C or U] FORMAL
ending or stopping:
Religious leaders have called for a total cessation of the bombing campaign.
See also cease.

Front 50

terrestrial

Back 50

adjective
1 FORMAL relating to the planet Earth
Compare extraterrestrial.

2 SPECIALIZED (of animals) living on the land rather than in the sea or air

3 FORMAL describes television channels which are broadcast from stations on the ground and do not use satellites

Front 51

divulge

Back 51

verb [T]
to make something secret known:
Journalists do not divulge their sources.
[+ question word] The managing director refused to divulge how much she earned.

Front 52

patronize

Back 52

1 : to act as patron of : provide aid or support for
2 : to adopt an air of condescension toward : treat haughtily or coolly
3 : to be a frequent or regular customer or client of

Front 53

adulteration

Back 53

verb [T always passive]
to make food or drink weaker or to lower its quality, by adding something else:
There were complaints that the beer had been adulterated with water.

Front 54

deposition

Back 54

1 : an act of removing from a position of authority
2 a : a testifying especially before a court b : DECLARATION; specifically : testimony taken down in writing under oath c : out-of-court testimony made under oath and recorded by an authorized officer for later use in court; also : a meeting at which such testimony is taken
3 : an act or process of depositing
4 : something deposited : DEPOSIT

Front 55

morose

Back 55

1 : having a sullen and gloomy disposition
2 : marked by or expressive of gloom
synonym see SULLEN

Front 56

taciturn

Back 56

adjective
saying little, especially habitually:
He's a reserved, taciturn person.

Front 57

repine

Back 57

1 : to feel or express dejection or discontent : COMPLAIN
2 : to long for something

Front 58

venerate

Back 58

verb [T] FORMAL
to honour or greatly respect a person or thing:
Robert Burns is Scotland's most venerated poet.

Front 59

deride

Back 59

1 : to laugh at contemptuously
2 : to subject to usually bitter or contemptuous ridicule
synonym see RIDICULE

Front 60

ostracize

Back 60

verb [T]
to avoid someone intentionally or to prevent them from taking part in the activities of a group:
His colleagues ostracized him after he criticized the company in public.

Front 61

defiance

Back 61

noun [U]
when you refuse to obey someone or something:
The demonstration is a pointless act/gesture of defiance against the government.
In defiance of the ceasefire, rebel troops are again firing on the capital.

Front 62

inveterate

Back 62

1 : firmly established by long persistence <the inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious>
2 : confirmed in a habit : HABITUAL <an inveterate liar>

Front 63

undergird

Back 63

1 archaic : to make secure underneath <took measures to undergird the ship -- Acts 27:17 (Revised Standard Version)>
2 : to form the basis or foundation of : STRENGTHEN, SUPPORT <facts and statistics subtly undergird his commentary -- Susan Q. Stranahan>

Front 64

undermine

Back 64

1 : to excavate the earth beneath : form a mine under : SAP
2 : to wash away supporting material from under
3 : to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly <trying to undermine his political rivals>
4 : to weaken or ruin by degrees

Front 65

overhaul

Back 65

1 a : to examine thoroughly b (1) : REPAIR (2) : to renovate, remake, revise, or renew thoroughly
2 : to haul or drag over
3 : OVERTAKE

Front 66

intersperse

Back 66

1 : to place something at intervals in or among <intersperse a book with pictures>
2 : to insert at intervals among other things <interspersing drawings throughout the text>

Front 67

canonical

Back 67

1 : of, relating to, or forming a canon
2 : conforming to a general rule or acceptable procedure : ORTHODOX
3 : of or relating to a clergyman who is a canon
4 : reduced to the canonical form <a canonical matrix>

Front 68

canopy

Back 68

1 a : a cloth covering suspended over a bed b : a cover (as of cloth) fixed or carried above a person of high rank or a sacred object : BALDACHIN c : a protective covering: as (1) : the uppermost spreading branchy layer of a forest (2) : AWNING, MARQUEE
2 : an ornamental rooflike structure
3 a : the transparent enclosure over an airplane cockpit b : the fabric part of a parachute that catches the air

Front 69

caprice

Back 69

1 a : a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action b : a sudden usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes <the caprices of the weather>
2 : a disposition to do things impulsively

Front 70

whimsical

Back 70

1 : full of, actuated by, or exhibiting (a capricious or eccentric and often sudden idea or turn of the mind)
2 a : resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice; especially : lightly fanciful <whimsical decorations> b : subject to erratic behavior or unpredictable change

Front 71

furtive

Back 71

1 a : done by stealth : SURREPTITIOUS b : expressive of stealth : SLY <had a furtive look about him>
2 : obtained underhandedly : STOLEN

Front 72

deliberate

Back 72

to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully

Front 73

insubordinate

Back 73

disobedient to authority

Front 74

hidebound

Back 74

1 of a domestic animal : having a dry skin lacking in pliancy and adhering closely to the underlying flesh
2 : having an inflexible or ultraconservative character

Front 75

caricature

Back 75

1 : exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics
2 : a representation especially in literature or art that has the qualities of caricature
3 : a distortion so gross as to seem like caricature

Front 76

cartographer

Back 76

one that makes maps

Front 77

weaver

Back 77

one that makes clothes especially as an occupation

Front 78

lexicographer

Back 78

an author or editor of a dictionary

Front 79

castigate

Back 79

to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism
synonym see PUNISH

Front 80

loathing

Back 80

extreme disgust : DETESTATION

Front 81

turret

Back 81

a little tower; specifically : an ornamental structure at an angle of a larger structure

Front 82

caustic

Back 82

1 : capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action : CORROSIVE
2 : marked by incisive sarcasm
3 : relating to or being the surface or curve of a caustic

Front 83

solvent

Back 83

1 : able to pay all legal debts <a solvent company>
2 : that dissolves or can dissolve <solvent action of water>

Front 84

spelunker

Back 84

one who makes a hobby of exploring and studying caves

Front 85

cavil

Back 85

intransitive verb : to raise trivial and frivolous objection
transitive verb : to raise trivial objections to

Front 86

probe

Back 86

to search into and explore very thoroughly : subject to a penetrating investigation

Front 87

nitpick

Back 87

minute and usually unjustified criticism

Front 88

carping

Back 88

Function: adjective
: marked by or inclined to querulous (habitually complaining) and often perverse criticism

Front 89

libertine

Back 89

a person who is unrestrained by convention or morality; specifically : one leading a dissolute (indulgence in things) life

Front 90

licentious

Back 90

1 : lacking legal or moral restraints; especially : disregarding sexual restraints
2 : marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness

Front 91

cede

Back 91

1 : to yield or grant typically by treaty
2 : ASSIGN, TRANSFER

Front 92

lament

Back 92

1 : to express sorrow, mourning, or regret for often demonstratively : MOURN
2 : to regret strongly

Front 93

slight

Back 93

1 : to treat as slight or unimportant : make light of
2 : to treat with disdain or indifference <slight a guest>
3 : to perform or attend to carelessly and inadequately <don't slight your work>

Front 94

hull

Back 94

1 a : the outer covering of a fruit or seed b : the persistent calyx or involucre that subtends some fruits (as a strawberry)
2 a : the frame or body of a ship or boat exclusive of masts, yards, sails, and rigging b : the main body of a usually large or heavy craft or vehicle (as an airship or tank)
3 : COVERING, CASING

Front 95

censorious

Back 95

marked by or given to censure

Front 96

centrifuge

Back 96

a machine using centrifugal force for separating substances of different densities, for removing moisture, or for simulating gravitational effects