Gre Shortlisted
Terms
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- cavil
- quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
- immutable
- unchangeable
- resplendent
- brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious
- adroit
- skillful (in using mind or hand)
- testator
- maker of a will; CF. testatrix
- disaffected
- disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
- remonstrate
- protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest
- quintessence
- purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence
- intrepid
- fearless
- apprehensive
- fearful; discerning
- maelstrom
- violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream
- aspersion
- slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
- insensate
- without feeling; lacking sense; foolish
- avuncular
- of or like an uncle
- modish
- fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
- stipple
- paint or draw with dots or short strokes
- vindicate
- clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one's client; Ex. vindicate one's claim; CF. vindicator
- fluted
- having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column
- appurtenances
- subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
- retinue
- following; attendants
- inchoate
- (of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not explicit; at the beginning of development; rudimentary; elementary; Ex. inchoate mass
- disconcert
- confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
- feint
- trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw away defensive action; V.
- impudence
- impertinence; insolence
- ursine
- bearlike; pertaining to a bear
- effluvium
- noxious(harmful) smell
- somnambulist
- sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
- discombobulated
- discomposed; confused
- abscission
- cutting off; separation
- cogitate
- think over; ponder
- fret
- be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful
- imprudent
- lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious
- aberrant
- abnormal or deviant
- fatuous
- smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity, fatuousness
- bogus
- counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview
- freebooter
- pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich
- tendentious
- promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth
- dotage
- senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage
- repine
- fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
- despoil
- plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
- limpid
- crystal clear
- expostulation
- protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate
- viand
- food; CF. live
- brindled
- tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
- mendicant
- beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
- glean
- gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty
- impeach
- charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a witness's credibility
- burgeon
- grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon
- girth
- distance around something; circumference
- bilk
- swindle; cheat
- laconic
- brief and to the point; using few words; terse
- indite
- write; compose
- disabuse
- correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
- incommodious
- not spacious; inconvenient
- insuperable
- insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties
- acrophobia
- fear of heights
- brusque
- blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice
- euphony
- sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
- warren
- tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live
- hermetic
- concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult
- sheaf
- bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
- dilettante
- aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
- disingenuous
- not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
- restitution
- returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury
- supercilious
- haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium
- genteel
- well
- obsequious
- slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic
- zealot
- one who is zealous; fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
- ignoble
- unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed
- rapacious
- voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds
- forswear
- renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure
- vicissitude
- change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China
- rankle
- irritate; fester; annoy
- verisimilitude
- appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth
- ballast
- heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
- incubus
- burden; very worriying problem; mental care; nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus
- fervid
- ardent; zealous; hot
- lucre
- money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre
- commodious
- spacious and comfortable
- martinet
- strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet
- dissipate
- squander; waste foolishly; scatter
- syllogism
- logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
- imposture
- assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor
- replete
- fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
- seamy
- sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life
- prim
- proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
- braggart
- boaster; bragger
- abase
- lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self
- vitriolic
- causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression; CF. glass
- inerrancy
- infallibility
- histrionic
- theatrical; excessively dramatic or emotional; affected; of actors or acting; N. histrionics: histrionic behavior
- slipshod
- slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
- unction
- the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction
- lectern
- reading desk or stand for a public speaker
- fortitude
- bravery; courage; strength of mind
- eschew
- avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks
- impale
- pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear
- peccadillo
- slight offense or fault; CF. sin
- halcyon
- calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days
- forbearance
- patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from (in a generous and forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear to send him to prison
- floe
- flat mass of floating ice
- subterfuge
- stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
- impecunious
- without money
- chagrin
- annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)
- abortive
- unsuccessful; fruitless
- morbid
- given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
- betoken
- signify; indicate; be a sign of
- mountebank
- charlatan; boastful pretender
- coquette
- flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
- homely
- not good
- caulk(calk)
- make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
- pulchritude
- beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous
- improvident
- thriftless; not providing for the future
- reverie
- daydream; abstracted musing
- repast
- meal; feast; banquet
- tactile
- pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
- manumit
- emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
- uncanny
- strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack
- minutiae
- petty or trivial details; CF. minutia
- verisimilar
- having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible
- macerate
- soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper
- visage
- face; appearance
- enjoin
- command; order; forbid
- prepossessing
- attractive; CF. preoccupying ?
