Wordlist R
Terms
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- rabble
- mob; noisy crowd
- rabid
- of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
- rabies
- disease passed on by the bite of an infected animal (causing madness and death)
- raconteur
- story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill
- raffle
- lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off a new car
- rag
- scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance
- ragamuffin
- dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes
- rail
- complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices
- raiment
- clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.
- rake
- angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular
- rakish
- jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
- 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
- ram
- male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
- ramble
- wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress
- 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
- ramify
- branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions
- ramp
- slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
- rampant
- growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed
- rampart
- defensive mound of earth
- ramshackle
- (of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart
- rancid
- having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
- rancor
- long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ. rancorous
- random
- without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random
- rank
- offensive in odor or flavor
- rankle
- irritate; fester; annoy
- ransack
- search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
- rant
- speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.
- rapacious
- voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds
- rapport
- close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony
- rapt
- engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
- rapture
- great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
- rare
- (of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains
- rarefied
- made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
- 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.
- raspy
- making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
- ratify
- approve formally; confirm; verify
- ratiocination
- reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
- ration
- fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
- rational
- (of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason; logical
- rationale
- fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
- 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
- raucous
- (of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts
- ravage
- devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms
- rave
- overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as if mad; Ex. raving lunatic
- ravel
- fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
- ravenous
- extremely hungry; voracious
- ravine
- narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon
- raze
- destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground
- reactionary
- strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical
- realm
- kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility
- reaper
- one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop
- rebate
- return of part of a payment; discount; V.
- rebuff
- reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
- rebuke
- scold harshly; criticize severely
- 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''.
- rebuttal
- refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove
- recalcitrant
- disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
- recant
- disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant one's faith/a statement
- recapitulate
- summarize
- recast
- reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again
- receptive
- quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal
- recess
- pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive
- recession
- withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
- recidivism
- habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
- recipient
- receiver
- reciprocal
- mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement
- 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
- recital
- act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)
- recite
- repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation
- reckon
- count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose
- recline
- lie down
- recluse
- hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
- 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
- recondite
- abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
- reconnaissance
- survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)
- recount
- narrate or tell (a story); count over again
- recourse
- resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
- recreant
- disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
- recrimination
- countercharges; V. recriminate
- rectify
- set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
- rectitude
- moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
- recumbent
- reclining; lying down completely or in part
- recuperate
- recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses
- recurrent
- occurring again and again
- redolent
- odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
- redoubtable
- formidable; causing fear
- redress
- remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for
- reduce
- diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction
- redundant
- superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively wordy; repetitious
- reek
- emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench
- refectory
- dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)
- referendum
- direct vote by all the people
- refraction
- bending of a ray of light
- refractory
- unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse
- refrain
- abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
- refulgent
- effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon
- refurbish
- renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish
- refuse
- anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash
- refute
- disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
- regal
- royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
- regale
- entertain
- regatta
- boat or yacht race
- regeneration
- spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
- regent
- a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
- regicide
- murder of a king or queen
- regime
- method of system or government
- regimen
- prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer
- regiment
- military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society
- rehabilitate
- restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
- reimburse
- repay; pay back
- reinstate
- restore to a previous condition or position
- reiterate
- repeat
- rejoinder
- reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
- rejuvenate
- make young again
- relapse
- return to a former state (esp. after improvement); 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
- relent
- become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless: unyielding; continuously severe
- relevant
- having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
- 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.
- religious
- of religion; (of a person) pious; having reverence for a deity
- relinquish
- give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm
- relish
- enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
- remediable
- reparable
- reminiscence
- recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
- reminiscent
- suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence
- remiss
- negligent; careless about a duty
- 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.
- remit
- transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
- remittance
- remitting of money; amount of money remitted
- remnant
- remainder
- remonstrate
- protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest
- remorse
- deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach
- remote
- distant in manner; aloof
- remunerative
- (of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble
- rend
- split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow
- render
- give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully
- rendezvous
- meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.
