Classic Words Flashcards

Flashcard Study Notes

Countenance: Refers to a person's face or facial expression, indicating emotional state or demeanor.
Profound: Describes something that is very deep or intense, showing great insight or knowledge, portraying significant importance.
Manifest: Means clear or obvious to the eye, displaying a quality through actions, or revealing a list of passengers or cargo. Also implies being struck by the hand.
Serene: Characterizes a state of calmness, tranquility, or peacefulness, resembling a dry cloudless day with unclouded composure.
Sublime: Refers to an extraordinary quality that inspires admiration or awe, used to denote unparalleled beauty or behavior.
Exquisite: Describes something unusually beautiful and delicate, that must be sought out, and intensely felt; highly sensitive.
Clamor: A loud, confused noise, especially from shouting crowds; an expression of protest or uproar originating from the Latin "clamare" (to cry out).
Acute: Indicates a severe or intense experience, deriving from "acuere" (to sharpen); also relates to perceptive insight or shrewdness, and geometrically refers to an angle less than 90 degrees.
Prodigious: Signifies something wondrous or extraordinarily powerful, evoking astonishment and awe due to its size or capability.
Languor: Represents a lack of energy, associated with languish and a state of pleasant tiredness; reflects emotional or mental fatigue.
Grotesque: Depicts an ugly or comically distorted figure or image, linked to "grotto," suggesting a cave-like or cavernous appearance.
Condescend: Indicates feelings of superiority while lowering oneself to another’s level, implying haughty behavior seen as beneath one's dignity.
Allude: Means to suggest or hint at something indirectly; to reference works of art, literature, or topics to imply deeper understanding.
Odious: Defines something extremely repulsive, detestable, or offensive; originates from the concept of being hateful, similar to Roman views on certain groups.
Placid: Describes a tranquil, calm state, originating from the Latin "placere" (to please); signifies contentment in an undisturbed environment.
Incredulous: Characterizes a state of disbelief, where an individual is unable or unwilling to accept or believe something.
Tremulous: Describes an overly timid or easily shaken state caused by fear, nervousness, or agitation; rooted in the Latin "tremere" (to tremble).