A Tale of Two Cities - Book the Second

Ms. Aubuchon (United States of America)
30 words 285 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. trepidation
    a feeling of alarm or dread
    Before you know it, you'll find yourself going to the gym regularly without fear, trepidation or apprehension.
  2. reversionary
    of or relating to or involving a reversion
    The donor humorously anticipated the day when he might be glad of a reversionary interest to the broom and shovel employed outside the Horse Guards. Escott, T. H. S. (Thomas Hay Sweet)
  3. quartering
    dividing into four equal parts
    The time of Titus Oates, Bedloe, and Dangerfield, and their sham plots, with the hangings, drawings, and quarterings, on perjured evidence, that followed them. Various
  4. illustrious
    widely known and esteemed
    His illustrious career spanned journalism, satire and daytime television presenting, including The Frost Report.
  5. bestrew
    cover by strewing
    London is bestrewn, to my sense, with reminders of his happy career here, and his company and his talk. James, Henry
  6. sublime
    of high moral or intellectual value
    His achievement is honored with this sublime exhibition of nearly 300 of his splendidly sculptural, radiantly colored, ingeniously patterned vessels.
  7. pernicious
    exceedingly harmful
    The whole myth that people who ride bicycles are freeloaders is just an unbelievably pernicious mess. Salon (Oct 20, 2013)
  8. fervent
    characterized by intense emotion
    South Africa’s governing party is losing popularity even among its most fervent supporters.
  9. acquit
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
    Even after David was acquitted, his employer sought to dismiss him from his job.
  10. laconic
    brief and to the point
    Ms. Diaz remains laconic, responding to questions with smiles and quick answers.
  11. unscrupulous
    without principles
    Some unscrupulous recyclers here in the U.S. simply dump the trashed gadgets overseas.
  12. sultry
    characterized by oppressive heat and humidity
    I picked up my father on a sultry morning with heavy, rumbling clouds on the horizon. The New Yorker (Oct 28, 2013)
  13. ignobly
    in a currish manner; meanspiritedly
    I was born to the position, but I served you proudly, not ignobly. Sage, William
  14. malady
    impairment of normal physiological function
    This leads to increased occurrence of maladies like lice infestation, scabies and hookworm.
  15. renounce
    turn away from; give up
    He has renounced Satan and all his works, given up his ability to kneecap and to bribe. Slate (Jan 14, 2014)
  16. gallantry
    the qualities of a hero or heroine
    Her Queen's Gallantry Medal is awarded "for exemplary acts of bravery."
  17. incorrigible
    impervious to correction by punishment
    Robert De Niro, too, could receive a supporting actor nod for his quirky role as an incorrigible gambler.
  18. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
    As much as Dickens is shown relishing the spotlight, he is ultimately revealed here as more magnanimous than narcissistic.
  19. morose
    showing a brooding ill humor
    He is not a winter man; as a depressive, its dinge makes him torpid and morose.
  20. degradation
    a change to a lower state
    Koala numbers are in decline throughout the eastern coast of Australia due to habitat loss, land degradation and population segregation.
  21. urchin
    a poor and often mischievous city child
    His Fagin is a twinkly, eloquent miscreant with benevolent affection for his street urchins, even as he is enslaving them. Seattle Times (Dec 6, 2013)
  22. dubious
    fraught with uncertainty or doubt
    Many researchers were dubious, but further studies by other scientists confirmed that the findings were not a fluke.
  23. repast
    the food served and eaten at one time
    One warm autumn evening, after a sumptuous repast, the scientist found shade beneath an apple tree in a garden of flowers. Forbes (Nov 4, 2013)
  24. docile
    easily handled or managed
    But it was their docile, laid-back personalities that seemed to seal the bond between them.
  25. consecrated
    made, declared, or believed to be holy
    Under these circumstances a proper burial in consecrated ground was out of the question.
  26. sagacity
    forming opinions by distinguishing and evaluating
    "I think, again, with all due respect for his sagacity at selling stocks, he's being incredibly short-sighted."
  27. fidelity
    the quality of being faithful
    But Clinton had to overcome questions about his fidelity during his first campaign, and never made trust a central issue.
  28. turnkey
    someone who guards prisoners
    Each time the turnkey brought him water, he told himself another day had passed. A Game of Thrones
  29. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
    While the brothers remained impassive in the dock as the verdicts were announced, relatives of Mr Holland wept quietly in the public gallery.
  30. exultant
    joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
    Exultant trumpets sound, heralding another day of this portentous international event.
Created on Fri Jan 17 13:51:18 EST 2014 (updated Fri Jan 17 13:51:52 EST 2014)

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