Real GRE Word List Original

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n unconscionable: unscrupulous; not guided by conscience; excessive; beyond reason; Ex. unconscionable demand
transitory: transient; impermanent; fleeting; N. transitoriness
n maritime: bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces
n spatula: broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
n leeway: room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline
n mayhem: injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim
s rake: immoral or dissolute person
herbivorous: grain-eating; CF. herbivore
adversity: great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
unwarranted: unjustified; having no justification; groundless; baseless; undeserved
n flail: beat with or as if with a flail; move wildly; thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about; N: threshing tool consisting of a stick swinging from the end of a long handle
sacrilegious: desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration, misuse, or theft of something sacred
s slaughter: killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher (animals) for food; kill in large numbers
n alcove: nook; recess
n insinuate: hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex. insinuate himself into the boss's favor; CF. ingratiate
n enunciate: announce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory was first enunciated by him.
n levy: impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect (a tax); Ex. levy a tax on tobacco
s righteous: morally upright; just
n ordination: ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest
deflect: turn aside; turn away from a straight course
theocracy: government run by religious leaders
beget: father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
convert: one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief
n posthumous: after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death); coming or occurring after one's death; Ex. posthumous fame/novel
epoch: period of time
n spoonerism: accidental transposition of sounds in successive words; Ex. ``Let me sew you to your sheet'' for ``Let me show you to your seat''; CF. William Spooner
n hubbub: confused uproar; loud noise; din
propulsive: driving forward; N. propulsion
extort: wring from; get money by threats, etc.; obtain by force or threats; CF. extortionate: exorbitant
paucity: scarcity; dearth
n slither: slip or slide
prestige: respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
s vain: full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity
terminology: terms used in a science or art; study of nomenclature
pandemic: widespread; affecting the majority of people; N: pandemic disease; CF. all people
pliant: flexible; easily influenced
astute: wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
therapeutic: curative; N. therapy
secession: withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership
n sordid: filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
ascetic: practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
bent: determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination
s toll: sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals; N: sound of a bell; fixed tax or charge
integrity: honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being whole and undivided; completeness
pugilist: boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing
aesthetic: artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
s shoot: new growth from a plant
n scuttle: sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull
n mandate: order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another country; power to given to a government; region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex. mandated territory
n inveigle: deceive; lead astray by deception; wheedle(cajole); Ex. inveigle her into joining the club; CF. interest dishonestly
n comport: bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
n brocade: rich, figured(patterned) fabric
n circumspect: prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
lateral: of or coming from the side
traverse: go through or across
transcendent: exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing; V. transcend: go beyond; exceed; surpass; N. transcendancy
concomitant: that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else
divine: perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
n ineluctable: irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable
catastrophe: calamity ; disaster
n daub: smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
s defect: shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
s grunt: utter a deep guttural sound (as a pig does); N.
s sound: in good condition; showing good judgment or good sense; thorough; complete; Ex. sound mind/investment/training
n jaunt: trip; short journey
n veritable: being truly so; real or genuine; actual; not false or imaginary
n percussion: striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion
n perdition: damnation; complete ruin; hell
aspirant: seeker after position or status
subsidiary: serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
n salient: prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features
s undertaker: funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials
s nebula: diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy
viscous: (of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF. consistency
dexterous: skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
n beeline: direct quick route
restraint: moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
invincible: unconquerable
convoke: call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
n flag: droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ. flagging; CF. unflagging
n baroque: highly ornate
practicable: feasible
dolorous: sorrowful; N. dolor
s whine: complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as in pain or supplication)
excise: cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good produced and used inside a country; N. excision
saccharine: cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin
predetermine: determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly
irrefutable: indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable
n morose: ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
dauntless: bold; fearless
parallelism: state of being parallel; similarity; analogy
s flutter: (of a bird with large wings) wave (the wings) lightly, rapidly, and irregularly; vibrate rapidly or erratically; fly by waving quickly; flitter; N.
entrepreneur: businessperson (who assumes the risk of a business venture); contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial
n tawdry: cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry
n zephyr: gentle breeze; west wind
oligarchy: government by a privileged few
s plumber: one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(pipes)
obsequy: funeral ceremony
affable: easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
decrepitude: state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
n scurrilous: abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
verity: quality of being true; lasting truth or principle; Ex. the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the eternal verities
n brunt: main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument
hallucination: delusion; false idea; false perception of objects with a compelling sense of their reality; objects so perceived; V. hallucinate; ADJ. hallucinatory
n gestate: evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth
s beware: be cautious (of)
s linger: loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going; continue or persist; be slow to disappear; Ex. The smell lingered for days.
n painstaking: taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through
lament: grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
rigid: hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule
s enterprise: willingness to take new ventures; initiative; business organization; plan (that is difficult or daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round the world in a small boat
dilute: make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president
hatch: deck opening; lid covering a deck opening; V: emerge from an egg; produce (young) from an egg
s bristle: short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
n shackle: chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.
n killjoy: grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others
ensue: follow (as a result)
expatriate: exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish; leave one's country
n waylay: ambush; lie in wait for and attack
n obfuscate: confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand
s stink: stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
marital: pertaining to marriage
s nonsense: speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
immune: resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity
imperceptible: unnoticeable; impossible to perceive; undetectable
pertinent: suitable; to the point; relevant
n husband: use sparingly; conserve; save; Ex. husband one's energy; CF. house holder
carnal: fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
gyroscope: apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.
n gaunt: lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren
default: failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
precocious: advanced in development; N. precocity
converse: opposite; ADJ.
s precinct: division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college
docile: obedient; easily managed; submissive
spectral: ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
s hideous: repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex. hideous face/scream
n foliage: masses of leaves; CF. defoliate
n masticate: chew
incipient: beginning; in an early stage
n functionary: official (who performs a particular function)
n discombobulated: discomposed; confused
n demographic: related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
n moodiness: fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood: state of mind or emotion
s inasmuch_as: since; owing to the fact that
extirpate: root up; uproot; destroy completely
exonerate: acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
severity: harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense
n scintillate: sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation
acquittal: deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
s smudge: dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
n stultify: make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression
stoic: stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
s spare: give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time
economy: efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources
n hover: hang about; (of birds or aircraft) stay in the air in one place; (of people) wait nearby; stay around one place; waver; be in an uncertain state
n peon: landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage
affliction: state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
n pejorative: (of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect; Ex. Many women now considers ``housewife'' a pejorative expression, because it patronized them.
s postmortem: autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem
n welter: confusion; turmoil; confused mass; bewildering jumble; Ex. welter of data
n salubrious: healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health
n wrest: obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence; Ex. wrest victory from their grasp
prototype: original work used as a model by others
n sidereal: relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
anthropoid: manlike; resembling a human being; N.
n celibate: abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy
punctilious: minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful attention payed to every small exact detail
abstinence: restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
n dotage: senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage
n flit: fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
amiable: agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
hostility: unfriendliness; hatred; enmity; ADJ. hostile
vertigo: severe dizziness; giddiness
s provision: act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure; provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement
n elysian: relating to paradise; blissful
zenith: point directly overhead in the sky; summit; acme; highest point
n fructify: bear fruit; produce fruit
n unearth: dig up; discover (facts) by careful searching; Ex. He unearthed some secrets about her; OP. conceal
spectrum: colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts
n tycoon: wealthy and powerful businessperson; wealthy leader; magnate; Ex. business tycoon
n disingenuous: not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
n inarticulate: speechless; producing indistinct speech; not articulate; not expressing oneself clearly
n sartorial: pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
s buffoon: stupid person; clown
s coma: deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow
eclipse: darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse
obsequious: slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic
n manifestation: outward demonstration; manifesting; indication of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation of his pronounced musical bent
n waif: homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
antithesis: contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
s foul: very bad or disagreeable; very dirty; Ex. foul smell/flavor/temper/language/air/deed/weather/means; N. act against the rules; V. make or become foul; commit a foul
sophisticated: worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
illuminate: brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten; enable to understand; Ex. illuminating remarks
n onerous: burdensome
squander: waste; spend foolishly
s hail: frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate hail
centigrade: denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)
disparage: belittle
n travail: strenuous work; toil; painful labor; labor of childbirth
mandatory: obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
chameleon: lizard that changes color in different situations
n terminus: last stop of railroad; end
n frond: fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
n appurtenances: subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
n outstrip: outrun; surpass; outdo
n turpitude: depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude
n blowhard: talkative boaster; braggart
n abash: embarrass
n retrench: cut down; cut down expenses; economize
beneficent: kindly; doing good
consonance: harmony; agreement
n fete(f^ete): honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a feast; N. (outdoor) festival or feast; CF. feast
matriarch: woman who rules a family or larger social group
n protuberance: protrusion; swelling; bulge
culmination: highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
s detain: keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
n quotidian: daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine
n preempt: prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of; displace; Ex. preempt any attempts; ADJ. preemptive
s incinerate: burn to ashes
degenerate: become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
s chapel: small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)
n hilarity: boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ. hilarious: full of laughter
lucrative: profitable; producing wealth
contend: struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly
n lien: legal claim or right on a property
s prank: mischievous trick
inopportune: untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly chosen
s litter: waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter
s lush: (of a plant or grass) growing very well
s clot: half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
vagrant: wandering from place to place; roving; stray; moving in a random fashion; Ex. vagrant thoughts; N. vagrancy
n flay: strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly
n fritter: waste (time or money on unimportant things)
n itinerant: wandering; traveling from place to place (to perform work); Ex. itinerant preacher
s chancellor: legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor
redolent: odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
s inamorata: woman whom a man loves
pinnacle: peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
pathetic: causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching
anchor: secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
n captious: faultfinding; too critical
s cue: word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to
n babble: chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
s maraud: move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
ingenious: marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N. ingenuity
n relish: enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
appropriate: acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
n solecism: nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette
precept: practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept
n verisimilar: having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible
n patina: green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting
altruistic: unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
n spangle: small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
n flick: light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light quick blow; strike with a light quick blow (as from a whip); Ex. flick the switch
succumb: yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness
n resurge: rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again
n mutilate: maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part
attrition: rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
omniscient: all-knowing
s fit: sudden outburst of an illness or feeling; convulsion caused by epilepsy
n exuberance: overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness; ADJ. exuberant: high-spirited and lively; growing abundantly and strongly
s warrant: justification; written order that serves as authorization (esp. a judicial writ); Ex. search/death warrant; V: justify; guarantee
n comeuppance: deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke
inept: unsuited; inappropriate; lacking skill; incompetent; CF. inapt: (of statements or ideas) inappropriate
antecedents: preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
genre: particular variety of art or literature
delusion: false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
n poultice: soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
preponderance: superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V. preponderate: be greater in power, weight, or importance; ADJ. preponderant
n bedizen: dress with vulgar finery
n catechism: book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize
n osseous: made of bone; bony
irrepressible: unable to be restrained or held back; impossible to hold back
n prosody: art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse
defer: give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
n incorporeal: without a material body; insubstantial
n doggerel: poor verse
artifacts: object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
impetus: moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse
comprehensive: broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive
n quirk: sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate
n predispose: give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition
n grouse: complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump chickenlike game bird
s maroon: leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
n cubicle: small chamber used for sleeping or work
s mass: Christian religious ceremony; CF. Mass: ceremony of the Eucharist
n respite: time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment; reprieve
n parlance: language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance
abjure: renounce upon oath
convention: social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement
n instigate: start; urge; provoke; incite; Ex. instigate a search/quarrel
apprehend: arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
s morgue: mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation
n furor: frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury
n unctuous: oily; bland; insincerely suave
cohere: stick together
n milieu: social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.
propound: put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory
n minuscule(miniscule): extremely small
n torrent: rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.
anguish: acute pain; extreme suffering
n founder: fail completely; sink; CF. flounder
n fatalism: belief that events are determined by forces or fates beyond one's control; ADJ. fatalistic; CF. fatal: causing death
infiltrate: pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an organization) sneakily; Ex. infiltrate the troops into enemy territory; CF. infiltrator
s parchment: writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat
genesis: beginning; origin
irremediable: incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy
indefatigable: tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting tired
facilitate: help bring about; make less difficult
s vying: contending; CF. vie
peregrination: journey; V. peregrinate
reprimand: reprove severely; rebuke; N.
plutocracy: society ruled by the wealthy
n meek: submissive; patient and long-suffering
s pen: fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
cleave: split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven
n lode: metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)
n exceptionable: objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable
n apex: tip; summit; climax; highest point
n bolster: support; reinforce
s vulture: carrion-eating birds
n kindred: related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N: relative; kin; kinship
n warren: tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live
n fell: cut or knock down (a tree or a person); bring down (with a missile)
n purse: pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
anemia: condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
n proselytize: (induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion
engender: cause; produce; give rise to
diligence: steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
n geniality: cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy; ADJ. genial: cheerful and good-tempered
paraphernalia: equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman's property exclusive of her dowry
s mar: spoil the appearance of
impenetrable: not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding; impossible to understand; Ex. impenetrable mystery
n careen: lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
elicit: draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone)
n philatelist: stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
climactic: relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
n tarantula: venomous spider
s dissension: disagreement of opinions causing strife within a group
maneuver(manoeuver): strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end
n shard: fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay bowl, or cup)
n untoward: unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter
n fluster: confuse; make nervous and confused; N.
vagabond: wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp
reactionary: strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical
n impervious: impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being affected (in one's opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism
n irascible: irritable; easily angered
condole: express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow
s hull: husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship
n penumbra: partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow
s indulge: yield to; gratify; allow oneself a special pleasure; Ex. indulge one's every whim/a child/in a big cigarette; N. indulgence
s dull: (of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.
venture: risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
n equestrian: rider on horseback; ADJ.
s blackball: vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote
n quizzical: curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying); questioning; teasing; mocking; bantering; Ex. quizzical glance
s scrappy: quarrelsome
n don: put on; OP. doff
n mollify: soothe an angry person
alloy: mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
influx: flowing into
conscript: draftee; person forced into military service; V.
n canvass: determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.
n artless: without guile; open and honest
obstreperous: boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable
actuarial: calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
n strident: loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
palpable: tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious; Ex. palpable blunder
asymmetric: not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
unaccountable: unexplicable; impossible to account for; unreasonable or mysterious
stratagem: deceptive scheme; clever trick
n burnish: make shiny by rubbing; polish
s healthy: possessing good health; healthful
s personify: represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification
s trim: make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by removing what is unnecessary; ornament; decorate (round the edges); Ex. trim the cost; Ex. jacket trimmed with fur; N. ADJ: tidy; in good order
corollary: natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
n militate: work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier
multilingual: having many languages; fluent in several languages
n tensile: capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. tensile rubber
s groom: man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush (an animal)
n unassuming: modest; Ex. the champion's unassuming manner
n sinuous: twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
indelible: not able to be erased
languish: lose animation or strength
n seamy: sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life
wily: crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem
n swarthy: (of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?
n clientele: body of customers
deranged: insane
stealth: action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
n bate: let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate
subliminal: below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
cryptic: mysterious; hidden; secret
s memoir: memoirs; autobiography; biography
kernel: central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)
s smother: kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in little stickers
n bohemian: unconventional (in an artistic way)
paragon: model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue
homespun: domestic; made at home; spun or woven at home; simple and ordinary; Ex. homespun philosophy
abrasive: rubbing away; tending to grind down
n jovial: good-natured; merry; cheerful
n raconteur: story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill
n bait: harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
exacerbate: worsen; aggravate; embitter
n quiescent: dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence
obligatory: binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate
n gentry: people of standing(rank or position); people of good family or high social position; class of people just below nobility
opiate: medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium
reminiscence: recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
reproach: blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval or disappointment; N. ADJ. reproachful
n unkempt: disheveled; uncared for in appearance; not combed; CF. comb
n minion: servile dependent; obsequious follower
metaphysical: pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality
s nova: star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness
unfeigned: genuine; real
s dowry: money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage
apprise: inform
s denomination: religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic
acumen: mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
n prosaic: lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; CF. prose
recant: disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant one's faith/a statement
antagonism: hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
n coeval: living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age
s leash: restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
analogy: similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
n retentive: holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory
craven: cowardly
s studious: given to diligent study
taxonomist: specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF. taxonomy: science of classification
agility: nimbleness; ability to move quickly
replete: fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
verge: border; edge, rim, or margin; Ex. on the verge of: very near to; V: border on
s rake: angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular
n crabbed: sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
n splice: join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.
recrimination: countercharges; V. recriminate
n bivouac: temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
autocratic: having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
n pugnacity: combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious: (of people) belligerent; combative in nature
n hew: cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.
