Term
|
Definition
ADJ. abnormal or deviant.
Given the aberrant nature of the data, we came to doubt the validity of the entire experiment. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Suspended action.
The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Depart secretly and hide.
The teller who absconded with the bonds went uncaptured until someone recognized him from his photograph on America's Most Wanted. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Sparing in eating and drinking; temperate. Concerned whether her vegetarian son's abstemious diet provided him with sufficient protein, the worried mother pressed food on him. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Warn; reprove.
When her courtiers questioned her religious beliefs, Mary Stuart admonished them, declarying that she would worship as she pleased. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances.
It is a crime to adulterate foods without infoming the buyer; when consumers learned that Beechnut had adulterated its apple juice by mixing the juice with water, they protested vigorously.
Adulteration, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Artistic
Dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful. The beauty of Tiffany's stained glass appealed to Alice's aesthetic sense.
Aesthete, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Gather; accumulate.
Before the Wall Street scandals, dealers in so-called junk bonds managed to aggregate great wealth in short periods of time.
Also Adj. Aggregation, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Subside or moderate.
Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Cheerful promptness; eagerness.
Phil and Dave were raring to get off to the mountains; they packed up their ski gear and climbed into the van with alacrity. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Relieve.
This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Combine; unite in one body.
The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Unclear of doubtful in meaning.
His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take.
ambiguity, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. The state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes.
Torn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by the ambivalence of her feelings.
Ambivalent, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Improve.
Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people inving in the slums. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Something or someone misplaced in tme.
Shakespeare's reference to clocks in Julius Ceasar is an anachornism; no clocks existed in ceasar's time.
anachronistic, adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. comparable.
Sh called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Absence of governing body; state of disorder.
The assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Abnormal; irregular.
She was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures that she despised. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Aversion; dislike
Tom's extreme antipathy for disputes keeps him from getting into arguments with his temperamental wife. Noise in any form is antipathetic to him. Among his other antipathies are honking cars, boom boxes, and heavy metal rock. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. lack of caring; indifference.
Afirm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote.
Apathetic, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Pacify or soothe; relieve.
Tom and Jody tried to appease the crying baby by offering him one toy after another. However, he would not calm down until they appeased his hunger by giving him a bottle.
Appeasement, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Inform.
When NASA was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, the head of the space agency decided to postpone the shuttle launch. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. approval.
Wanting her parents' regard, she looked for some sign of their approbation. Benjamin Franklin, that shrewd observer of nankind, once wrote, "We must not in the course of the public life expect immediate approbation and immediate grateful acknowledgement of our services." |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Acquire; take possession of for one's own use.
The ranch owners appropriated the lands that had originally been set aside for the Indians' use. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Hard, strenuous.
Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Without guile; open and honest.
Red Riding Hood's artless comment, "Grandma, what big eyes you have!" indicates the child's innocent surprise at her "grandmother's" changed appearance. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Practicing self-denial; austere.
The wealthy, self-indulgent young man felt oddly drawn to the strict, ascetic life led by members of some monastic orders.
Also N. Asceticism, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. diligent
It took Rembrandt weeks of assiduous labor before he was satisfied with his portrait of his son. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger).
Jilted by Jane, Dick tried to assuage his heartache by indulgind in ice cream. One gallon later he had assuaged his appetite but not his grief.
Assuagement, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Make thinner; weaken or lessen (in density, force, degree).
The long, dry spell attenuated the creek to the merest trickle. When a meteor strikes the ground, the initially intense shock attenuates or lessens as it diverges outward. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Daring; bold
Audiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, deaht-defying leap to freedom and escaped Darth Vader's troops.
Audactity, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Forbiddingly stern; severly simple and unornamented.
The headmaster's austere demeanor tended to scare off the more timid students, who never visited his study willingly. The room reflected the man, austere and bare, like a monk's cell, with no touches of luxury to moderate its austerity. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Self-governing
Although the University of California at Berkeley is just one part of the state university system, in many ways Cal Berkely is autonomous, for it runs several programs that are not subject to outside control.