- willowy
- flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
- emollient
- soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.
- fetid(foetid)
- malodorous; foul
- filial
- pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter; Ex. filial respect
- rakish
- jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
- recidivism
- habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
- unwonted
- unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted punctuality.
- comport
- bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
- winsome
- charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging
- trepidation
- fear; nervous apprehension
- diadem
- crown
- hurtle
- crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling runaway train
- vassal
- in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord; subordinate or dependent
- vise
- vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device
- quarry
- person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey
- lechery
- gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
- sodden
- thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
- encomiastic
- praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy
- malevolent
- wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence
- celerity
- speed; rapidity
- rou\'e
- #N/A
- leonine
- like a lion
- morose
- ill
- impertinent
- insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence
- somnolent
- half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
- debase
- degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
- jocular
- said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking
- droll
- queer and amusing
- knead
- mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough
- quibble
- minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil
- sinewy
- (of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
- dyspeptic
- suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food
- intimate
- hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship; familiar; private; personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or confidant; CF. intimacy
- impregnable
- invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take
- abjure
- renounce upon oath
- impropriety
- improperness; unsuitableness
- arraign
- charge in court; indict
- disinclination
- unwillingness
- quaff
- drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); ▓▄▓⌐▓▄▓⌐ ╕╢╜├┤┘; CF. sip
- torrid
- (of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid love affairs
- ichthyology
- study of fish; CF. ichthyo
- genuflect
- bend the knee as in worship
- waggish
- humorous; mischievous; tricky
- faze
- disconcert; dismay; embarrass
- malediction
- curse
- squelch
- produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash; CF. ┴°╚δ└╗ └º┐í╝¡ ╣Γ└╗ ╢º
- turpitude
- depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude
- accoutre
- equip; N. accoutrement
- quisling
- traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling
- apropos
- with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
- knell
- tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.
- querulous
- given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining
- leaven
- add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens
- deign
- condescend; stoop
- mete
- measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
- sloth
- slow moving tree
- redolent
- odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
- dispassionate
- calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
- fecundity
- fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young
- tumid
- (of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous
- beatitude
- blessedness; state of great happiness
- fray
- brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have loose threads developing; cause to become worn out (a person's temper or nerves); CF. rub
- egress
- exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress
- emend
- correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement
- besmirch
- soil; defile; make dirty
- wanton
- unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause
- beatific
- giving or showing bliss; blissful
- rampart
- defensive mound of earth
- convivial
- pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
- fitful
- spasmodic; intermittent; irregular
- maraud
- move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
- misogynist
- hater of woman; CF. misogyny
- hortatory
- encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort
- slake
- satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
- ablution
- washing
- emolument
- salary; payment for an office; compensation
- continence
- self
- condign
- adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
- begrudge
- envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.
- totter
- shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall
- cognate
- having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
- sanguine
- optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red
- disinter
- dig up; unearth; OP. inter
- rectitude
- moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
- victuals
- food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food
- pulpit
- raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
- vehement
- forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence
- predilection
- preference; partiality
- recapitulate
- summarize
- motility
- ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously
- protean
- able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
- repartee
- quick clever reply
- scrupulous
- conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker
- mordant
- biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit
- specious
- seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
- rancor
- long
- stolid
- dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
- herpetologist
- one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians
- alacrity
- cheerful promptness without reluctance
- imperturbable
- unshakably calm; placid
- equable
- tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform
- embitter
- make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.
