Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
270 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
abeyance
|
a state of inactivity or suspension
|
|
|
buttress
|
a projecting structure that supports a wall or building; anything that supports or protects; to support or strengthen
|
|
|
commensurate
|
corresponding in size, degree, or amount; proportionate; or equal value
|
|
|
dilatory
|
slow to act or respond; delaying, tardy
|
|
|
ecumenical
|
univesal; inclusive, especially concerning religious matters
|
|
|
facade
|
the front or face of a building; a superficial appearance; an illusion
|
|
|
gargoyle
|
a grotesque stone figre used as a decorative feature on a building or as an ornament; a spout projecting
|
|
|
moot
|
to debate, suggest, or discuss; deprived of significance; irrelevant
|
|
|
pinnacle
|
a tall, slender, pointed top; peak; the highest point of acheivment
|
|
|
requiem
|
a funeral mass or service; a musical composition honoring the dead
|
|
|
sacrosanct
|
highly sacred or holy; not to be violated
|
|
|
sensuous
|
coming from or acting on the senses; producing an agreeable effect on teh senses
|
|
|
tenet
|
a principle or belief held to be true, especially by members of an organization
|
|
|
transcend
|
to go above the limits of; to exceed or surpass
|
|
|
venue
|
the scene or locale of any action or event; the place of an alleged crime
|
|
|
arbiter
|
one whose decisions are accepted as final; a judge
|
|
|
conclave
|
a private meeting or secret assembly
|
|
|
concomitant
|
accompanying; occupying or existing at the same time
|
|
|
coterie
|
an intimate or exclusive group;a clique
|
|
|
demur
|
to raise objections; to withhold one's approval or agreement
|
|
|
entice
|
to lead or persuade by arousing desire or hope; allure
|
|
|
flaunt
|
to parade or display conspicuously or boldly
|
|
|
genteel
|
polite, elegant,stylish; sometimes overly so
|
|
|
graphic
|
evoking a sharp mental picture; vivid; concerning the pictorial arts, as drawing, painting,etc.
|
|
|
inimical
|
expressing hositily or unfreindly intent; having adverse or harmful effects
|
|
|
inordinate
|
beyond what is ordinary or reasonable in amount or scope; excessive
|
|
|
ludicrous
|
provoking or describing laughter because of absurdity; rediculous
|
|
|
oligarchy
|
government by a small, elite group
|
|
|
redoubtable
|
worthy of respect; formidable
|
|
|
repugnant
|
highly distasteful; offensive; repulsive
|
|
|
archives
|
public or institutional recods, especially historical documents that are preserved; the place where such records are kept
|
|
|
chattel
|
an item of property that can be moved, as distinct from real estate; a human being considered as property
|
|
|
commodious
|
having plenty of space to move around freely; roomy
|
|
|
conflagration
|
a large, disastrous fire
|
|
|
limbo
|
a place or state of neglect, oblivion or transition
|
|
|
lineage
|
line of descent; ancestry
|
|
|
listless
|
indifferent, spiritless; showing a lack of motivation or interest
|
|
|
metropolis
|
an important city, especially one regarded as the center of a particular activity
|
|
|
perfunctory
|
done in a routine way. without care or particular interest
|
|
|
pristine
|
like new; spotless; free of dirt and decay
|
|
|
ramshackle
|
loosely made; appearing ready to collapse; dilapidated
|
|
|
sequester
|
to set apart; to seclude; to seize, especially by legal authority
|
|
|
subversive
|
planning to undermine or overthrow an established order; to undermine the morals, authority, or allegiance of
|
|
|
terminus
|
the final destination or goal of a journey or endeavor; the finishing point
|
|
|
virulent
|
extremely harmful or poisonous;deadly; full of hate; bitter or spiteful
|
|
|
autocratic
|
exercising sole or complete control; dictatorial; one who exercises total control; a domineering person; absolute rule by a single person
|
|
|
caustic
|
capable of destroying tissue by chemical action; corrosive
|
|
|
debilitate
|
to impair the strength of, to enfeeble
|
|
|
duplicitous
|
marked by deception; deceit in speech or actions, deliberate deception
|
|
|
emissary
|
a representative sent on a special errand
|
|
|