Autonomy, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Assert confidently or declare; as used in law. State formally a fact.
The self-proclaimed psychic averred that, because he had extrasensory perception on which to base his predictions, he needed no seismographs or other gadgets in order to foretell earthquakes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality.
The hack writer's worn-out cliches made his comic sketch seem banal. He even resorted to the banality of having someone slip on a banana peel! |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. contradict; give a false impression.
His coarse, hard-bitten eterior belied his innate sensitivity. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Kindly; doing good.
The overgenerous philanthropist had to curb his beneficient impulses before he gave away all his money and left himself with nothing. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Support; reinforce.
The debaters amassed file boxes full of evidence to bolster their arguments. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Pompous; using inflated language
Puffed up with conceit, the orator spoke in such a bombastic manner that we longed to deflate him.
Bombast, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Rude; insensitive
Though Mr. Potts constantly interrupted his wife, she ignored his boorish behavior, for she had lost hope of teaching him courtesy. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Grow forth; send out buds.
In the spring the plants that burgeon are a promise of the beauty that is to come. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Make shiny by rubbing; polish.
The maid burnished the brass fixtures until they reflected the lamplight. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Support; prop up.
Just as architects buttress the walls of cathedrals with flying buttresses, debaters buttress their arguments with facts.
Also N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. discordant; inharmonious.
Do the students in the orchestra enjoy the cacophonous sounds they make when they're tuning up? I don't knowhow they can stand the racket.
Cacophony, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Unprdictable; fickle.
The storm was capricious: itchanged course constantly;. Jill was capricious, too: she changed boyfriends almost as often as she changed clothes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Punishment; severe criticism.
Sensitive even to mild criticism, Woolf could not bear the castigation that she found in certain reviews. Ben Johnson was a highly moral playwright; in his plays, his purpose was to castigate vice and hypocrisy by exposing them publicly. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Agent that influences the pace of a chemical reaction while it remains unaffected and unchanged; person or thing that causes action.
After a banana is harvested, certain enzymes within its cells continue to act as a catalyst of rht the biochemical processes of ripening thereby causing the banana eventually to rot. In 1969 the IRA split into two factions: the "officials," who advocated a united socialist Ireland but disavowed terrorist activities, and the "provisionals," who argued that terrorism was a necessary catalyst for unification. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Burning; sarcastically biting.
the critic's caustic remarks angered the hapless actors who were the subjects of his sarasm. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. trickery; eception.
Those sneaky lawyers misrepresented what occured, made up all osrts of implausible alternative scenarios to confuse the jurors, and in general depended on chicanery to win the case. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Thicken; congeal; clot.
Even after you remove the pudding from the burner, it will continue to coagulate as it stands.
Coagulant, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Concluding section of a musical or literary composition; something that rounds out, summarizes or concludes.
The piece concluded with a distinctive coda that strikingly brought together various motifs.
Several months after Charlie Chaplin's death, his body was briefly kidnapped from a Swiss cemetary by a pair of bungling thieves-a macabre coda that Chaplin might have concoced for one of his own two-reelers. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Convincing
It was inevitable that David chose to go to Harvard: he had several cogent reasons for doing so, including a full-tuition scholarship.
Katya argued her case with such cogency that the jury had to decide in favor of her client. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Corresponding in extent, degree, amount, etc.; proportionate.
By the close of World War II much progress had been made in assigning nurses rank and responsibilites commensurate with their training and abilities.
Critics in the industry charged that imposing new meat inspection regulations without dismantling the traditional system would raise costs without bringing about a commensurate improvement in safety. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Brief, comprehensive summary.
This text can serve as a compendium of the tremendous amount of new material being developed in this field. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Trying to please; overly polite; obliging.
Fearing that the king might become enraged if his will were thwarted, the complaisant Parliament recognized Henry VIII as king of Ireland.
Someone complaisant is not smug or comlacent; he yields to others because he has an excessive need to please. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Yielding; conforming to requirements.
Because Joel usually gave in and went along with whatever his friends desired, his mother worried that he might be too compliant. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Reconciling; soothing.
S was still angry despite his conciliatory words.
