Charles Harrington Elster 13

7/29/2019 Charles Harrington Elster 13

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Charles Harrington Elster - Verbal Advantage(Disc 13)

LegerdemainPuerileComplicityTransmuteAbstruse

edify | ed f| verb ( edifies, edifying, edified ) [ with obj. ]formal

instruct or improve (someone) morally orintellectually.

edifyverbformal students who have no desire to be edifiedshould leave my classroom and take up thumb-

twiddling: educate, instruct, teach, school, tutor,

train, guide; enlighten, inform, cultivate, develop,improve, better.

supercilious | soopr sils| adjectivebehaving or looking as though one thinks one issuperior to others: a supercilious lady's maid.

superciliousadjective

a supercilious young clerk: arrogant, haughty,conceited, disdainful, overbearing, pompous,condescending, superior, patronizing, imperious,proud, snobbish, snobby, smug, scornful, sneering;

informal hoity-toity, high and mighty, uppity, snooty,


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stuck-up, snotty, snot-nosed, jumped up, too bigfor one's britches.

dissemble |di sembl|verb [ no obj. ]

conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs: anhonest, sincere person with no need todissemble.VacuousCapacious

dissembleverbshe's being honest and has no need to dissemble:

dissimulate, pretend, feign, act, masquerade,sham, fake, bluff, posture, hide one's feelings, puton a false front.

vacuous | vakyws|

Expressive of contemptcurledhislipin asupercilioussmile

= sneering, snide

uncomplimentary

Having or showingarrogantsuperiority to and disdainof thoseoneviews asunworthy

hismothereyedmyclotheswithasuperciliousair

= disdainful,haughty,imperious,lordly, overbearing,prideful, sniffy, swaggering

proud

Make believewith the intent to deceive

= affect,feign, pretend, sham

~ belie,misrepresent

bull, fake, mouth, play possum, take a dive, talk through one's hat

Hideunder a falseappearanceHedissembledhisdisappointment

= cloak, mask

~ disguise, mask
http://ww//smilehttp://ww//uncomplimentaryhttp://ww//Havinghttp://ww//showinghttp://ww//arroganthttp://ww//superiorityhttp://ww//superiorityhttp://ww//disdainhttp://ww//disdainhttp://ww//thosehttp://ww//onehttp://ww//onehttp://ww//onehttp://ww//views%20ashttp://ww//views%20ashttp://ww//unworthyhttp://ww//unworthyhttp://ww//hishttp://ww//hishttp://ww//motherhttp://ww//eyedhttp://ww//eyedhttp://ww//clotheshttp://ww//clotheshttp://ww//withhttp://ww//supercilioushttp://ww//supercilioushttp://ww//airhttp://ww//disdainfulhttp://ww//disdainfulhttp://ww//haughtyhttp://ww//haughtyhttp://ww//haughtyhttp://ww//imperioushttp://ww//imperioushttp://ww//imperioushttp://ww//lordlyhttp://ww//lordlyhttp://ww//overbearinghttp://ww//overbearinghttp://ww//pridefulhttp://ww//pridefulhttp://ww//sniffyhttp://ww//swaggeringhttp://ww//proudhttp://ww//Make%20believehttp://ww//withhttp://ww//intenthttp://ww//deceivehttp://ww//affecthttp://ww//feignhttp://ww//feignhttp://ww//pretendhttp://ww//shamhttp://ww//beliehttp://ww//misrepresenthttp://ww//misrepresenthttp://ww//bullhttp://ww//fakehttp://ww//mouthhttp://ww//play%20possumhttp://ww//take%20a%20divehttp://ww//talk%20through%20one's%20hathttp://ww//Hidehttp://ww//underhttp://ww//falsehttp://ww//appearancehttp://ww//appearancehttp://ww//dissembledhttp://ww//hishttp://ww//disappointmenthttp://ww//cloakhttp://ww//maskhttp://ww//disguisehttp://ww//maskhttp://ww//showinghttp://ww//arroganthttp://ww//superiorityhttp://ww//disdainhttp://ww//thosehttp://ww//onehttp://ww//views%20ashttp://ww//unworthyhttp://ww//hishttp://ww//motherhttp://ww//eyedhttp://ww//clotheshttp://ww//withhttp://ww//supercilioushttp://ww//airhttp://ww//disdainfulhttp://ww//haughtyhttp://ww//imperioushttp://ww//lordlyhttp://ww//overbearinghttp://ww//pridefulhttp://ww//sniffyhttp://ww//swaggeringhttp://ww//proudhttp://ww//smilehttp://ww//uncomplimentaryhttp://ww//Make%20believehttp://ww//withhttp://ww//intenthttp://ww//deceivehttp://ww//affecthttp://ww//feignhttp://ww//pretendhttp://ww//shamhttp://ww//beliehttp://ww//misrepresenthttp://ww//bullhttp://ww//fakehttp://ww//mouthhttp://ww//play%20possumhttp://ww//take%20a%20divehttp://ww//talk%20through%20one's%20hathttp://ww//Hidehttp://ww//underhttp://ww//falsehttp://ww//appearancehttp://ww//dissembledhttp://ww//hishttp://ww//disappointmenthttp://ww//cloakhttp://ww//maskhttp://ww//disguisehttp://ww//maskhttp://ww//acthttp://ww//pretendhttp://ww//assumehttp://ww//feignhttp://ww//shamhttp://ww//simulatehttp://ww//Having