- malodorous
- foul
- disport
- amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
- fiend
- evil spirit; devil
- crass
- very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
- thespian
- pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress
- anneal
- reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
- rake
- immoral or dissolute person
- meretricious
- flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute
- filigree
- delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork
- rusticate
- banish to the country; dwell in the country
- artifice
- deception; trickery
- turgid
- swollen; distended (as from liquid)
- tract
- propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political group); expanse of land; region of indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex. digestive tract
- execrate
- curse; express abhorrence for; detest
- malapropos
- inappropriate; ADV.
- factotum
- handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything
- modicum
- limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate
- welter
- confusion; turmoil; confused mass; bewildering jumble; Ex. welter of data
- wastrel
- waster; profligate
- malingerer
- one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work
- gentility
- those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel
- indignation
- anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation; ADJ. indignant
- litotes
- understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''
- reprobation
- severe disapproval; CF. approbation
- raspy
- making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
- untoward
- unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter
- perspicacious
- (of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute
- solemnity
- seriousness; gravity
- dawdle
- loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
- addle
- make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
- odium
- detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)
- asperity
- sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
- expository
- explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition
- commiserate
- feel or express pity or sympathy for
- satyr
- half
- apothegm(apophthegm)
- pithy, compact saying
- conclave
- private secret meeting
- gustatory
- affecting or relating to the sense of taste
- impel
- drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action
- sybarite
- lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy
- disquisition
- formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
- mendacious
- lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity
- reprove
- censure; rebuke; N. reproof
- suborn
- persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
- execrable
- very bad; detestable
- synoptic
- providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis
- exegesis
- explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages
- gall
- annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse); exasperation
- striated
- marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
- shunt
- move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.
- guffaw
- boisterous laughter; V.
- churlish
- boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
- firebrand
- piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker; person who stirs up trouble
- extirpate
- root up; uproot; destroy completely
- dank
- damp; unpleasantly wet
- aplomb
- poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self
- proscribe
- prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
- appellation
- name; title
- swarthy
- (of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?
- florid
- ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose
- pedagogue
- teacher; CF. child leader
- sumptuous
- grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
- bigotry
- stubborn intolerance
- mulct
- defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy
- aria
- operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
- arcade
- a covered passageway usually lined with shops
- cavalcade
- procession of riders or horse
- consanguinity
- kinship; relationship by birth
- puerile
- childish; immature; CF. puer: boy
- mellifluous
- (of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune
- consternation
- great shock; dismay
- apothecary
- druggist; pharmacist
- ligneous
- like wood
- peevish
- bad
- limn
- draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
- quiescent
- dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence
- assay
- analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
- maculated
- spotted; stained; CF. immaculate
- titular
- of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular head of the company
- malapropism
- comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop
- incredulous
- withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief
- indelible
- not able to be erased
- flay
- strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly
- mawkish
- mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky
- paltry
- insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash
- scad
- a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes
- remorse
- deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self
- knave
- untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery
- wheedle
- deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her
- rebuke
- scold harshly; criticize severely
- recondite
- abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
- timbre
- quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument (which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch)
- whorl
- ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers
- repudiate
- disown; disavow; deny
- cloister
- monastery or convent
- madrigal
- pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments
- facet
- small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side
- depredation
- plundering; destruction
- adjutant
- staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
- salutary
- tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health
- buffet
- strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set
- repugnance
- disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
- unassuaged
- unsatisfied; not soothed
- dint
- means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
- stilted
- bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
- refulgent
- effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon
- taper
- very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward one end
- lackadaisical
- lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
- pallid
- pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion
- rend
- split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow
- incendiary
- arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb
- valediction
- saying farewell; expression of leave
- penchant
- strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars
- thrall
- slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; CF. enthrall
- vitiate
- spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally
- philistine
- narrow
- officious
- meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy
- monochromatic
- having only one color
- licentious
- amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
- lassitude
- languor; weariness; listlessness
- raucous
- (of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts
- astringent
- binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
- gait
- manner of walking or running; speed
- penance
- self
- low
- moo; make the sound of a cow
- expunge
- cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase
- yokel
- rustic; country bumpkin; ├╠│≡
- libidinous
- lustful
- lineaments
- features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line
- contumacious
- stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
- emetic
- substance causing vomiting; ADJ.
