Vocabulary For The College-Bound Student: Pp. 105 - 112

Front 1

analogy (n.)

Back 1

exposing similarity between two things by naming one thing as the other

Front 2

arbitrary (adj.) (antonym)

Back 2

despotic, tyrannical, irrational decision-making (antonym: legitimate)

Front 3

arbitrate (v.)

Back 3

1) to decide a dispute
2) to come to mutual terms in a decision

Front 4

axiom (n.)

Back 4

a undisputed principle, maxim

Front 5

axiomatic (adj.)

Back 5

self-evident, universally accepted as true

Front 6

bias (n.)

Back 6

holding an opinion or favor where inappropriate, natural tendency to prefer one thing over another, prejudice, predilection

Front 7

bigoted (adj.)

Back 7

closed-minded; disrespectful towards certain groups

Front 8

bigotry (n.)

Back 8

an act of speech that regards others in an offensive and closed-minded manner

Front 9

cogiate (v.)

Back 9

think over; consider with care; ponder; deliberate

Front 10

criterion (v.)

Back 10

standard; mechanism through which something can be evaluated

Front 11

crux (n.)

Back 11

most important element

Front 12

deduce (v.)

Back 12

to reach a conclusion logically; infer

Front 13

dilemma (n.)

Back 13

a situation in which one must decide between two equally bad options

Front 14

dogmatic (adj.)

Back 14

acting as if one's personal opinions are facts; rigidly adhering to a very narrow set of principles

Front 15

eclectic (adj.)

Back 15

drawing from a diverse collection of sources; selective

Front 16

fallacious (adj.) (antonyms)

Back 16

based on a fallacy; deceptive (antonyms: sound, valid)

Front 17

fallible (adj.)

Back 17

likely to be subject to a fallacy

Front 18

heterodox (adj.)

Back 18

deviating from the standard system of thinking

Front 19

hypothetical (adj.)

Back 19

based on a hypothesis; a situation which establishes a direction for proof

Front 20

illusion (n.)

Back 20

a false impression

Front 21

indubitable (adj.)

Back 21

impossible to refute

Front 22

orthodox (adj.)

Back 22

a standard belief held by a mass of people, especially in a religious sense

Front 23

paradoxical (adj.)

Back 23

a self-contradictory statement that may in fact be true

Front 24

plausible (adj.)

Back 24

having the appearance of being true; superficially true or reasonable

Front 25

preposterous (adj.)

Back 25

absolutely ridiculous; absurd

Front 26

rational (adj.)

Back 26

1) having to deal with the thought processes of humans
2) sensible, logical

Front 27

rationalize (v.)

Back 27

to try to make sense out of ones actions, desires, or failures in a way that deceives reality

Front 28

sophistry (n.)

Back 28

clever but deceptive reasoning

Front 29

specious (adj.)

Back 29

superficially true, reasonable, attractive, or just, but not really so

Front 30

speculate (v.)

Back 30

1) to reflect, meditate, or conjecture
2) to hope that one will make profit out of market price fluctuations

Front 31

tenable (adj.)

Back 31

capable of holding truth; reasonable

Front 32

amorphous (adj.)

Back 32

shapeless; without definite form; unorganized

Front 33

concave (adj.) (antonym)

Back 33

curving inward, like a bowl (antonym: convex)

Front 34

contour (n.)

Back 34

outline of a figure

Front 35

distort (v.)

Back 35

1) to twist out of shape
2) to alter the truth

Front 36

malleable (adj.)

Back 36

1) capable of being shaped by hammering , as in metals
2) adaptable; pliant

Front 37

rotund (adj.)

Back 37

1) having a plump, rounded shape
2) full-toned

Front 38

sinuous (adj.)

Back 38

bending in and out; winding; serpentine

Front 39

symmetrical (adj.)

Back 39

having two equal halves; balanced in arrangement

Front 40

symmetry (n.)

Back 40

the characteristic of having two equal, balanced parts; harmony

Front 41

grave (adj.)

Back 41

weighty; momentous; deserving serious attention

Front 42

nugatory (adj.)

Back 42

of little or no value; useless; void; trifling

Front 43

paltry (adj.)

Back 43

inadequate; unsubstantial; trashy; petty; piddling

Front 44

paramount (adj.)

Back 44

above all others in importance

Front 45

relevant (adj.)

Back 45

pertaining to the matter at hand; pertinent

Front 46

coy (adj.)

Back 46

falsely shy or meek

Front 47

demure (adj.)

Back 47

1) falsely modest or serious; coy
2) grave; prim

Front 48

diffident (adj.) (antonym)

Back 48

lacking self-confidence; timid; shy (antonym: confident)

Front 49

modest (adj.) (antonym)

Back 49

not thinking too highly of one's merits; humble (antonym: ambitious)

Front 50

modesty (n.)

Back 50

humbleness; freedom from conceit or vanity; humility

Front 51

staid (adj.)

Back 51

settled; or quiet disposition; sedate

Front 52

brazen (adj.)

Back 52

1) shameless; impudent
2) made of brass or bronze

Front 53

egoism (n.) (antonym)

Back 53

concern only with oneself; conceit (antonym: altruism)

Front 54

ostentatious (adj.)

Back 54

done to impress others; showy; pretentious

Front 55

overweening (adj.)

Back 55

thinking too high of oneself; presumptuous; arrogant

Front 56

pert (adj.)

Back 56

1) to free in speech or action; bold; saucy; impertinent
2) lively; spirited

Front 57

vain (adj.)

Back 57

1) conceited; excessively proud
2) empty; worthless
3) futile

Front 58

vainglorious (adj.)

Back 58

excessively proud or boastful; elated by vanity

Front 59

vanity (adj.) (antonym)

Back 59

condition of being to vain about one's appearance or achievements; conceit (antonym: humility)