Conciliate, v. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse.
Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Confuse; puzzle.
No mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes for long. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Person competent to act as a judge of art, etc.; a lover of an art.
Bernard Berenson, the American art critic and conoisseur of Italian art, was hired by wealthy art lovers to select paintings for their collections. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Claim; thesis.
It is our contention that, if you follow our tactics, ou will boost your score on the GRE.
Contend, V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Quarrelsome.
Disagreeing violently with the referees' ruling, the coach became so contentious that the referees threw him out of the game. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Penitent.
Her contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence.
Contrition, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Riddle; difficult problem.
During the long car ride, she invented conundrums to entertain the children. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Approach; tend to meet; come together.
African-American men from all over the United States converged on Washington to take part in the historic Million Man March.
Convergence, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Coiled around; involved; intricate.
His argument was so convuluted that few of us could follow it intelligently. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Cowardly.
Lillian's craven refusal to join the protest was criticized by her comrades, who had expected her to be brave enough to stand up for her beliefs. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Intimidate; frighten.
"Boast all you like of your prowess. Mere words cannot daunt me," the hero answered the villain. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners.
Even the best-mannered students have trouble behaving with decorun on the last day of school.
Decorous, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Failure to act
When the visiting team failed to show up for the big game, theylost the game by default.
When Jack failed to make the payments on his Jaguar, the dealership took back the car because he had defaulted on his debt. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Courteous regard for anothers wish.
In deference to teh minister's request, please do not take photographs during the wedding service. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Portray; depict; sketch.
Using only a few descriptive phrases, Austen delineates the character of Mr. Colins so well that we can predict his every move.
Delineation, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Blacken.
All attempts to denigrate the character of our late president have failed; the people still love him and cherish his memory. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Ridicule; make fun of.
The critics derided his pretentious dialogue and refused to consider his lay seriously.
Despite the critics' derision, however, audiences were moved byt he play, cheering its unabashedly sentimental conclusion.
Derisive, adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Unoriginal; obtained from another source.
Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature, the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Dry up
A tour of this somkehouse will give you an idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate food in order to preserve it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Aimless; haphazard; digressing at random.
In prison Malcolm X set himself the task of reading straight through the dictionary; to him, reading was purposeful, not desultory. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Something that discouraes; hindrance.
Does the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers?
Also Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Bitter scolding; invective.
During the lengthy diatribe delivered delivered by his opponent he remained calm and self-controlled. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones).
Willie didn't know how to resolve the dichotomy between his ambition to go to college and his childhood longing to run away and join the circus. THen he heard about the Ringling Brothers Circus College, and he knew he'd found his school. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Shyness.
You must overcome your diffidence if you intend to become a salesperson. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Wordy; rambling; spread out (like a gas).
If you pay authors by the word, you tempt them to produce diffuse manuscripts rather than brief ones.
Also v. diffusion, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Wandering away from the subject.
Nobody minded when Professor Renoir's lectures wandered away from their official theme; his difressions were always more fascinating than the topic of the day.
Digress, V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Lament with music.
The funeral dirge stirred us to tears. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Correct a false impression; undeceive.
I will attempt to disabuse you of your impression of my lcient's guilt; I know he is innocent. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Mentally quick and observant; having insight.
Though no genius, the star was sufficiently discerning to distinguish her true friends form the countless phonies who flattered her.
Discern V. Discernment, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Not harmonious; conflicting.
Nothing is quite so dischordant as the sound of a junior high school orchestra tuning up. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve.
The campain was highly negative in tone; each candidate tried to discredit the other. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Lack of consistency; difference.
The police noticed some discrepancies in his description of the crime and did not believe him. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Seperate; unconnected; consisting of distinct parts.
In programmed instruction, the information to be learned is presented in discrete units; you must respond correctly to each unit before you may advance to the next.
Because human populations have been migrating and intermingling for hundreds of centuries, it is hard to classify humans into discrete racial groups.
Do not confuse discrete (seperate) with discreet (prudent in speech and actions). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Lacking genuine candor; insincere.