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adjectivehaving or showing a lack of thought or intelligence;mindless: a vacuous smile | vacuous slogans. archaic empty.

vacuousadjective

that vacuous laugh of his drives me nuts: silly,inane, unintelligent, insipid, foolish, stupid,fatuous, idiotic, brainless, witless, vapid, vacant,empty-headed; informal dumb, moronic, brain-dead,fluffy, fluffball. ANTONYMS intelligent.

capacious |k pSHs|adjectivehaving a lot of space inside; roomy: she rummagedin her capacious handbag.

capaciousadjective

a capacious hotel suite: roomy, spacious, ample,big, large, sizable, generous; formal commodious.

Showing a lack of intelligence or thought;stupid and silly Itwasinthislast

categorythatthevacuouscommentsbegan

= asinine, fatuous, inane, mindless

daft, dumb, foolish, stupid

Withoutvalue, significance or pointvacuouscomments

= empty, hollow meaningless, nonmeaningful

Devoid of matter avacuousspace

empty
http://ww//incommunicativehttp://ww//uncommunicativehttp://ww//uncommunicativehttp://ww//uncommunicativehttp://ww//Showinghttp://ww//lackhttp://ww//intelligencehttp://ww//thoughthttp://ww//stupidhttp://ww//stupidhttp://ww//sillyhttp://ww//washttp://ww//thishttp://ww//thishttp://ww//lasthttp://ww//categoryhttp://ww//thathttp://ww//vacuoushttp://ww//commentshttp://ww//beganhttp://ww//asininehttp://ww//fatuoushttp://ww//inanehttp://ww//mindlesshttp://ww//dafthttp://ww//dumbhttp://ww//foolishhttp://ww//stupidhttp://ww//Withouthttp://ww//valuehttp://ww//significancehttp://ww//pointhttp://ww//vacuoushttp://ww//commentshttp://ww//emptyhttp://ww//hollowhttp://ww//meaninglesshttp://ww//nonmeaningfulhttp://ww//Devoidhttp://ww//matterhttp://ww//vacuoushttp://ww//spacehttp://ww//emptyhttp://ww//Showinghttp://ww//lackhttp://ww//intelligencehttp://ww//thoughthttp://ww//stupidhttp://ww//sillyhttp://ww//washttp://ww//thishttp://ww//lasthttp://ww//categoryhttp://ww//thathttp://ww//vacuoushttp://ww//commentshttp://ww//beganhttp://ww//asininehttp://ww//fatuoushttp://ww//inanehttp://ww//mindlesshttp://ww//dafthttp://ww//dumbhttp://ww//foolishhttp://ww//stupidhttp://ww//Withouthttp://ww//valuehttp://ww//significancehttp://ww//pointhttp://ww//vacuoushttp://ww//commentshttp://ww//emptyhttp://ww//hollowhttp://ww//meaninglesshttp://ww//nonmeaningfulhttp://ww//Devoidhttp://ww//matterhttp://ww//vacuoushttp://ww//spacehttp://ww//emptyhttp://ww//blankhttp://ww//incommunicativehttp://ww//uncommunicative


