Vocabulary From Reading

Front 1

cavil

Back 1

To find fault unnecessarily; raise trivial objections; quibble.

Front 2

mawkish

Back 2

Excessively and objectionably sentimental

Front 3

unctuous

Back 3

1. Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness. 2. Having the quality or characteristics of oil or ointment; slippery

Interesting etymology--t actually means oily, literally, but is also used to mean oily, figuratively

Front 4

emolument

Back 4

Payment for an office or employment; compensation.

Example: Gifts given to the sister of the Shah in exchange for political favors.

Front 5

jaundiced

Back 5

Exhibiting envy, prejudice, or hostility.

Affected with jaundice, yellowish.

Front 6

Manichean

Back 6

characterized by a belief in religious or philosophical dualism

Front 7

sangfroid

Back 7

coolness of mind, calm headedness.

Front 8

amanuensis

Back 8

younger assistant (?)

Front 9

blandish

Back 9

To coax by flattery or wheedling; cajole

Hint 9

Mckinley, under blandishments from Roosevelt and Lodge, told his chiev of staff in March, "We need Hawaii..." First Great Triumph, 291.

Front 10

pugilist

Back 10

boxer

Front 11

clement

Back 11

inclined to be lenient or merciful

Front 12

obstreperous

Back 12

noisily and stubbornly defiant

Front 13

escarpment

Back 13

A steep slope or long cliff that results from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations. A steep slope in front of a fortification

Front 14

portcullis

Back 14

the spiked gate on a castle that can be raised or lowered

Front 15

stolid

Back 15

Having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; impassive

example: “the incredibly massive and stolid bureaucracy of the Soviet system” (John Kenneth Galbraith).

Front 16

scatological

Back 16

Offensive to accepted standards of decency.

example: used in Fukuyama to describe a remark by James Watson.

Front 17

callow

Back 17

Lacking adult maturity or experience

Example: Used to describe the young Henry Cabot Lodge in "First Great Triumph"

Front 18

sybaritic

Back 18

Devoted to or marked by pleasure and luxury

Example: Again, used to describe Henry Cabot Lodge during his years as an aesthete

Front 19

lugubrious

Back 19

Mournful, dismal, or gloomy

Front 20

parvenu

Back 20

A person who has suddenly risen to a higher social and economic class and has not yet gained social acceptance by others in that class

Front 21

solicitous

Back 21

Anxious or concerned

Example: a solicitous parent

Front 22

perfervid

Back 22

Extremely or extravagantly eager; impassioned or zealous

Teddy Roosevelt's attitude toward war.

Front 23

bemused

Back 23

bewildered; confused

Front 24

bumptious

Back 24

Crudely or loudly assertive; pushy.

Ex: Used to describe Teddy Roosevelt

Front 25

threnody

Back 25

a poem or song of mourning or lamentation

Front 26

pugnacious

Back 26

Combative in nature; belligerent

Front 27

bellicose

Back 27

Warlike in manner or temperament; pugnacious.

Front 28

probity

Back 28

Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness

Front 29

desultory

Back 29

-Moving or jumping from one thing to another; disconnected: could be used to describe a speech.
-Occurring haphazardly; random

Front 30

bivouac

Back 30

military encampment

Front 31

dyspepsia

Back 31

Disturbed digestion; indigestion

Hint 31

Used to describe John Hay's negative attitude, but that appears to have been a figurative usage.

Front 32

imperious

Back 32

Arrogantly domineering or overbearing.

Hint 32

Used to describe Averell Harriman

Front 33

obstreperous

Back 33

noisy, unruly, disorderly

Front 34

What is the capital of ___

Back 34

asdifjpoi

Front 35

feckless

Back 35

Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.

Hint 35

Power in India wavers between some very nasty Hindu nationalists, who are as much fascists as the Islamic extremists, and some rather feckless liberal democrats

Front 36

jejune

Back 36

1. Not interesting; dull:
2. Lacking maturity; childish:
3. Lacking in nutrition: a jejune diet.

Ex: In this ironic world, we want to seem aware of all the ways we might be thought silly or jejune. -J. Purdy FCT

Front 37

Wain

Back 37

an open farm wagon. (a wainwright makes wagons.)

Front 38

Eristic

Back 38

Given to or characterized by disputatious, often specious argument

Front 39

Avuncular

Back 39

1. Of or having to do with an uncle.
2. Regarded as characteristic of an uncle, especially in benevolence or tolerance.

Front 40

stylite

Back 40

One of a number of early Christian ascetics who lived unsheltered on the tops of high pillars

Front 41

votary

Back 41

#

1. A person bound by vows to live a life of religious worship or service.
2. A devout adherent of a cult or religion; a committed worshiper: the votaries of Aphrodite.

# A person who is fervently devoted, as to a leader or ideal; a faithful follower.

"Drucker is not votary of laissez-faire."

Front 42

puckish

Back 42

Mischievous; impish: a puckish grin; puckish wit.

Front 43

limn

Back 43

To describe, To depict by painting or drawing.