felicitous
|
happily suited to an occasion or situation; appropriate and graceful; marked by happiness or good fortune; pleasant; charming
|
|
|
forthright
|
direct; straightforward; frank
|
|
|
impecunious
|
being habitually without money; poor
|
|
|
jaundiced
|
of an unhealthy yellow appearance; affected by jealousy, resentment, or hostility
|
|
|
mercenary
|
serving merely for money or gain; greedy; a soldier who fights for whoever pays him
|
|
|
notorious
|
well known for a particular quality or trait, often an unfavorable one
|
|
|
oust
|
to eject from a position or place, to drive out of use; dismissal from a position
|
|
|
parsimonious
|
excessively sparing or frugal; penurious
|
|
|
pejorative
|
having negative or unpleasant associations; belittling
|
|
|
precept
|
a general principle or rule of action
|
|
|
bereft
|
derived of or lacking something that is wanted or needed
|
|
|
criterion
|
a standard or rule by which something is judged, or criticized
|
|
|
deride
|
to laugh at in scorn or contempt; to ridicule
|
|
|
effrontery
|
a boldness that is offensive because of its lack of tact; audacity
|
|
|
espouse
|
to advocate or embrace, especially a cause or idea
|
|
|
hypocrisy
|
the practice of pretending to believe or value things or ideas that one does not, falseness; a person who pretends to be what he or she is not or to have principles he or she does not possess
|
|
|
impending
|
about to occur; imminent
|
|
|
incensed
|
filling with wrath; enraged
|
|
|
pertinent
|
relating to the matter at hand; relevant
|
|
|
promulgate
|
to proclaim or make known
|
|
|
proscribe
|
to forbid as harmful; to prohibit
|
|
|
redress
|
to correct or compensate for a wrong; something that makes up for a wrong
|
|
|
regime
|
a form of rule or government
|
|
|
retribution
|
something given in repayment, especially punishment; recompense
|
|
|
substantiate
|
to verify or confirm by presenting evidence
|
|
|
aegis
|
protection, sponsership
|
|
|
bauble
|
a showy, ornamental object with little practical use; a trinket
|
|
|
complaisant
|
willing to please; agreeable
|
|
|
consolidate
|
to join together; to unite; to strenghten or make firm
|
|
|
depredation
|
the act of plundering or destroying; also, the loss or damage that results
|
|
|
epiphany
|
a sudden understanding of the meaning, essence, or reality of something
|
|
|
moratorium
|
a waiting period or temporary an on activity
|
|
|
pendulous
|
hanging loosely or swinging freely
|
|
|
portend
|
to be a sign of; to indicate what will happen
|
|
|
pragmatic
|
concerned with practical solutions rather than abstract theory
|
|
|
reprieve
|
to delay or suspend punishment; a relief or respite, especially when temporary
|
|
|
stentorian
|
extremely loud or powerful in sound
|
|
|
tenure
|
the condition of holding property, an office, or a position; also the period during which it is held
|
|
|
unilateral
|
done or carried out by one of two or more parties rather than in concert with others
|
|
|
viable
|
capable of living, growing, or developing; capable of success; workable
|
|
|
ambidextrous
|
able to use both hands with equal skill
|
|
|
antipathy
|
a consistent aversion or dislike
|
|
|
deletrious
|
hurtful; injurious
|
|
|
excoriate
|
to criticize severely; to berate
|
|
|
extrapolate
|
to estimate or infer by projecting from or expanding upon known information
|
|
|
grisly
|
horrible to contemplate or look upon; grim and ghastly
|
|
|
idiosyncrasy
|
a peculiar characteristic, habit, or manner that distinguishes a person
|
|
|
impute
|
to assign blame or credit; to attribute or ascribe
|
|
|
maladroit
|
lacking judgement or skill; bungling or clumsy
|
|
|
negate
|
to deny or refute the existence or truth of; to make ineffective or invalid
|
|
|
passe
|
no longer in fashion; out moded
|
|
|
pedagogue
|
a teacher of children or youth; sometimes one who is dogmatic or overly formal; of or relating to the science or art of teaching
|
|
|
preponderance
|
the greater part; superiority in size, importance, or strength
|
|
|
propound
|
to put forward for consideration; to propose
|
|
|
stance
|
the way a person stands; the position of a person's feet; a position regarding politics or ideas; point of view