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ANTONYMS cramped, small.

mnemonic |n mnik|nouna device such as a pattern of letters, ideas, orassociations that assists in rememberingsomething.adjectiveaiding or designed to aid the memory. of or relating to the power of memory.

sonorous | snrs|adjective(of a person's voice or other sound) imposinglydeep and full. capable of producing a deep or ringing sound:the alloy is sonorous and useful in making bells. (of a speech or style) using imposing language:they had expected the lawyers to deliver sonorouslamentations.

sonorousadjective

1 a sonorous voice: resonant, rich, full, round,booming, deep, clear, mellow, orotund, fruity,strong, resounding, reverberant.

2 sonorous words of condemnation: impressive,imposing, grandiloquent, magniloquent, high-

flown, lofty, orotund, bombastic, grandiose,pompous, pretentious, overblown, turgid;

Large in capacityshecarriedacapaciousbag

big, large
http://ww//Largehttp://ww//capacityhttp://ww//shehttp://ww//shehttp://ww//carriedhttp://ww//capacioushttp://ww//baghttp://ww//bighttp://ww//largehttp://ww//Largehttp://ww//capacityhttp://ww//shehttp://ww//carriedhttp://ww//capacioushttp://ww//baghttp://ww//bighttp://ww//large


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oratorical, rhetorical; informal highfalutin.

commensurate |k mensrt, - menSH-| adjectivecorresponding in size or degree; in proportion:salary will be commensurate with experience |such heavy responsibility must receivecommensurate rewardIncessant.

commensurate

adjective1 they had privileges but commensurate duties:

equivalent, equal, corresponding, correspondent,comparable, proportionate, proportional.2 a salarycommensurate withyour

qualifications: appropriate to, in keeping with, inline with, consistent with, corresponding to,according to, relative to; dependent on, based on.

incessant |in sesnt|adjective(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuingwithout pause or interruption: the incessant beatof the music.

incessantadjective

their dog's incessant barking: ceaseless,unceasing, constant, continual, unabating,interminable, endless, unending, never-ending,everlasting, eternal, perpetual, continuous,nonstop, around/round-the-clock, uninterrupted,

unbroken, unremitting, persistent, relentless,unrelenting, unrelieved, sustained. ANTONYMS


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intermittent, occasional.

sycophant | sikfnt, - fant|

nouna person who acts obsequiously toward someoneimportant in order to gain advantage.

sycophantnounI thought you wanted a competent assistant, not a

nodding sycophant: yes-man, bootlicker, brown-noser, toady, lickspittle, flatterer, flunky, lackey,spaniel, doormat, stooge, cringer, suck, suck-up.

tangential |tan jenCHl|adjectiveof, relating to, or along a tangent: a tangential line. diverging from a previous course or line; erratic:

tangential thoughts. hardly touching a matter; peripheral: the reformswere tangential to efforts to maintain a basic

standard of life.

tenable | tenbl|adjective

1 able to be maintained or defended against attack

Of superficialrelevance if any atangentialremark

= digressive

beside the point, irrelevant

Of or relating to or actingalong or in the direction of a tangenttangential
http://ww//forceshttp://ww//superficialhttp://ww//relevancehttp://ww//anyhttp://ww//tangentialhttp://ww//tangentialhttp://ww//remarkhttp://ww//digressivehttp://ww//beside%20the%20pointhttp://ww//irrelevanthttp://ww//relatinghttp://ww//actinghttp://ww//alonghttp://ww//directionhttp://ww//tangenthttp://ww//tangentialhttp://ww//superficialhttp://ww//relevancehttp://ww//anyhttp://ww//tangentialhttp://ww//remarkhttp://ww//digressivehttp://ww//beside%20the%20pointhttp://ww//irrelevanthttp://ww//relatinghttp://ww//actinghttp://ww//alonghttp://ww//directionhttp://ww//tangenthttp://ww//tangentialhttp://ww//forces


