The Importance of Being Earnest

Faheem A.
147 words 73 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abomination
    hate coupled with disgust
  2. adage
    a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
  3. aesthete
    one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art
  4. aesthetic
    characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
  5. aesthetician
    a philosopher who specializes in the nature of beauty
  6. affectation
    a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display
  7. airily
    in a manner that is overly casual or lacking seriousness
  8. apoplexy
    a loss of consciousness from the lack of oxygen in the brain
  9. apostle
    an ardent early supporter of a cause or reform
  10. aristocrat
    a member of the nobility
  11. artifice
    the use of deception or trickery
  12. askance
    with suspicion or disapproval
  13. ballast
    any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
  14. bombastic
    ostentatiously lofty in style
  15. bourgeois
    being of the property-owning class
  16. bourgeoisie
    a socioeconomic group that is neither wealthy nor poor
  17. camouflage
    an outward semblance misrepresenting the nature of something
  18. caricature
    a representation of a person exaggerated for comic effect
  19. chalice
    a bowl-shaped drinking vessel
  20. chicanery
    the use of tricks to deceive someone
  21. conduce
    be conducive to
  22. confluence
    a place where things merge or flow together
  23. conformity
    compliance with accepted standards, rules, or norms
  24. conspicuous
    obvious to the eye or mind
  25. contrived
    showing effects of planning or manipulation
  26. convulse
    move or stir about violently
  27. cosmetic
    serving a decorative rather than a useful purpose
  28. crumpet
    a thick soft cake with a porous texture; cooked on a griddle
  29. cull
    remove something that has been rejected
  30. cynical
    believing the worst of human nature and motives
  31. dandy
    very good
  32. decadent
    relating to indulgence in something pleasurable
  33. decorous
    characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste
  34. deference
    courteous regard for people's feelings
  35. demotic
    of or for the common people
  36. denigrate
    attack the good name and reputation of someone
  37. denounce
    speak out against
  38. didactic
    instructive, especially excessively
  39. disparage
    express a negative opinion of
  40. double entendre
    a word or phrase with two meanings, one of which is indecent
  41. droll
    comical in an odd or whimsical manner
  42. earnest
    characterized by a firm, sincere belief in one's opinions
  43. egocentric
    limited to or caring only about yourself and your own needs
  44. emulate
    strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
  45. epigram
    a witty saying
  46. exorcise
    expel through adjuration or prayers
  47. exotic
    characteristic of another place or part of the world
  48. expurgation
    the deletion of parts considered objectionable or harmful
  49. facade
    the front of a building
  50. farce
    a comedy characterized by broad satire
  51. farce comedy
    a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations
  52. feminism
    a doctrine that advocates equal rights for women
  53. finesse
    subtly skillful handling of a situation
  54. flamboyant
    tending to attract attention; marked by ostentatious display
  55. fleeting
    lasting for a markedly brief time
  56. flippant
    showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
  57. fop
    a man who is overly concerned with his dress and appearance
  58. foppish
    overly concerned with extreme elegance in dress and manner
  59. forte
    an asset of special worth or utility
  60. gaunt
    very thin, especially from disease or hunger or cold
  61. glib
    artfully persuasive in speech
  62. governess
    a woman who cares for and instructs a child in a household
  63. grandiose
    impressive because of unnecessary largeness or magnificence
  64. gravely
    in a serious or solemn manner
  65. gregarious
    temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
  66. grotesque
    distorted and unnatural in shape or size
  67. hackneyed
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  68. halo
    a circle of light around the sun or moon
  69. inconspicuous
    not prominent or readily noticeable
  70. indecorous
    lacking propriety and good taste in manners and conduct
  71. indignation
    a feeling of righteous anger
  72. ineffable
    defying expression or description
  73. inversion
    the act of turning inside out
  74. knight
    a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry
  75. laconic
    brief and to the point
  76. lampoon
    ridicule with satire
  77. languid
    lacking spirit or liveliness
  78. lax
    without rigor or strictness
  79. levity
    a manner lacking seriousness
  80. libel
    a false and malicious publication
  81. librettist
    a writer who creates the scripts for operas and musicals
  82. masquerade
    a party of guests wearing costumes and disguises
  83. mimic
    imitate, especially for satirical effect
  84. neophyte
    a participant with no experience with an activity
  85. nepotism
    favoritism shown to relatives or friends by those in power
  86. nihilism
    complete denial of established authority and institutions
  87. nihilist
    someone who rejects all theories of morality
  88. noblesse oblige
    the duty of the privileged to be honorable and generous
  89. nouveau-riche
    characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position
  90. ostentatious
    intended to attract notice and impress others
  91. outcast
    a person who is rejected (from society or home)
  92. paradox
    a statement that contradicts itself
  93. parody
    a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style
  94. penchant
    a strong liking or preference
  95. pithy
    concise and full of meaning
  96. plebeian
    of or associated with the great masses of people
  97. ploy
    a maneuver in a game, conversation, or situation
  98. poseur
    a person who habitually pretends to be something he is not
  99. precipitate
    bring about abruptly
  100. predominate
    be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
  101. prejudice
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
  102. pretentious
    creating an appearance of importance or distinction
  103. proclivity
    a natural inclination
  104. propriety
    correct behavior
  105. proverb
    a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
  106. pseudonym
    a fake name used to engage in some activity
  107. pun
    a humorous play on words
  108. putty
    a dough-like mixture of whiting and boiled linseed oil
  109. quintessential
    representing the perfect example of a class or quality
  110. recumbent
    lying down; in a position of comfort or rest
  111. reminiscent
    serving to bring to mind
  112. reprehensible
    bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
  113. reprimand
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
  114. reproach
    express criticism towards
  115. respite
    a pause from doing something
  116. salver
    a tray for serving food or drinks
  117. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
  118. satire
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
  119. scrap
    a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
  120. scrape
    cut the surface of; wear away the surface of
  121. searing
    extremely hot
  122. sensuous
    providing perceptible pleasure or gratification
  123. sententious
    concise and full of meaning
  124. shenanigan
    the use of tricks to deceive someone
  125. snob
    a person regarded as arrogant and annoying
  126. social climber
    someone seeking social prominence by obsequious behavior
  127. sodom
    any location known for vice and corruption
  128. sophistry
    a deliberately invalid argument in the hope of deceiving
  129. subtle
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
  130. suffragette
    a woman advocate of women's right to vote
  131. supercilious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  132. superficial
    of, affecting, or being on or near the surface
  133. terse
    brief and to the point
  134. trite
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  135. trivet
    a stand, often with short feet, used under a hot dish
  136. trivial
    (informal) small and of little importance
  137. umbrage
    a feeling of anger caused by being offended
  138. unrequited
    not returned in kind
  139. unscrupulous
    without principles
  140. veneer
    coating consisting of a thin layer of wood
  141. vicarious
    experienced at secondhand
  142. victorian
    exaggeratedly proper
  143. visage
    the human face
  144. ward
    a person who is under the protection of another
  145. wit
    mental ability
  146. wordplay
    a humorous play on words
  147. savoir-faire
    social skill
Created on Sun Aug 25 08:23:53 EDT 2013 (updated Thu Oct 24 11:02:29 EDT 2013)

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