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Kaptest GRE Exercises

Terms

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outfox
defeat or deceive (someone) by being more clever or cunning than they are; outwit.
imperious
assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering : his ~ demands.[from Latin imperiosus, from imperium 'command, authority, empire' ; related to imperare 'to command.' Compare with imperial .]
rate
v. (archaic) scold (someone) angrily : he ~ed the young man soundly for his want of respect. CF berate
prurient
: marked by or arousing an immoderate or unwholesome interest or desire; especially : marked by, arousing, or appealing to sexual desire
mawkish
sentimental in a feeble or sickly way : a ~ poem. See note at sentimental .; • archaic or dialect having a faint sickly flavor : the ~ smell of warm beer.; ~ carries sentimentality a step further, implying emotion so excessive that it provokes loathing or disgust (: ~ attempts to win the audience over).
brusque
abrupt or offhand in speech or manner : she could be ~ and impatient.
absolve
set or declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility : the pardon ~ed them of any crimes.
cobbler
1 a person who mends shoes as a job.; 1 a person who mends shoes as a job.; 3 a fruit pie with a rich crust on top.
succor
assistance in time of difficulty ; 2 : something that furnishes relief
heretofore
before now : diseases that ~ were usually confined to rural areas.
ornithology
the scientific study of birds.
eschew
deliberately avoid using; abstain from : he appealed to the crowd to ~ violence. [from Old French eschiver, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to German scheuen 'shun,' also to shy 1 .]
proffer
hold out (something) to someone for acceptance; offer : he ~ed his resignation.; [Coleman ~ed his resignation offer, tender, submit, extend, volunteer, suggest, propose, put forward; hold out. antonym refuse, withdraw.]
dilate
2 [ intrans. ] ( ~ on) speak or write at length on (a subject).
stamina
the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort : their secret is ~ rather than speed.
encomium
a formal expression of praise
scabbard
a sheath for the blade of a sword or dagger, typically made of leather or metal.; • a sheath for a gun or other weapon or tool.
discommode(incommode)
(formal) cause (someone) trouble or inconvenience : I am sorry to have ~ed you.
stolid
(of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation.
adherent
someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas : he was a strong ~ of monetarism.
amok
behave uncontrollably and disruptively : stone-throwing anarchists running ~ | figurative her feelings seemed to be running ~.
gape
a wide opening or breach : a ~ of the jaws.; • an open-mouthed stare : she climbed into her sports car to the ~s of passersby.; • a widely open mouth or beak : juvenile birds with yellow gapes.; • ( the gapes) a disease of birds with ~ing of the mouth as a symptom, caused by infestation with gapeworm.
waft
pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air : [ intrans. ] the smell of stale fat wafted out from the café | [ trans. ] each breeze would ~ pollen around the house.
foment
1 instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action) : they accused him of ~ing political unrest. See note at incite .; 2 archaic bathe (a part of the body) with warm or medicated lotions. [from late Latin fomentare, from Latin fomentum 'poultice, lotion,' from fovere 'to heat, cherish.']
flux
2 continuous change : the whole political system is in a state of ~. ;4 a substance mixed with a solid to lower its melting point, used esp. in soldering and brazing metals or to promote vitrification in glass or ceramics.
luminescent
emitting light not caused by heat
granular
1 resembling or consisting of small grains or particles.; • having a roughened surface or structure.; 2 technical characterized by a high level of granularity : a ~ database. [from late Latin granulum (see granule ) + -ar 1 .]
aperture
an opening, hole, or gap : the bell ropes passed through ~ in the ceiling.; • a space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, esp. the variable opening by which light enters a camera.
preclude
prevent from happening; make impossible : the secret nature of his work ~ official recognition. See note at prohibit .
turbid
(of especially liquids) clouded as with sediment, muddy, having the sediment stirred up
miller
a person who owns or works in a grain mill.
weed
remove unwanted plants from (an area of ground or the plants cultivated in it) : I was ~ing a flower bed.; • ( weed something out) remove something, esp. inferior or unwanted items or members from a group or collection : we must raise the level of research and ~ out the poorest work.
insidious
proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects : sexually transmitted diseases can be ~ and sometimes without symptoms. ; • treacherous; crafty : tangible proof of an ~ alliance.
