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barrons wordlist S

Terms

undefined, object
copy deck
subjugate
conquer; bring under control
seminal
related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field
n sluice
artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
n sinuous
twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
soliloquy
talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)
n sherbet
flavored dessert ice
secession
withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership
n stalwart
physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower
n stolid
dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
n strut
pompous walk; V: walk in a self-important manner
n slacken
slow up; loosen; make or become slack
n sacrosanct
invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable
n sensitization
process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become sensitive
stagnant
(of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output
sanguine
optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red
n solicitous
anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
scrutinize
examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny
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
n sylvan
pertaining to the woods or the country
n supposititious
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
n scintilla
trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark
n suborn
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
spatial
relating to space
sultry
(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous
stellar
pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance
n strew
spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals
n skulduggery(skullduggery)
dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
n shun
keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by her neighbors.
s sober
serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
sparse
not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
scale
climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones
synthesis
combining parts or separate things into a whole; the whole so formed; PL. syntheses; V. synthesize
s season
enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning
n scuttle
sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull
sobriety
moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
symmetry
arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity; ADJ. symmetrical
n shirk
avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger
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 sextant
navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)
n seminary
school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women
surmount
overcome
n spat
squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
summation
act of finding the total; summing-up; summary (esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)
n shackle
chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.
n slur
pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble
satire
form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly
s supplicant
one who supplicates; ADJ.
n serrated
having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
n squabble
minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
n salient
prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features
simile
comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as
solstice
point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
s sonic
of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic
solemnity
seriousness; gravity
s snuffle
sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)
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.
sarcasm
cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging rebuke; ADJ. sarcastic
s seasonal
of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment
n shard
fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay bowl, or cup)
stratified
divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
subservient
behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience
n semblance
outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.
n sophomoric
immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
n sallow
(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice
serenity
calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene
s pen
fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
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 soporific
sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
n slovenly
untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless
s sleigh
large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
subsistence
existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
n sundry
miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items
n squalor
condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story
scrupulous
conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker
stratum
layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata
n sentient
capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience
n sinewy
(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
n stint
set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings
n supine
lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision
n steadfast
steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
surreptitious
done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
s frisk
move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful
n snicker
half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
n seep
pass slowly through small openings; ooze; trickle; N. seepage
saga
Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
n skittish
inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
n slag
glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
n savory
pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable; Ex. savory reputation
n scaffold
temporary platform for workers (to work at heights above the ground); bracing framework; platform for execution
s stun
make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
n spangle
small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
s tarnish
make or become dull or discolored; N.
n shrew
scolding woman; very small mouselike animal
n sumptuous
grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
servile
slavish; cringing; N. servility
solvent
substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of dissolving another substance
skeptic
sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
saboteur
one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property; N. sabotage: destruction of property (usually carried out secretly)
seclusion
isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate
n sere
sear; parched; dry
sustenance
sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food, nourishment; something that maintains life; food
s scorch
sear; N.
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 skinflint
miser; stingy person
s stump
base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle
s refuse
anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash
supplant
take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
n sphinx-like
enigmatic; mysterious
sensual
devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous; Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips
n sententious
pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic
n sear
burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause (a plant) to wither
n smattering
slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German
n symbiosis
interdependent relationship (between groups, species) often mutually beneficial; ADJ. symbiotic; CF. together + life
s cross
bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
suppliant
entreating; beseeching; N.
synoptic
providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis
n swill
drink greedily
s run-down
(of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a person) weak or exhausted
n sluggard
lazy person
syllogism
logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
substantial
of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
surpass
exceed
n spendthrift
someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth
n staccato
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
servitude
slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment
n subpoena
writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena
n stygian
unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
n swelter
(of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be oppressed by heat
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
n seedy
run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel
static
having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state
sycophant
servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic
substantiate
support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
subsidiary
serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
n stricture
severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
sedition
conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious
n scotch
stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF. È°µ¿À» ÁÙÀÌ´Â ÀǹÌ
n surly
bad-tempered; rude; cross
n savant
scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know
n scurvy
contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C
supersede
replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
n slur
slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.
s plane
carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
subjective
influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence
n subaltern
subordinate
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.
severity
harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense
synthetic
not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis; Ex. synthetic fiber; N.
slake
satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
n solace
comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble
s sonnet
14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
n sepulcher
tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral
n slapdash
hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)
simulate
feign; imitate
n superannuated
retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
n studied
carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
supple
flexible; limber; pliant
stalemate
deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
surveillance
close observation of a person (esp. one under suspicion); watching; guarding
n shyster
lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner
sustain
suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop; maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the trapped miners
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.
n simper
smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
s lookout
act of keeping watch; high place commanding a wide view; person who keeps watch
n scuffle
struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry; N. CF. scuffling twins ?
synchronous
similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring at the same time; V. synchronize
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 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 transpose
reverse the order or position of
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
n smelt
melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition
n sleeper
one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable
n saunter
stroll(go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.
spectrum
colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts
stamina
power of endurance; strength; staying power
n surrogate
substitute; person or thing used in place of another; Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.
n salacious
lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk
submissive
willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
sophistry
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism
sanction
approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance
singular
being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
n shunt
move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.
n spry
(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
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 stem
stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
saturate
soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity
sloth
slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
n sportive
playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike
subordinate
occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
n subsume
include (as a member of a group); encompass