n certitude: certainty
waive: give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim
s growl: low, guttural, menacing sound (as of a dog)
n murky: dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom
unfrock: defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority
n holocaust: destruction by fire; CF. burnt whole; CF. Holocaust
n acrid: bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
parasite: animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; CF. para-: beside
n evenhanded: impartial; fair
n insidious: treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading harmfully in a stealthy manner; Ex. insidious spreading of dry rot
n hyperbole: exaggeration; overstatement; ADJ. hyperbolic: of hyperbole; of a hyperbola
n infidel: unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion)
vagrant: homeless wanderer
annex: attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
n volatile: changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile character/situation in the street
n thespian: pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress
derelict: negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
eulogistic: praising; full of eulogy
equanimity: calmness of temperament; composure
n peccadillo: slight offense or fault; CF. sin
centrifuge: machine that separates substances by whirling them
cosmic: pertaining to the universe; vast
n striated: marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
effigy: dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President
n plaudit: praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud
amicable: peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
constraint: restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison
supplant: take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
annuity: yearly allowance
n rebuff: reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
n confound: confuse; puzzle
s flowery: full of flowers; full of ornate expressions
n legerdemain: sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
s hindsight: understanding the nature of an event after it has actually happened
s menace: threat; V: threaten
n vendetta: blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams
s abode: dwelling place; home
n loom: appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct, or distorted form); Ex. The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly. N: apparatus for making thread into cloth
n nebulous: vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal
s bastard: illegitimate child
intelligentsia: intellectuals; members of the educated elite (often used derogatorily)
rendezvous: meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.
momentous: very important; N. moment; CF. momentary
n dupe: someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
anarchy: absence of governing body; state of disorder
melee: fight
indisputable: too certain to be disputed; beyond doubt
n mangy: shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance
accolade: award of merit; strong praise and approval
astronomical: enormously large or extensive
s pang: sudden sharp feeling of pain
s lunatic: insane; Ex. lunatic asylum
s impoverish: make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil
noncommittal: neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided
n askance: with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
etymology: study of word parts; study of the origins of words
indigent: poor; destitute
amorous: moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
equinox: period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial
s sledge: large sled drawn by work animals
enthrall: capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of (as if magic); hold spellbound
n skinflint: miser; stingy person
n clangor: loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
n jostle: shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly; Ex. jostled by the crowds
n scad: a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes
s flirt: behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal triflingly with; N: one (or woman) given to flirting; ADJ. flirtatious
n effervescence: inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce
n uproarious: marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy (esp. with laughter); hilarious; causing loud laughter; extremely funny
n unmitigated: (of something bad) not moderated; unrelieved or immoderate; without qualification; absolute; Ex. unmitigated disaster
n ample: enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
n epigram: witty thought or saying, usually short
s snip: short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors
underlying: lying below; fundamental
accretion: growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
n incantation: singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant
belittle: disparage; depreciate
adhere: stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
couple: join; unite; OP. uncouple
intermittent: periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at intervals
credence: belief
n crestfallen: dejected; dispirited
liaison: contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups; one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection
apposite: appropriate; fitting
s padre: chaplain (in the armed forces)
n phylum: major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division
bicker: quarrel
n laceration: torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin as with broken glass); wound
impecunious: without money
emend: correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement
n nettle: irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
n fluke: unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune; accidental stroke of good luck; ADJ. fluky
regeneration: spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
dissection: analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
mammal: vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young
nomadic: wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place
s rustle: make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together
n muster: gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.
quaint: odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque
s inhibited: (of a person) unable to express what one really feels
n contravene: contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention
s ambush: act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.
s pronounced: distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp
s contrive: invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention
n jibe: agree; be in harmony with; gibe
repress: hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion
s tinge: give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N: slight degree of a color or quality; Ex. tinged with grey/jealousy
n litigation: lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V. litigate
n scoff: laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats
detrimental: harmful; damaging; N. detriment
n palimpsest: parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased
invalidate: weaken; destroy; make invalid; nullify
n duplicity: double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
n upbraid: reprimand; severely scold
n luminary: celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object that gives light (as a celestial body)
n olfactory: concerning the sense of smell
n shun: keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by her neighbors.
combustible: easily burned; N. CF. combustion
n buccaneer: pirate
rebuke: scold harshly; criticize severely
n imbue: saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings
s headfirst: moving with the head leading; headlong
effectual: able to produce a desired effect; valid
s boost: lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase
eloquence: expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced
beseech: beg; plead with
n apiary: a place where bees are kept
salvage: rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved
gullible: easily deceived
n ignominy: deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat
temperate: moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature; CF. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society
s backslide: revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
n brackish: somewhat saline
incongruity: lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous: lacking in harmony; inappropriate
guise: outward appearance; costume; Ex. in a new guise
dissent: disagree
surpass: exceed
n regiment: military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society
n rift: narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
validate: make valid; confirm; ratify
retrieve: recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex. retrieve the situation
impair: injure; hurt; damage
conclusive: decisive; ending all debate
s Shangri-la: imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost Horizon
s plump: pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
entomology: study of insects
n ashen: ash-colored; deadly pale
n ford: place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.
n revile: attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)
n savant: scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know
fusion: union; coalition; V. fuse
repel: drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion
n polemic: attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy
n nugatory: worthless; futile
n foray: raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.
cathartic: purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
n vindicate: clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one's client; Ex. vindicate one's claim; CF. vindicator
autonomous: self-governing; N. autonomy
n fleck: spot; mark with flecks; N: small mark or spot
n vacillate: waver (in opinion); fluctuate; sway to and fro; N. vacillation
n ignoble: unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed
encroachment: gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another's possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon
dilate: expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
s credential: evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.
outspoken: candid; blunt
n decry: express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
n wispy: thin; slight; barely discernible
s unceremonious: not done politely without due formalities
n phlegmatic: calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract
clandestine: secret
conviction: judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief
loiter: hang about/around; stand idly about; linger
n barefaced: shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
pivotal: of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
s correlate: either of the correlated things; V.
n apologist: one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
n rife: (of something bad) widespread; abundant; current
paraphrase: restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words
platonic: purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
erode: eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks.
n ravine: narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon
s compulsive: resulting from compulsion
n gossamer: sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb
mobile: movable; not fixed; N. mobility
inveterate: deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old
n overweening: arrogant; presumptuous
n insensate: without feeling; lacking sense; foolish
laud: praise; N. ADJ. laudable: praiseworthy; ADJ. laudatory: expressing praise
provincial: pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated
inception: start; beginning
n sherbet: flavored dessert ice
n fetid(foetid): malodorous; foul
n gainsay: deny
n raucous: (of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts
n diorama: life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
philanderer: faithless lover; flirt
s remittance: remitting of money; amount of money remitted
n descry: catch sight of (something distant)
intrepid: fearless
n latitude: freedom from narrow limitations
s botch: mismanage; blow
n rankle: irritate; fester; annoy
optimist: person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism
grievance: cause of complaint; complaint
s dissonance: discord
cognate: having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
soluble: able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved
repeal: revoke; annul
inflated: exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)
solitude: state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary: existing or living alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded; single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of proof
aghast: filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
s stately: formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
eccentric: irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric
n clime: climate
n lexicon: dictionary
n stymie: thwart; present an obstacle; stump
peerless: having no equal; incomparable
s stench: strong foul odor; reek; stink
accost: approach and speak first to a person
fauna: animals of a period or region; CF. flora
egotistical: egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited
n caste: one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige
n ragamuffin: dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes
s freebooter: pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich
n onus: burden; responsibility
s avantgarde: group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
s dazzle: make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder
n odious: arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile
s draught: current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid swallowed at a time
s glare: shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.
n vogue: popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.
manifest: evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly
n baleful: evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
n draconian: extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
n clemency: disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
s confidence: self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling you this in confidence; Ex. exchange confidences about their boyfriends; ADJ. confident
nauseate: cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea
preeminent: outstanding; superior
n seedy: run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel
n gouge: overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex. gouge the public; CF. usury
n riveting: holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing
n fanfare: call by bugles or trumpets; showy display; spectacular public display
n palpitate: throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.
n untenable: (of a position, esp. in an argument) indefensible; not able to be maintained
n parched: extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)
n tangential: only slightly connected; not central; peripheral; digressing; showing divergence; CF. tangent
negligible: so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded
s putrefy: make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
mosaic: picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.
s collected: composed; calm; self-possessed
n sententious: pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic
unfaltering: steadfast; firm; not changing
extricate: free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle
n distinction: honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
n vent: small opening; outlet (as of fumes or a gas); Ex. He gave vent to his anger by kicking the chair.
infallible: unerring; never making mistakes
unique: without an equal; single in kind
s boor: rude, insensitive person
n buffoonery: clowning
n douse: plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse
analogous: comparable; similar
n quiver: case for arrows
buoyant: able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market
s culprit: one guilty of a crime
n hubris: arrogance; excessive self-conceit
reiterate: repeat
consanguinity: kinship; relationship by birth
s mime: pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic; pantomime
vital: full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize
n mannered: affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech
n rotundity: roundness; sonorousness of speech
s polar: of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex. polar opposites
n provenance: place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come
n confidant(confidante): trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)
n myriad: very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand
s dishonor: disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
n besmirch: soil; defile; make dirty
diverge: vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
n vituperative: abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively
s swipe: hit with a sweeping motion; N.
conduit: aqueduct; passageway for fluids
perpetuate: make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity
s lot: object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land
execute: put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution
benediction: blessing
n pulchritude: beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous
exorcise: drive out evil spirits
n halcyon: calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days
monastic: related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns
insurmountable: overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable
s constitution: constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions
n sluice: artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
n fray: brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have loose threads developing; cause to become worn out (a person's temper or nerves); CF. rub
n quandary: dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a quandary about whether to go.
n bleak: cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing
monotony: sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone
intervene: come between; interfere; Ex. intervened to prevent a fight; N. intervention
distill: refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew
n comatose: in a coma; extremely sleepy
s license: official or legal permission; latitude of action or speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or damage; V.
s nectar: drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
propensity: natural inclination
torpor: lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; ADJ. torpid: lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of an animal) dormant; hibernating
transition: going from one state of action to another
s stampede: sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals or people); V: participate in or cause stampede; Ex. stampede before the price rises
n musky: having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer
prognosticate: predict (according to present indications)
implausible: unlikely (to be true); unbelievable; Ex. implausible alibi
predicament: difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma
dispassionate: calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
s chaplain: clergyman attached to a chapel
n quarry: dig into (to get stone); N: mine; Ã¤¼®Àå
dorsal: relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
ardor: heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
s uproar: noisy confusion
n gaffe: social blunder
n patrician: noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian
affinity: feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
s plane: carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
incite: arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist; Ex. incite a riot/the crowd to rebellion
n garner: gather; store up; amass
n plethora: excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
s finery: beautiful clothes for a special occasion
pragmatist: practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way of dealing with things
coin: make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented
s forge: counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by heating in a forge and hammering into shape; move with a sudden increase of speed or power; Ex. forged ahead in the last two years; N: furnace where metals are heated
s malapropos: inappropriate; ADV.
glutton: someone who eats too much; ADJ. gluttonous: given to gluttony; greedy; CF. gluttony: habit of eating too much
s choir: group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services); place for choir
anonymity: state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
n haven: place of safety; refuge; harbor; Ex. tax haven
n portly: stout; corpulent
n larceny: theft; Ex. petit larceny
misogamy: hatred of marriage
n tentative: not fully worked out or developed; provisional; experimental; uncertain; hesitant; not definite or positive; Ex. tentative agreement/reply
indulgent: humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence
n kismet: fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.
s ruminant: animal that ruminates; ADJ.
n ethnic: relating to races
enhance: increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or usefulness); improve
responsiveness: state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.; ADJ. responsive: readily reacting; Ex. responsive to treatment
infraction: violation (of a rule or regulation); breach
amplify: increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
multiform: having many forms
fraudulent: cheating; deceitful; Ex. fraudulent means; N. fraud: deception; swindle
n waggish: humorous; mischievous; tricky
commandeer: take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes
finale: conclusion; concluding part
n ramp: slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
s vivid: (of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking lifelike mental images; Ex. vivid red hair/description
n sphinx-like: enigmatic; mysterious
n glaze: cover with a thin and shiny surface; apply a glaze to; N: thin, smooth, shiny coating (as for pottery); Ex. unglazed pottery
subjective: influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence
n vignette: small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene
n leery: (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious
consequential: self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
anneal: reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
n officious: meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy
s finished: properly made and complete; Ex. finished product/performance
n conifer: pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen
lethal: deadly
cloister: monastery or convent
s rhapsody: excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)
synchronous: similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring at the same time; V. synchronize
equable: tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform
propellant(propellent): substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)
n mauve: pale purple
commodious: spacious and comfortable
satirical: using satire; mocking
anomaly: irregularity
n vernacular: living language (as compared to the official language); language spoken in a country or region; natural style; Ex. lapse into the vernacular
s breed: produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant
clich'e: phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich'ed
n colander: utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
aseptic: preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
arch-: chief; first; Ex. archbishop
gnome: dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure hoards
s knack: special talent; art
missile: object to be thrown or projected
resolve: decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined decision; N. resolution
concur: agree; coincide; happen at the same time
n peripatetic: walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy
destitute: extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
insurgent: rebellious; N.
s cemetery: place for burying the dead
n lap: take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently; Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person
irrevocable: unalterable; irreversible; impossible to revoke
optician: maker and seller of eyeglasses
n pretentious: ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim to be art
n hireling: one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously); one who works solely for compensation; Ex. hireling politician
n wallow: roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury
n collage: work of art put together from fragments
n magnate: person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate
foreshadow: give an indication beforehand; be a sign of (what is coming); portend; prefigure
dilemma: situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
condiments: seasonings; spices
n stockade: wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
s vigil: keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); Ex. all-night vigil
n limpid: crystal clear
s coax: persuade by flattery
s dart: move or throw suddenly and quickly
cadaverous: like a corpse; pale
s dyslexia: word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read
glacial: like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg
s transpose: reverse the order or position of
retort: quick sharp reply; V.
vehement: forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence
astringent: binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
disseminate: distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
n testy: irritable; impatient and bad-tempered; short-tempered; N. testiness
embryonic: undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of development
perjury: false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath
figurative: not literal but metaphorical; using a figure(impression) of speech
sect: separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group
s score: number of points; written form of a musical composition; reason; group of 20; notch or incision; Ex. full/vocal score; Ex. Don't worry on that score; V: mark with lines or notches; Ex. score the paper to make it easy to fold
zealot: one who is zealous; fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
s habitat: natural home of a plant or animal; CF. habitation
dynamic: energetic; vigorously active
awe: solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
n filch: steal (things of small value)
n saturnine: morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.
expenditure: payment or expense; expending; something expended; output; Ex. receipt for the expenditure; Ex. expenditure of all the energy
cursory: casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
dilatory: delaying; tending to delay
n ruffian: violent scoundrel; bully
s monograph: scholarly article
n obnoxious: offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell
undermine: weaken gradually; sap; dig a mine beneath
n meretricious: flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute
authoritarian: subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
n cavil: quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
s indecision: irresolution; inability to make up one's mind
n pedantic: bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry
tremulous: trembling; wavering
s liquidate: settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate; kill or abolish
n prevail: be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do something
n mote: small speck (esp. of dust)
n atavism: resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
n staid: serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
n swerve: deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course; Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the right.
n viand: food; CF. live
n chafe: warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
decimate: kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
s unregenerate: making no attempt to change one's bad practices
n brusque: blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice
n tantamount: equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount
n rarefied: made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
s artery: blood-vessel; CF. vein
n dote: be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
anthropomorphic: having human form or characteristics
n compromise: adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one's principle; N.
animosity: active enmity
resumption: taking up again; recommencement; V. resume: begin or take up again; take or occupy again; Ex. Kindly resume your seats.
s rickety: (of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets; CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D
hybrid: mongrel; mixed breed; V. hybridize
n buffet: strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set
adjuration: solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
n monolithic: solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone
n retroactive: taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax); (of a law) having effect on the past as well as the future
obloquy: slander; disgrace; infamy
n problematic: causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.
s filth: dirty matter; ADJ. filthy
n actuate: motivate; activate; cause to act
concave: hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
acuity: sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
n venial: (of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial
s dispense: distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule
n flaccid: flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles
s stumble: trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act falteringly; N.