- impugn
- dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight
- suture
- stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound
- roseate
- rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
- enervate
- weaken; take away energy from
- spurn
- reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
- epithet
- word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)
- complaisant
- trying to please; obliging; willing to please others
- diminution
- lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
- malfeasance
- wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)
- comity
- courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
- menagerie
- collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo
- flag
- droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ. flagging; CF. unflagging
- nettle
- irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
- viscid
- adhesive; gluey
- sartorial
- pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
- bauble
- trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
- turbid
- (of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick
- regale
- entertain
- hull
- husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship
- hummock
- small hill; hillock
- provident
- providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
- skulk
- move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.
- expiate
- make amends for (a sin)
- vulpine
- like a fox; crafty
- quail
- cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart
- declivity
- downward slope
- bawdy
- indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
- pinnace
- small boat
- rout
- put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat
- flit
- fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
- fulsome
- disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome praise/expressions of admire
- distend
- expand; swell out
- lithe
- flexible; supple; CF. limber
- feign
- pretend
- crestfallen
- dejected; dispirited
- lachrymose
- producing tears; tearful
- prudent
- cautious; careful; prudential
- isthmus
- narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land
- gourmand
- epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink
- waylay
- ambush; lie in wait for and attack
- inured
- accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling
- ruse
- trick to deceive; stratagem
- abnegation
- renunciation; self
- surfeit
- satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food
- apiary
- a place where bees are kept
- mollify
- soothe an angry person
- usury
- lending money at illegal high rates of interest
- imponderable
- weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound
- cipher
- nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
- maleficient
- doing evil; N. maleficience
- hale
- healthy
- gossamer
- sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb
- hew
- cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.
- umbrage
- resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness
- incontinent
- lacking self
- wizened
- shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady
- shyster
- lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner
- impetuous
- violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful thought; Ex. impetuous decision
- tepid
- lukewarm; slightly warm; ╣╠┴÷▒┘╟╤; half
- quixotic
- idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
- terminus
- last stop of railroad; end
- dote
- be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
- moratorium
- legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses
- writhe
- twist in coils; contort in pain
- collation
- a light meal; collating
- flail
- beat with or as if with a flail; move wildly; thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about; N: threshing tool consisting of a stick swinging from the end of a long handle
- quay
- dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
- argot
- slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
- fastidious
- difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky
- extant
- (of something written or painted) still in existence
- covetous
- avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)
- apiculture
- bee
- debonair
- (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
- recrimination
- countercharges; V. recriminate
- congenital
- existing at birth
- imprecation
- curse; swearword
- maladroit
- clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling
- willful
- wilful; intentional; headstrong
- vernal
- pertaining to spring
- emasculate
- weaken; castrate
- phlegmatic
- calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract
- occlude
- shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.
