gre vocabulary l

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lode: metal bearing vein. If this lode that we have discovered extends for any distance, we have found a fortune
loathe: detest. Booing and hissing, the audience showed how much they loathed the villain, loathsome
loath: reluctant; disinclined. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go
livid: lead-colored; black and blue; ashen; enraged. His face was so livid with rage that we were afriad that he might have an attack of apoplexy
litotes: understatement for emphasis. To say, 'He little realizes, ' when we mean that he does not realize at all is an example of the kind of understatement we call iltotes
litigation: lawsuit. Try to settle this amicably; I o not want to start litigation
lithe: flexible; supple. Her figure was lithe and willowy
litany: supplicatory prayer. On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity
listless: lacking in spirit or energy. We had expected her to be full of enthusiasm and were suprised by her listless attitude
liquidate: settle accounts; clear up. he was able to liquidate all his debts in a short period of time
lionize: treat as a celebrity. She enjoyed being linonized and adored by the public
linguistic: pertaining to language. The modern tourist will encounter very little linguistic difficulty as English has become an almost universal language
linger: loiter or dawdle; continue or persist. Hoping to see Juliet pass by, Romeo lingered outside the Capulet house for hours. Though Mother made stuffed cabbage on Monday, the smell lingered around the hous for days
lineaments: features, especially of the face. She quickly sketched the lineaments of his face
lineage: descent; ancestry. He traced his lineage back to Mayflower days
limpid: clear. A limpid stream ran through his property
limn: draw; outline; describe. paradoxically, the more realistic the details his artist chooses, the better able she is to limn her fantastic, other worldly landscapes
limbo: region near heaen or hell where certain souls are kept; a prison (slang). Amon the divisons of Hell are Purgatory and Limbo
limber: flexible. hours of ballet classes kept him limber.
lilliputian: extremely small. Tiny and delicate, the model was built on a lilliputian scale
ligneous: like wood. Petrified wood may be ligneous in appearance, but it is stonelike in composition
lien: legal claim on a property. There was a delay before Ralph could take possession of his late uncle's home; apparently, another claimant had a lien upon the estate.
licentious: amoral; lewd and lascivious, unrestrained. Unscrupulously seducing the daughter of his host, Don Juan felt no qualms about the immorality of his licentious behavior
libretto: text of an opera. The composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its libretto
libido: emotional urges behind human activity. The psychiatrist maintained that suppresion of the libido often resulted in maladjustment and neuroses
libidinous: lustful. They objected to his libidinous behavior
libertine: debauched person, roue. Although she was aware of his reputation as a libertine, she felt she could reform him and help him abandon his dissolute way of life
libel: defamatory statement; act of writing something that smears a person's charcater. If Batman wrote that the Joker was a dirty, rotten, mass murdering criminal, could the Joker sue Batman for libel?
liaison: contact that keeps parties in communication; go-between; secret love affair. As the liaison between the American and BRitish forces during the WWII, the colonel had to ease tensions between the leaders of the two armies. Romeo's romantic liaison with Juliet ended in tragedy
liability: drawback. debts. Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was able to overcome
lexicon: dictionary; i cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library.
lexicographer: compiler of a dictionary. The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compiling and editing the work
lewd: lustful. They found his lewd stories objectionable.
levy: impose ( a fine); collect (a payment) crying 'no taxation without representation!' the colonists demonstrated against England's power to levy taxes
levity: lack of seriousness of steadiness; frivolity. Stop giggling and wriggling around in the pew; such levity is improper in church
levitate: float in the air (especially by magical means). As the magician passed his hands over the recumbent body of his assistant, she appeared to rise and levitate about three feet above the table.