n jollity: gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay
contentious: quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
n capitulate: surrender; give up all resistance
s sidetrack: switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from a main issue; N. CF. siding: short section of railroad track connected by switches with a main track
verbose: wordy; N. verbosity
seasoned: experienced
warranted: justified; authorized
s nutritious: providing nourishment
n browse: graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
component: element; ingredient
s slap: hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
n homily: sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic
n auroral: pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
s prosperous: successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off
paradigm: model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word
epitome: perfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody
n checkered(chequered): marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares
s inebriate: make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person
grudging: unwilling; reluctant; stingy(giving reluctantly)
arbiter: person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
pauper: very poor person
n squat: short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
dilapidated: falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
s sneak: move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky
martial: warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law
imbibe: drink in
disdain: treat with scorn or contempt
vaporize: turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)
n putrid: decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity
exalt: raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex. exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation
s elope: run away secretly with the intention of getting married
n shyster: lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner
perspicuity: clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
n yoke: join together; unite; N: crossbar used to joining two draft animals
n spat: squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
elusive: evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes me.
n fluted: having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column
estranged: separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N. estrangement
faculty: mental or bodily powers; teaching staff
galleon: large three-masted sailing ship
inconsistency: state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness; ADJ. inconsistent: displaying a lack of consistency; erratic; contradictory; incompatible
evanescent: fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce
n incrustation: hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust
jeopardize: endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy: danger
diversion: act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse
n cull: pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.
n advert: refer
n nonplus: put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
convene: come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council
s reckon: count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose
n peroration: conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length
rendition: rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc
facsimile: copy
s recite: repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation
convoluted: coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain
n argot: slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
perfidious: treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
s championship: position of champion; defense or support; competition held to determine a champion
tempo: speed of music
n carat(karat): unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold
s grumble: complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.
adept: expert at; very skilled
enjoin: command; order; forbid
n d'enouement: final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
s clown: act stupidly; play the fool; N.
n funereal: sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
s creep: move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.
aboriginal: being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
hieroglyphic: picture writing; ADJ.
efface: rub out; remove the surface of
n asunder: into parts; apart; V. sunder
resonant: (of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding loudly); deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance
forestall: prevent by taking action in advance
reprove: censure; rebuke; N. reproof
n braggart: boaster; bragger
pedagogy: teaching; art of education
condign: adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
jingoist: extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism
n tenuous: thin; slim; rare
prerogative: privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
s stammer: speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
n pith: core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
ventriloquist: someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing (without moving lips or jaws); N. ventriloquism, ventriloquy
ancestry: family descent; ADJ. ancestral
opulence: extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant
harass: annoy by repeated attacks
expertise: specialized knowledge (in a particular field); expert skill
n berate: scold strongly
n agape: openmouthed
n stygian: unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
n tortuous: winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain road
n dispirited: lacking in spirit
s circuit: closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place
ornate: excessively or elaborately decorated
microcosm: small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society
n wanderlust: strong longing to travel
n dapper: neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
anomalous: abnormal; irregular
n archaic: antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
s rag: scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance
distend: expand; swell out
n gratis: free; without charge; ADJ.
n scavenge: hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food; search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who scavenges; animal that feeds on refuse and carrion
s odds: chances; probability; disagreement; Ex. The odds are that it will rain. Ex. at odds with
endorse: approve; support; write one's signature on the back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal
s cremate: incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium
n welter: wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in blood); Ex. The victims weltered in their blood.
n aloof: apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
contention: assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
n coup: highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d''etat; CF. coup de gr^ace: deathblow or shot which kills
embrace: hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet
n ruddy: reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking
s pucker: gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
n prim: proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
enormity: hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous
n suborn: persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
n mock: ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision
s poise: good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
accessible: easy to approach; obtainable
annotate: comment; make explanatory notes
proscribe: prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
n plebeian: common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician
volition: act of using one's will; act of making a conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition.
oscillate: vibrate pendulumlike; waver
n dismiss: eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal
n maul: handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer
empirical: based on experience
n malapropism: comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop
censure: blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval
compatible: harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together
hindrance: block; obstacle; V. hinder
n coagulate: congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant
n inured: accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling
n ewe: female sheep
castigation: punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
hypocritical: pretending to be virtuous; deceiving; N. hypocrisy: profession of beliefs one does not possess; CF. hypocrite
n extrude: force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die
prolific: producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer
s egotism: tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively; conceit; self-importance
premise: assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based
n schism: division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split
s shift: change position or place; exchange (one thing) for another; change in direction or position; Ex. shift the stolen goods; N. group of workers which takes turns with other groups; working period of such a group
n codicil: supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
stringent: (of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
lechery: gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
n morbid: given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
s urgent: compelling immediate action; pressing; persistent; importunate; Ex. urgent in his demands
acute: (of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
s pudding: hot sweet dish
n dour: sullen; gloomy; stubborn
n amalgamate: (of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
n droll: queer and amusing
n plenitude: abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty
s magistrate: official with power to administer the law
s attire: clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
n saunter: stroll(go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.
n torque: twisting force; force producing rotation
n cursive: (of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined
curator: superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)
touchstone: stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion; standard
n transpire: (of a fact) become known; be revealed; happen; give off (watery waste matter) through pores
abusive: coarsely insulting; physically harmful
embed(imbed): enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass
n levitate: rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light
tenure: holding of an office or real estate; time during which such an office is held
s chorus: phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
armada: fleet of warships
subsistence: existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
n gourmand: epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink
s bully: one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.
n odium: detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)
n covenant: binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise
n titillate: tickle; excite pleasantly; Ex. not to titillate the audience but to enlighten it
s prefigure: be a sign of; foreshadow
cipher: nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
n cauterize: burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
n maelstrom: violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream
s persist: continue in existence; last; continue in a course of action in spite of opposition; Ex. persist in/with something; ADJ. persistent
log: record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk; V.
conception: beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception
s wrinkle: small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.
ratify: approve formally; confirm; verify
n squalor: condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story
n unbridled: violent; uncontrolled; Ex. unbridled rage/greed
n unison: unity of pitch (in musical performance); complete accord; Ex. The choir sang in unison.
n bland: soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
n indenture: bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind by indenture; N: contract binding one party into the service of another for a specified time (as between an apprentice and his master)
n swathe: swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages
n disinter: dig up; unearth; OP. inter
n uxorious: excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife; CF. uxor: wife
n turgid: swollen; distended (as from liquid)
apogee: highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
s engaged: employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict
frigid: intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone
n lineaments: features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line
decelerate: slow down
n disgorge: surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
n determinate: having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
n mete: measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
n bemoan: lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of
phobia: morbid fear
s marginal: of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal effect/writing ability
s trance: hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition
contaminate: pollute
s hysteria: excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric: person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack of hysteria
exploit: make use of, sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation
irreconcilable: impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able to be resolved
recapitulate: summarize
potent: powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
quietude: tranquillity; calmness
n frolicsome: prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky
imperturbable: unshakably calm; placid
n expropriate: take possession of (often for public use and without payment)
abject: (of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
n wreak: inflict; Ex. wreak one's vengeance on
stipulate: state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
n unwitting: not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex. She was their unwitting accomplice; Ex. unwitting insult; CF. wit: know
n bouillon: clear beef (or meat) soup
recourse: resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
s embitter: make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.
n repast: meal; feast; banquet
n blas'e: bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored
mode: prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life
n ultimatum: last demand; last warning; last statement of conditions that must be met; Ex. They have ignored our ultimatum.
demented: insane
disfigure: mar the appearance of; spoil
n blurt: utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement
adapt: make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
n rancid: having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
n harangue: long, passionate, and vehement speech; V.
s reinstate: restore to a previous condition or position
prodigious: enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory
amble: walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
stalemate: deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
n spurn: reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
predator: predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others; ADJ. predatory: living by preying on other organisms; plundering; N. predation
n cozen: cheat; hoodwink; swindle
n ostentatious: showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display
s hurl: throw forcefully; shout out violently
contusion: bruise
ambiguous: unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
diaphanous: sheer; transparent
n withdrawn: introverted; retiring; remote
n knotty: intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot
n aplomb: poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
n adage: wise saying; proverb
n slur: pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble
n hapless: unfortunate; luckless
premonitory: serving to warn
n bawdy: indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
n pert: (esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat
preposterous: absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
s loft: room or space under the roof; attic
intellect: higher mental powers; person of great intellectual ability
remorse: deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach
maladroit: clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling
counterpart: thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system
palette: board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring matters)
n grotto: small cavern
abridge: condense or shorten
s halfhearted: exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm
n die: metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
n manumit: emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
n sophomoric: immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
n perverse: purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity
s pedigree: ancestry; lineage
trajectory: path taken by a projectile; Ex. trajectory of a bullet
s bromide: platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
n episodic: (of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience
n molten: melted; Ex. molten lava
incorrigible: uncorrectable
millennium: thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity
incontinent: lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious
s remit: transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
affidavit: written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
n muse: ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)
n posture: assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose; attitude
n rakish: jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
admonish: warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
n fret: be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful
profusion: great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
deft: neat; skillful
s commonwealth: nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation
n taint: contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad; Ex. tainted reputation; N: stain; touch of decay or bad influence; CF. touch
n blithe(blithesome): gay; joyous
dichotomy: division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
affirmation: positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
deplore: regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition
s sprout: begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new growth on a plant; shoot
complement: complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
n ferret: drive or hunt out of hiding; hunt with ferrets; drive out (as from a hiding place); expel; uncover or discover by searching; Ex. ferret out the secret; N. small fierce animal which catches rats and rabbits by going into their holes
disjunction: act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
animadversion: critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
recuperate: recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses
conciliatory: reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)
n grapple: wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and struggle with; Ex. grapple with the burglar
n bereaved: deprived of (someone beloved through death)
annul: make void
n hackles: hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone's hackles rise
s resort: turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
n d'ecollet'e: (of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
atrophy: wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
n hurtle: crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling runaway train
n disquisition: formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
n supine: lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision
titanic: gigantic; N. titan
s wilt: loose freshness; droop
sporadic: occurring irregularly; intermittent
dispatch: speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
n indubitable: unable to be doubted; which cannot be doubted; unquestionable
ingrate: ungrateful person (not expressing thanks)
n exude: flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation
conceit: vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)
n intimate: hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship; familiar; private; personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or confidant; CF. intimacy
n drab: dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
n flamboyant: ornate; highly elaborate; richly colored; ostentatious; showy; CF. flame
n awl: pointed tool used for piercing
n scabbard: case for a sword blade; sheath
s penetrate: enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand
n rhapsodize: speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery
denounce: condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
n onomatopoeia: words formed in imitation of natural sounds
cascade: small waterfall
s overture: musical introduction to a long musical piece; first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace
s sprightly: lively
n bilk: swindle; cheat
s inquisitive: eager for knowledge; unduly curious
n horticultural: pertaining to cultivation of gardens; N. horticulture: science or art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants; CF. agriculture: science or art of farming or growing crops
s curfew: regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew
n pastiche: imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists
n jaded: tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued; surfeited; worn out; wearied; Ex. jaded appetite
s ward: administrative division of a city; division in a hospital or prison; incompetent person placed under the protection of a guardian; V: guard; ward off: avert
n smattering: slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German
s stoop: bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying
n lachrymose: producing tears; tearful
n hallowed: blessed; consecrated; Ex. hallowed ground; V. hallow: set apart as holy
delineate: portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
epic: long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art (celebrating the feats of a hero); ADJ: (of stories or events) resembling an epic; grand
n pander: cater to (the low desires of others)
n excoriate: scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off
s sullen: silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
n fractious: unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex. fractious horse
conducive: helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
s toss: throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion; flip (a coin) to decide something
s parish: area in the care of a single priest and served by one main church
s squash: crush; quash; suppress
n somber: dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow
n vixen: female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew
s outlook: point of view; view from a particular place; expectation for the future; prospect; Ex. outlook on life; Ex. pleasing outlook; Ex. weather outlook
n rebuttal: refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove
reverent: respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect
adorn: decorate
unintimating: unfrightening
n vainglorious: boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity
impartial: not biased; fair; N. impartiality
n document: provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.
n fancier: breeder or dealer of animals; one who has a special interest, as for raising specific plant or animal
n slight: insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance
n facile: easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial; not deep; Ex. facile solution to a complex problem; Ex. facile speaker; N. facility: ability to do something easily and well; ease in doing resulting from skill or aptitude; something that facilitates an action; amenity; Ex. with great facility
s matin'ee(matinee): dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon
s dynamo: generator for producing electricity; energetic person
n clique: small exclusive group of people
s sleek: smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
s imperil: put in danger
n titter: nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
remission: temporary moderation (of disease symptoms); remitting of a debt or punishment; cancelation of a debt; pardon; Ex. The disease went into remission; Ex. Christians pray for the remission of sins.
s requisition: formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
s bookish: fond of books and reading
s forward: presumptuous or bold
skeptic: sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
s jab: poke abruptly with something sharp; punch with short blows
n cantata: story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)
prone: inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes; Ex. accident-prone
n bravado: swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery
impermeable: impervious; not permitting passage through its substance; impossible to permeate
solstice: point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
n regatta: boat or yacht race
n unwonted: unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted punctuality.
n kleptomaniac: person who has a compulsive desire to steal
obese: excessively fat; N. obesity
pantomime: acting without dialogue; V.
n stipend: pay for services
monetary: pertaining to money
s vouch: give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher
n atypical: not normal; not typical
verbiage: pompous array of words; too many unnecessary words; wordiness
mediate: settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire
mimicry: imitation
martyr: one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism
n manipulate: operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate publicity and men; ADJ. manipulative
s high-flown: highly pretentious or inflated
implore: beg
depose: dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
purge: remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or defilement); N.
n foment: stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or unpleasant)
vigor: active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous
malingerer: one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work
condone: overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
s recline: lie down
n chaffing: bantering; joking
s induct: place formally in office; install; admit as a member; initiate; N. induction: inducting; process of deriving general principles from particular facts
n mogul: powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol, Moghul; CF. Mongolian
synthesis: combining parts or separate things into a whole; the whole so formed; PL. syntheses; V. synthesize
s merit: deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
inundate: flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work
cite: quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record
derivative: unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
n savory: pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable; Ex. savory reputation
s swamp: wetland; marsh; V: flood; overwhelm; drench in with liquid
misapprehension: error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
n emulate: imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)
aria: operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
n cornucopia: horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty
atheistic: denying the existence of God; N. atheism
n epithet: word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)
n debonair: (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
n quadruped: four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped
n nirvana: in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude
n skittish: inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
unravel: disentangle; solve
anticlimax: letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
n nascent: incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex. nascent ability in music
s prize: pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
onslaught: vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected onslaught of the enemy
n raspy: making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
provident: providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
s ransack: search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
corroborate: confirm; support; strengthen
n exegesis: explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages
s apparent: evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
malicious: hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite
n chastise: punish as by beating; criticize severely
n flux: flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux
n disheveled: untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
s bacchanal: noisy party with a lot of drinking
invert: turn upside down or inside out; reverse the position or condition of
avuncular: of or like an uncle
repulsion: distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ. repulsive: causing disgust; tending to drive away; V. repel (not `repulse')
s militia: army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers
n sage: person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; ADJ: wise
acrophobia: fear of heights
desecrate: profane; violate the sanctity of
reciprocal: mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement
s layman: man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional
n domineer: rule over tyrannically
indict: charge; N. indictment
incredulous: withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief
seminal: related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field
s impregnate: make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate
denizen: (animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
n luscious: pleasing to taste or smell; delicious
insurrection: rebellion; uprising
notable: conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted
conspiracy: treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)
n insensible: unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible
n rue: regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. ADJ. rueful
n oaf: stupid awkward person; CF. elf
nemesis: someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis
soliloquy: talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)
n epaulet(epaulette): ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)
n talisman: charm; object believed to give supernatural powers to or protect its bearer
n prevaricate: lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
sultry: (of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous
n beatific: giving or showing bliss; blissful
n brindled: tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
s wisp: small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)
n acrimonious: stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
n dingy: (of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
cessation: stoppage
n usurp: seize another's power or rank (without legal authority); supplant; appropriate; N. usurpation; CF. take for one's own use
aggregate: sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
render: give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully
n cajole: persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
congenial: pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
antecede: precede
embezzlement: taking for one's own use in violation of trust; stealing (of money placed in one's care)
n titular: of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular head of the company
assuage: mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
s shade: slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey
s tenancy: possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant's occupancy
n macabre: gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
n quibble: minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil
circumscribe: limit; confine; draw a line around
n nubile: marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
s speck: small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye
n vanguard: forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard
s functional: made for practical use only (without decoration); functioning; Ex. functional modern furniture; CF. functionalism
timidity: lack of self-confidence or courage
n disgruntle: make discontented
charisma: divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism
s tint: slight degree of color; V: give a tint to
n propitious: favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign
n factious: inclined to form factions; causing dissension
n ruminate: chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically); mull over(ponder)
pragmatic: practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill
n touchy: oversensitive; easily offended; irasible; delicate; needing delicate handling; Ex. touchy situation
n unguent: ointment
s outcast: one that has been excluded from a society; ADJ.
