Hidden Figures Vocabulary Flashcards

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes on Margot Shetterly's 'Hidden Figures', including definitions for terms ranging from 'audacious' to 'umbrage'.

audacious

very bold or adventurous

egress

the action of going out of or leaving a place

volatile

likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly, especially by getting worse

predilection

a particular liking for something

lucrative

producing a lot of money

credentials

a document showing evidence of certain stated facts

circumvent

to find a way around

disseminate

spread or disperse widely

accolade

an award granted as a special honour

coalesce

come together to form one mass or whole

precocious

having the skills or knowledge of a much older person

corroborate

to give evidence for

onerous

very difficult to deal with or do

anachronism

something that doesn't fit its time period

erudite

having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned

arcane

of a secret or mysterious nature

assiduously

actively, or with great endeavor or resolve

foray

a new venture

contentious

inclined to argue

innate

belonging to or existing in someone or some organism from the time of birth

clandestine

planned or occurring in a secret or surreptitious manner

prowess

a superior skill learned by study and practice

simulation

using a computer to model the state and behaviour of real- world (or imaginary) systems, including physical and social systems; an integral part of most computer games

eschew

to deliberately avoid doing something or becoming involved in something

impetus

something that makes a process or activity happen or happen more quickly

subjugation

the action of bringing someone or something under domination or control

ineffable

too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words

trajectory

the path followed by something flying through the air

extrapolate

to use past experience or known data to predict something

oscillation

regular variation in magnitude or position about a central point, especially of an electric current or voltage

squander

waste something, especially money or time, in a reckless and foolish manner

incipient

in an early stage of development

rarefied

belonging to a relatively small or select group

chutzpah

sheer audacity or gutsiness; utter nerve

magnate

a wealthy and influential businessperson

machination

a clever scheme usually crafted for evil purposes

upbraid

to criticise or reproach severely

apotheosis

the apex or pinnacle of something

esoteric

understood by only a select few with specialised knowledge or interest

innocuous

harmless and unlikely to cause any harm

pragmatic

dealing with things in a practical and sensible way

unflappable

calm and composed even in stressful situations

phalanx

a closely united group or formation

shibboleth

a phrase or custom identifying a particular group

intransigent

unwilling or refusing to change ones views

synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part represents the whole or vice versa

simulacrum

an image or representation of someone or something

attenuate

to weaken, reduce, or make thinner

nexus

a connection or link between things

antithetical

directly opposed or opposite

argot

the special words or slang of a group

circumscribe

to limit or restrict

elucidate

to make something clear

gambit

a move or plan to gain advantage

impugn

to call into question or attack as false

inchoate

just begun, not fully formed

inextricably

impossible to separate

sylvan

related to the woods or forest

umbrage

offence or annoyance