levee: earthen or stone embankment to preevent flooding. As the river rose and threatened to overflow the levee, emergency workers rushed to reinforce the walls with sandbags
lethargic: drowsy; dull. The stuffy room made her lethargic; she felt as if she was about to nod off
lethal: deadly. it is unwise to leave lethal weapons where children may find them
leonine: like a lion. He was leonine in his rage
leniency: mildness; permissiveness. Considering the gravity of the offencse, we were surprised by the leniency of the sentence
legerdemain: sleight of hand. The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain
legend: explanatory list of symbos on a map. The legend at the bottom of the map made it clear which symbols stood for rest areas along the highway and which stood for public amp sites
legacy: a fight made by a will. Part of my legacy from my parents is an album of family photographs
leeway: room to move; margin. When you set a deadline, allow a little leeway
lectern: reading desk. The chaplain delivvered his sermon from a hastily improvised lectern
lechery: gross lewdness; lustfulness. In his youth he led a life of lechery and debaucher; he did not mend his ways until middle age
leaven: cause to rise of grow lighter; enliven. As bread dough is leavened, it puffs up, expanding in volume
lax: careless. We dislike restaurants where the service is lax and inattentive
lavish: libeal; wasteful. The acto's lavish figts pleased her
laud: praise. The NFL lauded Boomer Esiason's efforts to raise money to combat cystic fibrosis
latitude: freedom from narrow limitations. I think you have permitted your son too much latittude in this matter
lateral: coming from the side. In order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all laternal shoots
latent: potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden. Polaroid pictures are popular at parties because you can see the latent photgraphic image gradually appear before your eyes
lassitude: languor; weariness. After a massage and a lonng soak in the hot tub, I surrendered to my growing lassitude and lay down for a nap
lascivious: lustful. Because they might arouse fascivious impulses in their readers, the lewd books were banned by the clergy
largess: generous gift. Lady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor
larder: pantry; place where food is kept. The first thing Bill did no returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in the larder
larceny: theft. Because of the pisioner's record, the district attorney refused to rduce teh charge from grand larceny to petty larceny
lap: take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently. The kitten neatly lapped up her milk. The waves softly lapped against the pier
lank: long and thin. Lank, guant, Abraham Lincoin was a stiking figure
languor: lassitude; depression. His friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to the theater.
languish: lose animation or strength. Left at Miss Minchin's school for girls whie her father went off to war, Sarah Crewe refused to languish; instead, she hid her grief and actively befriended her less fortunate classmates.
lancet: small surgical tool for making incisions. With the sharp tip of her lancet, Doctor Wheeler cut into the abscess, opening it to let it drain
lampoon: ridicule. This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguis
lament: grieve; express sorrow. Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat
lambaste: beat; thrast verbally or physically. It was painful to watch the champion lambaste his opponent, tearing into him mercilessly
laity: laypersons; persons not connected with the clergy. The laity does not always understand the clergy's problems.
laggard: slow; sluggish. The sailor had been taugth not to be laggard in carrying out orders
laconic: brief and to the pointl. Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types; strong men of few words
lackluster: dull. We were disappointed by the lackluster performance
lachrymose: producing tears. HIs voice has a lachrymose quality that is more approopriate at a funeral than a class reuion
laceration: torn; ragged wound. The stock-car driver needed stitches to close the lacerations he received in the car crash
labyrinth: maze. Hiding from Indian Joe, Tom and Becky soon lost themselves in the labyrinth of secret underground caves
laborious: demanding much work or care; tedious. In putting together his dictionary of the English language, doctor jonson undertook a laborious task
labile: likely to change; unstable. Because the hormonal changes they undergo affect their spirits, adolescents may becom eemotionally labile and experience sudden shifts of mood
kudos: honor; glory; praise. The singer complacently received judos on his performance from his entourage
knotty: intricate; difficult; tangled. What to Watson hadbeen a knotty problem to Sherlock Holmes was simplicity itself
knoll: little; round hill. Robert Louis Steveson's grave is on a knoll in Samoa; to reach the grave site, you must climb uphill and walk a short distance along a marked path
knit: contract into wrinkles; grow together. Whenever David worries, his brow knits in a fown. When he broke his leg, he sat around the hous all day waiting for the bones to knit.
knell: tolling of a bell, especially to indicate a funeral, diaster,etc; sound of the funeral bell. "the curfew tolls the knewll of parting day'
knead: mix; work dough. Her hands grew strong from kneeading bread
knave: untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel. Any politicain nickaned Tricky Dick clearly has the reputation of a knave
kleptomaniac: person who has a compulsive desire to steal. They discovered that the wealthy customer was a kleptomaniac when they caught her stealing some cheap trinkets
kismet: fate. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate
kinetic: producing omtion. Kinetic energy
kindred: related; similar in nature or character. Tom Sawyer and Huk Finn were two kindred spirits
kindle: start a fire; inspire. One of the first thigns Ben learned in the Boy Souts was hot to kindle a fire by rubbing two dry sticks together. Her teacher's praise for her poetry kindled a spark of hope inside Maya
killjoy: grouch; spoilsport. At breakfast we had all been enjoying our bacon and eggs untl that killjoy John started talking about how bad animal fats and cholesterol were for our health
kernal: central or vital part; whole seed (as of corn) 'watson, buried wthin this tissue of lies there is a kernel of truth; when I find it, the mystery will be solved."
ken: range of knowledge. I canot answer your question since this matter is beyond my ken
kaleidoscope: tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc, produce interesting symmetrical effects. People found a new osurce of entertainment while peering through the kaleidoscope , they found the ever-changing pattersns fasinating
luxtapose: place side by side. Comparison will be easier if you juxtapose the two objects
justification: good or just reason; defense; excuse. The jury found hi guilty of the more serious charge because they could see no possible justification for his actions
junta: group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal. As soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the execution of all the members of the junta
junkel: trip; esepcially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expensie. Though she maintained she had gone abroad to collect firsthand data on the Common Market, the opposition claimed that her trip was merely a political junket
juncture: crisis; joining point. At this critical juncture; let us think carefully before determining the course we shall follow
juggernaut: irresistible crushing force. Nothing could survive in the path of the juggernaut.