s institute: organization for a special purpose; V: establish
n umbrage: resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness
derision: ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
depredation: plundering; destruction
n odoriferous: giving off an odor
n animus: hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
proximity: nearness; ADJ. proximate
emancipate: set free; liberate
n unscathed: unharmed; Ex. escape the accident unscathed
s homely: not good-looking; unattractive
austere: forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
n malaise: uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)
n braggadocio: boasting
s lance: pierce with a lance; cut into; N: spearlike weapon
trepidation: fear; nervous apprehension
n nuptial: related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony
solvent: able to pay all depths; N. solvency
ebullient: showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling
s siren: apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
n interpolate: insert between
n venue: location; place (of a crime, trial, gathering, etc.); CF. come
n recalcitrant: disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
panoramic: denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area
n hibernal: wintry; wintery; of or like winter
outlandish: bizzare; peculiar; unconventional
illusion: misleading vision or visual image; false idea or belief; CF. delusion
n nihilist: one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement
n jaunty: cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree; dapper in appearance; Ex. jaunty person/hat
s tardy: slow; sluggish; not on time; late; Ex. tardy arrival
ecclesiastic: ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman
n sepulcher: tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral
n benefit: advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits
s conglomerate: corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.
n salutary: tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health
n defray: provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
n dulcet: sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
simulate: feign; imitate
disenfranchise: disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
s jumble: mix in a confused way
initiate: begin; originate; receive into a group; introduce to a new field or activity; Ex. initiate someone into the mysteries of a secret religion; N: one who has been initiated
misanthrope: one who hates mankind; misanthropist
s forfeit: something surrendered as punishment for a crime or breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture
n invocation: prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon as a reference or support; act of invoking
s Elysium: place or condition of bliss
integral: complete; necessary for completeness; Ex. integral part
n sensitization: process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become sensitive
n spate: sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
proliferate: grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation
n cavalier: casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
psychiatrist: doctor who treats mental diseases
s galvanic: of the production of electricity by the action of an acid on a metal; having the effect of an electric shock; Ex. galvanic cell; galvanic effect; CF. Luigi Galvani
n gruff: rough-mannered; (of a voice) rough; hoarse
evince: show clearly
n gloss_over: explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults
codify: arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs
n dowdy: untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
s dereliction: neglect of duty; abandonment
n spurious: false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments
s rivet: metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross
n tarry: linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle
n sadistic: inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty
n pinion: restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing
n execrable: very bad; detestable
n cuisine: style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
temper: moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) as by alternate heating and cooling
ruthless: pitiless; merciless; cruel
aggrandize: make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
n stock: standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique
s deserts: what someone deserves
n iridescent: exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil slick; N. iridescence
n orthography: correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics
n juncture: crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining
n urbane: suave; refined in manner; elegant
s genus: division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species
cohesion: tendency to keep together
n hoax: trick which makes someone take action; practical joke; Ex. hoax mail; V.
n contrived: unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.
indeterminate: uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
s kneel: go down on one's knee(s)
n whit: small amount; smallest speck; Ex. not a whit of
n lumber: move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered through the woods; N: timber
s commune: small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature
alias: an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
crypt: secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)
n meddlesome: interfering; V. meddle: interfere
amenable: obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
s pending: not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the decision pending his return
n assay: analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
s executor: person designated to execute the terms of a will; ¿¹¼ú ÀÛÇ°ÀÇ Á¦ÀÛÀÚ
perpetual: everlasting
robust: strong; vigorous
n rubric: title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol
n husbandry: frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman
n gamut: entire range
confluence: flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together
reputed: supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute: consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem
n scurry: move hastily; hurry; move briskly
n minatory: menacing; threatening
devoid: empty; lacking
s hazard: venture; put in danger; risk; Ex. hazard a guess; N: possible source of danger
obeisance: bow (to show respect and obedience)
n insularity: narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula
n fatuous: smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity, fatuousness
rustic: pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person
n flotsam: drifting wreckage
n frenetic(phrenetic): frenzied; frantic
collusion: conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude
cordial: warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome
n plumage: feathers of a bird;
contagion: infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air
n tumid: (of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous
submissive: willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
s murmur: low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
n redress: remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for
s voodoo: religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
hedonist: one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life; CF. hedonism: practice of living one's life purely for pleasure
n chimerical: fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
n loath: reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go.
licentious: amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
irretrievable: impossible to recover or regain; CF. retrieve
n coiffure: hairstyle
subjugate: conquer; bring under control
s pulse: rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity; V: pulsate
accord: agreement
slander: defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ. slanderous
s polarity: state of having two opposite qualities
s curb: chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain
n menagerie: collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo
s prance: move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
recumbent: reclining; lying down completely or in part
n stigma: token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
adulation: flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
noxious: harmful; CF. obnoxious
n stifle: suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
n mnemonic: pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid
vestige: trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion
n paean: song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory
n factitious: artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears
resentment: indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel anger about
n curmudgeon: churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person
execrate: curse; express abhorrence for; detest
homogeneous: of the same kind; uniform in composition throughout
n transport: strong emotion; rapture; Ex. in a transport/transports of; V: move to strong emotion; enrapture
irreparable: not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible to repair
s decorous: proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
dissident: dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.
n studied: carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
s noose: loop formed in a rope
s choice: delicate; of very fine quality
s sway: swing from side to side; influence (someone) to change one's opinion; N.
s brand: trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar.
abominate: loathe; hate
comestible: something fit to be eaten
incursion: temporary invasion; CF. excursion: short journey
n tessellated: mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
s shove: push forward; push roughly; Ex. pushing and shoving to get on the bus; N.
compelling: overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel
s incident: event; event that causes a crisis
s sovereignty: complete independence and self-government (of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern
biennial: every two years
wizardry: sorcery; magic
presentiment: premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear
deference: courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
n quixotic: idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
n imbecility: weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N. imbecile: stupid person; fool
s nimble: quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
n patois: local or provincial dialect
n litotes: understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''
affiliation: joining; associating with
n refurbish: renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish
s slink: move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)
n bludgeon: club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
n haggard: wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the rescued miners
ebb: (of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide
thematic: of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
assail: assault
s airy: of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
n quarry: person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey
n megalomania: mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance
n augury: omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
mutablility: ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant
effrontery: rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
unsavory: distasteful; disagreeable; morally offensive; Ex. unsavory activity/reputation
diva: operatic singer; prima donna
jargon: language used by special group; technical terminology; gibberish; nonsensical or incoherent talk
frivolous: lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently carefree; unworthy of serious attention; relatively unimportant; trivial
universal: characterizing or affecting all; general; present everywhere; of the universe; cosmic; Ex. universal agreement; Ex. a subject of universal interest
n bombardment: attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard
s desperate: having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
labyrinth: maze
enigma: puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling
n venal: capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal
n acidulous: slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
allege: state without proof
authoritative: having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
n chasten: discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
n superannuated: retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
delta: flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
anachronism: an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
n bowdlerize: expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
s lace: cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges (as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace
s pare: cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a knife); trim; Ex. pare apples/expenses
n mausoleum: monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos
metropolis: large city
impede: hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block
n uncouth: boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish
naivet'e(naivety): quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na"ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous
n punitive: punishing; Ex. punitive measures
n stupor: state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
inconsequential: insignificant; unimportant
barrister: counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar
n catalyst: agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis
vivisection: act of dissecting living animals
Occident: the West
n numismatist: person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals
s florescence: condition or period of flowering
n jabber: chatter rapidly or unintelligibly
s fussy: fastidious; finicky; easily upset
automaton: mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
iniquitous: wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity
n ratiocination: reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
n canard: unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
n lumen: unit of light energy (one candle's worth)
s smart: intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex. smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N: smarting pain
s seduce: lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive
celerity: speed; rapidity
n nefarious: very wicked
n parameter: limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the budget
s pervert: corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex. perverted sexual desire/scientific knowledge; N: person whose sexual behavior is not natural
n opprobrium: infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous
actuary: someone who advises insurance companies
n unseemly: unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with unseemly haste
demolition: destruction; V. demolish
s fertile: producing many young, fruits, or seeds; (of land) producing good crops; V. fertilize
n misadventure: mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
s bewitch: cast a spell over; captivate completely
s craft: skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning
n lavish: liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance
s healthful: conducive to good health; Ex. healthful mountain air
n subversive: tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
n glutinous: sticky; viscous; gluey
n potentate: monarch; sovereign
n roster: list (of names)
n macerate: soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper
annals: records arranged in yearly parts; history
s referendum: direct vote by all the people
s ration: fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
obtuse: blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding
s compulsion: compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse
icon(ikon): religious image; idol; image or representation
n privation: lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF. deprive
n partisan: one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla
ecstasy: rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy
n delve: dig; search deeply; investigate
foreboding: premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V. forebode: be a warning of (something unpleasant)
arsenal: storage place for military equipment
s speechless: unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
n veer: change in direction; swerve
sanguine: optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red
n privy: secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF. private
n askew: crookedly; slanted; at an angle
incognito: with identity concealed; using an assumed name; ADJ.
s rare: (of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains
s drip: fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
s conspire: take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.
n agenda: items of business at a meeting
repellent: driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive; N.
formality: ceremonious quality; ceremonious adherence to rules; something done just for form's sake; Ex. mere formality
n pterodactyl: extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger
scale: climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones
omnipotent: all-powerful; having unlimited power
s snuffle: sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)
sustain: suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop; maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the trapped miners
insolvent: bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency
s consanguineous(consanguine): having a common ancestor
s decree: authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree
incredulity: tendency to disbelief
n acme: peak; pinnacle; highest point
s droop: bend or hang downward; become weakened; Ex. His shoulders drooped with tiredness; N.
n suavity: urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
nonentity: person of no importance; nonexistence
n nip: snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
s rumble: make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder or stomach)
n imprecation: curse; swearword
n concerted: mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together
versatile: having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility
s forum: public square of an ancient Roman city; public place for open discussion; court of law
s tramp: walk with a heavy step; travel on foot; N: vagrant; one who travels aimlessly about; long walk; sound of heavy walking
s weary: tired after long work; V.
n stilted: bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
generic: characteristic of an entire class or species; of a genus
n aegis: shield; protection; defense
conjecture: surmise; guess; V.
n sylvan: pertaining to the woods or the country
incorporate: introduce something into a larger whole; include; embody; give material form to; ADJ.
n philology: study of language or words
chivalrous: courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry
capacious: spacious
s brawl: noisy quarrel
n quiver: tremble; shake; N.
n frieze: ornamental horizontal band on a wall
s broil: cook by direct heat; N.
delete: erase; strike out
n interloper: intruder; one who interferes
ecologist: person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology
emollient: soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.
concatenate: link as in a chain
s horoscope: diagram of the positions of stars at a given moment (eg. of a person's birth) used by astrologers
compendium: brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious
elated: filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation
n azure: sky blue
s earthly: of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason
s deport: send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment
n archipelago: group of closely located islands
eugenic: pertaining to the improvement of race; N. eugenics: study of hereditary improvement of the human race
podiatrist: doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics
malefactor: evildoer; criminal
tribute: tax levied by a ruler; payment made by one nation to another in acknowledgment of submission; mark of respect (such as praise or gift); Ex. pay tribute to
anarchist: person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
n interregnum: period between two successive reigns or governments
pecuniary: pertaining to money
effete: having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted
deliberate: consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
s glow: shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals); show redness and heat (in the face) after hard work or because of strong feelings; N: light produced by a heated body; brilliance of a color
adamant: hard; inflexible
n mirth: merriment; laughter
s consonant: harmonious; in agreement; N.
n amputate: cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
profound: deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity
tyranny: oppression; cruel government; ADJ. tyrannical: of a tyrant or tyranny; despotic; V. tyrannize: treat tyrannically; oppress
barb: sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark
n strut: supporting bar; CF. airplane wingÀÌ³ª building µîÀ» support
traduce: expose to slander
aver: state confidently; declare as true
chronic: long established as a disease
lunar: pertaining to the moon
voluminous: having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large
n scuffle: struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry; N. CF. scuffling twins ?
prophylactic: used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic; condom; N. prophylaxis: prevention of disease
replica: copy
irresolute: uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in resolution; indecisive; N. irresolution
defile: pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
proponent: supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
controvert: oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
n expunge: cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase
irreproachable: beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex. irreproachable conduct
n refrain: abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
n refectory: dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)
disconsolate: hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
n gist: essence; main point; substance
avalanche: great mass of falling snow and ice
n inerrancy: infallibility
ascertain: find out for certain; make certain
n anthem: song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
n doldrums: blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums
cantankerous: ill-humored; irritable
s bliss: complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
n trident: three-pronged spear
denotation: meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
ursine: bearlike; pertaining to a bear
plausible: conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious
transmute: transform; change; convert to something different
discordant: not harmonious; conflicting
calligraphy: beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
sanction: approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance
singular: being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
n badger: pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal
provocative: arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex. provocative in tight jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger; cause (an unpleasant action or feeling); N. provocation
n sentient: capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience
n inane: silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity
n halting: hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act with uncertainty; falter; hesitate; waver; stop
n pallid: pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion
arrogance: pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
demagogue: person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
s flighty: (esp. of a woman's behavior) capricious; often changing, esp. from one lover to another; impulsive
n solace: comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble
cadaver: corpse; dead human body
n sardonic: scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile
n litany: supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words
n brazen: insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence
n torso: trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk
renounce: abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one's claim to the property/one's religion; N. renunciation
n hermetic: sealed by fusion so as to be airtight; airtight
contrite: penitent; repentant; N. contrition
n canto: division of a long poem
n ingratiate: become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss
humane: marked by kindness or consideration; kind and compassionate; humanitarian
n plaintive: expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
s reduce: diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction
n motility: ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously
ambulatory: able to walk
incarnation: act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex. previous incarnation/reincarnation
n smelt: melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition
interminable: endless
n multifarious: varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities
n presumptuous: going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties
n stricture: severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
s gracious: kind in a generous way (to someone less important)
s forthcoming: happening in the near future; ready; willing to help; Ex. No answer was forthcoming.
circumlocution: indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)
n misgivings: doubts
tremor: trembling; slight quiver (as of the earth or from nervous agitation)
n dire: warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
n lustrous: shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair
n trough: long narrow container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.); long narrow depression as between waves
disabuse: correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
supposition: assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
s exquisite: delicate; very finely made; extremely beautiful; Ex. exquisite piece of jewelry
probity: uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
s penology: study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation
n sheaf: bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
n earthy: unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal
s gloss: brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression; V.
impertinent: insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence
n vernal: pertaining to spring
circlet: small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)
s mange: skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair
n natty: neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser
causal: implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality
coalition: partnership; league; union of separate political parties
n retrograde: go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.
