Vocabulary for the College Bound Student Chapter 3 Sets 21-25 – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
analogy
answer
likeness in some respects between things otherwise different; similarity; comparison
question
arbitrary
answer
autocratic; despotic; tyrannical; proceeding from a whim or fancy
question
arbitrate
answer
1.) decide a dispute, acting as a judge 2.) submit a dispute
question
axiom
answer
self-evident truth; maxim
question
axiomatic
answer
self-evident; universally accepted as true
question
bias
answer
opinion formed before there are grounds for it; prejudice; predilection; partiality
question
bigoted
answer
intolerant; narrow-minded
question
bigotry
answer
views or behavior of one intolerantly devoted to one's own beliefs and prejudices; narrow-mindedness; intolerance
question
cogitate
answer
think over; consider with care; ponder; deliberate
question
criterion
answer
standard; rule or tests for judging
question
crux
answer
most important point; essential part
question
deduce
answer
derive by reasoning; infer
question
dilemma
answer
situation requiring a choice between two equality bad alternatives; predicament
question
dogmatic
answer
asserting opinions as if they were facts; opinionated; asserted without proof; doctrinaire
question
eclectic
answer
choosing (ideas, methods, etc.) from various sources; selective
question
fallacious
answer
based on an erroneous idea; misleading; deceptive
question
fallible
answer
liable to be mistaken
question
heterodox
answer
rejecting regularly accepted beliefs or doctrines; heretical; nonconformist
question
hypothetical
answer
supposed; having the characteristics of a supposition made as a basis for reasoning or research
question
illusion
answer
misleading appearance; false impression; misconception
question
indubitable
answer
certain; incontrovertible; indisputable
question
orthodox
answer
generally accepted, especially in religion; conventional; approved
question
paradoxical
answer
having the characteristics of being a self-contradictory statement which may nevertheless be true
question
plausible
answer
apparently trustworthy; superficially true or reasonable
question
preposterous
answer
senseless; absurd; irrational
question
rational
answer
1.) able to think clearly; having the power to reason 2.) based on or agreeable to reason; intelligent; sensible; sane
question
rationalize
answer
invent excuses for one's actions, desires, failures, etc.
question
sophistry
answer
clever but deceptive reasoning
question
specious
answer
superficially true, reasonable, attractive, or just, but not really so
question
speculate
answer
1.) reflect; meditate; conjecture 2.) buy or sell with the hope of profiting by price fluctuations
question
tenable
answer
capable of being maintained or defended; defensible
question
amorphous
answer
shapeless; having no definite form; unorganized
question
concave
answer
curved inward, creating a hollow space
question
contour
answer
outline of a figure
question
distort
answer
1.) twist out of shape 2.) change from the true meaning
question
malleable
answer
1.) capable of being shaped by hammering, as a metal 2.) adaptable; pliant
question
rotund
answer
1.) rounded out; plump 2.) full-toned
question
sinuous
answer
bending in and out; winding; serpentine
question
symmetrical
answer
balanced in arrangement; capable of division by a central line into similar halves
question
symmetry
answer
balance; harmony
question
grave
answer
deserving serious attention; weighty; momentous
question
nugatory
answer
of little or no value; trifling; worthless; useless
question
paltry
answer
practically worthless; trashy; piddling; petty
question
paramount
answer
chief; above others; supreme
question
relevant
answer
bearing upon the matter in hand; pertinent
question
coy
answer
pretending to be shy
question
demure
answer
1.) falsely modest or serious; coy 2.) grave; prim
question
diffident
answer
lacking self-confidence; unduly timid; shy
question
modest
answer
not thinking too highly of one's merits; unpretentious; humble
question
modesty
answer
freedom from conceit or vanity; unpretentiousness; humility
question
staid
answer
settled; of quiet disposition; sedate
question
brazen
answer
1.) shameless; impudent 2.) made of brass or bronze
question
egoism
answer
excessive concern for oneself; selfishness; conceit
question
ostentatious
answer
done to impress others; showy; pretentious
question
overweening
answer
thinking too highly of oneself; arrogant; presumptuous
question
pert
answer
1.) too free in speech or action; bold; saucy; impertinent 2.) lively; spirited
question
vain
answer
1.) conceited; excessively proud or concerned about one's personal appearance or achievements 2.) empty; worthless 3.) futile
question
vainglorious
answer
excessively proud or boastful; elated by vanity
question
vanity
answer
condition of being too vain about one's appearance or achievements; conceit