- pare
- cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a knife); trim; Ex. pare apples/expenses
- invective
- abuse
- solicitous
- anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
- inimitable
- matchless; not able to be imitated
- redoubtable
- formidable; causing fear
- vilify
- slander; speak evil of; N. vilification
- ignominy
- deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat
- approbation
- approval
- soporific
- sleep
- testy
- irritable; impatient and bad
- hapless
- unfortunate; luckless
- ingratiate
- become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss
- magniloquent
- boastful; pompous
- incredulity
- tendency to disbelief
- stockade
- wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
- d\'enouement
- #N/A
- ambrosia
- food of the gods
- beguile
- deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
- precipitate
- hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden
- importune
- beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way)
- canard
- unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
- plane
- carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
- artless
- without guile; open and honest
- invidious
- designed to create ill will or envy; tending to rouse ill will or envy; Ex. invidious comparison
- animus
- hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
- unassailable
- not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question
- craven
- cowardly
- bilious
- suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated
- skiff
- small light sailboat or rowboat
- lien
- legal claim or right on a property
- tarry
- linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle
- aver
- state confidently; declare as true
- immolate
- offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)
- discomfit
- frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
- gastronomy
- art and science of preparing and serving good food; CF. gastronome
- whit
- small amount; smallest speck; Ex. not a whit of
- ratiocination
- reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
- rancid
- having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
- exculpate
- clear from blame or guilt
- abet
- assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
- comestible
- something fit to be eaten
- opalescent
- iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence
- careen
- lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
- congenial
- pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
- roil
- make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
- traduce
- expose to slander
- dinghy
- small boat (often ship's boat)
- apotheosis
- elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
- requisition
- formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
- furtive
- stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive glance
- ineffable
- unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy
- titter
- nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
- timorous
- fearful; timid; demonstrating fear
- garish
- overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
- fervent
- ardent; zealous; hot
- jocose
- given to(having a tendency of) joking
- dross
- waste matter; worthless impurities
- list
- tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
- distrait
- absentminded; distracted
- unerringly
- infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes
- scurrilous
- abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
- chaffing
- bantering; joking
- frolicsome
- prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky
- indigence
- poverty
- cogent
- convincing
- vouchsafe
- grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
- cajole
- persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
- insipid
- lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character
- dowdy
- untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
- disconsolate
- hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
- yore
- time long past; Ex. in the days of yore
- entomology
- study of insects
- abut
- border upon; adjoin
- actuate
- motivate; activate; cause to act
- bromide
- platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
- glutinous
- sticky; viscous; gluey
- facetious
- joking (often inappropriately); unserious; humorous
- impolitic
- not wise; not expedient; not politic
- trenchant
- cutting; incisive; keen
- temporize
- gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself
- scabbard
- case for a sword blade; sheath
- vapid
- lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture
- miasma
- swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence
- foible
- small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble
- dour
- sullen; gloomy; stubborn
- forestall
- prevent by taking action in advance
- slink
- move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)
- agog
- highly excited; intensely curious
- frieze
- ornamental horizontal band on a wall
- abominate
- loathe; hate
- etymology
- study of word parts; study of the origins of words
- fusillade
- simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)
- discrete
- separate; unconnected
- impalpable
- imperceptible(not easily understood); intangible; OP. palpable: tangible; easily perceptible
- caste
- one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige
- interloper
- intruder; one who interferes
- internecine
- mutually destructive
- astigmatism
- eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
- exonerate
- acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
- grotto
- small cavern
- piquant
- pleasantly tart
- excoriate
- scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off
- inveigle
- deceive; lead astray by deception; wheedle(cajole); Ex. inveigle her into joining the club; CF. interest dishonestly
- livid
- lead
- impenitent
- not repentant
- sluice
- artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
- expatiate
- talk at length; speak or write in detail
- seemly
- (of behavior) proper; appropriate
- fervor
- glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
- tonsure
- shaving of the head especially by person entering religious orders; V.
- gibe
- mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks
- depravity
- extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
- tessellated
- mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
- idyllic
- charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene
- misanthrope
- one who hates mankind; misanthropist
- imbecility
- weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N. imbecile: stupid person; fool
- cow
- terrorize; intimidate
- supine
- lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision
- kismet
- fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.
- dissemble
- disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
- unseemly
- unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with unseemly haste
- yeoman
- man or farmer owning small estate; middle
- lode
- metal
- recalcitrant
- disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
- cozen
- cheat; hoodwink; swindle
- calumny
- malicious misrepresentation; slander
- dissimulate
- pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
- impuissance
- powerlessness; feebleness
- exacting
- extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety
- inclement
- stormy; unkind; unmerciful; CF. clement
- haggard
- wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the rescued miners
- die
- metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
- uncouth
- boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish
- foist
- insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion; palm off; pass off as genuine or worthy; CF. fist
- gavel
- hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.