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or objection: such a simplistic approach is nolonger tenable.2 (of an office, position, scholarship, etc.) able tobe held or used: the post is tenable for three years.

tenableadjectiveO'Leary's confession has certainly made Cohn's

alibi more tenable: defensible,justifiable,supportable, sustainable, arguable, able to holdwater, reasonable, sensible, rational, sound, viable,

plausible, credible, believable, conceivable.ANTONYMS indefensible.

impalpable |im palpbl|adjectiveunable to be felt by touch: an impalpable ghost. not easily comprehended: something soimpalpable as personhood.

impalpableadjectivehis skin was sallow and his pulse impalpable |

impalpable clouds: intangible, insubstantial,incorporeal, immaterial; indefinable, elusive,

imperceptible, indescribable.

Incapable of beingperceived by the sensesespecially the sense of touch the

impalpableconstituentofenergy

= intangible

abstract

Imperceptible to the senses or the mind animpalpablecloud asimpalpableas a

dreamimpalpabledistinctionsimpalpableshadows

elusive,imperceptible, subtle, unperceivable

palpable
http://ww//Incapablehttp://ww//beinghttp://ww//perceivedhttp://ww//senseshttp://ww//especiallyhttp://ww//sense%20of%20touchhttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//constituenthttp://ww//energyhttp://ww//intangiblehttp://ww//abstracthttp://ww//Imperceptiblehttp://ww//senseshttp://ww//mindhttp://ww//mindhttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//cloudhttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//dreamhttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//distinctionshttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//shadowshttp://ww//elusivehttp://ww//imperceptiblehttp://ww//imperceptiblehttp://ww//subtlehttp://ww//unperceivablehttp://ww//palpablehttp://ww//Incapablehttp://ww//beinghttp://ww//perceivedhttp://ww//senseshttp://ww//especiallyhttp://ww//sense%20of%20touchhttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//constituenthttp://ww//energyhttp://ww//intangiblehttp://ww//abstracthttp://ww//Imperceptiblehttp://ww//senseshttp://ww//mindhttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//cloudhttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//dreamhttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//distinctionshttp://ww//impalpablehttp://ww//shadowshttp://ww//elusivehttp://ww//imperceptiblehttp://ww//subtlehttp://ww//unperceivablehttp://ww//palpable


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odious | ds|adjectiveextremely unpleasant; repulsive.

odiousadjectivethe odious procedures of the military government|the dumpsite was especially odious in summer:

revolting, repulsive, repellent, repugnant,

disgusting, offensive, objectionable, vile, foul,abhorrent, loathsome, nauseating, sickening,hateful, detestable, execrable, abominable,monstrous, appalling, reprehensible, deplorable,insufferable, intolerable, despicable, contemptible,unspeakable, atrocious, awful, terrible, dreadful,frightful, obnoxious, unsavory, unpalatable,unpleasant, disagreeable, nasty, noisome,

distasteful; informal ghastly, horrible, horrid, gross,godawful; beastly. ANTONYMS delightful, pleasant.

ubiquitous |yoo bikwts|adjectivepresent, appearing, or found everywhere: hisubiquitous influence was felt by all the family|

cowboy hats are ubiquitous among the malesingers.

ubiquitousadjectiveafter WWII, television became almost ubiquitous in

the United States: omnipresent, ever-present,

everywhere, all over the place, pervasive,universal, worldwide, global; rife, prevalent, far-
http://ww//imperceptiblehttp://ww//unperceivable


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reaching, inescapable. ANTONYMS rare.

ruminate | room nt| verb [ no obj. ]1 think deeply about something: we satruminating on the nature of existence.2 (of a ruminant) chew the cud.

ruminateverb

we ruminated on the nature of existence: thinkabout, contemplate, consider, meditate on, museon, mull over, ponder on/over, deliberate about/on,chew on, puzzle over; formal cogitate about.

remuneration |ri myoon rSHn| nounmoney paid for work or a service.

