Q, R, and S
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- n scaffold
- temporary platform for workers (to work at heights above the ground); bracing framework; platform for execution
- s leash
- restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
- n sophomoric
- immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
- n sluggard
- lazy person
- n slither
- slip or slide
- queue
- line (of waiting people or vehicles)
- s nimble
- quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
- syllogism
- logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
- 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
- subdue
- less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one's anger
- n smattering
- slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German
- 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
- n roseate
- rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
- n stem
- stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
- sporadic
- occurring irregularly; intermittent
- s stump
- base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle
- n ravine
- narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon
- n resurge
- rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again
- sanctuary
- place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex. The outlaw was granted sanctuary in the church.
- s seasonal
- of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment
- surpass
- exceed
- n rectitude
- moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
- n recount
- narrate or tell (a story); count over again
- rendezvous
- meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.
- s backslide
- revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
- s resort
- turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
- stagnant
- (of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output
- n sagacious
- wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity
- s hide
- skin of an animal
- s lottery
- contest in which winners are selected in a drawing of lots
- n swelter
- (of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be oppressed by heat
- repartee
- quick clever reply
- n stupor
- state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
- n slag
- glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
- n stint
- set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings
- stamina
- power of endurance; strength; staying power
- 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
- n sinewy
- (of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
- n quash
- crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a rebellion/the decision of the low court
- s brim
- uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat); Ex. The glass was full to the brim; V: be full to the brim
- n seedy
- run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel
- requiem
- mass for the dead; dirge
- restraint
- moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
- supercilious
- haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium
- s daze
- stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
- spawn
- lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals
- s stench
- strong foul odor; reek; stink
- n semblance
- outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.
- n rote
- repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
- retract
- withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a statement/an offer/claws; N. retraction; CF. retractile
- n shard
- fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay bowl, or cup)
- n solicitous
- anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
- n sordid
- filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
- scenario
- plot outline; screenplay(script for a movie); opera libretto; outline of possible future events
- n stymie
- thwart; present an obstacle; stump
- synthetic
- not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis; Ex. synthetic fiber; N.
- n ramp
- slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
- scrupulous
- conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker
- rally
- come or bring together; call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate (after illness or difficulty); N: act of rallying; mass gathering
- n retiring
- shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality
- n sedate
- composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative
- s residual
- remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue
- 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.
- spatial
- relating to space
- s run-down
- (of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a person) weak or exhausted
- n regiment
- military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society
- s remittance
- remitting of money; amount of money remitted
- n ragamuffin
- dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes
- n stodgy
- dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
- n savory
- pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable; Ex. savory reputation
- recumbent
- reclining; lying down completely or in part
- s makeshift
- temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
- n skimp
- provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly
- quaint
- odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque
- supersede
- replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
- n sentient
- capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience
- n retrograde
- go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.
- s base
- contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron
- n quiescent
- dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence
- s reverend
- deserving reverence; N: priest
- s remit
- transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
- subsistence
- existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
- ruthless
- pitiless; merciless; cruel
- n reprise
- musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises
- statutory
- created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
- n reverie
- daydream; abstracted musing
- rococo
- ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
- stratagem
- deceptive scheme; clever trick
- n scuttle
- sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull
- n slur
- slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.
- n slough
- (of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed
- n solder
- repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts
- s snuffle
- sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)
- s requisition
- formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
- n soporific
- sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
- rehabilitate
- restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
- s relapse
- return to a former state (esp. after improvement); N.
- s rotund
- (of a person) fat and round
- n rift
- narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
- s maraud
- move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
- n strut
- pompous walk; V: walk in a self-important manner
- n slipshod
- slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
- n rapt
- engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
- n shrew
- scolding woman; very small mouselike animal
- n quotidian
- daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine
- sanction
- approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance
- ravage
- devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms
- n revelry
- boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration
- n stygian
- unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
- reverent
- respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect
- s smother
- kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in little stickers
- n salient
- prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features
- n sedulous
- diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity
- n subterfuge
- stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
- retrospective
- looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V. retrospect
- subside
- sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
- ravel
- fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
- n slapdash
- hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)
- reprove
- censure; rebuke; N. reproof
- n skulk
- move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.