legerdemain
1 : SLEIGHT OF HAND; 2 : a display of skill or adroitness; [Middle English, from Middle French leger de main light of hand]
archana(pl. archanum)
n. (plural -num) secrets or mysteries : his knowledge of federal budget ~ is legendary.; • [treated as sing. ] either of the two groups of cards in a tarot pack: the twenty-two trump cards (the major ~) and the fifty-six suit cards (the minor ~).
maladroit
ineffective or bungling; clumsy.
fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail : he chooses his words with ~ care.; • very concerned about matters of cleanliness : the child seemed ~ about getting her fingers sticky or dirty.
rebut
1 claim or prove that (evidence or an accusation) is false : he had to ~ charges of acting for the convenience of his political friends.
stupefy(n. stupefaction)
make (someone) unable to think or feel properly : the offense of administering drugs to a woman with; • astonish and shock : the amount they spend on clothes would appall their parents and ~ their grandparents.;
lumber
move in a slow, heavy, awkward way : a truck filled his mirror and ~ed past | [as adj. ] ( lumbering) Bob was the big, ~ing, gentle sort | figurative a ~ing bureaucracy.
desideratum
something desired as a necessity; something that is needed or wanted : integrity was a ~.; [from Latin, 'something desired,' neuter past participle of desiderare (see desiderate ).]
plutocracy
government by the wealthy.; • a country or society governed in this way.; • an elite or ruling class of people whose power derives from their wealth. [from Greek ploutokratia, from ploutos 'wealth' + kratos 'strength, authority.']
simplistic
treating complex issues and problems as if they were much simpler than they really are : ~ solutions.
slink
move smoothly and quietly with gliding steps, in a stealthy or sensuous manner : the fox came ~ing through the woods.; • come or go unobtrusively or furtively : all his so-called friends have ~unk off.
baggage
1 : a contemptible woman; especially : PROSTITUTE; 2 dated derogatory a cheeky or disagreeable girl or woman.
sectarian
2 : limited in character or scope : PAROCHIAL
clerical
1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy; 2 : of or relating to a clerk
guffaw
a loud and boisterous laugh.
aria
a long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.
retard
delay or hold back in terms of progress, development, or accomplishment : his progress was ~ed by his limp.
accede
1 assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty : the authorities did not ~ to the strikers' demands.; 2 assume an office or position : he ~ed to the post of director in September.; • become a member of a community or organization : Albania ~ed to the IMF in 1990.
disrobe
take off one's clothes : the girl ~ed slowly and climbed into the high bed.; • take off the clothes worn for an official ceremony : they walked to the vestry to ~.; • [ trans. ] undress (someone) : Kate remembers being ~ed.
hiatus
a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process : there was a brief ~ in the war with France.; • Prosody & Grammar a break between two vowels coming together but not in the same syllable, as in the ear and coo [from Latin, literally 'gaping,' from hiare 'gape.']
skulk
keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive : don't ~ outside the door like a spy!; • [with adverbial of direction ] move stealthily or furtively : he spent most of his time ~ing about the corridors.; • shirk duty.
ashen
of the pale gray color of ash : the ashen morning sky. See note at pale .; • (of a person's face) very pale with shock, fear, or illness.; • of or resembling ashes : the volcano's ~ breath.
inimical
tending to obstruct or harm : actions ~ to our interests.; • unfriendly; hostile : an ~ alien power.;
droll
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement : his unique brand of ~ self-mockery. [from French drôle, perhaps from Middle Dutch drolle 'imp, goblin.']
defile
: to make unclean or impure: as a : to corrupt the purity or perfection of : DEBASE *the countryside defiled by billboards* b : to violate the chastity of : DEFLOWER c : to make physically unclean especially with something unpleasant or contaminating *boots defiled with blood* d : to violate the sanctity of : DESECRATE *defile a sanctuary* e : SULLY, DISHONOR;
obstreperous
noisy and difficult to control: : the boy is cocky and ~. See note at vociferous . {the hotel manager was accustomed to dealing with ~ guests unruly, unmanageable, disorderly, undisciplined, uncontrollable, rowdy, disruptive, truculent, difficult, refractory, rebellious, mutinous, riotous, out of control, wild, turbulent, uproarious, boisterous; noisy, loud, clamorous, raucous, vociferous; informal rambunctious. See note at vociferous .} [from Latin obstreperus (from obstrepere, from ob- 'against' + strepere 'make a noise' ) + -ous .]