remunerationnoun

you will receive adequate remuneration for the

work you have done: payment, pay, salary,wages; earnings, fee(s), reward, compensation,recompense, reimbursement; formal emolument(s).

peccadillo | pek dil| noun ( pl. peccadilloes or peccadillos )a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin.

peccadillo

nounI'm sure we can overlook a few peccadilloes:


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misdemeanor, petty offense, indiscretion, lapse,misdeed.

supine | soo pn| adjective1 (of a person) lying face upward. technical having the front or ventral part upward. (of the hand) with the palm upward.2 failing to act or protest as a result of moralweakness or indolence: supine in the face of racial

injustice.

supineadjective

1 she lay supine on the sand: flat on one'sback, face upward, facing upward, flat, horizontal,recumbent, stretched out. ANTONYMS prone, upright.

2 the supine media: weak, spineless, yielding,effete; docile, acquiescent, pliant, submissive,passive, inert, spiritless. ANTONYMS strong.

banal | bnl, b nal, - nl| adjectiveso lacking in originality as to be obvious andboring: songs with banal, repeated words.

banaladjective

banal lyrics: trite, hackneyed, clichd,platitudinous, vapid, commonplace, ordinary,common, stock, conventional, stereotyped,

overused, overdone, overworked, stale, worn out,


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timeworn, tired, threadbare, hoary, hack,unimaginative, humdrum, ho-hum, unoriginal,uninteresting, dull, trivial; informal old hat, corny,cornball, played out; dated dime-store; rare truistic,bromidic. ANTONYMS original.

heterodox | hetr dks| adjectivenot conforming with accepted or orthodoxstandards or beliefs: heterodox views.

heterodoxadjectivetheir heterodox sister was home from college,

spouting her liberal views: unorthodox,nonconformist, dissenting, dissident, rebellious,renegade; heretical, blasphemous, recusant,apostate, skeptical; freethinking, unconventional.ANTONYMS orthodox.

grandiloquent |gran dilkwnt|adjectivepompous or extravagant in language, style, ormanner, esp. in a way that is intended to impress:a grandiloquent celebration of Spanish glory.

grandiloquentadjective

grandiloquent speeches: pompous, bombastic,magniloquent, pretentious, ostentatious, high-flown, orotund, florid, flowery; overwrought,overblown, overdone; informal highfalutin, purple.ANTONYMS understated.


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infinitesimal | infini tes()ml| adjective

extremely small: an infinitesimal pause.nounMathematicsan indefinitely small quantity; a value approachingzero.

malinger |m liNGgr|verb [ no obj. ]exaggerate or feign illness in order to escape dutyor work.

malingerverb

he was put on report for malingering: pretend tobe ill, feign (an) illness, fake (an) illness; shirk;informal goof off.

aver | vr|verb ( avers, averring , averred ) [ reportingverb ] formalstate or assert to be the case: [ with clause ] : heaverred that he was innocent of the allegations |[ with direct speech ] : You're the most beautifulgirl in the world, he averred. [ with obj. ] Law allege as a fact in support of a