- n suavity
- urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
- n splice
- join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.
- n succulent
- juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus
- stalemate
- deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
- n shackle
- chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.
- n reticent
- inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence
- 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 suture
- stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound
- rummage
- ransack; thoroughly search
- s rhapsody
- excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)
- rubble
- fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)
- servitude
- slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment
- s enact
- make (a bill) into law
- 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
- s penology
- study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation
- supplicate
- petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
- s resurrect
- revive
- reconcile
- make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one's political principles with one's religious beliefs
- reprobation
- severe disapproval; CF. approbation
- superimpose
- place over something else
- n rubric
- title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol
- remiss
- negligent; careless about a duty
- n rhapsodize
- speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery
- s slack
- moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V.
- n scourge
- lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict
- recourse
- resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
- repository
- storehouse
- stem_from
- arise from; originate from
- n suffuse
- spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.
- s memoir
- memoirs; autobiography; biography
- n seemly
- (of behavior) proper; appropriate
- n shun
- keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by her neighbors.
- surreptitious
- done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
- shrewd
- clever; astute
- reaper
- one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop
- n riddle
- pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating earth from stone)
- sensual
- devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous; Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips
- n roster
- list (of names)
- n rabid
- of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
- n solace
- comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble
- severity
- harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense
- n ruddy
- reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking
- n steadfast
- steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
- n substantive
- substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
- sublimate
- refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
- n rivulet
- small stream; CF. rill < rivulet < river
- n quarantine
- isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine
- n ruffian
- violent scoundrel; bully
- n quiver
- tremble; shake; N.
- spectral
- ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
- n rakish
- jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
- salvage
- rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved
- n ruminate
- chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically); mull over(ponder)
- schematic
- of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation; outline
- s chorus
- phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
- n spendthrift
- someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth
- n rostrum
- raised platform for speech-making; pulpit
- rescind
- repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)
- slake
- satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
- n saunter
- stroll(go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.
- s sonnet
- 14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
- sinister
- evil; ominous
- 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
- spectrum
- colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts
- n scruple
- hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience
- seminal
- related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field
- render
- give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully
- n slacken
- slow up; loosen; make or become slack
- n scotch
- stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF. È°µ¿À» ÁÙÀÌ´Â ÀǹÌ
- n saturnine
- morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.
- resplendent
- brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious
- n savor
- enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality
- resumption
- taking up again; recommencement; V. resume: begin or take up again; take or occupy again; Ex. Kindly resume your seats.
- n sylvan
- pertaining to the woods or the country
- n quarry
- dig into (to get stone); N: mine; ä¼®Àå
- 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.
- s mass
- Christian religious ceremony; CF. Mass: ceremony of the Eucharist
- s recline
- lie down
- simplistic
- oversimplified
- n refractory
- unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse
- resolve
- determination; resolution; firmness of purpose
- sophist
- teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument
- n quixotic
- idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
- subliminal
- below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
- n quisling
- traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling
- n stigma
- token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
- saline
- salty
- rebuke
- scold harshly; criticize severely
- revoke
- cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable
- n superannuated
- retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
- s plane
- carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
- rendition
- rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc
- secular
- worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal
- submissive
- willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
- solicit
- entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer
- saboteur
- one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property; N. sabotage: destruction of property (usually carried out secretly)
- solvent
- substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of dissolving another substance
- n silt
- sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
- n stickler
- perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
- s tatter
- torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes) old and torn; (of a person) dressed in old torn clothes
- n renege
- break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off the debt
- sedition
- conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious
- n raucous
- (of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts
- relent
- become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless: unyielding; continuously severe
- regeneration
- spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
- n recalcitrant
- disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
- n spurious
- false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments
- n swerve
- deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course; Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the right.
- n renegade
- deserter; traitor; ADJ.
- recuperate
- recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses
- rejuvenate
- make young again
- 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'
- repertoire
- list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; CF. repertory
- s resound
- (of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter
- n somber
- dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow
- quietude
- tranquillity; calmness
- n staid
- serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
- 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
- subsidy
- direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy
- n queasy
- experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy
- suppliant
- entreating; beseeching; N.