Now that we knowt hat the mayor and his wife are engaged in a bitter divorce fight, we find their earlier remarks regretting their lack fo time together remarkably disingenuous. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Unprejudiced.
Given the judge's political ambitions and the lawyers' financial interest in the case, the only disinterested person in the courtroom may have been the court reporter. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Lacking coherence; seperated at the joints.
Unable to think of anything to say about the assigned topic, the unprepared student scribbled a few disjointed sentences on his answer sheet. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Eliminate from consideration; reject.
Believing in John's love for her, she dismissed the notion that he might be unfaithful. (secondary meaning) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Belittle
A doting mother, Emma was more likely to praise her son's crude attempts an art than to disarage them. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Basically different; unrelated.
Unfortunately Tony and Tina have disparate notions of marriage: Tony sees it as a carefree extended love affair, while Tina sees it as a solemn commitment to build a family and a home. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Disguise; pretend.
Even though John tried to dissemble his motive for taking modern dance, we all knew he was there not to dance but to meet girls. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds).
By their use of the internet, propagandists have been able to disseminate their pet doctrines to new audiences around the globe. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Disintegration; looseness in morals.
The profligacy and dissolution of life in Caligula's Rome appall some historians.
Dissoulte, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Discord; opposite of harmony.
Composer harles Ives often used dissonance-clashing or unresolved chords-for special effects in his musical works.
Dissonant, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Expand; swell out.
I can tell when he is under stress by the way the veins distend on his forehead. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Purify; refine; concentrate.
A moonshiner distills mash into whiskey; an epigrammatist distills thoughts into quips. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Vary; go in different directions from the same point.
The spokes of the wheel diverge from the hub. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Strip; deprive.
He was divested of his power to act and could no longer govern.
Divestiture, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Provide written evidence.
She kept all the receipts from her business trip in order to documenther expenses for the firm.
Also N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal.
We tried to discourage Doug from being so dogmatic, but never could convince him that his opinions might be wrong. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Sleeing; lethargic; latent.
At fifty her long-dormant ambition to write flared up once more; within a year she had completed the first of her great historical novels.
Dormancy, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Someone easily fooled.
While the gullible Watson often made a dupe by unscrupulous parties, Sherlock Holmes was far more difficult to fool. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Adorn; ornament; enhance, as a story.
The costume designer embellished the leading lady's ball gown with yards and yards of ribbon and lace. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Based on experience.
He distrusted hunchs and intuitive flashes; he placed his reliance entirely on empirical data. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Imitate; rival.
In a brief essay, describe a person you admire, someone whose virtues you would like to emulate. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Prvailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country.
This disease is endemic in this part of hte world; more than 80 percent of the population are at one time or another affected by it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. weaken.
She was slow to recover from her illness; even a short walk to the window enervated her.
Enervation, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Cause; produce.
To receive praise for real accomplishments engenders self-confidence in a child. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Increase; improve.
You can enhance your chance of being admitted to the college of your choice by learning to write well; an excellent essay will enhance any application. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Short-lived; fleeting.
The mayfly is an ephermeral creature: its adult life lasts little more than a day. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Calmness of temperament; Composure.
Even the inevitable strains of caring for an ailing mother did not disturb Bea's equanimity. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth.
No matter how bad the news is, give it to us straight. Above all, don't equivocate. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Learned; scholarly.
Unlike much scholarly writing, Huzinga's prose was entertaining as well as eruite, lively as well as learned.
Erudition, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Hard to understand; known only to the chosen few.
New Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and evets. The implication is, if you ware in the in-crowd, you'll get the reference; if you come from Cleveland, you won't.
Esoterica, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death.
Instead of delivering a spoken eulogy at Genny's memorial service, Jeff sang a song he had written in her honor.
Eulogize, V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Mild expression in place of an unpleasant one.
The expression "he passed away" is a euphemism for "he died." |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Worsen; embitter.
The latest bombing exacerbated England's already existing bitterness against the IRA, causing the Prime Minister to break off the peace talks abruptly.
Exacerbation, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Clear from blame.