macabre
disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury : a ~ series of murders. {1 ~ ritual gruesome, grisly, grim, gory, morbid, ghastly, unearthly, grotesque, hideous, horrific, shocking, dreadful, loathsome, repugnant, repulsive, sickening.} {2 a ~ joke black, weird, unhealthy; informal sick.}
dictatorial
of or typical of a ruler with total power : a ~ regime.; • having or showing a tendency to tell people what to do in an autocratic way : his ~ manner.
willful
(of an immoral or illegal act or omission) intentional; deliberate : ~ acts of damage.
finicky
(of a person) fussy about one's needs or requirements : a ~ eater.; • showing or requiring great attention to detail : a ~, almost collector.
oratorio
a large-scale musical work for orchestra and voices, typically a narrative on a religious theme, performed without the use of costumes, scenery, or action.Well-known examples include Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Handel's Messiah, and Haydn's The Creation.
askance
with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval : the reformers looked ~ at the mystical tradition | a waiter looked ~ at Charlie's jeans.
atone
make amends or reparation : he was being helpful, to ~ for his past mistakes.
sumptuary
relating to or denoting laws that limit private expenditure on food and personal items. ; [from Latin sumptuarius, from sumptus 'cost, expenditure,' from sumere 'take.']
parsimonious
unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal : ~ New Hampshire voters, who have a phobia about taxes. See note at economical . [from Latin parsimonia, parcimonia, from parcere 'be sparing.']
redress
remedy or set right (an undesirable or unfair situation) : the power to ~ the grievances of our citizens.; • archaic set upright again : some ambitious architect being called to ~ a leaning wall.; n. remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance : those seeking ~ for an infringement of public law rights.; PHRASE ~ the balance take action to restore equality in a situation.
extemporaneous
spoken or done without preparation : an ~ speech.
intransigent
unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something.
altercation
a noisy argument or disagreement, esp. in public : I had an ~ with the conductor. See note at quarrel .
apotheosis
the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax : his appearance as Hamlet was the ~ of his career.; • the elevation of someone to divine status; deification.
dilatory
slow to act : he had been ~ in appointing a solicitor. ;• intended to cause delay : they resorted to ~ procedural tactics, forcing a postponement of peace talks. [from Latin dilator 'delayer,' from dilat- 'deferred,' from the verb differre.]
fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail : he chooses his words with ~ care.; • very concerned about matters of cleanliness : the child seemed ~ about getting her fingers sticky or dirty.
vainglory
noun (poetic/literary) inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements; excessive vanity.
explicate
analyze and develop (an idea or principle) in detail : attempting to ~ the relationship between crime and economic forces. See note at clarify .; • analyze (a literary work) in order to reveal its meaning.
piquant
having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor.; • pleasantly stimulating or exciting to the mind.
halting
slow and hesitant, esp. through lack of confidence; faltering : she speaks ~ English with a heavy accent.
hallow
1 : to make holy or set apart for holy use; 2 : to respect greatly : VENERATE
relentless
oppressively constant; incessant : the ~ heat of the desert.; • harsh or inflexible : a patient but ~ taskmaster.
ad lib
without advance preparation
vitrify
convert (something) into glass or a glasslike substance, typically by exposure to heat.
protean
1 : of or resembling Proteus in having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms; 2 : displaying great diversity or variety : VERSATILE
peremptory
(esp. of a person's manner or actions) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, esp. in a brusquely imperious way : "Just do it!" came the ~ reply.• Law not open to appeal or challenge; final : there has been no disobedience of a ~ order of the court. [from Latin peremptorius 'deadly, decisive,' from perempt- 'destroyed, cut off,' from the verb perimere, from per- 'completely' + emere 'take, buy.']
bombardment
attack (a place or person) continuously with bombs, shells, or other missiles : the city was bombarded by federal forces | supporters ~ed police with bottles. See note at attack .; • assail (someone) persistently, as with questions, criticisms, or information : they will be ~ed with complaints; • Physics direct a high-speed stream of particles at (a substance)..
pastiche
a work of art that imitates the style of some previous work
peregrinate
v. (archaic or humorous) travel or wander around from place to place. [from Latin peregrinat- 'traveled abroad,' from the verb peregrinari, from peregrinus 'foreign, traveling.']
pungent
sharp biting or acrid especially in taste or smell, capable of wounding
munificent
(of a gift or sum of money) larger or more generous than is usual or necessary : a ~ gesture.; [from Latin munificent-, stem of munificentior, comparative of munificus 'bountiful,' from munus 'gift.']
supercilious
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others : a ~ lady's maid. [Latin superciliosus 'haughty,' from supercilium 'eyebrow.']

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