- sluggish
- lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell
- n reverberate
- echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.
- n sepulcher
- tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral
- reprehensible
- deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame
- reputed
- supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute: consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem
- resignation
- patiently submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job; ADJ. resigned: acquiescent
- n sinuous
- twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
- realm
- kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility
- n sextant
- navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)
- s rare
- (of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains
- s transpose
- reverse the order or position of
- n squabble
- minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
- supple
- flexible; limber; pliant
- spontaneity
- lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening without being planned
- 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
- replicate
- reproduce; duplicate
- n reparation
- compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
- recurrent
- occurring again and again
- resuscitate
- revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child
- s lot
- object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land
- supplant
- take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
- recession
- withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
- n sully
- defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one's hands in menial labor
- reprisal
- retaliation
- n sheaf
- bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
- static
- having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state
- n ravenous
- extremely hungry; voracious
- substantiate
- support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
- n suborn
- persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
- subjugate
- conquer; bring under control
- n rankle
- irritate; fester; annoy
- singular
- being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
- sublime
- causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
- sparse
- not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
- n quench
- assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish; put out; suppress
- surmise
- guess; N.
- repel
- drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion
- n scintillate
- sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation
- ramification
- branching out; subdivision; one branch of a system; one of the results following from an action or decision; Ex. ramifications of a business/the decision
- n sportive
- playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike
- remediable
- reparable
- n spry
- (esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
- n squat
- short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
- recluse
- hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
- resentment
- indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel anger about
- n revile
- attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)
- n subpoena
- writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena
- n reprobate
- morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?
- n reek
- emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench
- n rarefied
- made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
- n swill
- drink greedily
- n stifle
- suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
- swindler
- cheater
- n rousing
- lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse: waken; arouse from sleep or depression; excite; stir up
- recondite
- abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
- replete
- fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
- s lopsided
- heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
- n stentorian
- (of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad
- s legato
- (of music) played smoothly
- sentinel
- sentry; lookout
- rampart
- defensive mound of earth
- rectify
- set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
- simile
- comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as
- saga
- Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
- renown
- fame; ADJ. renowned
- n spruce
- neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.
- n stanza
- division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
- n querulous
- given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining
- 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.
- replenish
- fill up again
- n rotunda
- circular building or hall covered with a dome
- subservient
- behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience
- s pen
- fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
- 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
- s stampede
- sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals or people); V: participate in or cause stampede; Ex. stampede before the price rises
- n scintilla
- trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark
- n rife
- (of something bad) widespread; abundant; current
- satire
- form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly
- 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
- n shaving
- very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp blade)
- 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
- succumb
- yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness
- n sartorial
- pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
- n quaff
- drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); ²Ü²©²Ü²© ¸¶½Ã´Ù; CF. sip
- n stilted
- bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
- stringent
- (of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
- n rue
- regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. ADJ. rueful
- 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
- sleight
- dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks
- sobriety
- moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
- 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 ?''
- n smirk
- conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone else's misfortune); V.
- receptive
- quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal
- n satyr
- half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus (resembling a goat), portrayed as wanton(unrestrained) and cunning; lecher; CF. faun; CF. goat: lecherous man
- qualified
- limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify
- n spate
- sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
- n scad
- a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes
- n surfeit
- satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food
- n recast
- reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again
- s rational
- (of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason; logical
- repercussion
- rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion
- n quiver
- case for arrows
- n slovenly
- untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless
- n ribald
- marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
- redundant
- superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively wordy; repetitious
- n squalor
- condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story
- n seminary
- school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women
- 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
- rigor
- severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
- n quibble
- minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil
- s draw
- choosing of a lot or card
- n sumptuous
- grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
- n spartan
- without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life
- stealth
- action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
- n refrain
- abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
- robust
- strong; vigorous
- n sallow
- (of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice
- n symbiosis
- interdependent relationship (between groups, species) often mutually beneficial; ADJ. symbiotic; CF. together + life
- s comeback
- retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
- replica
- copy
- n skittish
- inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
- synoptic
- providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis
- s season
- enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning
- solstice
- point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
- n sinecure
- well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
- n raconteur
- story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill
- s hull
- husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship
- redolent
- odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
- n swarthy
- (of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?
