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50 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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abdicate
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to renounce or abandon
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King Edward VIII sent shock waves through the U.K. by abdicating the throne to marry a commoner.
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abscond
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to go away hastily or secretly
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The newlyweds absconded from the reception to jet off on their honeymoon.
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adulterate
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to corrupt, debase, or make impure
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Illegal dumping of waste has adulterated the lake.
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alacrity
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eager readiness or speed
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The manager was so impressed by the worker's alacrity that he suggested a promotion.
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amenable
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agreeable
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The principal was pleasantly surprised to find the faculty amenable to his new curriculum plans.
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apathy
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lack of emotion or interest
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They may have the right to vote, but apathy is apparent when few people actually turn out to vote.
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arrogate
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to assume presumptuously
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The teenager arrogated that he should be able to use his father's car whenever he desired.
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augment
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to make greater
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They were able to augment their savings over a period of time.
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bestial
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having the qualities of a beast; brutal
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The bestial employer made his employers work in an unheated room in the winter.
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cacophony
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harsh, inharmonious sound
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The amateur band created more cacophony than beautiful sound.
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cessation
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a ceasing; a stopping
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The cessation of a bad habit is often difficult to sustain.
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coherent
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logical; consistent
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The course was a success due to its coherent information.
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conciliatory
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tending to reconcile
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The diplomat sought to take a conciliatory approach to keep the talks going.
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copious
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abundant; in great quantities
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Her copious notes touched on every subject presented in the lecture.
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decry
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to denounce or condemn openly
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The pastor decried all forms of discrimination against any minority group.
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dichotomy
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a division into two parts
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The dichotomy between church and state renders school prayer unconstitutional.
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dormant
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as if asleep
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The animals lay dormant until the spring thaw.
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eloquence
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the ability to speak well
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She spoke with eloquence, keeping the crowd attentive and pleased.
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enigmatic
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baffling
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The enigmatic murder case plagued the detective.
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eulogy
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words of praise, especially for the dead
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The eulogy was a remembrance of the good things the man accomplished in his lifetime.
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explicit
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specific; definite
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They couldn't comprehend why she was lost because they gave her explicit directions.
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fathom
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to understand
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It was difficult to fathom the reason for closing the institution.
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fidelity
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faithfulness; honesty
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His fidelity was proven when he turned in the lost money.
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frenetic
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frenzied
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A frenetic call was made from the crime scene.
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hone
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to sharpen
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The apprenticeship will give her the opportunity to hone her skills.
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implacable
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unwilling to be calmed or appeased
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The baby was so implacable that a warm bottle would not settle her.
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incredulous
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skeptical
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The incredulous look on his face led me to believe he was not convinced.
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infallible
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incapable of error; incapable of failing
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I find that a warm bath is an infallible cure for tension.
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insipid
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uninteresting; boring
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Many people left the insipid movie before it was finished.
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languid
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lacking energy
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The languid student was always late to class and often slept when he did attend.
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lugubrious
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mournful
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The man's lugubrious heart kept him from enjoying special occasions.
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mundane
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ordinary
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Going food shopping soon became mundane, losing all of its excitement.
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oscillate
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to move back and forth; to have a wavering opinion
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1. The oscillating sprinkler system covered the entire lawn.
2. The couple often oscillates between going out and staying home. |
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paradigm
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a model; a pattern
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The machine could no longer be produced after the paradigm was destroyed.
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pedagogue
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a teacher
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Seeing the way she worked with children, there was no doubt she was a true pedagogue.
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placid
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undisturbed or calm
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The placid lake's water was completely motionless.
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prescient
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knowing about something before it happens
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The morning of the big game I had a prescience that we would win.
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proscribe
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to condemn as dangerous; to prohibit
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Most schools proscribe smoking on their grounds.
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raconteur
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a person skilled at telling stories
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The raconteur amused the guests with his amusing and outlandish stories.
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reiterate
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to say again
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If you did not hear me the first time, I will reiterate the directions for you.
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revile
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to abusive in speech
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It is not appropriate for a teacher to revile a student.
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sardonic
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having a sarcastic quality
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H.L. Mencken was known for his sardonic writings on political figures.
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stoic
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not easily excited
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With stoic obedience, the child sat quietly on the bench.
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superfluous
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excessive or unnecessary
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1. Only the first sentence is necessary; all of these details are superfluous.
2. After they finished their five course meal, a large dessert seemed superfluous. |
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tedious
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wearisome; tiresome
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Cleaning the house is a tedious chore fro some people.
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tortuous
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full of twists and turns; not straightforward
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The suspect confessed after the tortuous questioned by the captain.
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undermine
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to weaken, often through subtle means
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The attempts to undermine the merger were unsuccessful.
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verity
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verity
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His testimony was given with verity.
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volition
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the act of willing, choosing, or resolving
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She left of her own volition; no one threw her out of the party.
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wily
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sly
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The wily explanation was meant to confuse the investigator.
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