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52 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Bulwark
(BULL wurk) noun |
definition:a defensive wall, something serving as a principle defense.
Link: BULL WORK "BULLS WORK building a bulwark." "Our mother was a bullwark against bad times; no matter how bad things became she always wore a smile and had a cheerful word." |
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Gossamer
(GOSS uh mer) |
definition:delicate floating cobwebs; a sheer gauzy fabric: something delicate, light, flimsy,
link:CUSTOMER part of speech:noun; adjective "The spider's gossamer captured many unhappy CUSTOMERS. "The bride wore a white silk dress. A gossamer of fine Italian lace gently touched her face." |
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Succinct
(sek SINGKT) |
definition:brief and to the point: concise and terse
link: SINK "Virgina was succinct when Ernie forgot to fix the sink." "When Joe was called upon, he succinctly paraphrased what the teacher had just explained." |
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Augment
(awg MENT) |
definition:make or become greater
link:CEMENT "How not to augemt a driveway with cement" "The King attempted to augment his army by going into villages and drafting men into service." |
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Incongruous
(in KAHN grew us) |
definition:not fitting
link:CUSTOMER "The new Alaskan senators presence in the congress was incongruous." "Ed appeared incongruous wearing his tuxedo on an old fashion hayride." |
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Tantalize
(TAN tal ize) |
definition:to excite by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach.
link: Santa's Lies "Santa's lies tantalize." "The tantalizing aroma of the bread us all very hungry." |
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Languid
(LANG gwid) adj |
definition:lacking lacking energy; weak; showing little interest in anything.
adjective link: squid "A languid squid." ""After his bout with thee flue, Joe was languid and unable to workout for over a week." |
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Benighted
(be NI tid) adj |
definition:being in a state of intellectual darkness: ignorant: unenlightened.
link:knight "A benighted knight." "Many benighted people became enlightened during the Renaissance." |
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Exalt
(ig SAWLT) verb |
definition:to raise high, glorify.
link: salt "Exalted the salt as king of the condiments." "The fireman was exalted by the press for saving the child from a burning building." |
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Dire
(DYE ur) adj |
definition:disastrous; desperate.
link: fire "A dire fire." "The hurricane struck the Florida Keys with dire results; all the buildings were flattened." |
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Kindle
(KIN dl) verb |
definition:to cause to burn or ignite; to arouse or inspire
link: Candle "Patrick found a unique way to kindle candles." "Because Christine once had feelings for him, Joe thought sending flowers might again kindle her affections." |
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Myriad
(MIR ee ud) noun |
definition:an extremely large number.
link:mirror add "Many mirrors add a myriad of reflections." "George was a hypochondriac, weighed down by myriad concerns about his health." |
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Rhetoric
(RET or ik) noun |
definition:the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively: over-elaborate language.
link:rent-a-wreck "A salesman's rent-a-wreck rhetoric." "A person's use of rhetoric can indicate much about a person's character." |
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Latent
(LAYT nt) adj. |
definition:laying hidden or undeveloped; potential
link: Lay Tent "Never lay your tent on a latent volcano." "Trent had a latent talent as a singer which he didn't discover until he was in his 50's." |
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Trenchant
(TREN chunt) adj. |
definition:cutting, INCISIVE, having a sharp point; CAUSTIC, sarcastic.
link: trench ant "A trenchant mouth is characteristic of the famous Madagascar trenchant." "Julia had a trenchant tongue and was constantly putting her friends down behind their backs." |
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Jaunt
(jawnt) noun |
definition:a short pleasure trip.
link:haunt "A jaunt haunt." "After not taking a family vacation for two years, a jaunt to the beach was a pleasant respite." |
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Vertigo
(ver tuh GO) noun |
definition:the sensation of dizziness.
link:where to go "When the test pilot Bob developed a bad case of vertigo, he didn't know where to go." "Charles was acrophobic and even suffered from vertigo while standing on a stool, replacing the lights in the kitchen." |
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Scrutinize
(SKROOT yh nyze) |
definition: to look very carefully; to examine
link: screw eyes "U.S. Customs officials have screw eyes when they scrutinize baggage." "Newspaper proof readers scrutinize an entire newspaper each day." |
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Specter
(SPEK ter) noun |
definition:a ghost or phantom
link:spectacles "A specter with spectacles." "The specter of Christmas future is the the most terrifying to Ebenezer Scrooge in Dicken's a Christmas Carol." |
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Wax
(waks) verb |
definition:to increase in extent, the increasing stages of the Moon, to grow or become.
"Discord waxed at an alarming rate." waxen |
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Wane
(wain) verb |
definition:to decrease gradually.
link:rain "Snowmen wane in the rain." "A waning interest by theatre-goers prompt the theatre to shut down." |
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Perspicacious
adj |
definition:having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear sighted.
link:perspiration "Annotation the novel, Perry's perspiration increased while concentrating on perspicacious reading." "If one examines political cartoons perspicaciously, the artist's message is quite clear." |
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Marauder
(muh RAWD er) noun |
definition: raider, intruder.
link: ma raider "The fiercest marauders are ma raiders." "During the civil War, marauding bands of Confederate gurrillas raided Union supply lines in the Midwest." |
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Forbearance
(for BAYR ans) noun |
definition:patience
link: four parents "Four parents exhibiting forbearance." "Teachers must forebear when they deal with unruly students." |
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Cacophony
(kuh KAFH uh nee) noun |
definition:harsh sounds
link:cough "A cacophony of coughing." "A cacophony isn't noise alone, it is disturbing noise such as when people shout all at once." |
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Quietude
(kwi i tude) noun |
definition:calm; tranquil; peaceful
link: quiet dude "Dad was a quiet dude who sought quietude." "Gene and Chris chose their property for the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the area." |
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Evoke
(EE voke) verb |
definition:to summon, call to mind, awaken, produce, suggest.