- remunerative
- (of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble
- n slight
- insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance
- ratify
- approve formally; confirm; verify
- s rasp
- (of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; rub with something rough; Ex. The cat's tongue rasped my hand.
- n quadruped
- four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped
- rebate
- return of part of a payment; discount; V.
- reserve
- self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and uncommunicative
- superficial
- of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge
- n restitution
- returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury
- s mason
- one who builds or works with stone or brick; N. masonry: work of a mason; stonework or brickwork
- rustic
- pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person
- n smelt
- melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition
- s stun
- make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
- surveillance
- close observation of a person (esp. one under suspicion); watching; guarding
- succor
- assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
- n surrogate
- substitute; person or thing used in place of another; Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.
- n retrench
- cut down; cut down expenses; economize
- ramify
- branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions
- n shyster
- lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner
- n rebus
- representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. ``R U 18'' is a rebus for ``Are you 18''.
- synthesis
- combining parts or separate things into a whole; the whole so formed; PL. syntheses; V. synthesize
- n strident
- loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
- surmount
- overcome
- n rancid
- having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
- stipulate
- state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
- subsequent
- following in time or order; later
- n somnolent
- half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
- s suffocate
- die or kill from lack of air; suppress
- n sundry
- miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items
- n sheathe
- place into a case; insert into or provide with a sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a blade
- n relegate
- put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture to the children's room; Ex. relegated to the second division
- 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
- n smolder
- smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger
- n subsume
- include (as a member of a group); encompass
- n requite
- make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal
- s tarnish
- make or become dull or discolored; N.
- n strut
- supporting bar; CF. airplane wingÀ̳ª building µîÀ» support
- 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 repulse
- reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion
- n rig
- fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; Ex. rig the election
- s denomination
- religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic
- n retentive
- holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory
- squander
- waste; spend foolishly
- n sleeper
- one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable
- n sadistic
- inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty
- n sage
- person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; ADJ: wise
- soliloquy
- talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)
- n stanch
- stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
- n striated
- marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
- stoic
- stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
- s rickety
- (of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets; CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D
- n sleazy
- shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
- n slur
- pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble
- n simper
- smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
- n sunder
- separate; part; CF. asunder
- solvent
- able to pay all depths; N. solvency
- n ramshackle
- (of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart
- s reminiscent
- suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence
- s resign
- give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively
- resolve
- decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined decision; N. resolution
- repudiate
- disown; disavow; deny
- n refectory
- dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)
- n subversive
- tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
- n rancor
- long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ. rancorous
- s squash
- crush; quash; suppress
- 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
- rudimentary
- elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language
- n ratiocination
- reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
- n sap
- diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification); Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength.
- n steep
- soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
- subordinate
- occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
- n sybarite
- lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy
- n stipend
- pay for services
- n surly
- bad-tempered; rude; cross
- remonstrate
- protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest
- n secrete
- conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism; CF. secretive
- n scabbard
- case for a sword blade; sheath
- reiterate
- repeat
- substantial
- of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
- n spangle
- small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
- 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
- rigid
- hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule
- n refurbish
- renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish
- n sodden
- thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
- n slew
- large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left
- s feebleminded
- deficient in intelligence; very stupid
- saturate
- soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity
- subsidiary
- serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
- n rebuttal
- refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove
- n rapacious
- voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds
- reprimand
- reprove severely; rebuke; N.
- s sonic
- of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic
- 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
- s cross
- bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
- reactionary
- strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical
- n sere
- sear; parched; dry
- summation
- act of finding the total; summing-up; summary (esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)
- n scoff
- laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats
- responsiveness
- state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.; ADJ. responsive: readily reacting; Ex. responsive to treatment
- 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 quagmire
- bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself
- renounce
- abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one's claim to the property/one's religion; N. renunciation
- s taunt
- deride or provoke; challenge in derision; N.
- regal
- royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
- n raiment
- clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.