She was exculpated of the crime when the real criminal confessed. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Urgent situation; pressing needs or demands; state of requiring immediate attention.
The exigencies of war gave impetus and funding to computer research in general and in particular to the development of code-breaking machines.
Denmark's Gustav I proved to be a harsh master and an exigent lord, known for his heavy taxes and capricious demands. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Projection; conjecture.
Based on thier extrapolation from the results of the primaries on Super Tuesday, the networks predicted that George W. Bush would be the Republican candidate for the presidency.
Extrapolate, V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Joking (often inapproprately); humorous.
Im serious abour this project; I don't need any facetious, smart-alecky cracks about do-good little rich girls. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Help bring about; make less difficult.
Rest and proper nourishment should facilitate the patient's recovery. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. False; misleading.
Paradoxically, fallacious reasoning does not always ield erroneous results: even though your logic may be faulty, the answer you get may be correct. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Brainless; inante; foolish, yet smug.
Attacking the notion that women should defer to men's supposedly superios intelligence, Germaine Greer wrote that she was sick of pretending that some fatuous male's self-important pronouncements were the objects of her undivided attention.
Fatheads are by definition fatuous. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Trying to please by behaving obsequiously, flatterying, or cringing.
In pride and Prejudice, Mr. Collins is the archetypal fawning clergyman, wholly dependant for his living on the goodwill of his patron, Lady Catherine, whom he flatters shamelessly.
Courtiers fawn upon princes; groupies fawn upon rock stars. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Apt; suitably expressed; well chosen.
He was famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at many a banquet. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Glowing ardor; intensity of feeling.
At the protest rally, the students cheered the strikers and booed the dean with equal fervor. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Droop; grow feeble.
When the opposing hockey team scored its third goal only minutes into the first period, the home team's spirits flagged.
Flagging, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adj. Inexperienced.
The folk dance club set up an apprentice program to allow fledgling dance callers a chance to polish their skills.
Also, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Reject; mock; show contempt for.
The painter Julian Schnabel is known for works that flout the conventions of high art, such as paintings on velvet or linoleum.
Do not confuse flout with flaunt; to flunt something is to show it off; to flout something is to show your scorn for it.
Perhaps by flouting the conventions fo high art, Schnabelwas flaunting his ability to getaway with breaking the rules. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Stir up; instigae.
Cher's archenemy Heather spread some nasty rumors that formented trouble in the club. Do you think Heather's foe meant to forment such discord? |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Prevent by taking action in advance.
By setting up a prenuptial agreement, the prospective bride and groom hoped to forestall any potential arguments about money in the event of a divorce. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Thrift; economy.
In economically hard times, anyone who doesn't learn to practce frugality risks bankruptcy.
Frugal, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Useless; hopeless; ineffectual.
It is futile for me to try to get any work done around here while the telephone is ringing every 30 seconds.
Futility, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Deny.
She was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Loquacious; wordy; talkative.
My Uncle Henry can out-talk any other three people I know. He is the most garrulous person in Cayuga County.
Garrulity, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Urge on.
She was goaded by her friends until she yielded to their wishes.
Also N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
v. Overcharge
During the World Series, ticket scalpers tried to gouge the public, asking astronomical prices even for bleacher seats. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language.
The politician could never speak simply; she was always grandiloquent. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Sociable.
Typically, party throwers are gregarious; hermits are not. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Without deceit.
He is naive, simple, and guileless; he cannot be guilty of fraud. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Easily deceived.
Gullible people have only themselves to blame if they fall for con artists repeatedly. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Long, passionate, and vehement speech.
In her lengthy harangue, the principal berated the offenders.
Also V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Of the same kind.
Because the student body at Elite Prep was so homogenous, Sara and James decided to send their daughter to a school that offered greater cultural diversity.
Homogeneity, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Exaggeration; overstatement.
As far as I'm concerned, Apple's claims about the new computer are pure hyperbole; no machine is that good
Hyperbolic, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Attacking cherished traditions.
Deeply iconoclastic, Jean Genet deliberately set out to shock conventional theatergoers with his radical plays.
Iconoclasm, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Worship of idols; excessive admiration.