link: coke "Sometimes a song, a picture, even a coke, can evoke the most poignant of youthful memories." "A clap of thunder and a flash of lightning over the old castle evoked dark spirits for the villagers who remember the night of the headless ghost." |
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Ubiquitous
(yoo BIK woh tus) adj |
definition:the quality of being everywhere(or seeming to) at the same time.
link:big as us "When you're as big as us you feel ubiquitous." "Computers were once rare, but today are more ubiquitous than typewriters." |
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Adoit/Deft
(ah DROIT) adj |
definition:skillful;deft
link:Detroit "The auto workers of Detroit are adroit at manufacturing automobiles." "Many fourth graders are more adroit on the computer than their parents." |
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Doldrums
(DOHL drums) n |
definition:a period of condition of depression of inactivity.
link: doll drums "All covered with dust, the doll drums were in the doldrums." |
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Emulate
(IM u late) |
definition:to attempt to equal or surpass; especially through imitation.
link:imitate "Jimmy emulates his dad by imitating him." "Most people emulate the people they most admire." |
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Incite
(en SIGHT) verb |
definition:to arouse to action
link:fight "The pitchers bean ball incited the batter to fight." "Waving a stick at Jerry's dog only incites him and will increase the chance he will bite you." |
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Palpable
(PAL pah bul) adj |
definition:capable of being touched or felt.
link: Pal the Bull "Our pal, the bull, is palpable." "The answer is as palpable as the nose on your face." |
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Austere
(aw STEER) adj |
definition:stern, as in manner; without excess, unadorned, severely simple and plain
link: steer "An austere steer is no fun at a party." "The austerity(noun) of life in the village was understandable. Many were jobless and the evidence of poverty was everywhere." |
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Gregarious
(gruh GAIR ee us) adj |
definition:seeking and enjoying the company of others; sociable
link:greg hilarious "Gregarious Greg was hilarious." "Paige was so gregarious she hated to be alone." |
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Pious
(PI us) adj |
definition:devout or virtuous; holy
link:pie "A pious pie." "Elizabeth piously said her prayers every night before bed." |
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Philanthropy
(fi LAN trhuh pee) noun |
definition:the love of mankind, especially through charitable gifts and deeds
link: Phil Anthropy "Phil Anthropy was a philanthropist." "Meg Stewart was philanthropic, giving to anyone in need and keeping little for her self." |
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Ethereal
(i THEER ee ul) adj |
definition:very light; airy; delicate; heavenly
link:cereal "Ethereal cereal." "AN ehereal mist cover the hillside in the morning." |
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Espouse
(eh SPOWZ) verb |
definition:to adopt; to support with full commitment
link: spouse "Harold's spouse espoused a large family." "I espouse the idea that we eat dessert before diner." |
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Misanthropy
(MIS an thruh pee) noun |
definition:hatred of mankind
link: Miss Anthropy "Miss Anthropy was a misanthropic person." "A more misanthropic person you never did see. He hates everyone." |
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Culpable
(khul puh buhl) adj |
origin:late 13c., coupable from old french, from culpa "crime fault, blame"
definition:worthy of blame related forms:culpability, culpableness, culprit link:culprit "The culprit is culpable for the crime." "Orelanna-in the Poisonwood Bible-must deal with her feelings of guilt, facing how she is partly culpable for what befalls her family." |
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Intrepid
(in TREP id) adj |
definition:fearless; bold
link: trip ed "Everyone considered David intrepid after he trip ed the bully, ,in the cafeteria." "The bull fighter was intrepid as he stood in the arena before the fierce bull." |
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Catharsis
(kuh THAR sis) noun |
defintion:an emotional or pysychological cleansing that brings relief renewal
link:cats and horses "Cat and horse catharsis." "After Jeremy returned to the French World War II battlefield he had known fifty years before, he said he found the experience cathartic." |
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Portend
(por TEND) verb |
definition:to warn of as an omen, forecast
link:poor end "His teacher portended that Billy would come to a poor end." "In ancient times a comet in the sky was considered a portentous event." |
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Abate
(ab BAIT) verb |
definition:to reduce
link:bait "Abated bait." "When the storm finally abated, we resumed out family picnic." |
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Fraught
(fraught) adj |
definition:*teeming with; *laden;full;involving;accompanied by
link:caught "Erik caught a boatload in a lake fraught with fish." "The freighter was fraught with cargo." |
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Surreptitious
(sur ep TISH us) adj |
definition:done or acting in a secret, sly manner
link: suspicious "To escape from the circus, an elephant had to be surreptitious with out being suspicious." "Helen surreptitiously crept around the car, hoping to get the cat out from under it." |
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Bolster
(BOHL ster) verb |
definition:to support, as in a group; to give a boost; n. a large pillow
link: holster "Members bolstered each other by wearing their holsters." "The coach saw it was time to bolster his team, so he gave them a pep talk." |
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Erudite
(ER yoo dyte) adj. |
definition:deeply learned, scholarly
link:air tight "Knowing that his case was air tight, the defense attorney became confident and erudite." "The extent of Dr. Smith's library is an indication of his erudition." |
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Bevy
(bev EE) noun |
definition:a group of heavy animals; an assemblage
link:heavy "A bevy of heavy animals." "Bud's hunting dogs are scared of a bevy of quails." |
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Enmity
(En mi tee) noun |
definition:hostility; deep-seated hatred
link:my tea "Sir Howard I have a great enmity for your dog's tongue in my tea." "The enmity between teams was evident to spectators." |
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Arduous
(AHR joo us) adj. |
definition:hard; difficult; tiresome
link:hard on us "The arduous snow-covered trail is hard on us." "The math assignment was arduous on the students." |