- cauterize
- burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
- pedantic
- bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry
- simper
- smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
- effete
- having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted
- comely
- attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
- inimical
- (of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy
- hirsute
- hairy; having a lot of hair
- swathe
- swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages
- crone
- hag; ugly old woman
- solecism
- nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette
- ingenue
- ing\'enue; young innocent girl
- protract
- prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
- bemused
- confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
- terse
- concise; abrupt; pithy
- tureen
- deep dish for serving soup
- clavicle
- collarbone
- vagary
- capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander
- incorporeal
- without a material body; insubstantial
- iniquitous
- wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity
- feral
- (of an animal) not domestic; wild
- blandishment
- flattery
- tawdry
- cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry
- remiss
- negligent; careless about a duty
- libretto
- text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
- imperious
- domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor
- nefarious
- very wicked
- importunate
- urging; always demanding; troublesomely urgent or persistent
- reprehensible
- deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame
- chary
- cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold
- indemnify
- make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured
- dolorous
- sorrowful; N. dolor
- ensconce
- settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)
- stricture
- severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
- decorum
- propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
- provision
- act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure; provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement
- sedulous
- diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity
- ramshackle
- (of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart
- irreproachable
- beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex. irreproachable conduct
- demur
- object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
- abject
- (of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self
- acquiesce
- assent; agree passively; comply without protest
- unguent
- ointment
- truculence
- aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent: aggressive; pugnacious; fierce
- cynosure
- object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
- fuddle
- make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused
- febrile
- feverish
- vituperative
- abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively
- foppish
- vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance
- imbroglio
- complicated situation (as in a play); painful or complex misunderstanding (as in a play); entanglement; confused mass (as of papers); V. embroil
- verdigris
- green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather
- fulminate
- thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation
- manacle
- restrain; handcuff; N.
- demure
- (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
- recreant
- disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
- lackluster
- lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull
- requite
- make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal
- secular
- worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal
- dissolution
- disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
- stupefy
- stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
- dowse
- use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals
- inveterate
- deep
- amiss
- wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
- wangle
- achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
- misogamy
- hatred of marriage
- superannuated
- retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
- defrock
- strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
- descry
- catch sight of (something distant)
- apostate
- one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
- gauche
- clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth
- occult
- mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare
- repulse
- reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion
- effulgent
- shining brightly; brilliant
- lugubrious
- mournful; sorrowful
- blithe
- #N/A
- attenuate
- make thin; weaken
- infidel
- unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion)
- nip
- snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
- ingenuous
- naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid
- chauvinist
- blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin
- censure
- blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval
- litany
- supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words
- encumber
- burden; N. encumbrance
- abstemious
- sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
- awl
- pointed tool used for piercing
- arroyo
- gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
- apprise
- inform
- career
- rush wildly; go at full speed
- desultory
- aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
- tryst
- meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet
- ribald
- marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
- precocious
- advanced in development; N. precocity
- flout
- reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules
- malefactor
- evildoer; criminal
- carafe
- glass water bottle; decanter
- venerate
- revere; treat with great respect
- apoplexy
- stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
- drivel
- nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
- homily
- sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic
- herald
- messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher
- saturnine
- morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.
- labile
- likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability
- effrontery
- rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
- felicitous
- (of a word or remark) apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
- odyssey
- long, eventful, adventurous journey
- insouciant
- without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent
- diffidence
- shyness; lack of self
- vintner
- wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine
- temerity
- boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day's work
- aphasia
- loss of speech due to injury or illness
- tipple
- drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink
- mutablility
- ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant
- interregnum
- period between two successive reigns or governments
- scintilla
- trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark
- gull
- trick; deceive; hoodwink; N: person who is easily tricked; dupe
- gnarl
- protruding knot on a tree; V.