Such idolatry of singers of country music is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Unchangable.
All things change over time; nothing is immutable. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Injure; hurt.
Drinking alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely; if you're going to drink, don't drive. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Without feeling; imperturbable; stoical.
Refusing to let the enemy see how deeply shaken he was by his capture, the prisoner kept his face impassive. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Hinder; block.
The special prosecuter determined that hte Atoorney General, though inept, had not intentionally set out to impede the progress of the investigation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Impervious; not permitting passage through its substance.
This new material is impermeable to liquids. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Calm; placid.
Wellington remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation in spite of the hysteria and panic all around him.
Imperturbability, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed.
The carpet salesman told Simone that his most expensive brand of floor covering was warranted to be impervious to ordinary wear and tear.
Having read so many negative reviews of his acting, the movie star had elarned to ignore them and was now impervious to criticism. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Incapable of being pacified.
Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Understood but not stated.
Jack never told Jill he adored her; he believed his love was implicit in his deeds. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Burst inward.
If you break a vacuum tube, the glass tube implodes.
Implosion, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly.
Judy's great fear was that she might inadvertently omit a question on the exam and mismark her whole answer sheet. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Recently begun; rudimentary; elementary.
Before the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Lack of harmony; absurdity.
The incongruity of his wearing sneakers with formal attire amused the observers.
Incongruous, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Insignificant; unimportant.
Brushing off Ali's apologies for having broken the wine glass, Tamara said, "Don't worry about it; it's inconsequential." |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite.
Breaking with precedent, President Truman ordered the military to incorporate blacks into every branch of the armed services.
Also Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite.
That interest rates shall rise appears certain; when they will do so, however remains indeterminate. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Poverty
Neither the economists nor the olitical scientists have found a way to wipe out the inequities of wealth and eliminate indigence from out society.
Indigent, Adj., N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Lazy.
Couch potatoes lead an indolent life lying back in their Lazyboy recliners watching TV.
Indolence, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Inactive; lacking power to move.
"Get up, you lazybones," Tina cried to Tony, who lay in bed inert.
Inertia, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated.
The woodsman did not realize how ingenuous Little Red Riding Hood was until he heard that she had gne off for a walk in the woods with the Big Bad Wolf.
Ingenue, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Firmly established bynature or habit.
Katya's inherent love of justice caused her to champion anyone she considered to be treated unfairly y society. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Harmless.
an occasional glass of wine with dinner is relatively innocuous and should have no ill effect on most people. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Unconscious; unresponsive.
Sherry and I are very different; at times when I would be covered with embarrassemet, she seems insensible to shame. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Hint; imply; creep in.
When you said I looked robust did you mean to insinuate that I'm getting fat? |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Lacking in flavor; dull.
Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid; both lack sparkle. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Narrow-mindedness; isolation.
The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicious of anything foreign.
Insular, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Unruly; stubborn; unyielding.
Charlie Brown' friend Pigpen was intractable; he absolutely refused to take a bath. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Refusal of any compromise; stubborness.
The negotiating team had not expected such intransigience from the striking wokers, who rejected any hing of a compromise.
Intransigent, adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Overwhelm; flood; submerge.
This semester I am inundated with work; you should see the piles of paperwork flooding my desk.
Until the great dam was built, the waters of the Nile used to inundate the river valley every year. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Accustomed; hardened.
She became injured to the Alaskan cold. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Abuse.
He had expected criticism but not the inective that greeted hi proposal. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Irritable; easily angered.
Miss Minchin's irascible temper intimidated the younger schoolgirls, who feared she'd burst into a rage at any moment. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Uncertain hot to act; weak.
Once you have made your decision, don't waver; a leader should never appear irresolute. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Plan of a trip.
Disliking sudden changes in plans when she traveled abroad, Ethel refused to make any alterations in her itinerary. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Brief and to the point.
Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Languor; weariness.
After a massage and a long soak in the hot tub, I surrendered to my growing lassitude and lay down for a nap. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden.
Polaroid pictured are popular at parties because you can see the latent photographic image gradually appear before your eyes.