n provender: dry food for livestock; fodder
n rectitude: moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
n ethnology: study of humankind; study of the different races of human beings; CF. anthropology
n garrulous: loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity
servile: slavish; cringing; N. servility
n wake: trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before; Ex. hunger followed in the wake of the war
malign: speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame; ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence
n overwrought: nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done
s nausea: feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness
n scruple: hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience
fundamental: basic; primary; essential
n knoll: little round hill; hillock
s drastic: strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures
n idiom: expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic
n catcall: shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
n nether: lower; Ex. nether garments/regions
s hive: box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
s discriminate: distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference
n limn: draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
stratum: layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata
n crotchety: (of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
n putative: supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child
incendiary: arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb
composure: mental calmness
n bastion: stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
n holster: leather pistol case (that hangs on a belt around the waist)
escapade: prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that disobeys rules
nullify: make invalid; make null; invalidate
s parvenu: upstart; newly rich person
n mentor: counselor; teacher
agitate: stir up; disturb
embroider: decorate with needlework; ornament (a story) with fancy or fictitious details; embellish
atone: make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
evoke: call forth (memory or feeling); Ex. That old film evoked memories of my childhood; N. evocation
dissertation: formal essay; treatise
s exact: demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction
ignite: kindle; light; catch fire or set fire to
retaliate: repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
n fervor: glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
illusory: illusive; deceptive; not real
n quell: suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet; Ex. ``Army Quells Rebellion'' in newspaper; CF. kill
s defalcate: embezzle
overbearing: bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate
s veto: vested power to reject a bill; exercise of this right; V: prevent or forbid by exercising the power of veto
n knave: untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery
meticulous: excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous
n introspective: looking within oneself; N. introspection: self-examination
n moratorium: legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses
dogmatic: opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal
connoisseur: person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art
prune: cut away; trim
n gesticulation: motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures (while speaking)
n empathy: ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc.; identification with and understanding of another's feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy
subservient: behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience
n gibe: mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks
n sinewy: (of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
n dogged: determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
n factotum: handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything
s commemorate: honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war
metaphor: implied comparison; CF. simile
n censorious: severely critical
n recount: narrate or tell (a story); count over again
n serpentine: winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of the river; N. serpent: snake
heterogeneous: dissimilar; mixed; not homogeneous; consisting of dissimilar elements or plants
exclaim: cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory
n floe: flat mass of floating ice
n sere: sear; parched; dry
n levee: earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise
n collation: a light meal; collating
imperative: absolutely necessary; that must be done; critically important; expressing command; Ex. It is imperative that; N: something that must be done
permeable: that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge
curtail: shorten; reduce
exorbitant: (of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable bounds
profane: violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for; ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things
desiccate: dry up
n evasive: not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading; V. evade: avoid (a duty or responsibility) or escape from by deceit
attribute: essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
n writhe: twist in coils; contort in pain
n irony: hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean; use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning
n urchin: mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin: hedgehog; CF. porcupine: pig with spikes ?; CF. sea urchin
kinetic: producing motion; of motion
pedagogue: teacher; CF. child leader
vortex: whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged
s rank: offensive in odor or flavor
compound: combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex. factory compound; CF. complex
s blues: state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)
provisional: tentative; temporary
accessory: additional object; useful but not essential thing
n kaleidoscope: tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce interesting symmetrical effects; series of changing events; Ex. kaleidoscope of European history; CF. beautiful
n scotch: stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF. È°µ¿À» ÁÙÀÌ´Â ÀÇ¹Ì
n dwindle: shrink; reduce gradually
retinue: following; attendants
n orgy: wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping
wary: very cautious; watchful
s suitor: man who is courting a woman
n hinterlands: back country; inner part of a country; OP. foreland
insubstantial: lacking substance; insignificant; frail; immaterial
impunity: freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish
aphorism: pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
conformity: harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance
irreverence: lack of proper respect or reverence; ADJ. irreverent
n taciturn: habitually silent; talking little
zeal: eager enthusiasm (to a cause or ideal); ADJ. zealous
n esoteric: hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica
s fathomless: too deep to be measured or understood; unfathomable
n disburse: pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse
worldly: engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual; of the material world
desolate: (of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless
n headstrong: willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to have one's own way; CF. no 'excessive'
perforate: pierce; put a hole through
amphibian: able to live both on land and in water; N.
n rancor: long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ. rancorous
n dolt: slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
n determination: resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
catharsis: purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art
n penance: self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance for one's sins; CF. penitent
s feebleminded: deficient in intelligence; very stupid
s frock: long loose garment (worn by monks)
s monogram: design composed of one or more initials of a name; V.
n heckler: person who verbally harasses others; V. heckle: verbally harass as with gibes (by interrupting a speaker or speech)
n agglomeration: collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
s tension: stretching; condition of being stretched; mental strain; strained relationship between groups or people
antiseptic: substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
migrant: changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one that migrates
s sterile: incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V. sterilize
n loll: lounge about
s emblazon: ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment
disinclination: unwillingness
n immure: imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall
approbation: approval
reputable: respectable; having a good reputation
s sour: having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.
n alimony: payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
n doctrinaire: unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
n apothecary: druggist; pharmacist
s finish: surface texture; completeness of execution
purport: intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which purports to be signed by the general
surmise: guess; N.
s bruise: injure without breaking the skin; N.
n pallet: small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet
gregarious: sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group
n prescience: ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient
saboteur: one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property; N. sabotage: destruction of property (usually carried out secretly)
n silt: sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
n polemical(polemic): aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply expressing opinions)
s lottery: contest in which winners are selected in a drawing of lots
conventional: ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons
n importune: beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way)
insubordination: disobedience; rebelliousness; ADJ. insubordinate
s nauseous: causing nausea; feeling nausea
rationalize: make rational; devise false reasons for (one's behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization
n rousing: lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse: waken; arouse from sleep or depression; excite; stir up
vociferous: clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining)
s putrescent: becoming putrid; putrefying
s standstill: condition of no movement or activity; stop
enmity: ill will; hatred; hostility
n bountiful: generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
superficial: of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge
supercilious: haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium
tenacious: holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
extant: (of something written or painted) still in existence
n debunk: expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
politic: prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
n reciprocate: do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually; interchange; move backwards and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights
ideology: system of ideas characteristic of a group or culture
s handsome: large in quantity; generous; Ex. handsome reward
n astigmatism: eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
expound: explain
s primate: group of mammals including humans
impasse: predicament(dangerous condition) from which there is no escape; situation allowing for no further progress
abdicate: renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
n chagrin: annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)
n repine: fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
n ordain: decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination
n somnolent: half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
s sturdy: strong and firm (in the body)
s entourage: group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround
n moribund: dying; at the point of death; CF. death
n puerile: childish; immature; CF. puer: boy
n jettison: throw overboard (from a ship or plane)
s char: make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion
encumber: burden; N. encumbrance
n cleft: N: split
momentum: quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force
n carping: petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble
n nib: beak(bill); pen point
n savor: enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality
s tan: convert (hide) into leather; make brown by exposure to the sun
injurious: harmful; causing injury
n caucus: private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston
embroil: throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio
s whimsy: whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely; Ex. story full of whimsy
queue: line (of waiting people or vehicles)
vulnerable: susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability
sublimate: refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
s pinch: squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. N: amount that can be held between the thumb and a finger
blunder: error; stupid mistake
inalienable: not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex. inalienable rights
bantering: joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
s dummy: imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy
incidence: rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex. high incidence of infant mortality
s flashy: showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance
circumvent: outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around
s tatter: torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes) old and torn; (of a person) dressed in old torn clothes
n garnish: decorate; add a garnish to; decorate (food or drink) with small items such as lemon slices; N.
delirium: mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
n revelry: boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration
obviate: make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need
s corpus: collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse
illusive: deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive
n pigment: coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)
stamina: power of endurance; strength; staying power
egregious: notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking
parsimony: stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious
amenities: convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
s outgoing: sociable; eager to mix socially with others
n pedestrian: ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot; Ex. pedestrian prose; N.
n rent: tear made by rending; rip; split
n malleable: (of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable
s wring: twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting; wrench painfully (necks or hands)
n hovel: shack; small wretched house
plight: difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament
n nicety: precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties
s crave: desire; want intensely
n physiognomy: face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
synoptic: providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis
n bard: poet
s queer: strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal
s sovereign: ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent
n gaudy: flashy; showy
s bulk: size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size
n pusillanimous: cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted
s ecosystem: ecological community together with its environment
friction: clash or conflict in opinion; rubbing against
categorical: without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
s shrivel: make or become shrunken and wrinkled (often by drying)
ascribe: refer; attribute; assign
besiege: surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually
s dys-: abnormal; impaired
agnostic: one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
n motif: theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure
s rapture: great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
cloying: distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess
bogus: counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview
n gorge: stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful
polygamist: one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
s gallows: framework from which a noose is suspended (used for execution by hanging)
s interjection: exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch''
conscientious: scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
recluse: hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
sustenance: sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food, nourishment; something that maintains life; food
orient: get one's bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate
n aureole: sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
s blunt: having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt
censor: (in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.
s mischief: behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome
paradox: something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct
n sportive: playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike
n rabid: of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
s contrivance: something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme
n diffuse: wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
n fallow: (of land) plowed but not sowed (to improve the quality); uncultivated
n flippant: lacking proper seriousness; Ex. flippant remarks about death; N. flippancy
magnanimity: generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous
auspicious: favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
s billow: large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows
n pellucid: transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand
n vaunted: boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt: boast; brag
introvert: one who is introspective or inclined to think more about oneself; ADJ. introverted
n disaffected: disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
willful: wilful; intentional; headstrong
viable: capable of maintaining life; feasible; practical or workable; Ex. viable scheme
s graphite: black form of carbon used in lead pencils
n matrix: point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization
reconnaissance: survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)
abhor: detest; hate
sleight: dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks
typhoon: tropical hurricane or cyclone
trifling: trivial; unimportant
n maverick: rebel; nonconformist (in a group)
n epitaph: inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a tombstone)
indomitable: unconquerable; unyielding
s slavish: of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original
n plumb: exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of
aviary: enclosure for birds; large cage
proletarian: member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)
s falsify: make (something written) false by changing
s judiciary: judicial branch of government
n ponderous: having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
accomplice: partner in crime
unerringly: infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes
n blatant: extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
s slack: moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V.
n edify: instruct; correct morally
n petulant: touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
n modicum: limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate
n entrance: put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight
beneficiary: person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
s mat: not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
n peripheral: of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest
n hydrophobia: fear of water; rabies
entity: real being
n dubious: questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
solicit: entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer
congruent: in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous
embark: commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey
allude: refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
manacle: restrain; handcuff; N.
s rotund: (of a person) fat and round
exhume: dig out of the ground; remove from a grave
n gall: annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse); exasperation
assimilate: absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
n acetic: vinegary
n facetious: joking (often inappropriately); unserious; humorous
n wizened: shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady
increment: increase
n lurid: wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; Ex. lurid details of the murder
utopia: ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian
n mire: entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire
n ferment: agitation; commotion(noisy and excited activity); unrest (of a political kind); V. produce by fermentation; undergo fermentation; cause (a state of trouble)
deluge: flood; rush; V.
n retribution: deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for offenses; compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back
n fester: rankle; produce irritation or resentment; (of a cut or wound) generate pus or rot; Ex. His insult festered in my mind for days.
contortions: twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist
recession: withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
scrupulous: conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker
s suffocate: die or kill from lack of air; suppress
specious: seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
n deadpan: wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
evocative: tending to call up (emotions, memories)
n paleontology: study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents
s varnish: paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film; glossy coating produced by using this substance; Ex. nail varnish; V.
s compassion: sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate
incisive: (appreciatively) cutting; sharp; Ex. incisive remarks; V. incise: make a cut into
n preen: make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on; CF. prune
n girth: distance around something; circumference
n miasma: swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence
s sow: plant or scatter seed
viper: poisonous snake
n spry: (esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
n slur: slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.
n ludicrous: laughable; ridiculous; trifling
n courier: messenger
insatiable: not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex. insatiable appetite
exult: rejoice
boisterous: violent; rough; noisy
s motto: brief statement used to express a principle
criteria: standards used in judging; CF. criterion
n venerable: deserving high respect; commanding respect; CF. command: deserve and get
n hindmost: furthest behind; farthest to the rear
formidable: menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question
n traumatic: (of an experience) deeply shocking; pertaining to an injury caused by violence; N. trauma: serious wound; emotional shock that causes lasting psychological damage
multiplicity: state of being numerous or multiple; large number; Ex. multiplicity of details; ADJ. multiple: of more than one element
s cross: bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
n pore: study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.
n amok(amuck): in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
n fracas: brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number of people take part; melee
s presume: take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection); N. presumption
voracious: ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader
unrequited: not requited; not reciprocated; Ex. unrequited love
guile: deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning; Ex. persuade her by guile
n carapace: shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)
spontaneity: lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening without being planned
n semblance: outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.
depravity: extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
n clarion: shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times
n zany: comic; crazy; N: clown; comical person (given to outlandish behavior)
n abscission: cutting off; separation
n docket: program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket
forte: strong point or special talent in a person's character
n filibuster: block legislation or prevent action in a lawmaking body by making very slow long speeches; N; freebooter
expiate: make amends for (a sin)
prosperity: good fortune and financial success; physical well-being
protract: prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
addiction: compulsive habitual need
spawn: lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals
n hirsute: hairy; having a lot of hair
n hiatus: gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break
optimum: most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition
alluvial: pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
inaugurate: begin formally; install in office; induct into office by a formal ceremony; N. inauguration; ADJ. inaugural
n browbeat: bully; intimidate
n ape: imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
homage: honor; tribute; great respect; Ex. pay/do homage to
rejuvenate: make young again
effusion: pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing
n puny: tiny; weak; insignificant
n ciliated: having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
s historical: connected with history; based on events in history (whether regarded as important or not)
n debauch: corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
n frantic: wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic with fear
dearth: scarcity
s maleficient: doing evil; N. maleficience
s braid: plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; N: braided segment (as of hair)
n parquet: floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece
amnesty: pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
improvident: thriftless; not providing for the future
s sonnet: 14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
n tepid: lukewarm; slightly warm; ¹ÌÁö±ÙÇÑ; half-hearted; not eager; Ex. tepid reaction to the new film; Ex. tepid supporter
n glower: scowl; glare; look or stare angrily
satiate: satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated
s fashion: give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay
partial: incomplete; favoring one side over another; having a liking for something
contiguous: adjacent to; touching upon
n polarize: split into opposite extremes or camps
amphitheater: oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
n lugubrious: mournful; sorrowful
n roseate: rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
s crust: hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
s pulpit: raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
n solicitous: anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
harbinger: forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
sedentary: requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population
acoustics: science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
n aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry): nest of a large bird of prey
n aperture: opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
s brawny: muscular; having well-developed muscles
consort: associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)
optional: not compulsory; left to one's choice; N. option: act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to choose; something available as a choice; Ex. have no option; Ex. two options
n sibylline: prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
expurgate: clean; remove offensive parts of a book
abstract: theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
n mettle: courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome
extrinsic: external; not essential or inherent; extraneous; OP. intrinsic
acknowledge: recognize; admit
deplete: reduce; exhaust
s vile: despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander
lascivious: lustful
n roil: make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
n eschew: avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks
aspersion: slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
compact: agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement
pitfall: hidden danger; concealed trap
n cede: yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession
overt: open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert
hierarchy: arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks; body of persons having authority
n occlude: shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.
n prate: talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
s embody: give a bodily form to; incorporate; include
consolidation: unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen
n nexus: connection
n coddle: treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs
refute: disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
muted: silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic noise
s wade: walk through a substance, such as water, that impedes movement
n idolatry: worship of idols; excessive admiration or devotion; ADJ. idolatrous
n ostracize: banish from a group; exclude from public favor; ban; Ex. His friends ostracized him. N. ostracism
address: direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
s bigot: one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)
n quagmire: bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself
germinate: cause to sprout; sprout
n menial: suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)
s frisk: move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful
militant: combative; bellicose; N.
n carafe: glass water bottle; decanter
n merger: combination (of two business corporations); act of merging
n dissimulate: pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
n entree(entr'ee): entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle
devout: pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
n secrete: conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism; CF. secretive
remnant: remainder
tactile: pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
germane: pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; appropriate
n bestial: beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
aberrant: abnormal or deviant
n knit: contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit together in a few weeks.
n testator: maker of a will; CF. testatrix
n monumental: massive; impressively large; built as a monument
cardiologist: doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
n prattle: talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
s self-indulgence: excessive indulgence of one's own desire
s prime: period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V: make ready; prepare
n trek: travel; journey; V: make a long difficult journey
s transcendental: going beyond common thought or ideas; impossible to understand by practical experiences or practices; known only by studying thoughts or intuition; OP. empirical; CF. transcendentalism
euthanasia: mercy killing
s bombast: grandiloquent, pompous speech
exculpate: clear from blame or guilt
compile: assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary
n lilliputian: extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels
s confidential: spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary
n apothegm(apophthegm): pithy, compact saying
impropriety: improperness; unsuitableness
loathe: detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive; Ex. loathsome smell
n mountebank: charlatan; boastful pretender
n blighted: suffering from a disease; destroyed
psyche: soul; mind
s sheer: pure; thin and transparent; very steep
fickle: changeable (in affections or friendship); faithless
n opus: work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; CF. opera
n humility: humbleness of spirit
s compartment: one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided
n array: marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
s rou'e: lecherous man
abstemious: sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
n oblivious: inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful(having the habit of forgetting)
tome: large volume; book
adjunct: something attached to but holding an inferior position
n vise: vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device
n pied: piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
s scrap: small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel
n thrall: slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; CF. enthrall
subordinate: occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
s hereafter: life after death
n chalice: goblet; consecrated cup
s retard: delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a child) slower in development
glib: fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick
s mongrel: plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.
