12th Grade Cards: Difficult Words(1)
Search Quotes from Classic Book Animal Farm by George Orwell |
12th Grade Cards: Difficult Words (click the card to toggle it.)
Show WordHide WordShow MeaningHide Meaning
(You can also click each card to show or hide its content.)
(You can also click each card to show or hide its content.)
anathematize
v. curse or declare to be evil or anathema or threaten with divine punishment
anomalous
a. deviating from normal or common order, form, or rule
atavism
n. resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; deformity returning after passage of two or more generations
bergamot
n. small tree with pear-shaped fruit whose oil is used in perfumery; Italy
bilingualism
n. the ability to speak two languages colloquially
bulbous
a. curving outward; shaped like a bulb
caitiff
a. despicably mean and cowardly
cantonment
n. temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
centurion
n. officer of ancient Roman army, in command of a century of soldiers or minor division
coalescence
n. union of diverse things into one body or form or group; growing together of parts
collier
n. someone who works in a coal mine
complaisance
n. a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others
condign
a. fitting or appropriate and deserved; used especially of punishment
consign
v. give, transfer, or deliver in a formal manner, as if by signing over into the possession of another
continence
n. self control; self restraint; partial or complete abstention from sexual activity
coquette
n. flirt; seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men
corruptible
a. capable of being corrupted; susceptible to corruption
cyan
n. a primary subtractive color for light; has a blue-green color
deformity
n. an appearance that has been spoiled; an affliction in which some part of the body is misshapen or malformed
delineation
n. a drawing of the outlines of forms or objects; a graphic or vivid verbal description
demulcent
n. a medication in the form of an oil or salve that soothes inflamed or injured skin
derelict
a. left and abandoned; negligent in performing a duty
desuetude
n. a state of inactivity or disuse
diatomic
a. of or relating to a molecule made up of two atoms
disavow
v. refuse to acknowledge; disclaim knowledge of; responsibility for, or association with
dishabille
n. the state of being carelessly or partially dressed
dissipation
n. useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly; dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure
distention
n. the state of being stretched beyond normal dimensions; the act of expanding by pressure from within
dragoon
v. compel by coercion, threats, or crude means; subjugate by imposing troops
ebullient
a. showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm
effluence
n. the action or process of flowing out; efflux
electrotype
n. a duplicate printing plate made by electrolytically depositing a layer of copper or nickel onto a mould of the original
elicit
v. draw out; bring forth or to light; generate or provoke as response or answer
emporium
n. a large retail store organized into departments offering a variety of merchandise; commonly part of a retail chain
engender
v. cause; bring into existence; give rise to
epicurean
a. devoted to pleasure; displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
eulogistic
a. formally expressing praise for someone's lifetime achievements
execrate
v. find repugnant; curse or declare to be evil or anathema or threaten with divine punishment
expectorate
v. discharge from the lungs and out of the mouth; clear out the chest and lungs
extort
v. obtain from another by coercion; get money by threats
felicitate
v. express congratulations; compliment upon a happy event
flaccid
a. acting in strength, firmness, or resilience
forswear
v. renounce or deny something, especially under oath; swear falsely, usually under pressure
galvanic
a. affected by emotion as if by electricity; thrilling
guillemet
n. one of two marks, used in French, Italian, and Russian printing to enclose quotations
ichthyic
a. fishlike; characteristic of fishes
inebriate
v. fill with sublime emotion; become drunk or drink excessively
insentient
a. devoid of feeling and consciousness and animation
intoxicant
n. a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent; a drug that can produce a state of intoxication
invidious
a. designed to create ill will or envy
irradiate
v. expose to radiation; cast rays of light upon
jaundice
n. a rough and bitter manner; yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment in the blood
languor
n. feeling of lack of interest or energy; depression
leonine
a. of or characteristic of or resembling a lion
licit
a. authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law; sanctioned by custom or morality especially sexual morality
lithesome
a. moving and bending with ease
lode
n. a deposit of valuable ore occurring within definite boundaries separating it from surrounding rocks
maleficent
a. harmful or evil in intent or effect
mellifluous
a. flowing or dropping like honey; sweetly or smoothly flowing, especially in sound
micrometer
n. a metric unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter; caliper for measuring small distances
misogamy
n. hatred of marriage; the emotion of intense dislike marriage
monition
n. a warning of impending danger; cautionary advice about something imminent; a firm rebuke
morphology
n. branch of biology that deals with the structure of animals and plants
naphtha
n. any of various volatile flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures; used chiefly as solvents
necrosis
n. the death of one or more cells in the body, usually within a localized area, as from an interruption of the blood supply to that part
nihilist
n. one who believes traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic
obstetrics
n. the branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and care of the mother
opalescence
n. the visual property of something having a milky brightness and a play of colors from the surface
ostentation
n. making ambitious display; unnecessary show; pretentious parade
paramour
n. a woman who cohabits with an important man; a woman's lover
peccant
a. liable to sin; violating a rule, principle, or established practice
penitential
a. showing or constituting penance
perforce
ad. by necessity; by force of circumstance
perversity
n. deliberately deviating from what is good
piscatorial
a. relating to or characteristic of the activity of fishing
posit
v. assume existence of; put forward, as for consideration or study; suggest
predilection
n. condition of favoring or liking; tendency towards; preference
proscribe
v. command against; banish; condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful
refection
n. a light meal or repast; refreshment, especially with food or drink
reprobate
n. person hardened in sin; person without moral scruples
rococo
n. fanciful but graceful asymmetric ornamentation in art and architecture; having excessive asymmetrical ornamentation
sapience
n. ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight
sidereal
a. of or relating to the stars or constellations; determined by daily motion of the stars
sonorous
a. having or producing full, loud, or deep sound; impressive in style of speech; easy to feel
ukase
n. an edict of the Russian tsar; any order by an absolute or arbitrary authority
vivify
v. give new life or energy to; make more striking or animated
Quick Access Worksheet