|
|
|
altruism
|
the putting of others' well-being ahead of one's own; unselfishness
|
|
|
concurrent
|
taking place at the same time; simultaneous
|
|
|
context
|
the circumstances in which something exists or occurs; the surroundings of a word or phrase in a spoken or written passage
|
|
|
crass
|
lakcing delicacy or sensitivity; gross
|
|
|
cuisine
|
style of cooking
|
|
|
debase
|
to lower the quality, or status of; to devalue
|
|
|
enjoin
|
to direct or command; to forbid or prohibit
|
|
|
extemporaneous
|
composed or performed on the spur of the moment, with little or no planning
|
|
|
genesis
|
an origin, creation, or beginning
|
|
|
libation
|
a liquid, usually wine, especially when poured as an offering or drunk as part of a ceremony
|
|
|
malaise
|
a vague feeling of uneasiness or unwellness
|
|
|
platitude
|
a thought or remark that is dull or trite
|
|
|
reconcile
|
to reestablish an amicable relationship; to bring to quiet submission; to bring into harmony or agreement
|
|
|
sunder
|
to break or force apart; to sever
|
|
|
travail
|
activity that is arduous and burdensome, toil; suffering or anguish
|
|
|
amity
|
peaceful relations; freindship
|
|
|
animadversion
|
a critical or hostile comment
|
|
|
antithetical
|
being in direct and outspoken opposition; the direct contrast of one thing with another; the exact opposite
|
|
|
bellicose
|
inclined to quarrel; combative; warlike
|
|
|
bucolic
|
of or relating to country life, rustic; pastoral
|
|
|
craven
|
utterly lacking courage; willing to give up or capitulate
|
|
|
exalt
|
to raise in rank, wealth, or honor; to praise highly; glorify
|
|
|
impugn
|
to attack as false; to call into question
|
|
|
introspective
|
inclined to look inward and examine one's thoughts and feelings
|
|
|
metier
|
work or activity for which one is particularly suited
|
|
|
penurious
|
marked by extreme poverty; stingy; lacking generosity
|
|
|
privation
|
an instance or condition or extreme hardship; a lack of comfort
|
|
|
sobriquet
|
a nickname
|
|
|
tantamount
|
equivalent to; the same as
|
|
|
throes
|
conditions of painful or difficult change, struggle, or turmoil
|
|
|
attentuate
|
to make or become thin; to lessen the amount, force, or value of
|
|
|
behemoth
|
something or someone of enormous size or power
|
|
|
disinter
|
to remove from a grave or tomb; to dig up
|
|
|
impinge
|
to go beyond desirable or established limits; to encroach; to come into contact with, especially forcefully
|
|
|
multifarious
|
having many forms; varied, versatile
|
|
|
oxymoron
|
a combination of words that seem to be contradictory
|
|
|
plenitude
|
an ample amount; an abundance
|
|
|
postulate
|
to assume as a fact based on the best available evidence; something assumed to be self-evident; a fundamental principle
|
|
|
prevail
|
to prove superior in power or strength; to remain in effect or use; to be current or widespread
|
|
|
putrefy
|
to become rotton or decayed, giving off a foul odor
|
|
|
salubrious
|
beneficial to health or well-being
|
|
|
succulent
|
fresh and juicy
|
|
|
tundra
|
flat, treeless plains of the artic regions
|
|
|
unequivocal
|
leaving no room for misunderstanding; unambiguous
|
|
|
vicissitudes
|
fluctuations in conditions; changes of fortune
|
|
|
amnesia
|
a loss of memory, usually caused by shock or injury; a gap in one's memory
|
|
|
appease
|
to bring to a state of peace or quiet; to pacify an adversary, often by making concessions
|
|
|
attrition
|
a gradual reduction in numbers or loss in strength; a weakening relulting from pressure or harassment
|
|
|
debacle
|
a sudden collapse, downfall, or failure
|
|
|
defoliate
|
to strip a plant of leaves, thereby damaging or destroying it
|
|
|
equestrian
|
having to do with horseback riding; one who rides on horseback
|
|
|
expunge
|
to obliterate or erase completely
|
|
|
hackneyed
|
commonplace; trite; lacking forcing or significance became of overuse
|
|
|
opprobrium
|
scornful treatment or contempt, especially as a result of disgraceful behavior
|
|
|
proviso
|
a statement that makes a condition, qualification, or restriction
|
|
|
sully
|
