words: prozac nation

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Terms

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a priori: adjective
Proceeding from a known or assumed cause to a necessarily related effect; deductive.
abstruse: adjective
Difficult to understand; recondite.
addle: verb
To muddle; confuse
adjunct: noun
Something attached to another in a dependent or subordinate position.
admixture: noun
The act of mixing or mingling, the state of being mingled or mixed
alacrity: noun
Cheerful willingness; eagerness.
ameliorate: verb
To make or become better; improve.
anathema: noun
A formal ecclesiastical ban, curse, or excommunication.
anomie: noun
Social instability caused by erosion of standards and values.
apotheosis: noun
Exaltation to divine rank or stature; deification.
append: verb
To add as a supplement or appendix
apposite: adjective
Strikingly appropriate and relevant
arch: adjective
Mischievous; roguish
atavism: noun
The return of a trait or recurrence of previous behavior after a period of absence.
automaton: noun
A self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot.
avatar: noun
An embodiment, as of a quality or concept; an archetype
banal: adjective
Drearily commonplace and often predictable; trite
blotto: adjective
Intoxicated; drunk
cabal: noun
A clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue
caprice: noun
An impulsive change of mind.
caveat: noun
A warning or caution
circuitous: adjective
Being or taking a roundabout, lengthy course
concomitant: adjective
Occurring or existing concurrently; attendant
constitutional: noun
A walk taken regularly for one's health.
consumption: noun
Pulmonary tuberculosis (no longer in technical use)
cosset: verb
To pamper.
coterie: noun
A small, often select group of persons who associate with one another frequently.
curmudgeon: noun
An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions.
deleterious: adjective
Having a harmful effect; injurious
denouement: noun
The final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot
desiccate: verb
To dry out thoroughly
diaphanous: adjective
Of such fine texture as to be transparent or translucent
diaspora: noun
A dispersion of a people (esp. Jews) from their original homeland
dolorous: adjective
Marked by or exhibiting sorrow, grief, or pain.
dowager: noun
A widow who holds a title or property derived from her deceased husband.
dysphoria: noun
An emotional state characterized by anxiety, depression, or unease
ecumenical: adjective
Of worldwide scope or applicability; universal.
effete: adjective
Depleted of vitality, force, or effectiveness; exhausted
effluvial: noun
A usually invisible emanation or exhalation, as of vapor or gas.
ephemeral: adjective
Lasting for a markedly brief time
epicure: noun
A person with refined taste, especially in food and wine.
exigency: noun
The state or quality of requiring much effort or immediate action
explicate: verb
To make clear the meaning of; explain.
floe: noun
A segment that has separated from such an ice mass.
florid: adjective
Flushed with rosy color; ruddy.
foist: verb
To pass off as genuine, valuable, or worthy
folie a deux: noun
A condition in which symptoms of a mental disorder occur simultaneously in two individuals who share a close relationship or association.
garret: noun
A room on the top floor of a house, typically under a pitched roof; an attic.
gentrification: verb
The restoration and upgrading of deteriorated urban property by middle-class or affluent people
germinal: adjective
Of, relating to, or occurring in the earliest stage of development
grandiloquent: noun
Pompous or bombastic speech or expression.
guile: noun
Treacherous cunning; skillful deceit
hale: verb
To compel to go
harangue: noun
A long pompous speech, especially one delivered before a gathering
hedging: verb
To minimize or protect against the loss of by counterbalancing one transaction
husbanded: verb
To use sparingly or economically; conserve
impasse: noun
A situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made
impunity: noun
Exemption from punishment, penalty, or harm
intercession: noun
Entreaty in favor of another, especially a prayer or petition to God in behalf of another.
interlocutor: noun
Someone who takes part in a conversation, often formally or officially.
inure: verb
To habituate to something undesirable, especially by prolonged subjection; accustom
ire: noun
Anger; wrath
jag: noun
A period of overindulgence in an activity; a spree
jaunt: noun
