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IB English Vocab #2 Flashcards
(see title)
50
English
11th Grade
10/13/2011

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Cards

Term
Indemnify
Definition
Compensate (someone) for harm or loss.
"The amount of insurance that may be carried to indemnify the owner in the event of loss"
Term
Immure
Definition
Confine/enclose against one's will. Lock up, incarcerate, detain.
"Her brother was immured in the asylum"
Term
Indolent
Definition
Wanting to avoid activity or exertion. Lazy, loafing. ANTONYM energetic
"An indolent person does not like playing sports"
Term
Besmirch
Definition
Damage the reputation of something/someone. Sully, tarnish. ANTONYM honor.
"I'm not trying to besmirch the victim"
Term
Efface
Definition
Erase from a surface. Blot out, eradicate, erase.
"The chalk drawings were effaced by the rain"
Term
Placid
Definition
Not easily upset or excited, calm and peaceful. Serene, easygoing. ANTONYM excitable
"She's normally very placid"
Term
Superflous
Definition
Unnecessary (being more than enough). Redundant, excess, unneeded. ANTONYM essential
"The words seemed superfluous"
Term
Surreptitious
Definition
Keep secret (esp. because it would not be approved of). Sneaky, sly. ANTONYM blatant
"They carried on a surreptitious affair"
Term
Ambiguous
Definition
Open to more than one interpretation. Double meaning, obscure, debatable. ANTONYM clear
"The question is rather ambiguous"
Term
Nebulous
Definition
In the from of a cloud or haze. Unclear, vague, blurry, faint. ANTONYM well-defined
"Nebulous concepts like the quality of life"
Term
Dilapidated
Definition
(or a building/object) in a state of disrepair/ruin. Shabby, run-down, falling apart.
"A row of dilapidated houses"
Term
Stalwart
Definition
Loyal, reliable, hardworking, strongly built, sturdy, faithful. ANTONYM unreliable
"A stalwart supporter of the cause"
Term
Furtive
Definition
Attempting to avoid notice or attention. Secretave, covert, hidden. ANTONYM open
"He stole a furtive glance at her"
Term
Ensconce
Definition
Establish or settle someone in a comfortable, safe, secure place. Settle, install, plant.
"She ensconced herself in their bedroom"
Term
Venerable
Definition
Accorded a great deal of respect. Revered, honored, esteemed.
"The venerable George Washington was the founder of the US"
Term
Imprudent
Definition
Not showing care for the consequences of an action. Rash, unwise, indiscrete. ANTONYM sensible
"A series of imprudent marriages"
Term
Affront
Definition
An action/remark that causes outrage or offense. Insult, offend, snub.
"She was affronted by his familiarity"
Term
Languish
Definition
Loose or lack vitality/Pine with love or grief. Wast away, decline. ANTONYM flourish
"The plants languished and died"
Term
Pallid
Definition
Pale, colorless, pasty, uninteresting, insipid, lifeless, bland.
"An utterly pallid and charmless character"
Term
Rancor
Definition
Bitterness or resentfulness. Spite, hatred, venom, animosity.
"He spoke with rancor"
Term
Turbid
Definition
(of a liquid) Cloudy, opaque, murky, unclear, milky. ANTONYM clear
"The pond water became turbid from our swimming and splashing"
Term
Inveigh
Definition
Speak/write about something with great hostility. Protest, criticize. ANTONYM support
"Marx inveighed against testing products on animals"
Term
Despondent
Definition
In low spirits from loss of hope/courage. Discouraged, disheartened, crestfallen. ANTONYM hopeful
"They were tired and despondent"
Term
Respite
Definition
A short period of rest or relief. Break, interval, recess.
"A brief respite"
Term
Somnolent
Definition
Sleepy, drowsy, tired, quiet, calm, lethargic.
"He felt somnolent after lunch"
Term
Itinerant
Definition
Traveling from place to place. Wandering, roaming, nomadic.
"Itinerant travelers"
Term
Ornate
Definition
Made in an intricate shape, decorated with complex pattern. Elaborate, adorned. ANTONYM plain
"An ornate mirror"
Term
Obstinate
Definition
Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion. Inflexible, unyielding. ANTONYM compliant
"It is unusual for two obstinate people to agree"
Term
Ardent
Definition
Enthusiastic or passionate. Fervent, zealous.
"An ardent soccer fan"
Term
Enigma
Definition
A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling to understand, riddle, conundrum.
"How it works is an enigma to me"
Term
Disconsolate
Definition
Without consolation or comfort. Unhappy, downcast. ANTONYM cheerful
"He met the disconsolate widow"
Term
Oblique
Definition
Not explicit or direct. Not parallel or perpendicular. Askew, evasive, roundabout. ANTONYM direct
"An oblique reference to an inside joke"
Term
Sonorous
Definition
Imposingly deep and full. Rich, full, impressive.
"The alloy is sonorous and useful in making bells"
Term
Inipid
Definition
Lacking flavor, vigor, or interest. Tasteless, bland. ANTONYM tasty, interesting
"Mugs of insipid coffee"
"
Term
Anomaly
Definition
Something that deviates from the standard normal, or expected. Oddity, abnormality.
"The growth is a harmless anomaly"
Term
Prattle
Definition
Talk at length in a foolish way. Chatter
"She began to prattle on about her visit to the dentist"
Term
Diffident
Definition
Modesty or shy because of a lack of self confidence. Modest, bashful. ANTONYM confident
"Underneath his diffident exterior was passion"
Term
Recalcitrant
Definition
Have a stubbornly uncooperative attitude toward authority. Defiant, willful.
"Three recalcitrant children"
Term
Confound
Definition
Cause surprise or confusion in someone. Astonish, stagger, discombobulate.
"The figures confounded analysts"
Term
Auspicious
Definition
Conductive to success. Promising, encouraging.
"Thanks for joining us in this auspicious occasion"
Term
Morose
Definition
Sullen and ill-tempered. Gloomy, melancholy, depressed. ANTONYMS cheerful
"Mr. Joy sat alone, looking morose"
Term
Banal
Definition
So lacking in originality as to be obvious/boring. Trite, hackneyed, cliched. ANTONYM original
"The boring song with banal lyrics"
Term
Pompous
Definition
Irritatingly grand, self important. Pretentious, egotistic. ANTONYM modest
"The group of pompous officials"
Term
Tirade
Definition
A long, angry speech of criticism. Rant, onslaught.
"A tirade of abuse"
Term
Anachronism
Definition
A person or a thing that is chronologically out of place. (like if shakespeare was using an iPod)
"The novel is full of anachronisms"
Term
Antithesis
Definition
Something that is the direct opposite like hot/cold, black/white. (Can also be oxymorons)
"His character is the exact antithesis of Batman's"
Term
Prototype
Definition
First model of something from which others are developed/copied.
"The firm is testing the prototype of the weapon"
Term
Paradox
Definition
Statement that is self contradictory.
Like "Nobody goes to that restaurant, it's too crowded"
"Freedom is slavery"
Term
Archaic
Definition
Word/style of language that is no longer in everyday use, but sometimes used to impart an old fashioned flavor.
Term
Diatribe
Definition
A forceful and bitter attack against something.
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