Gamsat Section 1 Words/definition

Front 1

Define Denigrating

Back 1

To criticize unfairly (i.e blackening, defamatory)

Front 2

Define Didatic

Back 2

Intending to teach (instructive, authoritarian)

Front 3

Define Nihilistic

Back 3

To reject all moral/religious principles in the belief that life is meaningless

(The Holocaust was a clear manifestation of nihilism)

Front 4

Define Dubious

Back 4

To hesitate or doubt something

Front 5

Define Ebullient

Back 5

To be cheerful and full of energy (exuberant, praising)

Front 6

Define Hyperbolic

Back 6

To exaggerate on purpose

Front 7

Define Caveat

Back 7

A warning or word of caution

(As comprehensive and eloquent as this policy is, there is still one caveat: it fails to mention where jurisdiction resides)

Front 8

Define Circumvent

Back 8

To evade or avoid using strategic or deceptive means; to bypass or go around; to entrap

(Individuals who circumvent the law are regarded by society as deviants)

Front 9

Define Facetious

Back 9

To treat serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor

(His facetious remarks entertained the crowd)

Front 10

Define Idiosyncratic

Back 10

An unusual way in which a particular person behaves or thinks; may also refers to an eccentric feature of something

Front 11

Define Altruism

Back 11

A selfless commitment to the service of others

Altruism is a rare gift, exemplified by the like of Mother Teresa and Princess Diana

Front 12

Define Egalitarian

Back 12

An assertion and manifestation of or belief in the equality of all people especially in political and socio-economic matters; favouring equality in all aspects

Front 13

Define Epistemology

Back 13

A system, method or manner of learning

From this epistemology, he arrived at the conclusion that knowledge and consciousness are distinct entities

Front 14

Define Irony

Back 14

An amusing or comical situation that arises from the contradiction

Front 15

Define Myopic

Back 15

Inability to act with prudence or foresight; narrow-minded

(Racists and chauvinists have a myopic mindset, which ca be corrected through immersion in and constant exposure to a pluralist community)

Front 16

Define Paragon

Back 16

A perfect example of; a model of excellence

(This government is no longer a paragon of transparency and accountability)

Front 17

Define Oligarchy

Back 17

A political system governed by a few people, usually of significant wealth and influence

(Oligarchy is the reason why 75% of our country's population continues to live below the poverty line)

Front 18

Define Pejorative

Back 18

To have a disparaging, belittling or derogatory impact

(Not to be pejorative about it, but the lesson was simply uninteresting)

Front 19

Define Pragmatism

Back 19

Dealing with things in a way that is both reasonable and logical instead of on ideals and theories

Front 20

Define Proclivity

Back 20

A natural inclination or predisposition to do things

(The dentist's receptionist has a proclivity for discussing trivial details)

Front 21

Define Sardonic

Back 21

To be bitterly sarcastic, mocking or sneering

(I want to wipe that sardonic grin off his face)

Front 22

Define Satire

Back 22

Humor derived from poking fun at social issues and human follies in general.

(George Orwell's novel, Animal farm, is a good example of a political satire as it exposes the folly of our notions of equality and sums it up in one phrase: "Everyone is created equal, but some are more equal than others")

Front 23

Define Temperament

Back 23

Typical or natural behaviour, condition or disposition

(Though he does not have a pleasant temperament, he still wins friends wherever he goes)

Front 24

Define Ubiquitous

Back 24

Universal, omnipresent or being everywhere; accepted by all

(His name became ubiquitous in the current news because of the atrocities exposed during his leadership)

Front 25

Define Objective

Back 25

A factual account of things; not influenced by emotions or personal feelings

Front 26

Define Subjective

Back 26

Based on or influenced by person feelings, tastes or opinions

Front 27

Define Sanguine

Back 27

To be optimistic or positive in an apparently bad situation

Front 28

Define Lampooning

Back 28

Satirical, making fun of

Front 29

Define Preclude

Back 29

To prevent from happening

Front 30

Define Savant

Back 30

A learned person, especially a distinguished scientist (i.e intellectual)

Front 31

Define Apathy

Back 31

Lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern

Front 32

Define Eloquent

Back 32

Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing

Front 33

Define Ambivalent

Back 33

To have mixed feelings or contradictory ideas (i.e. equivacol, uncertain)

Front 34

Autocratic

Back 34

Relating to a ruler who has absolute power - taking no account of other people's wishes or opinions: domineering

Front 35

Autocratic

Back 35

Relating to a ruler who has absolute power - taking no account of other people's wishes or opinions: domineering

Front 36

Beneficence

Back 36

Doing good to other - something that is of 'benefit'

Front 37

Define Benevolent

Back 37

Well meaning and kindly (e.g serving a charitable rather than a profit-making purpose)

Front 38

Bereavement

Back 38

The state of intense grief or mourning after the loss of a loved one

Front 39

Define Profligacy

Back 39

This implies reckless wasting of money on extravagant behaviour - profligate behaviour is a lot of fun but you'll regret it later

Front 40

Define Profligacy

Back 40

This implies reckless wasting of money on extravagant behaviour - profligate behaviour is a lot of fun but you'll regret it later

Front 41

Define equivocal

Back 41

Open to more than one interpretation - ambiguous

Front 42

Define judicious

Back 42

Having, showing, or done with good judgement or sense

Front 43

Define Quiescent

Back 43

Being quiet, still, at rest