squander
waste; spend foolishly
stoic
stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
n stint
supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
n seemly
(of behavior) proper; appropriate
statute
law enacted by the legislature
superimpose
place over something else
n strident
loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
sensuous
giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin
somatic
pertaining to the body; bodily; physical
n stentorian
(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad
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 swathe
swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages
n stupefy
stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
n slough
(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed
n supererogatory
superfluous; more than needed or demanded
supposition
assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
salvage
rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved
sedentary
requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population
n slither
slip or slide
n spatula
broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
simplistic
oversimplified
sanctuary
place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex. The outlaw was granted sanctuary in the church.
s lopsided
heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
swindler
cheater
n suffragist
advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage
sinister
evil; ominous
n schism
division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split
s denomination
religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic
n smolder
smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger
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 steep
soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
surmise
guess; N.
n seamy
sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life
n sagacious
wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity
n scad
a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes
s nimble
quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
n spurn
reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
n scruple
hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience
sporadic
occurring irregularly; intermittent
solicit
entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer
n shoddy
made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick
n sunder
separate; part; CF. asunder
n sedulous
diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity
n stipend
pay for services
n stipple
paint or draw with dots or short strokes
n sinecure
well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
n suavity
urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
n sartorial
pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
n stodgy
dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
n splice
join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.
n subversive
tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
specious
seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
s doze
sleep lightly; nap
n slight
insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance
s hide
skin of an animal
n simian
monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
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
n squat
short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
n swarthy
(of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?
statutory
created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
n succulent
juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus
n sanctimonious
displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety
n scourge
lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict
n substantive
substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
n septic
of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)
satirical
using satire; mocking
n sate
satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
n sonorous
resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
stem_from
arise from; originate from
s seasonable
occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute
n somnolent
half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
sibling
brother or sister
stringent
(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
s sectarian
of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member of a sect; narrow-minded person
s suffocate
die or kill from lack of air; suppress
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 sordid
filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
n sibylline
prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
n suture
stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound
n salutary
tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health
s base
contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron
skirmish
minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
supercilious
haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium
n salubrious
healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health
n stymie
thwart; present an obstacle; stump
secular
worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal
n shaving
very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp blade)
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 secrete
conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism; CF. secretive
n surfeit
satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food
succumb
yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness
n supernumerary
person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary number
satiate
satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated
saccharine
cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin
n stickler
perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
sect
separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group
n sardonic
scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile
sublime
causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
scenario
plot outline; screenplay(script for a movie); opera libretto; outline of possible future events
n savor
enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality
n shimmer
shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.
spontaneity
lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening without being planned
stipulate
state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
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 daze
stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
n skulk
move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.
n sage
person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; ADJ: wise
n spasmodic
fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
n serpentine
winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of the river; N. serpent: snake
n sadistic
inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty
slander
defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ. slanderous
n suffuse
spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.
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
n skiff
small light sailboat or rowboat
n stanza
division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
solvent
able to pay all depths; N. solvency
n stilted
bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
n stupor
state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
seasoned
experienced
n seethe
be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.
s slack
moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V.
n staid
serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
somnambulist
sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
n scapegoat
someone who bears the blame for others; whipping boy; CF. escape+goat
n spruce
neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.
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 stockade
wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
n sybarite
lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy
sacrilegious
desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration, misuse, or theft of something sacred
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
sleight
dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks
s feebleminded
deficient in intelligence; very stupid
n skimp
provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly
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
saline
salty
n scintillate
sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation
s smother
kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in little stickers
n strut
supporting bar; CF. airplane wingÀ̳ª building µîÀ» support
n sojourn
temporary stay; V: stay for a time
sophist
teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument
succor
assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
subliminal
below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
n slew
large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left
subsidy
direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy
n spurious
false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments
superfluous
excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity
spawn
lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals
n shambles
(place or scene of) complete disorder or ruin; wreck; mess; Ex. After the hurricane, the coast was a shambles.
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
n stoke
stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
n scabbard
case for a sword blade; sheath
soluble
able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved
sanguinary
bloody; with much bloodshed
s sledge
large sled drawn by work animals
n silt
sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
n scurry
move hastily; hurry; move briskly
n sheaf
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
n stifle
suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
n stigma
token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
n somber
dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow
n spate
sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
stratagem
deceptive scheme; clever trick
n swerve
deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course; Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the right.
schematic
of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation; outline
shrewd
clever; astute
n solecism
nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette
n serendipity
gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck; CF. The Three Princes of Serendip
n scurrilous
abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
n striated
marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
spectral
ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
s hull
husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship
n sodden
thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
supplicate
petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
superficial
of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge
scanty
meager; insufficient
seismic
pertaining to earthquakes
s legato
(of music) played smoothly
n sleazy
shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
n sedate
composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative
n stanch
stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
subsequent
following in time or order; later
subdue
less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one's anger
subside
sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
stealth
action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
n sully
defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one's hands in menial labor
n smirk
conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone else's misfortune); V.
n sequester
isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life
satellite
small body revolving around a larger one
sentinel
sentry; lookout
n snivel
complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.
n seine
seine net; net for catching fish
sluggish
lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell
n sidereal
relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
n saturnine
morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.
sublimate
refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
n spartan
without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life
sophisticated
worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
n subterfuge
stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
n sap
diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification); Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength.
n slipshod
slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
n scoff
laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats

Deck Info

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