Vocabulary Flashcards from Lecture Notes_middle

Vocabulary flashcards created from lecture notes to aid in exam preparation.

discreet

(adj) careful and circumspect, especially in speech or action.

sporadic

(adj) occurring irregularly or in scattered instances.

ephemeral

(adj) lasting for a very short time.

hazardous

(adj) dangerous or risky.

precarious

(adj) not securely held in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

poised

(adj) having a composed and self-assured demeanor.

hazy

(adj) characterized by the presence of haze; unclear.

rationale

(n) the underlying reason or explanation for something.

ample

(adj) enough or more than enough; abundant.

copious

(adj) abundant in supply or quantity.

deficient

(adj) lacking or not having enough of something.

bloodshed

(n) the killing or wounding of people, usually in large numbers.

rational

(adj) based on reason or logic.

irrational

(adj) not logical or reasonable.

hideous

(adj) extremely ugly or disfigured.

profuse

(adj) exuberantly abundant; given or done freely.

evasive

(adj) tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly.

perplex

(v) to confuse or bewilder someone.

confound

(v) to cause surprise or confusion.

spurious

(adj) not being what it purports to be; false or fake.

pliable

(adj) easily bent or flexible.

unyielding

(adj) not giving way under pressure; firm.

aloof

(adj) not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.

biased

(adj) unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something.

unbiased

(adj) showing no prejudice for or against something; impartial.

phlegmatic

(adj) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.

stoic

(n) a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining.

partial

(adj) favoring one side over another; biased.

callous

(adj) showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.

robust

(adj) strong and healthy; vigorous.

to be in the pink

(adj) to be in good health.

chipper

(adj) cheerful and lively.

ancestral

(adj) relating to or inherited from one's ancestors.

therapeutic

(adj) having a healing effect; curative.

lenient

(adj) more merciful or tolerant than strict.

lax

(adj) not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful.

truce

(n) an agreement between enemies or opponents to stop fighting for a certain time.

indefinitely

(adv) for an unlimited or unspecified period of time.

luster

(n) a gentle sheen or soft glow.

incandescence

(n) light produced by a hot object.

luminous

(adj) full of light; bright or shining.

luminosity

(n) the intrinsic brightness of a celestial object.

conviction

(n) a firmly held belief or opinion.

pragmatism

(n) a practical approach to problems or affairs.

pragmatic

(adj) dealing with things sensibly and realistically.

concurrent

(adj) existing, happening, or done at the same time.

aftermath

(n) the consequences or aftereffects of a significant event.

plausible

(adj) seeming reasonable or probable.

bilingual

(adj) able to speak two languages fluently.

prior to

(ph.) before (a specified time).

resistant

(adj) not affected by something.

luxurious

(adj) extremely comfortable or elegant.

ostentatious

(adj) characterized by vulgar or pretentious display.

flourish

(v) to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way.

conspicuous

(adj) standing out so as to be clearly visible.

evident

(adj) plain or obvious.

vague

(adj) not clear in meaning.

open-and-shut

(adj) straightforward and simple.

capricious

(adj) given to sudden changes of mood or behavior.

pioneering

(adj) involving new ideas or methods.

pioneer

(n) a person who is one of the first to explore or settle a new country or area.

avant-garde

(adj) favoring or introducing experimental or unusual ideas.

initial

(adj) existing or occurring at the beginning.

trailblazing

(adj) using new ideas or methods; innovative.

ambivalent

(adj) having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas.

ambivalence

(n) the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas.

bashful

(adj) reluctant to draw attention to oneself; shy.

conceited

(adj) excessively proud of oneself.

haughty

(adj) arrogantly superior.

cryptic

(adj) having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.

egoistic

(adj) relating to or characterized by self-centeredness.

meek

(adj) quiet, gentle, and submissive.

reticent

(adj) not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.

contemptuous

(adj) showing contempt; scornful.

assuming

(adj) presumptuous; arrogant.

arrogant

(adj) having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance.

compelling

(adj) evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.

at random

(ph.) without a specific method or specific plan.

propagate

(v) to breed specimens of a plant or animal.

emerge

(v) to move out of or away from something and become visible.

dormant

(adj) having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down for a period of time.

inactive

(adj) not active.

to preserve

(v) to maintain in its original or existing state.

supplement

(n) something that completes or enhances something else.

supplementary

(adj) added to something else to make it complete.

extensive

(adj) covering or affecting a large area.

steep

(adj) rising or falling sharply.

allegedly

(adv) used to convey that something is claimed to be the case or have taken place.

contract

(n) a written or spoken agreement.

to pacify

(v) to bring peace to or calm someone.

comes to a halt

(n) the stopping of something.

penchant

(n) a strong or habitual liking for something.

inundate

(v) to flood.

misconception

(n) a view or opinion that is incorrect.

modify

(v) to change something.

swift

(adj) happening quickly.

ambidexterity

(n) the ability to use the right and left hands equally well.

gigantic

(adj) of very great size or extent.

domestic

(adj) relating to the running of a home or to family relations.

timid

(adj) showing a lack of courage or confidence.