- impeccable
- faultless
- mealymouthed
- indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive
- hackles
- hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone's hackles rise
- perfidious
- treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
- overweening
- arrogant; presumptuous
- felicity
- happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous
- deify
- turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
- acclivity
- sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
- jetsam
- things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)
- maudlin
- effusively sentimental
- skinflint
- miser; stingy person
- mange
- skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair
- wistful
- sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing
- gainsay
- deny
- disgorge
- surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
- incorrigible
- uncorrectable
- dire
- warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
- impassioned
- (of speech) filled with passion; fervent
- legato
- (of music) played smoothly
- clangor
- loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
- doggerel
- poor verse
- wan
- having a pale or sickly color; pallid
- censor
- (in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.
- raconteur
- story
- vitreous
- of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify
- circumspect
- prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
- languor
- lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression
- moribund
- dying; at the point of death; CF. death
- jocund
- merry
- yen
- strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel
- enliven
- make lively or spirited; animate
- palate
- roof of the mouth; sense of the taste
- callow
- youthful; immature; inexperienced
- filibuster
- block legislation or prevent action in a lawmaking body by making very slow long speeches; N; freebooter
- raiment
- clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.
- sibylline
- prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
- catechism
- book for religious instruction in question
- supplicate
- petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
- catcall
- shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
- trappings
- outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward sign of rank)
- apogee
- highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
- unconscionable
- unscrupulous; not guided by conscience; excessive; beyond reason; Ex. unconscionable demand
- confound
- confuse; puzzle
- remit
- transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
- apocryphal
- (of a story) widely believed but untrue
- upbraid
- reprimand; severely scold
- harangue
- long, passionate, and vehement speech; V.
- jingoist
- extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism
- imbue
- saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings
- supposititious
- assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
- adjuration
- solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
- dingy
- (of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
- eddy
- swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.
- filch
- steal (things of small value)
- mirth
- merriment; laughter
- acidulous
- slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
- dissuade
- persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
- refectory
- dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)
- ineluctable
- irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable
- succor
- assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
- canny
- shrewd in money matters; thrifty
- 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''.
- fiat
- command; arbitrary order; Ex. presidential fiat; CF. let it be done
- effectual
- able to produce a desired effect; valid
- perjury
- false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath
- behoove
- #N/A
- disapprobation
- disapproval; condemnation
- lope
- gallop slowly
- indolent
- lazy
- germane
- pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; appropriate
- wrench
- twist; pull; strain; Ex. He wrenched the gun out of her hands.
- grovel
- crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate; behave in a servile manner
- lumen
- unit of light energy (one candle's worth)
- rail
- complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices
- minatory
- menacing; threatening
- libertine
- debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou\'e; CF. free
- spry
- (esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
- prolixity
- tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse
- prevaricate
- lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
- abrogate
- abolish
- inexorable
- relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable price rises
- quotidian
- daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine
- accretion
- growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
- vicarious
- experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ
- obstreperous
- boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable
- laity
- laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy
- ambulatory
- able to walk
- reprobate
- morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?
- demotic
- of or pertaining to the people
- tantamount
- equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount
- scurvy
- contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C
- inveigh
- denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh against the evils of drink
- glib
- fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick
- whittle
- pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually; trim
- itinerant
- wandering; traveling from place to place (to perform work); Ex. itinerant preacher
- factitious
- artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears
- toady
- servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn
- fallible
- liable to err
- legerdemain
- sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
- regatta
- boat or yacht race
- cadence
- rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
- embroil
- throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio
- rococo
- ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
- buxom
- full
- gambol
- romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
- sinecure
- well
- doff
- take off; OP. don
- boor
- rude, insensitive person
- pilfer
- steal things of small value; filch; snitch
- expurgate
- clean; remove offensive parts of a book
- dormer
- window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room
- recumbent
- reclining; lying down completely or in part
- insalubrious
- unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place
- harbinger
- forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
- flotsam
- drifting wreckage
- fidelity
- loyalty; accuracy
- mauve
- pale purple
- evince
- show clearly
- veracious
- (of a person) truthful
- effusion
- pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing
- disputatious
- argumentative; fond of argument