Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards from lecture notes.

Ritual

A formal procedure or tradition (custom, ceremony, rite); relating to rites; ceremonial.

Fluorescent

Glowing (=bright, shining, luminous).

Austerity

Being without excess or luxury (= abstinence, scarcity, restriction).

Displacement

The state of being placed where something doesn't belong (=dislocation, supplanting, shift).

Sparse

Thinly distributed (=thin, meager, scarce).

Demeanor

A person's manner or appearance (= manner, conduct, deportment).

Lavish

Luxurious (=extravagant, profligate, excessive).

Depict

To describe (= portray, show, illustrate).

Sophisticated

Reflecting educated taste (= urbane, classy, cultured).

Correlation

Association (= connection, relationship, link).

Telltale

Revealing what was not intended to reveal (=revealing, betraying, informative).

Progenitor

Ancestor (= forerunner, forebear, antecedent).

Vex

To irritate (irritate, annoy, displease).

Endorse

To give support to (support, back, favor).

Empirical

Proven from experience or experiment (experimental, observed, first-hand).

Conjectural

Hypothetical (academic, imaginary, abstract).

Impervious

Not influenced by (unreceptive, unwavering, adamant).

Stride

A long step in walking (step, walk, pace).

Prescribe

To order the use of medicine or treatment (= recommend, suggest, order).

Commendable

Praiseworthy (admirable, worthy, laudable).

Fluctuate

To rise and fall (vary, swing, waver).

Indignation

Righteous anger (= anger, resentment, outrage).

Prevail

To achieve victory (= triumph, conquer, win).

Abandon

To leave completely and finally (= desert, leave, forsake).

Thrive

To flourish (=prosper, succeed, boom).

Stiffen

To become stiff (= harden, toughen, solidify).

Vascular

Composed of vessels that convey fluids such as blood or sap.

Dwell

To live (= reside, live, stay).

Pummel

To hit hard (= beat, thump, pound).

Impede

To get in the way of (= obstruct, hinder, hamper).

Allude

To refer to casually or indirectly (= refer, mention, indicate).

Reconcile

To bring opposing parties into harmony (= settle, reunite, resolve).

Tyranny

Oppressive authority (=despotism, oppression, dictatorship, autocracy).

Consolidate

To combine different pieces into one (= combine, unite, merge).

Solicitude

Anxiety (= concern, sorry, unease).

Tumult

Huge upheaval (= uproar, commotion, clamor).

Tranquil

To be peaceful (= calm, serene, relaxing).

Notwithstanding

Nevertheless (= despite, although, nonetheless).

Inflammatory

Tending to arouse anger (= provocative, seditious, stirring).

Perilous

Very dangerous (= hazardous, unsafe, risk).

Procure

To obtain (= acquire, get, buy).

Trait

A characteristic (= mannerism, peculiarity, feature).

Forestall

To block from happening (=prevent, preclude, avert).

Sly

Cunning (= crafty, clever, artful).

Pessimistic

Expecting the worst in situations (= negative, cynical, distrustful).

Cast

To throw (=hurl, pitch, toss).

Provoke

To give rise to (= cause, trigger, elicit).

Wayward

Badly behaved (naughty, unruly, disobedient).

Lurk

To lie in wait in a hidden place (=prowl, loiter, skulk).

Realm

An area where one dominates (=kingdom, dominion, territory).

Upheaval

A strong or violent change (in society) (= disturbance, turmoil, disorder).