Report or maintainHeaverredthathewasthevictimof acrime

= allege, say

~ assert, asseverate, maintain

plead

To declare or affirmsolemnly and formally as trueBeforeGodIaverI aminnocent

= affirm, assert,avow, swan, swear,verify

~ declare,pronounce

assure, attest, claim, declare, hold, protest, take, tell
http://ww//Reporthttp://ww//maintainhttp://ww//averredhttp://ww//thathttp://ww//washttp://ww//victimhttp://ww//crimehttp://ww//allegehttp://ww//sayhttp://ww//asserthttp://ww//asseveratehttp://ww//maintainhttp://ww//pleadhttp://ww//declarehttp://ww//affirmhttp://ww//solemnlyhttp://ww//formallyhttp://ww//truehttp://ww//Beforehttp://ww//Godhttp://ww//averhttp://ww//innocenthttp://ww//affirmhttp://ww//asserthttp://ww//avowhttp://ww//avowhttp://ww//swanhttp://ww//swearhttp://ww//verifyhttp://ww//verifyhttp://ww//declarehttp://ww//pronouncehttp://ww//pronouncehttp://ww//assurehttp://ww//attesthttp://ww//claimhttp://ww//declarehttp://ww//holdhttp://ww//protesthttp://ww//takehttp://ww//tellhttp://ww//Reporthttp://ww//maintainhttp://ww//averredhttp://ww//thathttp://ww//washttp://ww//victimhttp://ww//crimehttp://ww//allegehttp://ww//sayhttp://ww//asserthttp://ww//asseveratehttp://ww//maintainhttp://ww//pleadhttp://ww//declarehttp://ww//affirmhttp://ww//solemnlyhttp://ww//formallyhttp://ww//truehttp://ww//Beforehttp://ww//Godhttp://ww//averhttp://ww//innocenthttp://ww//affirmhttp://ww//asserthttp://ww//avowhttp://ww//swanhttp://ww//swearhttp://ww//verifyhttp://ww//declarehttp://ww//pronouncehttp://ww//assurehttp://ww//attesthttp://ww//claimhttp://ww//declarehttp://ww//holdhttp://ww//protesthttp://ww//takehttp://ww//tell


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plea.

cacophony |k kfn|noun ( pl. cacophonies )a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds: acacophony of deafening alarm bells | figurative : acacophony of architectural styles | songs ofunrelieved cacophony.

cacophony

noundespite the cacophony, Rita slept on: din, racket,noise, clamor, discord, dissonance, discordance,uproar.

usage | yoosij, -zij|nounthe action of using something or the fact of beingused: a survey of water usage | the usage ofequipment. the way in which a word or phrase is normallyand correctly used. habitual or customary practice, esp. as creating aright, obligation, or standard.

usagenoun

A loudharsh or stridentnoise

= blare, blaring, clamour, din

~ noise

Loudconfusin disa reeablesounds
http://ww//loudhttp://ww//harshhttp://ww//stridenthttp://ww//noisehttp://ww//blarehttp://ww//blaringhttp://ww//clamourhttp://ww//dinhttp://ww//noisehttp://ww//Loudhttp://ww//confusinghttp://ww//disagreeablehttp://ww//soundshttp://ww//loudhttp://ww//harshhttp://ww//stridenthttp://ww//noisehttp://ww//blarehttp://ww//blaringhttp://ww//clamourhttp://ww//dinhttp://ww//noisehttp://ww//Loudhttp://ww//confusinghttp://ww//disagreeablehttp://ww//soundshttp://ww//dissonance


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1 energy usage: use, consumption, utilization.2 the usage of equipment: use, utilization,operation, manipulation, running, handling.

3 the intricacies of English usage: phraseology,parlance, idiom, way of speaking/writing, mode ofexpression, style; idiolect.

4 the usages of polite society: custom, practice,habit, tradition, convention, rule, observance; way,procedure, form, wont; formal praxis; (usages)mores.

refractory |ri fraktr|adjective formal1 stubborn or unmanageable: his refractory pony.2 resistant to a process or stimulus: some granulesare refractory to secretory stimuli. Medicine (of a person, illness, or diseased tissue)

not yielding to treatment: healing of previouslyrefractory ulcers. Medicine, rare (of a person or animal) resistant toinfection. technical (of a substance) resistant to heat; hard tomelt or fuse.

refractoryadjective

formal their refractory children: obstinate,stubborn, mulish, pigheaded, obdurate,headstrong, self-willed, wayward, willful, perverse,contrary, recalcitrant, obstreperous, disobedient,difficult; informal balky; archaic contumacious,froward. ANTONYMS obedient.

iconoclast | kn klast| noun


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1 a person who attacks cherished beliefs orinstitutions.2 a destroyer of images used in religious worship,in particular: historical a supporter of the 8th- and 9th-centurymovement in the Byzantine Church that sought toabolish the veneration of icons and other religiousimages.

iconoclastnounin terms of the money culture in Washington, she

is an iconoclast: critic, skeptic; heretic, unbeliever,dissident, dissenter, infidel; rebel, renegade,mutineer.