conflagration: great fire
anoint: consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
s crochet: make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet
n grate: make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred by rubbing against a rough surface; Ex. grated cheese N: framework of metal bars to hold fuel in a fireplace
eerie: weird; causing fear because strange
n cession: yielding to another; ceding
n necromancy: black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis
n jocose: given to(having a tendency of) joking
minute: extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting
listless: lacking in spirit or energy; languid
s vibrant: full of vigor or energy; vibrating
n plagiarize: steal another's ideas or writings and pass them off as one's own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap
n herpetologist: one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians
n sedate: composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative
s variegate: change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)
s mason: one who builds or works with stone or brick; N. masonry: work of a mason; stonework or brickwork
n regimen: prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer
stellar: pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance
decadence: decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
n suffuse: spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.
hypercritical: excessively exacting; too critical (without noticing good qualities)
unassailable: not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question
n pall: become boring; grow tiresome
s vision: eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural
n sever: separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up (a relationship); N. severance; CF. severance pay: extra pay given an employee upon leaving a position
n genteel: well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance of refinement; Ex. genteel poverty
cognitive: having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing
n grisly: ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies
scanty: meager; insufficient
n philistine: narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
n giddy: light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy; causing dizziness; Ex. giddy youth; Ex. giddy climb/height
n gamely: in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game
n lassitude: languor; weariness; listlessness
s encircle: surround
n arable: fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
deploy: spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
rummage: ransack; thoroughly search
impassable: not able to be traveled or crossed
enfranchise: admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise
mercenary: motivated solely by money or gain; N.
masochist: person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism
libel: defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character; V. ADJ. libelous
n squabble: minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
n fulminate: thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation
swindler: cheater
s recess: pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive
n declivity: downward slope
n anodyne: drug that relieves pain or trouble; ÁøÅëÁ¦; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
n analgesic: causing insensitivity to pain; N.
n weather: pass safely through (a storm or difficult period); endure the effects of weather or other forces
n mace: ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval weapon
n defoliate: destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
debilitate: weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble
n yore: time long past; Ex. in the days of yore
trivia: trifles; unimportant matters
s swear: vow; promise; use profane oaths; use offensive words
indentation: notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth
sanguinary: bloody; with much bloodshed
n cohorts: group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
n bandy: discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with
n detached: emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
lucid: easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity
n topography: physical features of a region (such as the shape and height); CF. topo-: place
n malfeasance: wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)
n witticism: witty saying; wisecrack(clever joking remark)
fathom: comprehend; investigate; determine the depth of; N. unit of measurement for the depth of water
n dally: trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
potential: expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
pachyderm: thick-skinned animal
n oust: expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting
n ensconce: settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)
propriety: fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary
bestow: confer
n mischance: ill luck
audacious: daring; bold; N. audacity
s engulf: surround and swallow up
s convulsion: violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive
n pundit: authority on a subject; expert; learned person
relevant: having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
bode: foreshadow; portend
n forsake: desert; abandon; renounce
regal: royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
centripetal: tending toward the center
n protean: able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
sobriety: moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
s rational: (of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason; logical
n temporize: gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself
n shoddy: made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick
repertoire: list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; CF. repertory
n quench: assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish; put out; suppress
s fiend: evil spirit; devil
n seine: seine net; net for catching fish
n carrion: rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
n drone: talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
n dappled: spotted
ambience: environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
saline: salty
n scourge: lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict
ironic: expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner
n balm: something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
encipher: encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher
calumny: malicious misrepresentation; slander
metamorphosis: change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis
n tightwad: miser; excessively frugal person
n primogeniture: seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)
debase: degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
n withhold: refuse to give; hold back; Ex. withholding tax
preclude: make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
satire: form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly
s career: rush wildly; go at full speed
prohibitive: so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax
medium: element that is a creature's natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substance through which something else is transmitted
n distant: reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
s daze: stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
grandiloquent: (of a person or speech) using high sounding or important-sounding language; pompous; bombastic
n pan: criticize harshly
impudence: impertinence; insolence
s resound: (of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter
n suffragist: advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage
incriminate: accuse of or implicate in a crime; serve as evidence against; cause to seem or make guilty of a crime; Ex. incriminating evidence
incarcerate: imprison
n rotunda: circular building or hall covered with a dome
n variegated: (esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored
wrath: anger; fury
resignation: patiently submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job; ADJ. resigned: acquiescent
procrastinate: postpone; delay or put off
s confide: tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about
repartee: quick clever reply
s bid: command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom
tender: offer formally; extend; Ex. tender one's resignation/the exact fare; N: formal offer; money; Ex. legal tender; ADJ: young and vulnerable; sensitive to the touch; sore; soft; delicate; Ex. child of tender years; Ex. tender wound
n Machiavellian: crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power
s compost: mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put or make compost
s brave: face courageously; Ex. brave the storm
s suckle: give or take milk at the breast or udder
n puissant: powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power
n apprehensive: fearful; discerning
n felicity: happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous
n petrify: turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze
diminution: lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
appease: pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
n epistemologist: philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge; N. epistemology
n motley: multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)
unequivocal: plain; clear; obvious
judicious: sound on judgment; wise
altercation: noisy quarrel
s hem: surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.
incidental: not essential; minor; N: something incidental
equitable: fair; impartial; OP. inequitable
n regale: entertain
n stoke: stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
n falter: hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or move unsteadily through weakness; N.
n horde: crowd; swarm
n avid: greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
languor: lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression
allegiance: loyalty
acclimate: adjust to climate or environment; adapt
n beguile: deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
n glimmer: shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady light; faint indication; Ex. glimmer of hope
s straggle: stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out in a scattered group; Ex. straggling marathon racer; Ex. straggling branch
n impregnable: invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take
founder: person who establishes (an organization or business)
n forthright: straightforward; direct; frank
s psychic: of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary mental powers
summation: act of finding the total; summing-up; summary (esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)
devise: think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
maniacal: raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm
exacting: extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety
prophetic: of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet
indolent: lazy
avow: declare openly; N. avowal
despoil: plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
prodigal: wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality
prologue: introduction (to a poem or play)
n septic: of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)
indite: write; compose
virtue: goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity
odorous: having an odor
amazon: female warrior
n reparation: compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
n seemly: (of behavior) proper; appropriate
cerebral: pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum
generate: cause; produce; create
apparition: ghost; phantom
sinister: evil; ominous
n marsupial: one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat
intangible: not able to be perceived by touch; vague
n dyspeptic: suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food
supple: flexible; limber; pliant
s impart: grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart
s ecliptic: path of the sun and the planets
n defeatist: resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
legacy: gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor
n clavicle: collarbone
s wretch: miserable person; bad or despicable person; ADJ. wretched: miserable; bad; contemptible; vile
reprehensible: deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame
n miscreant: wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF. believe
n wax: increase gradually (as the moon); grow
embargo: ban on commerce or other activity
s meter: arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual rhythm)
n cataclysm: deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change
s pass_off: present falsely; represent falsely to be
n sham: pretend; feign; ADJ: not genuine; fake; Ex. sham jewelry; N: something that is not what it appears; impostor; pretense; Ex. The agreement was a sham.
imponderable: weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound
s legislature: legislating branch of government; CF. legislate: make laws
impediment: hindrance; stumbling-block; speech defect preventing clear articulation; Ex. speech impediment
quay: dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
ubiquitous: being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity
amorphous: formless; lacking shape or definition
cacophonous: discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds
s willowy: flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
s chore: daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task
n ceremonious: marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
s nurse: suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone
s constituency: voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)
degradation: humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
n sagacious: wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity
attenuate: make thin; weaken
n ennui: boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; CF. annoy
appraise: estimate value of; N. appraisal
symmetry: arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity; ADJ. symmetrical
amend: correct; change ; generally for the better
s mortar: vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle
s swagger: walk or behave with an over-confident manner
n canker: any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
simplistic: oversimplified
n hap: chance; luck
n deign: condescend; stoop
opaque: dark; not transparent; N. opacity
n precarious: unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living
s clipper: sailing vessel built for great speed
console: lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation
s peevish: bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry
meteoric: like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor
s vertebrate: having a backbone or spinal column; N: group of animals having a segmented spinal column
n bigotry: stubborn intolerance
n obituary: death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.
n mealymouthed: indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive
n dilettante: aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
s gerontology: study of the sociological phenomena associated with old age
n plummet: fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.
insolence: impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ. insolent; CF. haughty + rude
interdict: prohibit; forbid; N.
n errant: wandering (esp. in search of adventure); straying from proper moral standards; Ex. knight-errant
append: attach
adherent: supporter; follower
n carousal: drunken revel; V. carouse
n tumult: commotion of a great crowd; riot; noise; uproar; ADJ. tumultuous: noisy and disorderly
n totter: shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall
rigor: severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
ablution: washing
s residual: remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue
n paltry: insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash
n facade(fac{c}ade): front or face (of building); superficial or false appearance
n tutelary: protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex. tutelary deities
natation: swimming
tedium: boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious
s repose: resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single man
transparent: permitting light to pass through freely; easily detected; obvious; clear; Ex. transparent lie
n sheathe: place into a case; insert into or provide with a sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a blade
sycophant: servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic
vertex: summit; highest point; PL. vertices
n lope: gallop slowly
intractable: unruly; difficult to manage; Ex. intractable problem/child
s nutrition: process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition
benefactor: gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
n pendulous: hanging; suspended
pastoral: rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor
n interrogate: question closely; cross-examine; cross-question
monarchy: government under a single ruler
n spruce: neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.
n maim: mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life
n heterodox: (of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional
amnesia: loss of memory
n mincing: affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way, taking little short steps; Ex. The actor minced across the stage; CF. mincemeat; CF. mincer
n restive: impatiently restless (induced by external coercion or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; CF. not a general synonym for `restless'
rectify: set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
n corporeal: bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible
n bombastic: pompous; using inflated language
n harrowing: agonizing; distressing; traumatic; V. harrow: break up and level (soil) with a harrow; inflict great distress on; agonize; N: farming machine to break up the earth
n incapacitate: disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity
hazardous: dangerous
n brook: tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream
n mundane: worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world
n extol: praise very highly; glorify
immobility: state of being immovable
s fleet: fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral
s edifice: building (of imposing size)
arcane: esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
seclusion: isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate
guileless: without deceit
sparse: not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
n ungainly: (of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy; (of something) unwieldy; Ex. ungainly dancer/instrument
invective: abuse
exertion: effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert oneself: make a great effort
s rightful: legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
inevitable: unavoidable
n qualms: uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen.
n immolate: offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)
omnivorous: eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything
n postulate: self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)
accelerate: move faster
n reprise: musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises
n nondescript: undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd
frail: weak; N. frailty
arbitrary: unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
n burlesque: give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly
n maculated: spotted; stained; CF. immaculate
subtlety: perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning
s seasonal: of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment
n hegemony: dominance especially of one nation over others
harbor: give protection (by giving food and shelter); provide a refuge for; hide; keep in mind (thoughts or feelings); Ex. harbor a grudge/criminal; N: place of shelter; refuge
mediocre: ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad
n mulct: defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy
n ethereal: like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air
n simian: monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
n slough: (of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed
n extradition: surrender of prisoner by one state to another; Ex. extradition treaty; V. extradite
antidote: remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
n snicker: half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
n fusillade: simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)
feign: pretend
perturb: disturb greatly
n odyssey: long, eventful, adventurous journey
drudgery: hard unpleasant work; menial work
concise: brief and compact
n apocryphal: (of a story) widely believed but untrue
n pr'ecis: abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text
sophistry: seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism
n vindictive: disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak
n archives: public records; place where public records are kept
n subsume: include (as a member of a group); encompass
n slipshod: slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
leniency: mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe in judgment or punishment
n supernumerary: person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary number
primordial: existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
n neologism: new or newly coined word or phrase
n impeccable: faultless
prudent: cautious; careful; prudential
n winsome: charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging
n vintner: wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine
n stipple: paint or draw with dots or short strokes
n unfledged: immature; not having the feathers necessary to fly; CF. fledgling
n promiscuous: mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity
n heyday: time of greatest success or power; prime
n gouge: tear out; cut out (as if with a gouge); Ex. gouge his eyes out; N: chisel for cutting out hollow areas in wood
n bristling: rising like bristles; showing irritation
antipathy: aversion; dislike or opposition
outwit: outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly
venturesome: (of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an action) risky
pillory: punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
rationale: fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
s lopsided: heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
n tempestuous: stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest: violent storm
s puzzle: baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over a problem in an effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the answer; N.
n cherubic: angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order
felon: person convicted of a grave crime; CF. felony: serious crime
magnitude: greatness (in size or extent); extent
n dislodge: remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
n unction: the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction
practical: based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man
assumption: something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
purgatory: place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the souls must expiate their sins
ingrained: deeply established; firmly rooted; Ex. ingrained dirt/prejudice
precise: exact
infamous: notoriously bad; notorious; well known for being bad; Ex. infamous behavior; N: infamy: infamous act; evil fame or reputation
n magisterial: authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner
n chide: scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
n stanza: division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
n piebald: of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald
n nurture: nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing
fugitive: fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large
platitude: trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous
n clout: great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist
n pluck: courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave
n orifice: mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth
s season: enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning
n canter: slow gallop; V. CF. trot
n profligate: wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy
prefatory: introductory; of a preface
projectile: missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
n desperado: reckless, desperate outlaw
prominent: protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent
divulge: reveal
caustic: burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless
n lectern: reading desk or stand for a public speaker
extrovert: person interested mostly in external objects and actions
n hone: sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a tool
s fringe: decorative edge of hanging threads; edge
perennial: something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring
s jest: playful remark or act; V. act or speak playfully
refulgent: effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon
subside: sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
n inimical: (of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy
s fermentation: chemical reaction that splits complex organic compounds; unrest; agitation
s decrepit: weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
nostalgia: homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
avocation: secondary or minor occupation
renovate: restore to good condition; renew
humanitarian: one devoted to the promotion of human welfare; CF. humanism
n hortatory: encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort
s supplicant: one who supplicates; ADJ.
s metrical: metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of Homer
n caldron(cauldron): large kettle
n tiller: handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer)
indissoluble: permanent; impossible to dissolve or disintegrate
psychopathic: pertaining to mental dearrangement; N. psychopath: person with an antisocial personality disorder
n chicanery: trickery; deception
jubilation: rejoicing; great joy
s mash: crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl
n shunt: move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.
n yokel: rustic; country bumpkin; ÃÌ³ð
concord: harmony; accord
transgression: violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond (a limit); violate; do wrong
s oath: solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''
n ribald: marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
s eventual: happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory
indicative: suggestive; implying; serving to indicate
n suture: stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound
s spoilsport: one who spoils the pleasure of others
s humor: indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality that makes something amusing; state of mind; mood; Ex. in a bad humor; Ex. out of humor
centrifugal: radiating; departing from the center
s disbar: make (a lawyer) leave the bar or the legal profession
n requite: make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal
linguistic: pertaining to language
n balmy: soft and mild (of air); fragrant
s figure: written symbols; number; amount represented in numbers; outline or silhouette of a thing or human body; person (well-known); impression; diagram; pattern; group in a dance; Ex. figure of speech; V. calculate with numbers; adorn with figures; appear; consider; Ex. My name did not figure in the list.
n sequester: isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life
emanate: issue forth; come out
s expos'e: public revelation of something discreditable
n lank: long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln
arcade: a covered passageway usually lined with shops
n expansive: (of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size
deprecate: express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
n pedant: scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities
n hale: healthy
s uninhibited: having no inhibitions; free in behavior and feelings
s ingenue: ing'enue; young innocent girl
rapport: close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony
n behemoth: huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
s clasp: hold firmly within arms
n apostate: one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
n prod: poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action; N: pointed object used to prod; prodding
n expostulation: protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate
n equivocal: (of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally misleading; (of behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal
pandemonium: wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF. Paradise Lost
apathy: lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
s sectarian: of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member of a sect; narrow-minded person
s rooster: cock; adult male chicken
n glean: gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty
s blight: plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
aromatic: fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
n enterprising: full of initiative; showing enterprise
culpable: deserving blame; blameworthy
ravage: devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms
n dumbfound(dumfound): astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck
equity: fairness; justice; OP. inequity
s scheme: systematic plan; plot; clever dishonest plan; orderly arrangement of elements; Ex. health insurance scheme; Ex. a scheme to escape taxes; Ex. a color scheme; Ex. a story with no scheme; V: contrive a scheme
s totem: animal, plant, or natural object serving as a symbol of a clan or family; representation of this; Ex. totem pole
n verdant: green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows
n iconoclastic: attacking cherished traditions; N. iconoclast: one who attacks traditional ideas; one who destroys sacred images
s shed: small roofed structure for storage and shelter; V: pour forth; lose by natural process; repel without allowing penetration; radiate; cast; Ex. shed tears/light/water/skin/leaves
discrete: separate; unconnected
s consternation: great shock; dismay
n reverie: daydream; abstracted musing
n abate: subside or moderate
random: without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random
s heed: pay attention to; N: close attention
reprobation: severe disapproval; CF. approbation
n vapid: lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture
n blanch: bleach; whiten; make white or pale
somnambulist: sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
s refuse: anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash
n palliate: ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)
n doff: take off; OP. don
n extraneous: not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external; coming from the outside; Ex. extraneous details/noise/to the subject
mammoth: gigantic; enormous
fabricate: build; lie; make up (a story) in order to deceive; Ex. fabricate the whole story; CF. fabric: underlying structure; Ex. fabric of society
s misconduct: immoral behavior; bad management; V.