- n retribution
- deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for offenses; compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back
- remorse
- deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach
- sophisticated
- worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
- sect
- separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group
- n supine
- lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision
- recipient
- receiver
- n simian
- monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
- refute
- disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
- n regatta
- boat or yacht race
- sycophant
- servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic
- s frisk
- move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful
- recant
- disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant one's faith/a statement
- n supposititious
- assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
- n strew
- spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals
- 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 supernumerary
- person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary number
- n seethe
- be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.
- s whine
- complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as in pain or supplication)
- n rant
- speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.
- s snub
- ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she snubbed me; N.
- scale
- climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones
- n scurry
- move hastily; hurry; move briskly
- resolution
- determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute: firm or determined in purpose
- n skulduggery(skullduggery)
- dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
- refraction
- bending of a ray of light
- n relish
- enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
- sacrilegious
- desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration, misuse, or theft of something sacred
- servile
- slavish; cringing; N. servility
- n suffragist
- advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage
- n repast
- meal; feast; banquet
- n scapegoat
- someone who bears the blame for others; whipping boy; CF. escape+goat
- n snicker
- half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
- saccharine
- cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin
- somatic
- pertaining to the body; bodily; physical
- query
- inquiry; question; V.
- n serrated
- having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
- n stint
- supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
- n rampant
- growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed
- n spasmodic
- fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
- n subaltern
- subordinate
- repeal
- revoke; annul
- n quarry
- person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey
- reputable
- respectable; having a good reputation
- s supplicant
- one who supplicates; ADJ.
- sarcasm
- cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging rebuke; ADJ. sarcastic
- n regale
- entertain
- n rent
- tear made by rending; rip; split
- slander
- defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ. slanderous
- revert
- relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former owner; N. reversion
- somnambulist
- sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
- n quizzical
- curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying); questioning; teasing; mocking; bantering; Ex. quizzical glance
- n stalwart
- physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower
- renovate
- restore to good condition; renew
- n rave
- overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as if mad; Ex. raving lunatic
- n septic
- of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)
- n regimen
- prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer
- n respite
- time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment; reprieve
- solemnity
- seriousness; gravity
- n seine
- seine net; net for catching fish
- repulsion
- distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ. repulsive: causing disgust; tending to drive away; V. repel (not `repulse')
- reconnaissance
- survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)
- s lookout
- act of keeping watch; high place commanding a wide view; person who keeps watch
- regicide
- murder of a king or queen
- n shoddy
- made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick
- rationale
- fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
- n serendipity
- gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck; CF. The Three Princes of Serendip
- 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.
- n studied
- carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
- seasoned
- experienced
- n sacrosanct
- invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable
- respiration
- breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory
- n sojourn
- temporary stay; V: stay for a time
- retrieve
- recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex. retrieve the situation
- n sear
- burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause (a plant) to wither
- s scorch
- sear; N.
- sanguine
- optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red
- n stipple
- paint or draw with dots or short strokes
- n sidereal
- relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
- recidivism
- habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
- n revulsion
- sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture
- n shambles
- (place or scene of) complete disorder or ruin; wreck; mess; Ex. After the hurricane, the coast was a shambles.
- scanty
- meager; insufficient
- n roil
- make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
- n quail
- cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart
- symmetry
- arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity; ADJ. symmetrical
- rend
- split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow
- sultry
- (of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous
- n qualms
- uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen.
- repress
- hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion
- rout
- put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat
- sustenance
- sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food, nourishment; something that maintains life; food
- s seasonable
- occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute
- s bog
- soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud
- n rejoinder
- reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
- s reinstate
- restore to a previous condition or position
- seclusion
- isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate
- rusticate
- banish to the country; dwell in the country
- recapitulate
- summarize
- n stricture
- severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
- s doze
- sleep lightly; nap
- s recess
- pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive
- specious
- seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
- n spat
- squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
- ramble
- wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress
- n salacious
- lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk
- resilient
- elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from misfortune)
- simulate
- feign; imitate
- stratified
- divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
- supposition
- assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
- reprieve
- postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of
- n rider
- amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
- retort
- quick sharp reply; V.