Latency, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Drowsy; dull.
The stuffy room made her lethargic: she felt as if shewas about to nod off.
Lethargy, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Earthen or stone embankment to prevent blooding.
As the river rose and threatened to oveflow the levee, emergency workders rushed to reinforce the walls with sandbags. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Earthen or stone embankment to prevent blooding.
As the river rose and threatened to oveflow the levee, emergency workders rushed to reinforce the walls with sandbags. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity.
Stop giggling and wriggling around in the pew: such levity is improper in church. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities.
"Flogged two seamen today for insubordination," wrote Captain Bligh in the Bounty's log.
To see how much work I've accomplished recently, just take a look at the number of new files listed on my computer log.
Also V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Talkative.
Though our daughter barely says a word to us these days, put a phone in her hand and see how loquacious she can be: out phone bills are out of sight!
Loquacity, |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Easily understood; clear; intelligible.
Lexy makes an excellent teacher: her explanations of technical points are lucidenough for a child to grasp.
Lucidity, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Shining; issuing light.
The sun is a luminous body. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Generosity.
Noted for his magnanimity, philanthropist Eugene Lang donated millians to charity.
Magnanimous, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. One who feigns illness to escape dty.
The captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers and force them to work.
Malinger, V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable.
Gold is a malleable metal, easily shaped into bracelets and rings.
Fagin hoped Oliver was a malleable lad, easily shaped into a thief. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Rebel; nonconformist.
To the masculine literary establishment, George Sand with her insistence on wearing trousers and smoking cigars was clearly a maverick who fought her proper womanly role. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Lying; habitually dishonest.
Distrusting Huck from the start, Miss Watson assumed he was mendacious and refused to believe a word he said.
Mendacity, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Change of form.
the metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly is typical of manny such changes in animal life.
Metamorphose, V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous.
Martha Stewart was a meticulous housekeeper, fussing about each and every detail that went into making up her perfect home. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. One who hates mankind.
In Gulliver's Travels, Swift portrays human beings as vile, degraded beasts; for this reason, various critics consider him a misanthrope.
Misanthropic, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Appease; moderate.
Nothing Jason did could mitigate Megea's anger; she refused to forgive him for betraying her. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Soothe.
The airline cutomer service representative tied to mollify the angry assenger by offering her a seat in first class. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Ill-humored; sullen; melancholy.
Forced to take early retirement, Bill acted morose for months; then all of a sudden, he shook off his gloom and was his usual cheerful self. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Worldly as opposed to spritual; everyday.
Uninterested in philosophical or spiritual discussions, Tom talked only of mundane matters such as the daily weather forecast of the latest basketball results. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Cancel out; nullify; deny.
A sudden surge of adrenalin can negate the effects of fatigue: there's nothing like a good shock to wake you up.
Negation, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Recent convert; beginner.
This mountain slope contains slides that will challenge experts as well as neophytes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Stubborn.
He was obdurate in his refusal to listen to our complaints. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic.
Helen valued people who behaved as if they respected themselves; nothng irritated her more than an excessively obsequious waiter or a fawning salesclerk. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Make unnecessary; get rid of.
I hope this contributions will obviate any need for further collections of funds. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Shut; close.
A blood clot occluded an artery to the heard.
Occlusion, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Meddlesom; excessively pushy in offering one's services.
After her long flight, Jill just wanted to nap, but the officious bellboy was intent on showing her all the special features of the deluxe suite. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Burdensome.
She asked for an assistant because her work load was too onderous. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Infamy; villification.
He refused to defend himself against the slander and opprobrium hurled against him by the newpapers; he preferred to rely on his record. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Vibrate pendulumlike; waver
It is interesting to note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention.
Trump's latest casino in Atlantic City is the most ostentatious gambling palace in the East; it easily out-glitters it's compettitors.
Ostentation, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Modelf of perfection.
Her fellow students disliked Lavinia because Miss Minchin always pointed her out as a paragon of virtue. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. One-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party.
Rather than joining forces to solve our nation's problems, the Democrate and Republicans spend their time on partisan struggles.