to soil, tarnish, or besmirch
|
|
|
tactile
|
relating to or perceptible by the sense of touch
|
|
|
upbraid
|
to scold or criticize severly; to find fault with
|
|
|
verdant
|
green with vegetation; covered with green plants
|
|
|
vertex
|
the point opposite and farthest from the base; summit
|
|
|
advent
|
a coming or arrival
|
|
|
blase
|
indifferent to what others might find pleasurable or exciting becuase of excessive indulgence or enjoyment; unconcerned
|
|
|
bravado
|
an ostentatious display of bravery; defiant or swaggering behavior
|
|
|
disparate
|
containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements; showing a marked difference or inequality
|
|
|
domicile
|
ones house or place of residence
|
|
|
fabricate
|
to make by putting parts together; to construct; to invent in order to deceive
|
|
|
itinerant
|
traveling from place to place; one who goes from place to place
|
|
|
lilliputian
|
extremely small or appearing to be so
|
|
|
phobia
|
a strong, irrational fear
|
|
|
proclivity
|
a strong inclination towards something
|
|
|
projectile
|
an object impelled with force or self-propelled through the air
|
|
|
queasy
|
causing nausea or tending to be nauseous; causing or experiencing uneasiness; squeamish
|
|
|
reciprocate
|
to exchange in kind; to repay
|
|
|
relegate
|
to put out of sight or mind; demote
|
|
|
vertigo
|
dizziness or a tilting, spinning sensation
|
|
|
betrothed
|
engaged to be married; a person to whom one is engaged to be married
|
|
|
blasphemy
|
an act or statement that shows disrespect or irreverence toward something considered sacred
|
|
|
cadence
|
a rhythm marked by a regular beat; the rising and falling of the voice in human speech
|
|
|
canon
|
a rule or principle that provides the norm for judgement; the works of a writer accepted as authentic
|
|
|
denouement
|
the outcome of a series or events; the resolution following the climax of the plot of a work of drama or fiction
|
|
|
edict
|
a statement or command having the force of law
|
|
|
enamor
|
to inspire with love; to captivate
|
|
|
insensate
|
lacking sensation or awareness; lacking sense or ability to reason; brutal; lacking feeling
|
|
|
renegade
|
a person who deserts one group or cuase for another; a traitor; a person who rejects lawful behavior
|
|
|
soliloquy
|
a pseech in which a character's thoughts are given verbal expression
|
|
|
stricture
|
a strong criticism; anything that restricts or limits
|
|
|
triumvirate
|
a group of three, especially one possessing great power or eminence
|
|
|
usurp
|
to seize and hold power or authority in an illegal or unjust manner
|
|
|
vestment
|
an outer garment, especially one indicating a role, rank, or office
|
|
|
votary
|
a person who is devoted to a cause or organization, especially one of a religious nature
|
|
|
archipelago
|
a large group of islands; a body of water containing a large number of islands
|
|
|
careen
|
to rush headlong, often with a swerving or lurching motion; to cause to lean or tip to one side(as a ship)
|
|
|
cavalier
|
showing an offhand or carefree disregard; arrogant
|
|
|
contiguous
|
sharing a boundary; being very close or in contact; adjacent
|
|
|
correlate
|
to connect related things; to bring things into proper relation with one another
|
|
|
etymology
|
the history of a word; the science that studies such histories
|
|
|
frenetic
|
wildly excited; frantic
|
|
|
kinetic
|
relating to motion
|
|
|
presage
|
to foretell; to warn or indicate in advance
|
|
|
pulverize
|
to crush or grind into dust or powder; to demolish
|
|
|
recondite
|
difficult to understand; abstruse
|
|
|
repulse
|
to repel; to drive back; to reject in a cool or distant manner; to disgust
|
|
|
seismic
|
caused by or having to do with earthquakes
|
|
|
undulate
|
to form or move in waves; to have a wavelike appearance or motion
|
|
|
upheaval
|
a radical or violent change; a forceful lifting or warping from beneath
|
|
|
anathema
|
someone or something that is intensely disliked, cursed, or shunned
|
|
|
assuage
|
to satisfy, to lessen or reduce the intensity of
|
|
|
avuncular
|
like a benevolent uncle; familiar and indulgent
|
|
|
convival
|
