Vocabulary Lecture Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards based on the detailed lecture notes transcript.

abate

to become less intense or widespread

abdicate

to renounce one’s throne or power

aberrant

departing from an accepted standard

abhor

to regard with disgust and hatred

abjure

to renounce formally a belief or claim

abnegate

to renounce or give up something valued

abrogate

to repeal or do away with formally

abscond

to leave hurriedly and secretly

abstruse

difficult to understand; obscure

accost

to approach and speak to someone boldly

acerbic

sharp and forthright, especially in speech or manner

acrimonious

angry and bitter in speech or tone

adulation

excessive praise or admiration

affable

friendly and easy to talk to

alacrity

cheerful readiness or eagerness

altruistic

showing a disinterested and selfless concern for others

ameliorate

to make something better or improve

amenable

open and responsive to suggestion

amorphous

lacking a clear structure or form

anathema

something or someone greatly disliked

anomaly

something that deviates from normal

antipathy

a deep-seated feeling of dislike

apathy

lack of interest or concern

appease

to calm or satisfy someone

arcane

understood by few; mysterious

ardent

enthusiastic or passionate

articulate

able to express ideas clearly and effectively

ascetic

practicing severe self-discipline

asperity

harshness of tone or manner

assiduous

showing great care and perseverance

astute

having an ability to accurately assess situations

audacious

showing a willingness to take bold risks

Augment

add to

Augment

increase or enhance something

auspicious

conducive to success; favorable

austere

severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

avaricious

having or showing extreme greed for wealth

banal

lacking originality or freshness

beguile

to charm or enchant deceptively

bellicose

demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight

benevolent

well meaning and kindly

benign

gentle and kind

blithe

showing a casual and cheerful indifference

boisterous

noisy, energetic, and cheerful

bombastic

high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated

brazen

bold and without shame

brevity

concise and exact use of words

brusque

abrupt or blunt in manner

bucolic

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside

cajole

to persuade with flattery or gentle urging

callous

showing or having an insensitive disregard for others

candor

the quality of being open and honest

capitulate

to surrender or give up resistance

capricious

given to sudden changes of mood or behavior

caustic

able to burn or corrode

caustic

sarcastic and bitter

charlatan

a fraud; a person falsely claiming expertise

chicanery

the use of trickery to achieve a purpose

clandestine

kept secret or done secretly, especially for illicit purposes

clemency

mercy or leniency

Coalesce

come together

Coalesce

unite to form one group or idea

cogent

clear, logical, and convincing

commensurate

corresponding in size or degree

complacent

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself

conciliatory

intended to make peace or reduce hostility

condescend

to show feelings of superiority

confluence

the junction of two things

confluence

merging

conjecture

an opinion based on incomplete information

consensus

general agreement

contrite

feeling remorse or guilt

conundrum

a confusing and difficult problem or question

Conventional

traditional way

Conventional

normal or commonly accepted practice

convoluted

extremely complex and difficult to follow

copious

abundant in supply or quantity

credulous

having or showing too great a readiness to believe things

cryptic

having a mysterious or obscure meaning

cursory

hasty and not thorough

dearth

a scarcity or lack of something

debacle

a sudden and humiliating failure

decorous

keeping with good taste and propriety

decorum

behavior in keeping with good taste

deference

humble submission and respect

deleterious

causing harm or damage

delineate

to describe precisely

demure

reserved, modest, and shy

deride

to mock or ridicule

despot

a ruler with absolute power

didactic

intended to teach, often with a moral instruction

diffident

modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence

dilatory

slow to act; causing delay

disingenuous

not candid or sincere

disparage

to belittle or speak poorly of

Disperse

spread out

Disperse

scatter in different directions

disseminate

to spread widely

dogmatic

stubbornly asserting opinions as fact

dubious

doubtful or uncertain