Advanced V

philistine

smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values

• Jane considered Al completely ______, because he talked almost exclusively about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was.

atavism

a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback

• Much of the modern art movement was an _____ to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America.

objurgate

express strong disapproval of

• The manager spent an hour ______ the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.

embryonic

in an early stage of development

• The Board of Directors is hoping to launch a new product soon, but planning for the Z7 is in an _____ stage.

debonair

having a sophisticated charm

• James Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and _____ manner.

solicitude

a feeling of excessive concern

• I walked to his house in the rain to make sure he had enough to eat while he was sick, but he seemed not to appreciate my _____.

broadside

a strong verbal attack

• Political _____ are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election.

percipient

highly perceptive

• Even the most _____ editor will make an occasional error when proofreading.

ersatz

not real or genuine; phony

• The car dealer's ______ laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated.

antic

ludicrously odd

• The clown's _____ act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears.

epigram

a witty saying

• My favorite _____ from Mark Twain is "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way."

doleful

filled with or evoking sadness

• No event is more _____ than the passing of my mother; she was a shining star in my life, and it brings me great sadness to think that she is now gone.

besotted

strongly affectionate towards

• Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became _____ with the young Romeo.

very drunk

• Never before have I seen my mom so ______, and honestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks so much.

anachronism

something that is inappropriate for the given time period (usually something old).

• Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking _____ .

inchoate

only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

• ______ ideas about the relation of humans to other animals had been discussed since the Middle Ages but the modern theory really began with Darwin.

appurtenant

supplying added support

• In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are _____, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.

pith

the most essential part of something

• When Cynthia hears a speaker presenting a complex argument, she is always able to discard the irrelevant details and extract the ______ of what the speaker is trying to convey.

bemoan

express discontent or a strong regret

• While the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits, after the meeting employees ______ the cuts as further evidence that management was against them.

rapprochement

the reestablishing of cordial relations

• Although Ann hoped that her mother and her aunt would have a ______, each one's bitter accusations against the other made any reconciliation unlikely.

untrammeled

not confined or limited

• The whole notion of living _______ inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

exemplar

something to be imitated

• Lena's homework is on the wall because it is an _____ of clean, neat, and thoughtful work.

disingenuous

not straightforward; giving a false appearance of frankness

• Many adults think that they can lie to children, but kids are smart and know when people are ______.

vitriol

abusive or venomous language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will

• His _____ spewed forth from a deep-seated racism that consumed his whole life.

ineffable

too sacred to be uttered; defying expression or description

• While art critics can occasionally pinpoint a work's greatness, much of why a piece captures our imaginations is completely _____.

truculence

defiant aggressiveness

• When the boss confronted Aaron about his earlier remarks, Aaron responded with utter _____, simply throwing a glass of water in the boss' face and walking away.

languish

become feeble

• Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker _____, eating protein bars and nuts.

arrogate

seize and control without authority

• Arriving at the small town, the outlaw ______ the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.

unprepossessing

creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression

• World leaders coming to meet Gandhi would expect a towering sage, and often would be surprised by the ______ little man dressed only in a loincloth and shawl.

unstinting

very generous

• Helen is _____ with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend.

nettlesome

causing irritation or annoyance

• Maria found her coworker's cell phone _____, because every few minutes it would buzz to life with another text message.

paragon

model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal

• Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still believe that Michael Jordon is the _____ for basketball players.

an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept

• Some say that Athens was the _____ of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote.

baleful

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

• Movies often use storms or rain clouds as a _____ omen of evil events that will soon befall the main character.

chimera

something desired or wished for but is only an illusion and impossible to achieve

• Many believe that a world free of war is a _____—a dream that ignores humanity's violent tendencies.

browbeat

be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner

• During the interrogation, the suspect was ______ into signing a false confession.

effervescent

marked by high spirits or excitement

• After the sales result, the manager was in an ______ mood, letting several employees leave work early that day.

empiricism

any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge

• _____ does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.

gambit

a maneuver or risk in a game or conversation, designed to secure an advantage

• Randy played a ______, telling his boss that he would leave at the end of the week if he didn't get a raise.

chagrin (n)

strong feelings of embarrassment

• Much to the timid writer's _____, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage.

chagrin (v)

cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

• She never cared what others said about her appearance but was _____ by the smallest comment from her mother.

squelch

suppress or crush completely

• After the dictator consolidated his power, he took steps to ______ all criticism, often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime.

brook

put up with something or somebody unpleasant

• While she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not ______ any form of talking--even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention.

reprisal

a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime

• The Old Testament doctrine of "an eye for an eye" would seem to justify an immediate physical ______ for any injury, but that interpretation neglects the many passages that value mercy and loving-kindness over revenge.

phlegmatic

showing little emotion

• Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply _____: he doesn't have the energy or inclination to care about anything.

deign

do something that one considers to be below one's dignity

• The master of the house never _____ to answer questions from the servants.

inanity

total lack of meaning or ideas

• Bill's poem was nothing more than a list of impressive sounding words, so there was no point in trying to take meaning from the _____.

apothegm

a short, pithy instructive saying

• Winston Churchill is famous for many _____, but this might be his most famous: "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

recrudesce

to break out or happen again

• After years of gamblers anonymous, Tony thought he'd broken his compulsive slot machine playing, but it took only one trip to the Atlantic City for a full ______--he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.

artifice

cunning tricks used to deceive others

• The mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of _____ designed to mislead the voting public.

bristle

react in an offended or angry manner

• As we discussed the painting, I noticed the artist's wife ______ at our criticisms, ready to defend her husband's work.

meteoric

like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience

• The early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to ______ stardom, but a terrible injury tragically cut short his career.

hoary

ancient

• Most workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are _____ men with long white beards.