sociable; concerned with good company and festivities
|
|
|
eclectic
|
combining elements from a variety of sources
|
|
|
epigram
|
a short, witty poem or saying
|
|
|
expound
|
to explain in detail; to set forth
|
|
|
intrinsic
|
relating to the essential nature of something; real or actual
|
|
|
inveterate
|
habitual or deeply rooted; persistent
|
|
|
mogul
|
a very powerful or wealthy person; a magnate
|
|
|
munificent
|
extremely generous; liberal in giving
|
|
|
nascent
|
beginning to exist; emerging
|
|
|
perspicacious
|
clear-sighted; shrewd
|
|
|
philistine
|
one who is indifferent to or disdainful of intellectual values; smugly ignorant of artistic or intellectual qualites
|
|
|
propitious
|
tending to favor or assist; encouraging
|
|
|
abstruse
|
difficult to understand
|
|
|
accrue
|
to arise or increase as a natural result or growth, usually used with to or from; to come as a regular addition
|
|
|
acquiesce
|
to accept as inevitable; to comply passively
|
|
|
besmirch
|
to stain or tarnish; to make dirty
|
|
|
explicit
|
fully and clearly expressed, leaving nothing merely implied
|
|
|
histrionic
|
purposely affected; theatrical; exaggerated displays of emotion, intended to produce an effect or response
|
|
|
impropriety
|
the quality or state of being improper or unsuitable; something that is improper
|
|
|
inveigle
|
to lure or trick into doing something; to obtain by flattery or trickery
|
|
|
penitent
|
sorry for having done wrong
|
|
|
probity
|
honesty; trustworthiness; adherence to virtue
|
|
|
purport
|
to give or present the often false impression of being someone or intending something
|
|
|
repercussion
|
an unforseen or indirect result or effect of an event
|
|
|
revelation
|
something that is made known or revealed, often coming as a surprise
|
|
|
surfeit
|
an overabundant supply; an excess
|
|
|
unsavory
|
having an unpleasant look, taste, or smell; morally offensive
|
|
|
autonomy
|
the quality or state of being self-governing; independence
|
|
|
circumspect
|
cautious and prudent; heedful of consequences
|
|
|
composure
|
calmness of mind or bearing; self-control
|
|
|
edifice
|
a large, imposing structure or building; a complex structure system built up over time, as if it were a real building
|
|
|
ensconce
|
to settle or place securely or snugly
|
|
|
environs
|
the area adjoining or surrounding a place
|
|
|
hapless
|
marked by the absence of good luck; unfortunate
|
|
|
heinous
|
shockingly evil or wicked
|
|
|
incognito
|
with one's identity concealed; unrecognized
|
|
|
indoctrinate
|
to teach or train in the fundamentals; to instill or teach from a partisan point of view
|
|
|
interim
|
an interval of time between events; belonging to or taking place between events; temporary
|
|
|
mausoleum
|
a large and impressive tomb
|
|
|
pillage
|
to rob and plunder
|
|
|
reverie
|
the condition of being lost in thought; a daydream
|
|
|
thrall
|
a loss of one's ability to act freely; a state over which one appears to have no control; slavery or bondage
|
|
|
atrophy
|
to waste away or fail to develop
|
|
|
efficacy
|
the power to bring about the desired result; effectiveness
|
|
|
emolument
|
salary or fees for work done; compensation
|
|
|
icon
|
a religious painting, especially one revered by the Eastern Christian churches; a symbol or image whoe form suggests its meaning; one who is idolized
|
|
|
incipient
|
beginning to exist or appear; in the first stage
|
|
|
inculcate
|
to impress upon or teach by frequent repetition
|
|
|
inestimable
|
too valuable or great to be measured
|
|
|
lackluster
|
lacking brightness or vitality; without spirit or enthusiasm
|
|
|
martinet
|
a strict disciplinarian
|
|
|
prodigious
|
extremely large in bulk, quantity, or degree; causing amazement or wonder
|
|
|
regimen
|
a regulated program, especially one designed to improve or maintain health
|
|
|
stellar
|
of or related to a star; outstanding or brilliant
|
|
|
stoic
|
one seemingly indifferent to pleasure or pain
|
|
|
vibrant
|
full of life or vigor; bright or vivid; quivering or vibrating
|
|
|
zealous
|
very enthusiastic; fervent; passionate on behalf of someone or something
|
