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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Vapid
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-adjective
-lacking the ability to be lively, sharp, or zestful; limp. -After only steeping the tea for thirty seconds, the water was unable to extract the flavors from the teabag, resulting in a vapid, flavorless beverage. -Negative connotation that suggests blandness; uninspiring. Often used to describe food/drink. |
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Impotence
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-noun
-the condition of being feeble, or powerless. -The small man was unable of lifting the large branch from his front lawn, due to his impotence. -Negative connotation; suggests weakness/little power. |
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Magnanimous
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-adjective
-descriptive of something/someone who is forgiving, and has a generous and noble character. -After declaring his forgiveness to the child that bullied his son, it was clear that Mr. Adams was magnanimous and had a noble and respectable character. - Positive connotation of royalty, nobility; implies that somebody is of a forgiving, and accepting nature. |
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Banality
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-noun
-the condition of being ordinary, monotonous. -Tom's identical routine each day provided for him to be in a constant state of banality, due to his seemingly monotonous lifestyle. -Negative connotation; implies that something is boring, and doesn't experience much change or freshness. |
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Dulcet
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-adjective
-appealing to the senses; soothing and tasteful. -The dulcet piano composition, soothed the composer, with its melodious notes. -Positive connotation; suggests beauty/tranquility. |
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Paradox
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-noun
-a person/statement that is seemingly self-contradictory. -When the president declared that they would initiate war in order to promote the message of peace, many citizens were puzzled by this paradox, that contradicted itself. -Connotation of falseness/ not credible. Suggests confusion and puzzlement. |
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Imperious
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-adjective
-descriptive of someone/something who is tyrannical and expresses a highly dictatorial attitude. -Due to Democracy, the United States of America fortunately doesn't possess imperious leaders, such as Fidel Castro or Adolf Hitler. -Has a negative connotation, implies a sense of abuse to a leadership position. |
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Languor
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-noun
-the lack of physical energy; state of fatigue/exhaustion- lack of interest in something. -The students in the Physical Education class were in a general state of languor, due to their spiritlessness when playing volleyball. -Has a negative connotation, suggests that somebody is tired/lazy. |
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Treason
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-noun
-disrespecting/violating ones commitment to ones country- a betrayal of patriotism. -Edward Snowden committed an act of treason by exposing confidential information about the CIA, thus violating his allegiance to the country. -negative connotation, suggests that the person is of low character/traitor. |
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Archaic
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-adjective
-used to describe something antiquated and out of date, often in a linguistic context to describe out dated religious or historical words. -Many languages that are no longer used, such as Latin, are described as archaic- due to the fact that they suggest historical usage, and are seemingly obsolete. -Historical/linguistic connotation, used to describe events, language or other aspects of historical times. |
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Uncouth
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-adjective
-descriptive of something uncivilized and oafish, with little to no refinement. -The phrase "like a bull in a china shop" is often used to describe something uncouth. -Negative connotation used to describe something clumsy, and sloppy. |
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Benign
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-adjective
-possessing a gracious, and pleasant character. -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. conducted his protests with much peace, and a benign attitude- one of the factors that made the Civil Rights Movement fairly successful. -used to describe something that is well liked and favorable, positive connotation- intending no harm. |
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Puritanical
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-adjective
-showing much devotion and unwavering commitment to religion. -In the early twentieth century, society as a whole was far more puritanical than it is today, due to the fact that an outing to church was an unquestioned aspect of a Sunday, whereas many people frequent Church's less in modern times. -implies that somebody is excessively religious- slightly negative connotation. |
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Pedants
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-noun
-A person who educates by excessive strictness to rules,and trivial details. -the pedant neglected to institute a passion for learning in her students, but instead adhered only to book knowledge, and focused rigidly on minor and insignificant details. -Suggests a bad or incompetent teacher, used negatively. |
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Lithe
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-adjective
-something that is characterized by superb agility, and a refined ability to move. -The lithe body of the acrobat contorted magically in different ways, showing much flexibility and nimbleness. -Used positively to describe something that moves easily, most likely used to describe an athletic person. |
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Vile
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-adjective
-repulsive; characterized by disgust and wretchedness. -The odors that emitted from the rotten egg were vile, due to the foul smell that overtook the room. -Negative connotation, used to describe something of the utmost filthiness. |
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Amiable
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-adjective
-showing benign, and admirable qualities; easy to like. -Amiable people usually tend to attract many friends, and thrive socially, due to their easy-going and good natured character. -Very positive connotation, describes a person that many strive to be, and who is genuinely kind, and friendly. |
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Reproach
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-noun, verb
-a cause of disgrace/disapproval -the act of finding fault with things. -Many Americans reproach George Bush's political decisions, and view him as the cause for high national debt levels. -negative usage, somebody who is being reproached is thought of as discredited, or inferior. |
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Utopia
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-noun (utopian- adjective)
-a place/society that is flawless, and is perfect both politically and socially. -In Lois Lowry's scientific fiction novel The Giver, readers are exposed to a Utopian society, and realize that all the society's flaws are in fact in its sense of perfectionism. -connotation of perfection and being flawless, slightly futuristic/negative implication. |
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Decorous
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-adjective
-refined and elegant in manners/appearance -Classical French cuisine is often viewed as decorous, due to its superior elegance and exquisite refinement. -positive connotation, implies sophistication and class. |