judicious: sound in judgment; wise. At a key moment in his lie, he made a judicious investment that was the foundation of his later wealth
jubilation: rejoicing. There was great jubilation whent he armistice was announced
jovial: good-natured; merry. A frown seemed out of place on his invariably joval face
jostle: shove; bump. In the subway he was jostled by the crowds
jollity: gaiety; cheerfulness. The festive Christmas dinner was a merry one, and old and young alike joined in the generally jollity
jocund: merry. Santa Claus is always cheerful and jocund
jocular: said or done in jest. Although Bill knew the boss hated jokes, he couldn't resist making one jocular remark; his jocularity cost hi the ob
jocose: giving to joking. The salesman was so jocose that many of his customers suggested that he become a stand-up comic
jingoist: extremely aggressive and ilitant patriot; warlike chauvinist. Always bellowing 'america first!' the congressman was such a jingoist you could almost hear the sabers rattling as he marched down the halls
jibe: agree; be in harmony wiht. Moe says Curly started the fight; Curly insits it was Moe. Their stories just don't jibe.
jettison: throw overboard. In order to enable the ship to rde safely through the storm, the captain had to jettison much of his cargo.
jeopardize: endanger; imperil; put at risk. you cant't give me a D in chemistry; you'll jeopardize my chances of being admitted to MIT.
jaunty: lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree. In Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly sang and danced his way through the lighthearted title number in a properly jaunty style.
jaundiced: prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful) yellowed. Because Sue disliked Carolyn, she looked at carolyn's apintings wiht a jaundiced eyes, calling them formless smear.
jargon: language used by a special group; technical terminology; gibbernish. The computer salesmen at the store used a jargon of their own that we simply couldn't follow; we had no idea what they were jabbering about
jaded: fatigued; surfeited. He looked for exotic foods to stimulate his jaded appetitie
jabber: chatter rapidly; or unitntelligbly. Why does the fellow insiste on jabbering away in French when I can't understand a word he says?
itineray: plan of a trip. Disliking sudden changes in plans when she traveled abroad, Ethel refused to make any alterations in her itinerary.
itinerant: wandering; traveling. He was an itnerant peddler and traveled through Pennsylvania and Virginaia selling his wares
isthmus: narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land. In a magnificent feat of enginerring, Goethals and his men cut through the isthmus of Panama in constructing the Panama Canal
isotope: varying form of an element. The study of the isotopes of uranium led to the development of the nuclear bomb
irrevocable: unalterable; irreversible. As sue dropped the 'Dear John' letter into the mailbox, she suddenly had second thoughts and wanted to take it back, but she could not; her action was irrevocable
irreverence: lack of proper respect. Some people in the audience were amused by the irreverence of the comedian's jokes about the pope; others felt offended by his lack of respect for their faith.
irretrievable: impossible to recover or regain; irreparable. The left fielder tried to retrieve the ball, but it flew over the fence, bounced off a wall, and fell into the sewer; it was irretrievable.
irresolute: uncertain how to act; weak. Once you have made your decision, don't waver; a leader should never appear irresolute
irreproachable: blameless; impeccable. Homer's conduct at the office praty was irreproachable; even Marge had nothing bad to say about how he behaved
irreparable: not able to be corrected or repaired. Your apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have done to her reputation
irremediable: incurable; uncorrectable. The error she made was irremediable; she could see no way to rectify it
irrelevant: not applicable; unrelated. No matter how irrelevant the patient's mumblings may seem, tehy give us some indications of what is on his mind
irrefutable: indisputable incontrovertible; undeniable. NO matter how hard I tried to find a good comeback for her argument, I couldn't think of one; her logic was irrefutable
irreconcilable: incompatible; not able to be resolved. Because the separated coupld were irreconcilable, the marriage counselor recommended a divorce
irony: hidden sarcasm or satire; use fo words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean. Graudally his listeners began to realize that the excessive praise he was lavishing on his opponent was actually irony; he was, in fact, ridiculing the poor fool
ironic: occuring in an unexpected and contrary manner. It is ironic that his success came when he least wanted it
irksome: annoying; tedious. He found working on the assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the operation he had to perform
iridescent: exhibiting rainbowlike colors. She admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water
irate: angry. When John's mother found out that he had overdrawn his checking account for the third month in a row, she was so irate that she could scarcely speak to him
irascible: irritable; easily angered. Miss Minchin's irascible temper intimidated the younger schoolgirls, who feared she'd burst into a rage at any moment

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Number of cards 135