A short trip or excursion, usually for pleasure; an outing
lackadaisical: adjective
Lacking spirit, liveliness, or interest; languid
lapis: noun
A medium to dark blue.
laudanum: noun
A tincture of opium, formerly used as a drug.
leitmotif: noun
A dominant and recurring theme, as in a novel.
litany: noun
A liturgical prayer consisting of a series of petitions recited by a leader alternating with fixed responses by the congregation
manque: adjective
Unfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition
mensch: noun
A person having admirable characteristics, such as fortitude and firmness of purpose
miasma: noun
A noxious atmosphere or influence
mire: verb
To cause to sink or become stuck in or as if in mire.
misanthropic: adjective
Characterized by a hatred or mistrustful scorn for humankind
mise en scene: noun
The arrangement of performers and properties on a stage for a theatrical production or before the camera in a film.
morass: noun
Something that hinders, engulfs, or overwhelms
nadir: noun
The lowest point
narcosis: noun
A condition of deep stupor or unconsciousness produced by a drug or other chemical substance.
nihilism: noun
An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.
ostensible: adjective
Represented or appearing as such; ostensive
palimpsest: noun
An object, place, or area that reflects its history
palpable: adjective
Capable of being handled, touched, or felt; tangible
panacea: noun
A remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all.
pantheon: noun
A temple dedicated to all gods.
paroxysm: noun
A sudden outburst of emotion or action
parricide: noun
The murdering of one's father, mother, or other near relative.
pathos: noun
A quality, as of an experience or a work of art, that arouses feelings of pity, sympathy, tenderness, or sorrow.
perspicacity: noun
Acuteness of perception, discernment, or understanding.
pittance: noun
A very small amount
plaint: noun
A complaint
pogrom: noun
An organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of a minority group
polemic: noun
A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine.
pragmatic: adjective
Dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical.
precarious: adjective
Dangerously lacking in security or stability
prestidigitation: noun
Performance of or skill in performing magic or conjuring tricks with the hands; sleight of hand.
preternatural: adjective
Out of or being beyond the normal course of nature; differing from the natural.
promulgate: verb
To make known (a decree, for example) by public declaration; announce officially
protract: verb
To draw out or lengthen in time; prolong
pulchritude: noun
Great physical beauty and appeal.
redolent: adjective
Having or emitting fragrance; aromatic.
reprieve: verb
To postpone or cancel the punishment of.
reprobate: noun
A morally unprincipled person.
resplendent: adjective
Splendid or dazzling in appearance; brilliant.
rotary: noun
Traffic circle
rote: noun
A memorizing process using routine or repetition, often without full attention or comprehension
scruple: noun
An uneasy feeling arising from conscience or principle that tends to hinder action
seamy: adjective
Sordid; base
semiotics: noun
The theory and study of signs and symbols, especially as elements of language or other systems of communication
sordid: adjective
Filthy or dirty; foul.
stasis: noun
A condition of balance among various forces; motionlessness
stein: noun
A mug, especially one for beer, usually holding about a pint.
sunder: verb
To break or wrench apart; sever
surcease: verb
To bring or come to an end; stop.
surreptitious: adjective
Obtained, done, or made by clandestine or stealthy means.
Svengali: noun
A person who, with evil intent, tries to persuade another to do what is desired
swain: noun
A beau.
tacit: adjective
Not spoken
tawdry: adjective
Gaudy and cheap in nature or appearance
traipse: verb
To walk or tramp about; gad
unfetter: verb
To set free or keep free from restrictions or bonds.
untrammeled: adjective
Not limited or restricted; unrestrained.
utilitarian: adjective
Of, relating to, or in the interests of utility
vagary: adjective
An extravagant or erratic notion or action.
vernal: adjective
Of, relating to, or occurring in the spring.
vicissitude: noun
A change or variation.
viscous: noun
Having relatively high resistance to flow.
vituperative: adjective
Using, containing, or marked by harshly abusive censure.
whit: noun
The least bit; an iota

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Deck Info

Number of cards 128