- s rivet
- metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross
- s ration
- fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
- reciprocal
- mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement
- n quintessence
- purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence
- n serpentine
- winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of the river; N. serpent: snake
- n sluice
- artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
- sophistry
- seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism
- satellite
- small body revolving around a larger one
- n sententious
- pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic
- n sequester
- isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life
- n solecism
- nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette
- synchronous
- similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring at the same time; V. synchronize
- n supererogatory
- superfluous; more than needed or demanded
- n rile
- irritate; vex; muddy
- n quandary
- dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a quandary about whether to go.
- n savant
- scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know
- sustain
- suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop; maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the trapped miners
- rapport
- close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony
- retinue
- following; attendants
- n scuffle
- struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry; N. CF. scuffling twins ?
- reproach
- blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval or disappointment; N. ADJ. reproachful
- 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
- n quorum
- minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
- repellent
- driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive; N.
- 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
- n sanctimonious
- displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety
- refulgent
- effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon
- n scurrilous
- abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
- n shimmer
- shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.
- n riveting
- holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing
- n scurvy
- contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C
- s herald
- messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher
- stratum
- layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata
- s rig
- arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a ship) with rigging; ADJ. rigging: ropes that hold up a ship's sails
- stellar
- pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance
- retain
- keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor
- sibling
- brother or sister
- raze
- destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground
- reparable
- capable of being repaired
- 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
- n sardonic
- scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile
- n stoke
- stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
- n rotundity
- roundness; sonorousness of speech
- n rebuff
- reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
- superfluous
- excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity
- s rake
- immoral or dissolute person
- soluble
- able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved
- secession
- withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership
- n quell
- suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet; Ex. ``Army Quells Rebellion'' in newspaper; CF. kill
- n sate
- satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
- n ruse
- trick to deceive; stratagem
- n stockade
- wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
- n staccato
- played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
- sensuous
- giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin
- n seep
- pass slowly through small openings; ooze; trickle; N. seepage
- regime
- method of system or government
- n salubrious
- healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health
- n sonorous
- resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
- n rail
- complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices
- sanguinary
- bloody; with much bloodshed
- n repine
- fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
- n skinflint
- miser; stingy person
- s stink
- stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
- skirmish
- minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
- scrutinize
- examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny
- s sledge
- large sled drawn by work animals
- n spatula
- broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
- s recreant
- disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
- s pulpit
- raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
- residue
- remainder; balance
- relinquish
- give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm
- quay
- dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
- satiate
- satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated
- n sibylline
- prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
- n raspy
- making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
- sloth
- slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
- seismic
- pertaining to earthquakes
- serenity
- calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene
- n salutary
- tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health
- s rake
- angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular
- reimburse
- repay; pay back
- n sphinx-like
- enigmatic; mysterious
- repugnance
- disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
- requisite
- necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required; necessary
- relevant
- having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
- n quirk
- sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate
- reminiscence
- recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
- resonant
- (of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding loudly); deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance
- n snivel
- complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.
- n stolid
- dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
- s gleam
- brief flash of light; glow; V.
- sedentary
- requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population
- n sherbet
- flavored dessert ice
- s ruminant
- animal that ruminates; ADJ.
- quack
- charlatan; impostor
- s rank
- offensive in odor or flavor
- s refuse
- anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash
- n schism
- division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split
- n redoubtable
- formidable; causing fear
- random
- without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random
- n sensitization
- process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become sensitive
- 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 squelch
- produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash; CF. ÁøÈëÀ» À§¿¡¼ ¹âÀ» ¶§
- n skiff
- small light sailboat or rowboat
- n shunt
- move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.
- n quip
- taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.
- s raffle
- lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off a new car
- statute
- law enacted by the legislature
- n stupefy
- stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
- s sober
- serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
- senility
- old age; feeblemindedness of old age; ADJ. senile: resulting from old age; showing the weakness of body or mind from old age; Ex. senile dementia
- skeptic
- sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
- n swathe
- swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages
- s sectarian
- of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member of a sect; narrow-minded person
- n seamy
- sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life
- subjective
- influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence
- s ransack
- search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
- s sleigh
- large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
- retaliate
- repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
- n shirk
- avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger
- remnant
- remainder
- n spurn
- reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
- s fashion
- give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay
- recrimination
- countercharges; V. recriminate
- satirical
- using satire; mocking
- 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.