Outliers Page 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering Page 1 Outliers terms and definitions.

abstruse

difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge

antecedent

preceding in time or order; the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause referred to by an anaphoric pronoun; a preceding occurrence or cause or event; anything that precedes something similar in time; someone from whom you are descended (usually more remote than a grandparent)

brevity

the attribute of being brief or fleeting; the use of brief expressions

cognitive

of or relating to cognition

cohort

a group of people having approximately the same age; a company of companions or supporters; a group of people

concubine

a woman who cohabits with an important man

confederate

adj. of or having to do with the southern Confederacy during the American Civil War; united in a confederacy or league; noun someone who assists in a plot; a supporter of the Confederate States of America; a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan (especially an unethical or illegal plan); verb form a confederation with; of nations; form a group or unite

consequence

having important effects or influence; the outcome of an event especially as relative to an individual; a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

consequential

having important issues or results

credentials

a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts

crucible

a vessel made of material that does not melt easily; used for high temperature chemical reactions; a severe test; a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development

daunting

discouraging through fear

egalitarian

favoring social equality; a person who believes in the equality of all people

ethos

the distinctive spirit of a culture or an era

fetish

excessive or irrational devotion to some activity; a form of sexual desire in which gratification depends to an abnormal degree on some object or item of clothing or part of the body; a charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers

flounder

noun: any of various European and non-European marine flatfish; flesh of any of various American and European flatfish; verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties; walk with great difficulty

fundamental

being or relating to basic facts or principles; far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something; serving as an essential component; noun the lowest tone of a harmonic series

idealist

someone guided more by ideals than by practical considerations

imperious

able to deal authoritatively with affairs

indelible

cannot be removed, washed away or erased

inquisitive

showing curiosity; inquiring or appearing to inquire

libidinous

driven by lust; preoccupied with or exhibiting lustful desires

meritocracy

the belief that rulers should be chosen for their superior abilities and not because of their wealth or birth; a form of social system in which power goes to those with superior intellects

miscegenation

reproduction by parents of different races (especially by white and non-white persons)

mitigate

make less severe or harsh; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of

nonchalant

marked by blithe unconcern

paradigm

the generally accepted perspective of a particular discipline at a given time; a standard or typical example; the class of all items that can be substituted into the same position (or slot) in a grammatical sentence (are in paradigmatic relation with one another)

progeny

the immediate descendants of a person

purported

commonly put forth or accepted as true on inconclusive grounds

savvy

having practical knowledge or understanding; to get the meaning of something

submissive

inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination; abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant

subsistence

minimal (or marginal) resources for subsisting; the state of existing in reality; having substance; a means of surviving

subversive

in opposition to a civil authority or government; a radical supporter of political or social revolution

threshold

the smallest detectable sensation; the starting point for a new state or experience; the sill of a door; the entrance through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close; a region marking a boundary

WASP

the insect wasp (Hymenoptera); or a white person of Anglo-Saxon ancestry who belongs to a Protestant denomination