Also, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Pertaining to disease.
As we study the pathological aspects of this disease, we must not overlook the psychological elements. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Scarcity.
They closed the restaraunt because the paucity of customers made it uneconomical to operate. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Showing off learning; bookish.
Leavening her decisions with humorous, down-to-earth anecdotes, Judge Judy ws not at all the pedantic legal scholar.
Pedantry, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Strong inclination; liking.
Dave has a penchant for taking risks: one semesterhe went steady with three girls, two of whome were stars on the school ckarate team. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Severe poverty; stinginess.
when his pension fund failed, Georde feared he would end his days in penury. He became such a penny-pincher that he turned into a closefisted, penurious miser. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Something long-lasting.
These plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for man years.
Also, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Treacherous; disloyal.
When Caeser realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend.
Perfidy, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm.
The auditor's perfunctory inspection of the books overlooked many errors. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through.
If your jogging clothes weren't made out of permeable fabric, you'd drown in your own sweat (figuratively speaking).
Permeate, V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Spread throughout.
Despite airing them for several hours, she could not rid her clothes of the pervasive odor of mothballs that clung to them.
Pervade, V. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Calm; not easily disturbed.
The nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic person, unexcited in the face of sudden emergencies. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Devoutness; reverence for God.
Living her life in prayer and good works, Mother Teresa exemplified the true spirit of piety.
Pious, Adj. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Pacify; conciliate.
The store manager tried to lacate the angry customer, offerng to replace the damaged merchandise or to give back her money. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Ability to be molded.
When clay dires out, it loses its plasticity and becomes less malleable. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Trite remark; commonlace statemnt.
In giving advice to his only son, old Polonius expressed himself only in platitudes; every word out of is mouth was a truism. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Excess; overabundance.
She offered a plethora of excuses for her shortcomings. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
V. Fail sharply.
Stock price plummeted as Wall Street reacted to the rise in interest rates. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Full of pores; like a sieve. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Practical (as opposed to idealistic); Concerned with the practical worth or impact of something.
This coming trip to France should provide me with a pragmatic test of the value of my conversational French class. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Introductory statement. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Uncertain; risky.
Saying the stock was currently overpriced and would be a precarious investment, the broker advised her client against purchasing it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Rash; premature; hasty; sudden.
Though I was angry enough to resin on the spot, I had enough sense to keep myself from quitting a job in such a precipitate fashion. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
N. Forerunner.
Though Gray and Burns share many traits with the Romantic poets who followed them, most critics consider them precursors of the Romantic Movement, not true Romantics. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Arrogant; taking liberties. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Characteristic of earlier times; primitive, unspoiled. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Uprightness; incorruptibility. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Wasteful; reckless with money. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Deep; not superficial; complete. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Tending to prevent the purchase of use of something; inclined to prevent or forbid. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Grow rapidly; spread; multiply. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Fitness; correct conduct. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Ostracize; banish; outlaw. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Limited; restricted. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Minor objection or complaint. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. At rest; dormant; temporarily inactive. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Made less dense [of a gas].
Rarefy, V. Rarefaction, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Abstruse; profound; secret. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Stubborn; unmanagable. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Express disapproval or disappointment. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Determination; firmness of purpose. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Respectful; worshipful. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Person celebrated for wisdom. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Fragment, generally of pottery. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Doubter; personwho suspends judgement until having examined the evidence supporting a point of view. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Occurring irregularly. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Token of disgrace; brand. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Be thrifty; set limits. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Make express conditions, specify. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Marked with parallel bands; grooved. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Writ summoning a witnessto appear. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Settle down; descend; grow quiet. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Establish by evidence; verify; support. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| V. Cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Understood; not put into words. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Extended scolding; denunciation; harangue. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Winding; full of curves. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Docile; extremely managed. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Violation of a law; sin. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Aggressiveness; ferocity. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Practical or workable; capable of maintaining life. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Adj. Sticky, gluey.
Viscosity, N. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Changable; explosive; evaporating rapidly. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adj. Jusitified; authorized. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| N. Turmoil; bewildering jungle. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