enervateverb | enr vt| [ with obj. ]

cause (someone) to feel drained of energy orvitality; weaken.adjective | enrvit| literarylacking in energy or vitality: the enervateslightness of his frail form.

enervateverb

the hot weather enervated her: exhaust, tire,fatigue, weary, wear out, devitalize, drain, sap,weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, incapacitate,prostrate; informal knock out, do in, shatter.ANTONYMS invigorate.

levity | levt|


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nounhumor or frivolity, esp. the treatment of a seriousmatter with humor or in a manner lacking duerespect: as an attempt to introduce a note oflevity, the words were a disastrous flop.

levitynounwithout some occasional levity, the workingenvironment is no better than a sweatshop:

lightheartedness, high spirits, vivacity,liveliness, cheerfulness, cheeriness, humor, gaiety,

fun, jocularity, hilarity, frivolity, amusement, mirth,laughter, merriment, glee, comedy, wit, wittiness,

jollity, joviality. ANTONYMS seriousness.

equanimity | kw nimit, ekw-| nounmental calmness, composure, and evenness of

temper, esp. in a difficult situation: she acceptedboth the good and the bad with equanimity.

equanimitynounshe confronted the daily crises with equanimity:

composure, calm, level-headedness, self-possession, coolheadedness, presence of mind;serenity, tranquility, phlegm, imperturbability,equilibrium; poise, assurance, self-confidence,aplomb, sangfroid, nerve; informal cool. ANTONYMSanxiety.

1 a restriction on a person or activity: religious

strictures on everyday life.2 a sternly critical or censorious remark or


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instruction: his strictures on their lack of civicvirtue.3 Medicine abnormal narrowing of a canal or duct inthe body: a colonic stricture | jaundice caused bybile duct stricture

stricturenoun

1 the constant strictures of the nuns: criticism,censure, condemnation, reproof, reproach,admonishment, animadversion. ANTONYMS praise.

2 the strictures on Victorian women: constraint,restriction, limitation, restraint, curb, impediment,barrier, obstacle. ANTONYMS freedom.

3 an intestinal stricture: narrowing, constriction.

opulent | pylnt|adjective

ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish: theopulent comfort of a limousine. wealthy: his more opulent tenants

opulentadjective

1 his opulent home: luxurious, sumptuous,

palatial, lavish, lavishly appointed, rich, splendid,magnificent, grand, grandiose, fancy; informal plush,classy, ritzy, posh, swanky, swank. ANTONYMSspartan, stark, ascetic.

2 an opulent family: wealthy, rich, affluent, welloff, well-to-do, moneyed, prosperous, of means, ofsubstance; informal well-heeled, rolling inmoney/dough, rolling in it, loaded, stinking/filthy

rich, made of money, in clover, (living) on easy


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street; dated in the chips. ANTONYMS penniless, poor,impoverished.

3 her opulent red hair: copious, abundant,

profuse, prolific, plentiful, luxuriant; literaryplenteous. ANTONYMS sparse, thin.

disparage |di sparij|verb [ with obj. ]regard or represent as being of little worth: henever missed an opportunity to disparage his

competitors.

disparageverbthey disparage Lawrence and his achievements:

belittle, denigrate, deprecate, trivialize, makelight of, undervalue, underrate, play down; ridicule,deride, mock, scorn, scoff at, sneer at; run down,

defame, discredit, speak badly of, cast aspersionson, impugn, vilify, traduce, criticize, slur; informalpick holes in, knock, slam, pan, badmouth, dis,pooh-pooh; formal calumniate, derogate. ANTONYMSpraise, overrate.

discursive|dis krsiv|

adjective1 digressing from subject to subject: studentsoften write dull, secondhand, discursive prose. (of a style of speech or writing) fluent andexpansive rather than formulaic or abbreviated:the short story is concentrated, whereas the novelis discursive.

2 of or relating to discourse or modes of discourse:the attempt to transform utterances from one


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discursive context to another.3 Philosophy, archaic proceeding by argument orreasoning rather than by intuition.

discursiveadjective

1 dull, discursive prose: rambling, digressive,meandering, wandering, maundering, diffuse, long,lengthy, wordy, verbose, long-winded, prolix;circuitous, roundabout, circumlocutory; informalwaffly. ANTONYMS concise.