- rendition
- rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc
- renegade
- deserter; traitor; ADJ.
- renege
- break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off the debt
- renounce
- abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one's claim to the property/one's religion; N. renunciation
- renovate
- restore to good condition; renew
- renown
- fame; ADJ. renowned
- rent
- tear made by rending; rip; split
- reparable
- capable of being repaired
- reparation
- compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
- repartee
- quick clever reply
- repast
- meal; feast; banquet
- repeal
- revoke; annul
- repel
- drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion
- repellent
- driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive; N.
- repercussion
- rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion
- repertoire
- list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; CF. repertory
- repine
- fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
- replenish
- fill up again
- replete
- fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
- replica
- copy
- replicate
- reproduce; duplicate
- repose
- resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single man
- repository
- storehouse
- reprehensible
- deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame
- representational
- (of a style of art) showing things as they actually appear in real life
- repress
- hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion
- reprieve
- postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of
- reprimand
- reprove severely; rebuke; N.
- reprisal
- retaliation
- reprise
- musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises
- reproach
- blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval or disappointment; N. ADJ. reproachful
- reprobate
- morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?
- reprobation
- severe disapproval; CF. approbation
- reprove
- censure; rebuke; N. reproof
- repudiate
- disown; disavow; deny
- repugnance
- disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
- repulse
- reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion
- repulsion
- distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ. repulsive: causing disgust; tending to drive away; V. repel (not `repulse')
- reputable
- respectable; having a good reputation
- reputed
- supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute: consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem
- requiem
- mass for the dead; dirge
- requisite
- necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required; necessary
- requisition
- formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
- requite
- make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal
- rescind
- repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)
- resentment
- indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel anger about
- reserve
- self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and uncommunicative
- residual
- remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue
- residue
- remainder; balance
- resign
- give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively
- resignation
- patiently submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job; ADJ. resigned: acquiescent
- resilient
- elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from misfortune)
- resolution
- determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute: firm or determined in purpose
- resolve
- determination; resolution; firmness of purpose
- resonant
- (of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding loudly); deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance
- resort
- turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
- resound
- (of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter
- resourceful
- clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource, resourcefulness
- respiration
- breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory
- respite
- time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment; reprieve
- resplendent
- brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious
- responsiveness
- state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.; ADJ. responsive: readily reacting; Ex. responsive to treatment
- restitution
- returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury
- 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'
- restraint
- moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
- resumption
- taking up again; recommencement; V. resume: begin or take up again; take or occupy again; Ex. Kindly resume your seats.
- resurge
- rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again
- resurrect
- revive
- resuscitate
- revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child
- retain
- keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor
- retaliate
- repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
- retard
- delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a child) slower in development
- retentive
- holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory
- reticent
- inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence
- retinue
- following; attendants
- retiring
- shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality
- retort
- quick sharp reply; V.
- retract
- withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a statement/an offer/claws; N. retraction; CF. retractile
- retrench
- cut down; cut down expenses; economize
- retribution
- deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for offenses; compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back
- retrieve
- recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex. retrieve the situation
- 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
- retrograde
- go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.
- retrospective
- looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V. retrospect
- revelry
- boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration
- reverberate
- echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.
- reverend
- deserving reverence; N: priest
- reverent
- respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect
- reverie
- daydream; abstracted musing
- revert
- relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former owner; N. reversion
- revile
- attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)
- revoke
- cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable
- revulsion
- sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture
- rhapsodize
- speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery
- rhapsody
- excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)
- 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 ?''
- ribald
- marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
- rickety
- (of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets; CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D
- 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)
- rider
- amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
- rife
- (of something bad) widespread; abundant; current
- rift
- narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
- rig
- fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; Ex. rig the election
- righteous
- morally upright; just
- rightful
- legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
- rigid
- hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule
- rigor
- severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
- rile
- irritate; vex; muddy
- rip
- tear or be torn quickly and violently; Ex. The sail ripped under the force of the wind; N.
- rivet
- metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross