English Vocabulary

Front 1

risible

Back 1

laughable
or
associated with, relating to, or used in laughter <risible muscles>

Front 2

gambol

Back 2

v. to skip about in play

Front 3

isouciant

Back 3

adj. lighthearted unconcern

Front 4

mot juste
(mo juste)

Back 4

n. exactly the right word or expression

Front 5

maudlin

Back 5

adj.
1. drunk enough to be emotionally silly
2. weakly and effusively sentimental

Front 6

ecumenical
(ek-you-menical)

Back 6

worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application

Front 7

chimerical
(ky-merical)

Back 7

adj.
1 : existing only as the product of unchecked imagination : fantastically visionary or improbable
2 : given to fantastic schemes

Front 8

sub-rosa

Back 8

adj. secretive, private

Front 9

lagniappe
(lanyap)

Back 9

n. a small gift given a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase; broadly : something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure

Front 10

noisome

Back 10

1 : NOXIOUS, HARMFUL
2 a : offensive to the senses and especially to the sense of smell b : highly obnoxious or objectionable

Front 11

bane

Back 11

a source of harm or ruin : CURSE

Front 12

in medias res
(in medias race)

Back 12

adv. in or into the middle of a narrative or plot

Front 13

touchstone

Back 13

n.
1 : a black siliceous stone related to flint and formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal
2 : a test or criterion for determining the quality or genuineness of a thing
3 : a fundamental or quintessential part or feature

Front 14

diaphanous

Back 14

adj. 1 : characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through
2 : characterized by extreme delicacy of form : ETHEREAL <painted diaphanous landscapes>
3 : INSUBSTANTIAL, VAGUE <had only a diaphanous hope of success>

Front 15

philippic

Back 15

a discourse or declamation full of bitter condemnation

Front 16

waggish

Back 16

1 : resembling or characteristic of a wag <a waggish friend> <a waggish prose style>
2 : done or made in waggery or for sport : HUMOROUS

Front 17

apropos
(apro-po)

Back 17

1 : at an opportune time : SEASONABLY
2 : by way of interjection or further comment: with regard to the present topic

Front 18

quixotic

Back 18

1 : foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; especially : marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action
2 : CAPRICIOUS, UNPREDICTABLE

Front 19

ineluctable

Back 19

not to be avoided, changed, or resisted : INEVITABLE

Front 20

apocryphal

Back 20

1 : of doubtful authenticity : SPURIOUS
2 often capitalized : of or resembling the Apocrypha

Front 21

spurious

Back 21

1 : of illegitimate birth : BASTARD
2 : outwardly similar or corresponding to something without having its genuine qualities : FALSE
3 a : of falsified or erroneously attributed origin : FORGED b : of a deceitful nature or quality

Front 22

mellifluous
(mel-iflous)

Back 22

1 : having a smooth rich flow <a mellifluous voice>
2 : filled with something (as honey) that sweetens

Front 23

malleable

Back 23

1 : capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer or by the pressure of rollers
2 a : capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences b : having a capacity for adaptive change

Front 24

adjunct

Back 24

1 : something joined or added to another thing but not essentially a part of it
2 a : a word or word group that qualifies or completes the meaning of another word or other words and is not itself a main structural element in its sentence b : an adverb or adverbial (as heartily in "Most children eat heartily" or at noon in "We will leave at noon") attached to the verb of a clause especially to express a relation of time, place, frequency, degree, or manner -- compare DISJUNCT 2
3 : an associate or assistant of another

Front 25

bellwether

Back 25

one that takes the lead or initiative : LEADER; also : an indicator of trends

Front 26

caterwaul

Back 26

1 : to make a harsh cry
2 : to quarrel noisily

Front 27

effete

Back 27

1 : no longer fertile
2 a : having lost character, vitality, or strength <the effete monarchies ... of feudal Europe -- G. M. Trevelyan> b : marked by weakness or decadence <the effete East> c : soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence <peddled ... trendy tweeds to effete Easterners -- William Helmer> <effete tenderfeet>; also : characteristic of an effete person <a wool scarf ... a bit effete on an outdoorsman -- Nelson Bryant>
3 : EFFEMINATE 1 <a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts -- Herman Wouk>

Front 28

fait accompli

Back 28

a thing accomplished and presumably irreversible

Front 29

hidebound

Back 29

adj.
1 of a domestic animal : having a dry skin lacking in pliancy and adhering closely to the underlying flesh
2 : having an inflexible or ultraconservative character

Front 30

liturgy
(litter-g)

Back 30

1 often capitalized : a eucharistic rite
2 : a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship
3 : a customary repertoire of ideas, phrases, or observances

Front 31

morass

Back 31

1 : MARSH, SWAMP
2 : something that traps, confuses, or impedes <a morass of troubles>

Front 32

poltroon

Back 32

n. coward i.e. characterized by complete cowardice

Front 33

proselyte
(pross-uh-lite)

Back 33

a new convert; specifically : a convert to Judaism

Front 34

raillery

Back 34

1 : good-natured ridicule : BANTER
2 : JEST

Front 35

ribald
(rib-ald)

Back 35

1 : CRUDE, OFFENSIVE <ribald language>
2 : characterized by or using coarse indecent humor

Front 36

supine

Back 36

1 a : lying on the back or with the face upward b : marked by supination
2 : exhibiting indolent or apathetic inertia or passivity; especially : mentally or morally slack
3 archaic : leaning or sloping backward

Front 37

vignette

Back 37

1 : a running ornament (as of vine leaves, tendrils, and grapes) put on or just before a title page or at the beginning or end of a chapter; also : a small decorative design or picture so placed
2 a : a picture (as an engraving or photograph) that shades off gradually into the surrounding paper b : the pictorial part of a postage stamp design as distinguished from the frame and lettering
3 a : a short descriptive literary sketch b : a brief incident or scene (as in a play or movie)

Front 38

aegis

Back 38

1 : a shield or breastplate emblematic of majesty that was associated with Zeus and Athena
2 a : PROTECTION <under the aegis of the constitution> b : controlling or conditioning influence <many American mothers, under the aegis of benevolent permissiveness ... actually neglect their children -- Time>
3 a : AUSPICES, SPONSORSHIP <under the aegis of the museum> b : control or guidance especially by an individual, group, or system <acted under the court's aegis>

Front 39

apprise

Back 39

: to give notice to : TELL

Front 40

claque

Back 40

1 : a group hired to applaud at a performance
2 : a group of sycophants

Front 41

deracinate

Back 41

uproot

Front 42

eleemosynary

Back 42

of, relating to, or supported by charity

Front 43

lachrymose

Back 43

1 : given to tears or weeping : TEARFUL
2 : tending to cause tears : MOURNFUL

Front 44

obfuscate

Back 44

1 a : DARKEN b : to make obscure
2 : CONFUSE

Front 45

purview

Back 45

1 a : the body or enacting part of a statute b : the limit, purpose, or scope of a statute
2 : the range or limit of authority, competence, responsibility, concern, or intention
3 : range of vision, understanding, or cognizance