2 an elegant discursive style: fluent, flowing,fluid, eloquent, expansive. ANTONYMS terse.

redress |ri dres, r dres| verb [ with obj. ]remedy or set right (an undesirable or unfairsituation): the power to redress the grievances of

our citizens. archaic set upright again: some ambitiousarchitect being called to redress a leaning wall.nounremedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance:those seeking redress for an infringement of publiclaw rights.

redressverb

1 we redressed the problem: rectify, correct,right, put to rights, compensate for, amend,remedy, make good, resolve, settle.

2 we aim to redress the balance: even up,regulate, equalize.

nounyour best hope of redress: compensation,


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reparation, restitution, recompense, repayment,indemnity, indemnification, retribution,satisfaction; justice.

Anomalous | nmls|adjectivedeviating from what is standard, normal, orexpected: an anomalous situation | sentences thatare grammatically anomalous

anomalousadjectiveit's an anomalous birthmark: abnormal, atypical,irregular, aberrant, exceptional, freak, freakish,odd, bizarre, peculiar, unusual, out of the ordinary;deviant, mutant; formal heteroclite. ANTONYMSnormal, typical.

obsequious |b skws|adjectiveobedient or attentive to an excessive or serviledegree: they were served by obsequious waiters.

obsequiousadjective

an elderly gentlemen surrounded by obsequiousheirs: servile, ingratiating, sycophantic, fawning,unctuous, oily, oleaginous, groveling, cringing,subservient, submissive, slavish; informal brown-nosing, bootlicking, smarmy; vulgar slang ass-kissing.ANTONYMS domineering.

didactic |d daktik|


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adjectiveintended to teach, particularly in having moralinstruction as an ulterior motive: a didactic novelthat set out to expose social injustice. in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as totreat someone in a patronizing way: slow-paced,didactic lecturing.

didacticadjectivethe reforming, didactic function of art:

instructive, instructional, educational, educative,informative, informational, edifying, improving,preceptive, pedagogic, moralistic.

truncate | trNG kt|

verb [ with obj. ] (often as adj. truncated)shorten (something) by cutting off the top or theend: a truncated cone shape | discussion wastruncated by the arrival of tea. Crystallography replace (an edge or an angle) by aplane, typically so as to make equal angles withthe adjacent faces.

truncateverbthe program may need to be truncated: shorten,cut, cut short, curtail, bring to an untimely end;abbreviate, condense, reduce, prune. ANTONYMSlengthen, extend.

abstemious |ab stms|


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adjectivenot self-indulgent, esp. when eating and drinking:We only had a bottle. Very abstemious of you.DERIVATIVES

abstemiously adverb,abstemiousness nounORIGIN early 17th cent.: from Latin abstemius(from ab- from + a word related to temetumstrong drink) + -ous.

abstemious

adjectivethe monks here have willingly chosen this

abstemious life: self-denying, temperate,abstinent, moderate, self-disciplined, restrained,self-restrained, sober, austere, ascetic, puritanical,spartan, hair-shirt. ANTONYMS self-indulgent.

ethereal |i THi()rl|adjective1 extremely delicate and light in a way that seemstoo perfect for this world: her ethereal beauty| asinger who has a weirdly ethereal voice. heavenly or spiritual: ethereal, otherworldlyvisions.

2 Chemistry (of a solution) having diethyl ether as asolvent.

etherealadjective

melodic phrases of ethereal beauty: delicate,exquisite, dainty, elegant, graceful; fragile, airy,fine, subtle; unearthly. ANTONYMS substantial,earthly.


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bombastic |bm bastik|adjectivehigh-sounding but with little meaning; inflated:bombastic rhetoric | bombastic music thatdrowned out what anyone was saying.

bombastic

adjectivehis bombastic speeches could send thousands into

the streets: pompous, blustering, turgid, verbose,orotund, high-flown, high-sounding, overwrought,pretentious, ostentatious, grandiloquent; informalhighfalutin, puffed up; rare fustian.

Charles Harrington Elster 13

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