n vitriolic: causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression; CF. glass
incompatible: inharmonious; N. incompatibility
carillon: a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played
s psychosomatic: of the influence of the mind on the body (esp. with respect to disease)
n cataract: great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
migratory: wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another; move periodically from one region to another
n cartographer: map-maker
fumble: move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in search of something); mishandle or drop a ball that is in play; bungle; botch; spoil by mishandling; N.
s chaperon: older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman
n vitiate: spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally
n febrile: feverish
s trickster: person who cheats people
n hoodwink: deceive; delude
n fledgling(fledgeling): inexperienced; N: young bird that has acquired wing feathers and is learning to fly; inexperienced person
n peruse: read through with care; N. perusal
s plebiscite: direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)
impotent: weak; ineffective; lacking in physical strength or power
deterrent: something that discourages or deters
benison: blessing
n fawning: courting favor by cringing and flattering; V. fawn: exhibit affection as a dog; seek favor or attention by obsequiousness
n navigable: (of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered
gauche: clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth
philanthropist: lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy
n ethos: underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos
s outlaw: fugitive from the law (excluded from legal protection); V: declare (someone) to be an outlaw; deprive of the protection of the law; declare illegal; Ex. Drinking has been outlawed.
n dismantle: take apart; disassemble
n minutiae: petty or trivial details; CF. minutia
n forensic: suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in legal proceedings and the tracking of criminals; Ex. forensic science/medicine
n dissolution: disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
theoretical: based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical
civil: having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic
n finesse: delicate skill; V: handle with finesse
confine: shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement
nominal: in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint
coercion: use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce
relinquish: give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm
repudiate: disown; disavow; deny
s artful: exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
n arid: (of land) dry; barren; unproductive
n unilateral: one-sided; involving or affecting only one side; Ex. unilateral declaration
n arduous: hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
n ichthyology: study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish
n coda: concluding section of a musical or literary composition
narrative: related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration
s glamor: compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous
s bulge: protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude
n genuflect: bend the knee as in worship
confiscate: seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer
s camp: group sharing a common cause or opinion
s tart: sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex. tart apple/reply
n extrapolation: projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from known information
s margin: border; room; allowance beyond what is needed; Ex. margin of safety
compress: force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.
creed: system of religious or ethical belief
s emasculate: weaken; castrate
n whiff: puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); short-lasting smell; hint; Ex. whiff of perfume/scandal
celestial: heavenly
n impolitic: not wise; not expedient; not politic
n disband: dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
n sonorous: resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
n chaff: worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff
n comity: courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
s oversee: watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight: unintentional failure to notice or do something; supervision
accede: agree
s ram: male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
explicate: explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable
deride: ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
n propitiate: appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
entice: lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract; tempt
discourse: serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.
s legato: (of music) played smoothly
n inebriated: habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety
placid: peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
s court: attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite; attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster
authenticate: prove genuine
n granary: storehouse for grain
pseudonym: pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; ADJ. pseudonymous
s romp: play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N.
n impeach: charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a witness's credibility
n addendum: addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
coincidence: the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental
s hypnosis: induced sleeping state; ADJ. hypnotic; V. hypnotize
legend: explanatory list of symbols on a map
n sumptuous: grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
s elastic: able to spring back into shape; quick to recover (as from disappointment); able to adapt to change; Ex. elastic plans; N: elastic material
n gorge: narrow canyon; steep rocky cleft; ravine (made by a stream which runs through it)
n billowing: swelling out in waves; surging
prolong: lengthen; extend; draw out
ambidextrous: capable of using either hand with equal ease
n engage: attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle
breadth: width; extent
discernible: distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
s stun: make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
n irate: angry; CF. ire: anger; wrath
accommodate: oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
n placebo: harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
n pestle: tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar
supersede: replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
n disarray: state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray
n quarantine: isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine
indignation: anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation; ADJ. indignant
sloth: slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
reaper: one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop
s charm: quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch
n arboretum: place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
reparable: capable of being repaired
revert: relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former owner; N. reversion
marked: noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man
inanimate: lifeless; not animate
s graze: (of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an animal) to feed on grass; scrape (esp. the skin) or touch lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can't graze the cattle till summer; N: surface wound
saturate: soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity
molecule: the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance
n proscenium: part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage
n culinary: relating to cooking or kitchen
perspicacious: (of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute
n exchequer: treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer
exemplify: show by example; furnish an example; serve as an example of; Ex. His pictures exemplify that sort of painting.
n gambol: romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
s damn: condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation
incarnate: endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody
n cog: tooth projecting from a wheel
n dank: damp; unpleasantly wet
n skulduggery(skullduggery): dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
n humus: substance or rich soil formed by decaying vegetable matter; CF. soil
n bauble: trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
n farce: broad comedy; mockery; humorous play full of silly things happening; ADJ. farcical
n contingent: dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency
s institution: instituting; (building for the) organization; established custom, practice, or relationship in a society; mental hospital; Ex. institution of marriage
n gadfly: animal-biting fly; irritating person
s lust: intense sexual desire; intense eagerness; V.
stratified: divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
convex: curving outward
divest: strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)
valedictory: pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp. at graduation exercises)
tractable: docile; easily managed; (of something) easily changed or molded; N. tractability
franchise: right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory
obsidian: black volcanic rock
valor: bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave
n molt(moult): periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)
s sober: serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
truncate: cut the top off; shorten
n pernicious: very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia
n firebrand: piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker; person who stirs up trouble
n turbid: (of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick
proxy: authorized agent; authority to act for another
diabolical: diabolic; devilish; fiendish
n shimmer: shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.
affront: insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
n ejaculation: exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate
n sybarite: lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy
n assert: state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
colossal: huge
n mite: very small object or insect-like creature; small coin
n promote: advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or popularize; Ex. Milk promotes health; Ex. promote a match/bill; Ex. promote a new product
n dehydrate: remove water from; dry out
statutory: created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
s jaundice: medical condition in which the skin, the white part of the eyes, etc. turn yellow; V: affect with jaundice; affect with prejudice, envy, or hostility; bias
s swarm: large group of insects moving in a mass; crowd of people or animals; V: move in a crowd or mass
n gerrymander: change voting district lines in order to favor a political party; N. CF. Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander
benign: kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor
exposure: risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open; Ex. exposure of governmental corruption
apocalyptic: prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
virile: manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength
s debar: bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services
secular: worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal
n rhetoric: art of effective communication; art of using language effectively and persuasively; style of speaking or writing; grandiloquent language; Ex. political rhetoric; ADJ. rhetorical; CF. rhetorical question: question to which no answer is expected as ``Who knows it ?''
s surge: powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
epilogue: short speech at conclusion of dramatic work
spatial: relating to space
n acerbity: bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
depict: portray
exhilarating: invigorating and refreshing; cheering; V. exhilarate: make cheerful and excited; Ex. exhilarated by the ride in the sports car
n gnarled: twisted
n vent: release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly); utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on his family.
patronize: support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N. patronage; CF. boycott
obelisk: tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid
pediatrician: physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics
haughtiness: pride; arrogance; ADJ. haughty
s taunt: deride or provoke; challenge in derision; N.
n laconic: brief and to the point; using few words; terse
champion: support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)
n sacrosanct: invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable
discriminating: able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
concentric: having a common center
laborious: demanding much work or care; tedious
n steep: soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
s slick: make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib
converge: approach; tend to meet; come together
galaxy: large isolated system of stars, such as the Milky Way; collection of brilliant personalities
connotation: suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote
n renege: break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off the debt
s tribune: official of ancient Rome elected by the plebians to protect their rights; protector of the people
n garish: overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
erudite: (of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition
flora: plants of a region or era
imposture: assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor
rococo: ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
immutable: unchangeable
din: continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
n tertiary: third in order or rank
sentinel: sentry; lookout
n glut: overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply
futile: useless; hopeless; ineffectual
penitent: repentant; N.
n junta: group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)
imprudent: lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious
n coquette: flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
depreciate: lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
n expatiate: talk at length; speak or write in detail
s fake: not genuine; N: one that is not genuine; impostor; sham; V: counterfeit; Ex. fake the results of the experiment/the signature
s sentimental: swayed by sentiment; appealing to the sentiments
s base: contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron
n discount: disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost
n aloft: upward; high up in the air
objective: not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim
s tablet: small round piece of medicine; flat piece of stone or metal bearing an inscription; Ex. stone tablet on the wall
dismember: cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb
n voyeur: Peeping Tom; person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others
n inviolable: secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or profanation); unassailable; Ex. inviolable oath/rights; N. inviolability
fluency: smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent
n purchase: secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
s regent: a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
n expletive: meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word
n metallurgical: pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores
resplendent: brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious
n progeny: children; offspring; descendants
meditation: reflection; thought; V. meditate
n flaunt: display ostentatiously; Ex. ``Honey, if you've got it, flaunt it !''
s flip: send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking with a light quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip over
imperial: like an emperor; related to an empire; CF. imperialism
s shudder: shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
n disport: amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
s compulsory: obligatory; that must be done
angular: sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
s peddle: travel about selling (wares); CF. foot
quack: charlatan; impostor
s squeamish: easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.
s far-fetched: too improbable to be believed; implausible; Ex. far-fetched story
discerning: mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
n sextant: navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)
n spendthrift: someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth
porous: full of pores; like a sieve
s luxuriate: take pleasure in great comfort
obliterate: destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village
implicate: incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be involved (in a crime); Ex. implicate someone in the crime
n emetic: substance causing vomiting; ADJ.
n foppish: vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance
suppress: put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm; inhibit the expression of; check; prevent from being published or made public; Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress the magazine/truth
n lackadaisical: lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
n medley: mixture
n demure: (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
n beholden: obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
subsidy: direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy
complaisant: trying to please; obliging; willing to please others
n perquisite(perk): any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car
n appellation: name; title
n gape: open widely; open the mouth wide; stare wonderingly with the mouth open; CF. agape
bourgeois: middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions
s interstice: narrow space between things
n garbled: mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up or distort (a message) to such an extent as to make misleading or unintelligible
sedition: conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious
pithy: concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
n corrugated: wrinkled; ridged
exemplary: serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary punishment/behavior; N. exemplar: typical example; model
n cornice: projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars); Ã³¸¶ Àå½Ä
n abeyance: suspended action
egoism: excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical
sensual: devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous; Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips
s trunk: main wooden stem of a tree; human body excluding the head and limbs; torso; prehensile nose of an elephant
saga: Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
abscond: depart secretly and hide
encomiastic: praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy
n abut: border upon; adjoin
s fuddle: make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused
alimentary: supplying nourishment
perversion: corruption; turning from right to wrong
n blandishment: flattery
gravity: seriousness; ADJ. grave
n steadfast: steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
exotic: not native; from another part of the world; strange; intriguingly unusual; Ex. exotic flower/dress
n memento: token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit
n renegade: deserter; traitor; ADJ.
n protocol: diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats; first copy of a treaty before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that the queen meet him at the airport.
integrate: make whole; combine; make into one unit
n veneer: thin surface layer (of good quality wood, glued to a base of inferior material); cover; surface show; fac{c}ade; V.
s stamp: step on heavily (so as to crush or extinguish); put an end to; imprint or impress with a mark, design, or seal; shape with a die; characterize; Ex. machine stamping out car bodies; Ex. newspaper stamping him as a liar; N. stamping; implement used to stamp; impression stamped; mark; Ex. Her remarks bear the stamp of truth.
n crevice: crack; fissure
n ventral: abdominal
dishearten: discourage
espionage: spying
s dignitary: person of high rank or position
assent: agree; accept; N. assessment
n coterie: group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
check: stop motion; curb or restrain
n recast: reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again
s waver: move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady in decision or movement; Ex. wavering between accepting and refusing
n blasphemy: irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
substantial: of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
crescendo: increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
dormant: sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
realm: kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility
n junket: trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense
d'eb^acle: sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
n slacken: slow up; loosen; make or become slack
s scowl: frown angrily; N: angry frown
s gush: (of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole; make an excessive display of feeling (without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from the wound.
n gargantuan: huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel
n elegy: poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac
n mellifluous: (of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune
s concordat: formal agreement
s intolerant: not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one's own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate
n imperious: domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor
n meander: wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly
s shuffle: mix together; jumble; move (something) from one place to another; slide (the feet) along the ground while walking; Ex. shuffle papers from one pile to another; N.
n tipple: drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink
s sleigh: large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
decorum: propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
n veracious: (of a person) truthful
magniloquent: boastful; pompous
n befuddle: confuse thoroughly
n prowess: extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle
hazy: slightly obscure; misty; unclear; N. haze: light mist or smoke; confused state of mind
n gavel: hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.
n pathos: tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel
gratify: please; satisfy; Ex. gratify a desire
n smolder: smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger
n deciduous: falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
n chassis: framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
obdurate: stubborn; refusing to change one's belief
disparate: basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
disquietude: uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
n substantive: substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
s threat: sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of rain; V: express a threat; give warning of (something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain.
n rejoinder: reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
s helm: steering wheel of a ship; position of control
n parochial: narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes
n lull: moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex. a lull in the rain; V: cause to become less active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false sense of security; CF. lullaby
s plaster: paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls; V.
n plait: braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail
n whelp: young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.
n capillary: having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
catapult: slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
n gall: bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; ´ãÁó(bile); CF. gall bladder
n retiring: shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality
n pry: inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying
n panegyric: formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.
s crossbreed: hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
chasm: abyss; very deep crack
defame: harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
s vulgar: of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth; N. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; CF. vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout
s whim: sudden capricious idea; fancy
n throttle: strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N: valve that regulates the flow; CF. throat ?
pyromaniac: person with an insane desire to set things on fire
discrepancy: lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
rudimentary: elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language
s providence: quality of being provident; divine care; god's care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there; ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate
n wane: decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.
n wry: (esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing displeasure)
n virtuoso: highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso
n gibberish: nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or writing; babbling
arraign: charge in court; indict
cerebration: thought; working of the brain
n frenzied: madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement
n mortify: humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die
heresy: opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion; ADJ. heretical; CF. heretic
n wanton: unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause
s woeful: sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably bad; Ex. woeful housing conditions
vendor: seller
s chant: tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant
unanimity: complete agreement; ADJ. unanimous
precipitant: something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; Ä§ÀüÁ¦; OP. solvent
incumbent: obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently holding an office; N: person who holds an office
n turncoat: traitor
n boorish: rude; insensitive
s enlist: (cause to) join the armed forces; obtain (help, sympathy, or support)
n rote: repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
hypothetical: based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed; N. hypothesis
n truism: self-evident truth
n wither: (of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay
n sear: burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause (a plant) to wither
n rant: speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.
n parley: conference (between opponents); CF. speak
nocturnal: done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne
s humble: of low rank or position; modest; having a low opinion of oneself and a high opinion of others; unassuming; not proud; V. humiliate: make humble; cause to feel ashamed or to lose the respect of others
oculist: physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes
s blemish: mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished
n fictitious: imaginary; non-existent; purposely invented to deceive; untrue; Ex. fictitious name/boyfriend; CF. fictional
n dregs: sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
n hue_and_cry: outcry; loud cry or clamor; strong protest; Ex. hue and cry against the new rule
rehabilitate: restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
n culvert: artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
n nepotism: favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
unprecedented: having no previous example; novel; unparalleled
n prude: excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety
n diadem: crown
optometrist: one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects
parity: equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate
aberration: deviation from the normal; mental disorder
resolve: determination; resolution; firmness of purpose
s institutionalize: make into an institution; put or confine in an institution
n effluvium: noxious(harmful) smell
s chip: lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp
eccentricity: oddity; idiosyncrasy
ominous: threatening; of an evil omen
n munificent: very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience
s dainty: delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress
decipher: decode; CF. indecipherable
n penchant: strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars
malodorous: foul-smelling
n inveigh: denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh against the evils of drink
aspire: seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
n sluggard: lazy person
prognosis: forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
discomfit: frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
s takeoff: burlesque; act of leaving the ground
query: inquiry; question; V.
