Curious English Words

Vocabulary flashcards created from the Curious English words lecture notes.

Insipid

Lacking flavor, vigor, or interest.

Disseminate

To spread or disperse widely, especially information or knowledge.

Oblique

Neither parallel nor at a right angle; slanting, indirect, or evasive.

Eschew

To deliberately avoid using or abstain from.

Perversely

In a manner showing a deliberate desire to behave in an unreasonable or contrary way.

Askew

Not in a straight or level position; crooked or awry.

Flux

Continuous change, motion, or flow.

Arid

Extremely dry or lacking in interest, excitement, or meaning.

Disdain

The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt.

Acquiesce

To accept something reluctantly but without protest.

Serendipity

The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

Quaint

Attractively unusual or old-fashioned.

Probity

The quality of having strong moral principles, honesty, and decency.

Albeit

Although or even though.

tecato gusano

A phrase listed in notes combining 'tecato' (slang for drug addict) and 'gusano' (worm).

Cliquey

Tending to form or remain in exclusive, narrow groups.

Veritable

Used as an intensifier to qualify a metaphor, meaning real or genuine.

Poignant

Evoking a keen sense of sadness, regret, or deep emotion.

Perfunctory

Carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection; superficial.

Propitiate

To win or regain the favor of a god, spirit, or person by doing something pleasing.

Attrition

The process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained pressure.

Effete

Lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out, depleted, or overly refined.

equanimity

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.

Triage

The preliminary assessment and prioritization of patients or problems based on urgency.

Riveting

Completely engrossing, compelling, or fascinating.

Complacent

Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.

Afflatus

A divine imparting of knowledge or a sudden surge of creative inspiration.

Trite

Overused and consequently lacking originality or freshness.

Rapt

Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.

Debacle

A sudden and ignominious failure or fiasco; a disaster.

Augur

To portend or predict a good or bad outcome from signs or omens.

Quandary

A state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.

Detente

The easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between political entities.

Paucity

The presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity.

Ashen

Very pale, especially from shock, fear, or illness; also, the color of ash

Snafu

A chaotic or confused situation, typically caused by mistakes

Dour

Relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance

Flatulence

pretentious speech or writing that is ultimately empty of real substance

Shudder

To shake or tremble involuntarily, typically as a result of fear, cold, revulsion, or strong emotion

Duress

Compulsion, restraint, or coercion exercised through violence, threats, or unlawful pressure to force someone to act against their will

Puerile

Childishly silly, trivial, or immature in behavior or judgment

Digress

To temporarily turn aside or stray from the main topic or argument in speaking or writing

Picayune

Petty, trivial, or of very little value or importance

Equivocationary

Characterized by or leaning toward equivocation; deliberately ambiguous, vague, or misleading in tone or expression

Fray

A chaotic fight, brawl, or intense competition/debate