Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Wordly Wise Book 11
Lessons 13-20
120
English
11th Grade
04/13/2009

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Altruism
Definition
The putting of others' well-being ahead of one's own; unselfishness
Term
Concurrent
Definition
Taking place at the same time; simultaneous
Term
Context
Definition

1. The circumstances in which something exists or occurs

2. The surroundings of a word or phrase in a spoken or written passage

Term
Crass
Definition
lacking delicacy or sensitivity; gross
Term
Cuisine
Definition
style of cooking
Term
Debase
Definition
to lower the quality, character, or status of; to devalue
Term
Enjoin
Definition

1. To direct or command

2. To forbid or prohibit

Term
Extemporaneous
Definition
composed or performed on the spur of the moment, with little or no planning
Term
Genesis
Definition
an origin, creation, or beginning
Term
Libation
Definition
A liquid, especially when poured as an offering or drunk as part of a ceremony
Term
Malaise
Definition
A vague feeling of uneasiness or unwellness
Term
Platitude
Definition
A thought or remark that is dull or trite
Term
Reconcile
Definition

1. To reestablish an amicable relationship

2. To bring to quiet or submission

3. To bring into harmony or agreement

Term
Sunder
Definition
To break or force apart; to sever
Term
Travail
Definition

1. Activity that is arduous and burdensome; toil

2. suffering or anguish

Term
Abeyance
Definition
A state of (usually temporary) inactivity or suspension
Term
Buttress
Definition

1. A projecting structure that supports a wall or building

2. Anything that supports or protects

3. to support or strengthen

Term
Commensurate
Definition
corresponding in size, degree, or amount; proportionate; of equal value
Term
Dilatory
Definition
Slow to act or respond; delaying, tardy
Term
Ecumenical
Definition
universal; inclusive, especially concerning religious matters
Term
Facade
Definition

1. The front or face of a building

2. A superficial appearance; an illusion

Term
Gargoyle
Definition
A grotesque stone figure used as a decorative feature on a building or as an ornament
Term
Moot
Definition

1. To debate, suggest, or discuss

2. deprived of significance; irrelevant

 

Term
Pinnacle
Definition

1. A tall, slender, pointed top; peak

2. the highest point of achievement

Term
Requiem
Definition
a funeral mass or service; a musical composition honoring the dead
Term
Sacrosanct
Definition
highly sacred or holy; not to be violated
Term
Sensuous
Definition

1. Coming from or acting on the senses

2. Producing an agreeable effect on the senses

Term
Tenet
Definition
a principle or belief held to be true, especially by members of an organization
Term
Transcend
Definition
To go above the limits of; to exceed or surpass
Term
Venue
Definition
The scene or locale of any action or event; the place of an alleged crime
Term
Arbiter
Definition
one whose decisions are accepted as final; a judge
Term
Conclave
Definition
a private meeting or secret assembly
Term
Concomitant
Definition
accompanying; occupying or existing at the same time
Term
Coterie
Definition
an intimate or exclusive group; a clique
Term
Demur
Definition
To raise objections; to withhold one's approval or agreement
Term
Entice
Definition
to lead or persuade by arousing desire or hope; allure
Term
Flaunt
Definition
to parade or display conspicuously or boldly
Term
Genteel
Definition
polite, elegant, stylish; sometimes overly so
Term
Graphic
Definition

1. evoking a sharp mental picture; vivid

2. Concerning the pictorial arts

Term
inimical
Definition

1. expressing hostility or unfriendly intent

2. having adverse or harmful effects

Term
Inordinate
Definition
beyond what is ordinary or reasonable in amount or scope; excessive
Term
Ludicrous
Definition
Provoking or describing laughter because of absurdity; ridiculous
Term
Oligarchy
Definition
government by a small, elite group
Term
Redoubtable
Definition
worthy of respect; formidable
Term
Repugnant
Definition
highly distasteful; offensive; repulsive
Term
Archives
Definition
Public or institutional records, especially historical documents that are preserved; the place where such records are kept
Term
Chattel
Definition

1. an item of property that can be moved, as distinct from real estate

2. a human being considered as property

Term
Commodious
Definition
having plenty of space to move around freely; roomy
Term
Conflagration
Definition
a large disastrous fire
Term
Limbo
Definition
a place or state of neglect, oblivion or transition
Term
Lineage
Definition
line of decent; ancestry
Term
Listless
Definition
indifferent, spiritless; showing a lack of motivation or interest
Term
Metropolis
Definition
an important city, especially one that is regarded as the center of a certain activity
Term
Perfunctory
Definition
done in a routine way, without care or particular interest
Term
Pristine
Definition
like new; spotless; free of dirt or decay
Term
Ramshackle
Definition
loosely made; appearing ready to collapse; dilapidated
Term
Sequester
Definition

1. To set apart; to seclude

2. To seize, especially by legal authority

Term
Subversive
Definition

1. planning to undermine or overthrow an established order

2. (verb) To undermine the morals, authority or allegiance of

Term
Terminus
Definition
The final destination or goal of a journey or endeavor; the the finishing point
Term
Virulent
Definition

1. extremely harmful or poisonous; deadly

2. full of hate; bitter or spiteful

Term
Autocractic
Definition

1. exercising sole or complete control; dictatorial

2. (noun) one who exercises total control; a domineering person

3. (verb) absolute rule by a single person

Term
Caustic
Definition

1. Capable of destroying tissue by chemical action; corrosive

2. Very sarcastic; sharp or biting

Term
Debilitate
Definition
To impair the strength of; to enfeeble
Term
Duplicitous
Definition

1. marked by deception

2. (duplicity) deceit in speech or actions; deliberate deception

Term
Emissary
Definition
a representative sent on a special errand
Term
Felicitous
Definition

1. happily suited to an occasion or situation; appropriate and graceful

2. marked by happiness or good fortune; pleasant, charming

Term
Forthright
Definition
direct; straightforward; frank
Term
impecunious
Definition
being habitually without money; poor
Term
Jaundiced
Definition

1. of unhealthy yellow appearance

2. affected by jealousy, resentment, or hostility

Term
Mercenary
Definition

1. Serving merely for money or gain; greedy

2. a soldier who fights for whoever pays him

Term
Notorious
Definition
well known for a particular quality or trait, often an unfavorable one
Term
Oust
Definition
To eject from a position or place; to drive out of use
Term
Parsimonious
Definition
excessively sparing or frugal; penurious
Term
Pejorative
Definition
Having negative or unpleasant associations; belittling
Term
Precept
Definition
a general principle or rule of action
Term
Bereft
Definition
deprived of or lacking something that is wanted or needed
Term
criterion
Definition
a standard or rule by which something is judged or criticized
Term
Deride
Definition
To laugh at in scorn or contempt; to ridicule
Term
Effrontery
Definition
a boldness that is offensive because of its lack of tact; audacity
Term
Espouse
Definition
To advocate or embace, especially a cause or idea
Term
Hypocrisy
Definition
The practice of pretending to believe or value things or ideas that one does not; falseness
Term
Impending
Definition
about to occur; imminent
Term
Incensed
Definition
filled with wrath; enraged
Term
Pertinent
Definition
relating to the matter at hand; relevant
Term
Promulgate
Definition
to proclaim or make known
Term
Proscribe
Definition
to forbid as harmful; to prohibit
Term
Redress
Definition

1. to correct or compensate for a wrong

2. something that makes up for a wrong

Term
Regime
Definition
a form of rule or government
Term
Retribution
Definition
something given in repayment, especially punishment; recompense
Term
Substantiate
Definition
to verify or confirm by presenting evidence
Term
Aegis
Definition
protection; sponsorship
Term
Bauble
Definition
a showy, ornamnetal object with little practical use; a trinket
Term
Complaisant
Definition
Willing to please; agreeable
Term
Consolidate
Definition

1. To join together; to unite

2. To strengthen or make firm

Term
Depredation
Definition
The act of plundering or destroying; also the loss or damage that results
Term
Epiphany
Definition
a sudden understanding of the meaning, essence, or reality of something
Term
Moratorium
Definition
a waiting period or temporary ban on activity
Term
Pendulous
Definition
hanging loosely or swinging freely
Term
Portend
Definition
to be a sign of; to indicate what will happen
Term
Pragmatic
Definition
concerned with practical solutions rather than abstract theory
Term
Reprieve
Definition

1. to delay or suspend punishment

2. a relief or respite, especially when temporary

Term
Stentorian
Definition
extremely loud or powerful sound
Term
Tenure
Definition
The condition of holding property, an office, or a position; also the period during which it is held
Term
Unilateral
Definition
done or carried out by one of two or more parties rather than in concert with others
Term
Viable
Definition

1. capable of living, growing, or developing

2. capable of success; workable

Term
Ambidextrous
Definition
able to use both hands with equal skill
Term
antipathy
Definition
a consistent aversion or dislike
Term
Deleterious
Definition
hurtful; injurious
Term
Excoriate
Definition
to criticize severely; to berate
Term
extrapolate
Definition
to estimate or infer by projecting from or expanding upon known information
Term
Grisly
Definition
horrible to contemplate or look upon; grim and ghastly
Term
Idiosyncrasy
Definition
A peculiar characteristic, habit, or manner that distinguishes a person
Term
Impute
Definition
To assign blame or credit; to attribute or ascribe
Term
Maladroit
Definition
lacking judgment or skill; bungling or clumsy
Term
Negate
Definition

1. To deny or refute the existence or truth of

2. to make ineffective or invalid

Term
Passe
Definition
no longer in fashion; outmoded
Term
Pedagogue
Definition
a teacher of children or youth; sometimes one who is dogmatic or overly formal
Term
Preponderance
Definition
the greater part; superiority in size, importance, or strength
Term
Propound
Definition
to put forward for consideration; to propose
Term
Stance
Definition

1. The way a person stands; the position of a person's feet

2. a position regarding politics or ideas; point of view

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