s sly: clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's intentions
s carefree: free from worries; having no problems
n verve: enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor
n lampoon: ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution
ingenuous: naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid
n mollycoddle: pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively
n arroyo: gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
ordinance: decree; authoritative order
n callous: hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
exempt: not subject to a duty or obligation; free from a duty; V.
incense: enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned to produce a pleasant odor
rout: put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat
cringe: shrink back as if in fear; cower
defunct: dead; no longer in use or existence
precipitous: steep; overhasty; precipitate
uninhibited: unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings
n doddering: shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
n teetotalism: practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks; N. teetotaler;; ADJ. teetotal; CF. T + total
sublime: causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
s abide: dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.
replicate: reproduce; duplicate
n palatable: agreeable; pleasing to the taste
serenity: calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene
conservatory(conservatoire): school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
s recital: act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)
comely: attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
s prong: pointed projecting part
n tout: promote or publicize (one's goods or service); praise excessively (as a form of advertisement); CF. advertise
n susceptible: impressionable; easily influenced; sensitive; having little resistance as to a disease; likely to suffer; receptive to; capable of accepting; Ex. susceptible to persuasion/colds; Ex. The agreement is not susceptible of alteration; N. susceptibility
n supererogatory: superfluous; more than needed or demanded
s endear: make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone; ADJ. dear: loved; cherished; high-priced
flagrant: conspicuously wicked, bad, or offensive; blatant; outrageous
n shaving: very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp blade)
deadlock: standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
n mutinous: unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer
deposition: testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
disapprobation: disapproval; condemnation
s rabble: mob; noisy crowd
improvise: compose on the spur of the moment
s blotch: spot; blot; CF. blot+botch
n abet: assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
perspicuous: (of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments
explicit: totally clear; definite; outspoken
flourish: grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave; brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the sun. N: showy movement or gesture; embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in handwriting)
pillage: plunder
n winnow: sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; CF. wind
insomnia: wakefulness; inability to sleep
languid: lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless
tenet: doctrine; dogma
brevity: conciseness; shortness of duration
n bevy: large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
n dross: waste matter; worthless impurities
n crass: very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
s pedestal: support or base as for a pillar or statue
colossus: gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance
s pilfer: steal things of small value; filch; snitch
n pittance: small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
barrage: barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
s mystic: of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
adjacent: adjoining; neighboring; close by
virtual: in essence; existing in essence though not in actual form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual ruler/space
recondite: abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
penury: extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy
s fetish(fetich): object believed to have spiritual powers; object of excessive attention or reverence; CF. fetishism
n scintilla: trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark
n visceral: felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate
n verisimilitude: appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth
appreciate: be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
n amass: collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
n impute: attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation
reimburse: repay; pay back
n manifold: many in number or kind; numerous; varied
covert: secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
n strut: pompous walk; V: walk in a self-important manner
solvent: substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of dissolving another substance
n copious: plentiful
adulterate: make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
n lurk: stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived
ellipsis: omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses
n filigree: delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork
demeanor: behavior; bearing
title: name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation as of rank or office (such as Lord or General); right or claim to possession; championship; Ex. title as head of the family; Ex. title to the estate
s alms: money or goods given to the poor
n ravenous: extremely hungry; voracious
s nuptial: of marriage or the wedding ceremony; N; nuptials; wedding ceremony
dissuade: persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
paramount: foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal
s list: tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
n liability: drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)
manifesto: public declaration of principles; statement of policy
impel: drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action
n dictum: authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
n grill: question severely; cook on a grill; broil; N: cooking surface of parallel metal bars
s comeback: retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
s thesis: opinion put forward and supported by reasoned arguments
n libertine: debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou'e; CF. free
repository: storehouse
s gnarl: protruding knot on a tree; V.
s peer: one who has equal standing with another; nobleman; V: look intently; N. peerage; CF. peeress
s effective: effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph
n muddle: confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion
hamper: obstruct; prevent the free movement of; N: ½Ä·áÇ°ÀÌ³ª ÀÇº¹ µîÀ» ´ã´Â ¹Ù±¸´Ï
defiance: refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
underscore: underline; emphasize
n muggy: (of weather) warm and damp
n ovation: enthusiastic applause
s idle: not working; not employed or busy; lazy; without purpose; useless; lacking substance; baseless; not based on truth; Ex. idle worker; Ex. talk idly; V.
n unsullied: untarnished; CF. sully
n endearment: fond word or act; expression of affection
n unimpeachable: that cannot be impeached; beyond doubt or question; blameless and exemplary
n ulterior: intentionally hidden; beyond what is evident; situated beyond; unstated and often questionable; Ex. ulterior motive
n phenomena: observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength
s ego: one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem
impious: irreverent
supplicate: petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
s voluptuous: sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex. voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary: voluptuous person
intimidate: frighten; N. intimidation
n idyllic: charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene
proviso: stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision
n relic: surviving remnant (from an extinct culture); memento; keepsake; relics: corpse; Ex. ancient relics; Ex. relics of his travel; Ex. His relics are buried at X.
s pose: assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect a particular attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a threat; N.
seismic: pertaining to earthquakes
oblique: indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference
n devious: roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
s distract: take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted
s memorial: something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to honor the memory of a person or event; ADJ: commemorative
ultimate: final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental; Ex. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.
n bolt: door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a door); gobble down
goad: urge on; drive with a goad; cause (someone) to do something by continued annoyance; Ex. They goaded him into doing it by saying he was a coward; N: sharp-pointed stick for driving cattle; stimulus; CF. annoy continually
s elaborate: work out carefully; add more detail or information; ADJ.
n spasmodic: fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
n unsightly: ugly; unpleasant to look at
precedent: something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF. unprecedented
s bank: heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning
s soar: rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.
s blue: gloomy; depressed
n quip: taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.
expedient: suitable (for a particular purpose although not necessarily morally correct); practical; politic(prudent); N: something expedient
s drama: prose or verse composition to be performed by actors; play; exciting and unusual situation
n ligneous: like wood
n refractory: unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse
n surly: bad-tempered; rude; cross
n fortuitous: accidental; by chance; N. fortuity
coalesce: combine; fuse; N. coalescence
s graduate: arrange into categories or grades; divide into marked intervals (for use in measurement); Ex. graduated ruler
ambivalence: the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
n inordinate: beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive; Ex. inordinate demands
n gambit: opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action made to produce a future advantage
warranty: guarantee; assurance by seller
n serrated: having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
inequity: unfairness; ADJ. inequitable
n badinage: teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
surmount: overcome
abortive: unsuccessful; fruitless
s corpuscle: red or white cell in the blood
timorous: fearful; timid; demonstrating fear
n timbre: quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument (which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch)
n flout: reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules
n bemused: confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
protrude: stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth
n mawkish: mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental
surveillance: close observation of a person (esp. one under suspicion); watching; guarding
conjure: cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.
belligerent: quarrelsome
n domicile: home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
n prelate: church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)
s primary: first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first
bureaucracy: overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic
n visage: face; appearance
precipice: cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice
inadvertently: unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
concoct: prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction
n amulet: charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
denigrate: blacken; defame
n disavowal: denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
adversary: opponent; enemy
n vacuous: empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity
terse: concise; abrupt; pithy
s hut: crude dwelling; shack
n vicarious: experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ
avenge: take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.
construe: explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
n wont: (the stated person's) habit or custom; habitual procedure; ADJ. wonted: customary
n nadir: lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith
s disproportion: lack of proportion (between the parts); ADJ. disproportionate
invulnerable: incapable of injury; impossible to damage or injure
s tickle: touch (the body) lightly so as to cause laughter; please
carnage: destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals
n fraught: filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight
s skim: read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
s makeshift: temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
podium: pedestal; raised platform
pretext: excuse
adverse: going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
s tenant: one that pays rent to use property owned by another
s feud: bitter prolonged quarrel (usually between two peoples or families); V. CF. Romeo and Juliet; CF. feudal, feudalism
entreat: plead; ask earnestly
s clip: cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener
n cameo: shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film
n sleazy: shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
n caliber: ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber
n fell: cruel; (of a disease) deadly
n asinine: stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
turbulence: state of violent agitation; ADJ. turbulent: violently agitated or disturbed
n stint: supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
entail: make necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit the inheritance of (property) to a specified succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B
n awry: distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
induce: persuade; lead to do something; bring about; N. inducement
n grueling: exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race
n choreography: art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances
s distinct: clearly different; clearly noticed
axiom: self-evident truth requiring no proof
n whimsical: capricious; fanciful; amusingly strange
probe: explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe
s notch: V-shaped cut in a surface; V.
s torpedo: underwater explosive apparatus; V.
n stalwart: physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower
sarcasm: cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging rebuke; ADJ. sarcastic
satellite: small body revolving around a larger one
pathological: pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease
obsolete: outmoded; no longer used
n fleece: wool coat of a sheep; V: shear the fleece from; rob by a trick; swindle; plunder
gargoyle: waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building
n stint: set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings
audit: examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
exigency: urgent situation; ADJ. exigent
s screech: unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.
n revulsion: sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture
n redoubtable: formidable; causing fear
n bulwark: strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends
s jurisdiction: right and power to apply the law; authority
diffidence: shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
n beset: harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
n demur: object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
euphony: sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
paranoia: psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; N: ADJ: paranoid, paranoiac
alienate: make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
negligence: neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care
tangible: able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof
n wince: move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex. She winced as she touched the cold body.
n humdrum: dull; monotonous
s casual: happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark
n parable: short simple story teaching a moral
abbreviate: shorten
n strew: spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals
n mural: wall painting
recurrent: occurring again and again
demean: disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
n bacchanalian: drunken
n finicky: too particular; fussy; difficult to please; too concerned with unimportant details or quality; Ex. finicky about her food
n cistern: reservoir or water tank
residue: remainder; balance
asteroid: small planet
sluggish: lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell
rend: split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow
n libido: psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire
rusticate: banish to the country; dwell in the country
n foolhardy: rash; reckless; foolishly daring
n balk: stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate
s lounge: stand, sit, or lie in a lazy, relaxed way
aphasia: loss of speech due to injury or illness
n begrudge: envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.
conglomeration: mass of material sticking together
irrelevant: not applicable; unrelated
n infernal: pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of fiery heat or destruction
pulverize: crush or grind into very small particles
s grouch: bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining; V: complain; grumble
abstain: refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote; ±â±ÇÇÏ´Ù
n germinal: pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea
affected: artificial; pretended
n sundry: miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items
n prolixity: tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse
implicit: understood but not stated; implied; unquestioning and complete; Ex. implicit trust
mirage: unreal reflection; optical illusion
n drone: idle person who lives on other people's work; male bee
s feline: of a member of the cat family; N.
despondent: without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
n berserk: mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
n arrhythmic: lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
n matriculate: enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix
collate: examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)
n mores: conventions; moral standards; moral customs
centaur: mythical figure, half man and half horse
n peremptory: demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock
n eulogy: expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize
n bluster: blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale
n cohabit: live together
regicide: murder of a king or queen
incubate: hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for development; be holding in one's body an infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:disease
n bluff: pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured
n dutiful(duteous): (of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)
n discursive: (of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)
s capsize: (of a boat) turn over
graduated: arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc.)
relent: become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless: unyielding; continuously severe
n ken: range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken
n modulate: tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G
n jocular: said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking
obscure: dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning
complementary: serving to complete something
claustrophobia: fear of being locked in
immaculate: spotless; flawless; absolutely clean
cogitate: think over; ponder
s trample: step heavily with the feet; crush under the feet
n tanner: person who turns animal hides into leather
n personable: attractive (in personality or appearance)
s crinkle: wrinkle
s intermediary: intermediate; acting as a mediator; N: mediator; go-between
n hue: color; aspect; Ex. opinions of every hue
n surrogate: substitute; person or thing used in place of another; Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.
n tirade: long angry denunciatory speech; diatribe; harangue; extended scolding; denunciation
n nonchalance: indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts
iota: very small quantity
convivial: pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
s germ: earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something that may develop into something larger or more important; microbe
n primp: groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
bicameral: two-chambered as a legislative body
n stentorian: (of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad
n wan: having a pale or sickly color; pallid
repugnance: disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
facet: small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side
gale: windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughters, tears); Ex. gale of laughter
epicure: connoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ. epicurean; CF. Epicurus
n jocund: merry
s scion: detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant
s swell: long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.
s drudge: do drudgery; N: person who drudges
unruly: disobedient; lawless; difficult to control
n beatitude: blessedness; state of great happiness
n pariah: social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah
s resourceful: clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource, resourcefulness
haphazard: random; by chance; happening in an unplanned manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town
gratuitous: given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done without good reason; Ex. gratuitous comment
n simper: smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
ravel: fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
s bar: railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister
n apoplexy: stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
offensive: attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend: violate; hurt the feelings of; N. offense: offending; violating of a moral or social code; crime; attack; Ex. first offense
stereotype: one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to stereotype people; Ex. stereotyped answer
n queasy: experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy
n addle: make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
n betray: be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
n glossy: smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on a surface; superficially attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners
compute: reckon; calculate
s galley: low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
insuperable: insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties
colloquy: informal discussion; conversation
n wistful: sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing
s upright: (sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral
opportunist: individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances; N. opportunism
s gangrene: decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood supply (usually following injury); ADJ. gangrenous
n dabble: work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
outmoded: no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned
lineage: descent; ancestry
s groove: long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the movement of something; Ex. groove of the record
thrive: prosper; flourish
s trifle: something of little importance or value; small amount; Ex. a trifle; V: treat without seriousness; flirt
consign: send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee
infirmity: weakness
n taper: very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward one end
statute: law enacted by the legislature
n venison: meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork, ham, bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton; CF. lamb: lamb
n bedraggle: wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
substantiate: support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
n fulsome: disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome praise/expressions of admire
ameliorate: improve
s touching: causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic; V. touch: cause to feel pity or sympathy; ADJ. touched
n niggardly: meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. *****rd: stingy person
implode: burst inward; CF. vaccum tube
n ambrosia: food of the gods
s Bacchanalia: the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
subdue: less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one's anger
s lubricate: apply a lubricant to; N. lubricant: substance that reduces friction
n mottled: blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors
n gusto: eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm
n lancet: small surgical tool for making incisions
consensus: general agreement; opinion reached by a group
aptitude: fitness; talent
n gustatory: affecting or relating to the sense of taste
clamor: loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous
n cant: insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people
forlorn: sad and lonely; wretched; desolate
n camaraderie: good-fellowship; CF. comrade
n rider: amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
n overblown: inflated; exaggerated
dissipate: squander; waste foolishly; scatter
impromptu: without previous preparation; off the cuff(end of a sleeve); on the spur of the moment
n faction: party; clique (within a large group); dissension
oratorio: dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata
schematic: of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation; outline
n heinous: atrocious; wicked; hatefully bad; Ex. heinous crime
indigenous: native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World
requiem: mass for the dead; dirge
constituent: supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component
infer: deduce; conclude; N. inference
reserve: self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and uncommunicative
s flicker: burn unsteadily or fitfully; move waveringly; N: flickering movement or light; brief sensation; Ex. flicker of excitement
perceptive: insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception
innocuous: harmless
s cadet: student at a military school
n isthmus: narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land
remediable: reparable
finite: limited
n importunate: urging; always demanding; troublesomely urgent or persistent
longevity: long life; long duration
incommodious: not spacious; inconvenient
s favoritism: display of partiality toward a favored person
s cunning: clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit
miscellany: mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items
n runic: mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune: one of the letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic peoples (cut on stone or wood); magic charm
n agog: highly excited; intensely curious
procurement: obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another
n raiment: clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.
detonation: explosion
autopsy: examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
s herald: messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher
s soothsayer: one who foretells the future
fallible: liable to err
n larder: pantry; place where food is kept
recidivism: habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
embellish: adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding fictitious details)
n espouse: adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N. espousal
miserly: stingy; mean
n soporific: sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
asperity: sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
eclectic: selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism
n welt: raised mark from a beating or whipping
alacrity: cheerful promptness without reluctance
glossary: brief explanation of words used in the text
s ulcer: sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate
n yen: strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel
n faze: disconcert; dismay; embarrass
s significant: expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant
n dint: means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
expedite: hasten; make go faster
s vicar: parish priest; representative
paroxysm: fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst
ineffectual: not effective; not having a desired effect; weak
perfunctory: done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss
n choleric: hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera
avarice: greediness for wealth
n dormer: window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room
xenophobia: fear or hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe
parry: ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully; N. CF. ¸·´Â´Ù´Â °³³äÀÌ ¾Æ´Ô
n vouchsafe: grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
n spartan: without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life
ovoid: egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate
throes: violent anguish
disperse: scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
n boon: blessing; benefit; something very helpful
n apotheosis: elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
n archetype: prototype; primitive pattern
n application: diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself