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Word Smart I

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Terms

undefined, object
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augment
To make bigger; to add to; to increase ;
categorical
Unconditional; absolute
reiterate
v to say again; to repeat
digress
to stray from the main subject
magnanimous
a forgiving ; unresentful ; noble in spirit ; generous
garrulous
a talkative; chatty
nebulous
a vague ; hazy ; indistinct ;
pejorative
a negative ; disparaging negative disparaging
farcical
Adj absurd; ludicrous
abash
To make ashamed; to embarrass
ironic
a meaning the opposite of what you seem to say ; using words to mean something other than what they seem to mean
incongruous
a not harmonious ; not consistent ; not appropriate not fitting in
exonerate
V to free completely from blame; to exculpate
sycophant
one who sucks up to others
pervade
v to spread throughout
infinitesimal
a very very very small ; infinitely small ;
exemplify
V to illustrate by example; to serve as a good example
deference
submission to another's will; respect; courtesy
emigrate
V to move to a new country; to move a new place to live; to expatriate
myopia
a nearsightedness ; lack of foresight ;
flagrant
Adj glaringly bad; notorious; scandalous
aphorism
A brief often witty saying; a proverb
agenda
Program; the things to be done
debilitate
to weaken; to cripple
eccentric
A not conventional; a little kooky; irregular
incorrigible
a incapable of being reformed
cacophony
Harsh-sounding mixture of words voices or sounds
abdicate
To step down from a position of power or responsibility
malfeasance
n an illegal act especially by a public official
extol
V to praise highly; to laud
homily
n a sermon
abstract
Theoretical; impersonal
duplicity
N the act of being two-faced; double-dealing; deception cf duplication duplicate a n v
opaque
a impossible to see through ; impossible to understand
fetter
V to restrain; to hamper
pragmatic
a practical ; down to earth ; based on experience rather than theory
vacillate
to be indecisive; to waver ;
proselytize
v to convert someone from one religion or doctrine to another; to recruit converts to a religion or doctrine
infamous
a shamefully wicked ; having an extremely bad reputation ; disgraceful
sagacious
a discerning; shrewd; keen in judgment; wise
provisional
a conditional; temporary; tentative
incipient
a beginning ; emerging
commensurate
Equal; proportionate
exigency
N an emergency; an urgency
scintillate
v to sparkle either literally or figuratively
proximity
n nearness
epitome
N a brief summary that captures the meaning of the whole; the perfect example of something; a paradigm ;
acrid
Harsh; like acid
enfranchise
V to grant the privileges of citizenship especially the right to vote
ameliorate
To make better or more tolerable ;
rustic
a rural lacking urban comforts or sophistication; primitive rural
assuage
To soothe; to pacify; to ease the pain of; to relieve
Ellipsis
ellipsoid
plethora
n an excess
aggregate
Sum total; a collection of separate things mixed together
alacrity
Cheerful eagerness or readiness to respond
wanton
malicious; unjustifiable; unprovoked
gesticulate
v to make gestures especially when speaking or in place of speaking
bucolic
Charmingly rural; rustic; country like
facetious
Adj humorous; not serious; clumsily humorous
bastion
Stronghold; fortress; fortified place
despot
an absolute ruler; an autocrat
adverse
Unfavorable; antagonistic
solicitous
eager and attentive often to the point of hovering; anxiously caring or attentive
vehement
intense; forceful; violent
spurious
false; fake false fake
emulate
Vt to strive to equal or excel usually through imitation emulator emulation emulous be emulous of
relinquish
v to release or let go of; to surrender; to stop doing
paltry
a insignificant ; worthless
pivotal
a crucial crucial
doctrinaire
inflexibly committed to a doctrine or theory without regard to its practicality; dogmatic
insidious
a treacherous ; sneaky ;
stringent
strict; restrictive
benign
Gentle; not harmful; kind; mild
temerity
boldness; recklessness; audacity boldness; recklessness; audacity
grandiose
a absurdly exaggerated
bourgeois
Middle class usually in a pejorative sense; boringly conventional
affluent
Rich; prosperous
concurrent
Happening at the same time; parallel
impetuous
a impulsive ; extremely impatient ;
sordid
vile; filthy; squalid filthy squalid vile
lucid
a clear ; easy to understand ;
clique
An exclusive group bound together by some shared quality or interest
foible
N a minor character flaw
prosaic
a dull; unimaginative; like prose as opposed to poetry
surreptitious
sneaky; secret
artifice
A clever trick; cunning ;
belligerent
Combative; quarrelsome; waging war
accost
To approach and speak to someone
sensory
a having to do with the senses or sensation
profuse
a flowing; extravagant
palliate
v to relieve or alleviate something without getting rid of the problem ; to assuage ; to mitigate
inundate
v to flood ; to cover completely with water ; to overwhelm
rhetoric
n the art of formal speaking or writing; inflated discourse
impotent
a powerless ; helpless ; unable to perform sexual intercourse
nepotism
n showing favoritism to friends of family in business or politics
ubiquitous
being everywhere at the same time
malaise
n a feeling of depression uneasiness or queasiness
deluge
a flood; an inundation
mercurial
a emotionally unpredictable ; rapidly changing in mood
guile
n cunning ; duplicity ; artfulness
credulous
eager to believe; gullible
capricious
Unpredictable; like to change at any moment
indolent
a lazy ;
oblivion
n total forgetfulness ; the state of being forgotten ;
fabrication
N a lie; something made up
distinguish
to tell apart; to cause to stand out
abortive
Unsuccessful
mandate
n a command or authorization to do something ; the will of the voters as expressed by the results of an election
hyperbole
n an exaggeration used as a figure of speech ; exaggeration exaggeration
abridge
To shorten; to condense
amorous
Feeling loving especially in a sexual sense; in love relating to love
amiable
Friendly; agreeable
irascible
a easily angered or provoked ; irritable
allocate
To distribute; to assign; to allot
temperate
mild; moderate; restrained mild
theology
the study of god or religion
edify
Vt to enlighten; to instruct especially in moral or religious matters; cfedifying
mollify
v to soften ; to soothe ; to pacify
criterion
standard; basis for judgment
inexorable
a relentless ; inevitable ; unavoidable
celibacy
Abstinence from sex
depravity
extreme wickedness or corruption
affectation
Unnatural or artificial behavior usually intended to impress
rancor
n bitter long-lasting ill will or resentment
pious
a reverent or devout ; outwardly and sometimes falsely reverent or devout ; hypocritical
stratum
a layer; a level layer level
comprehensive
Covering or including everything
sardonic
a mocking; scornful
volition
will; conscious choice
decorous
proper; in good taste; orderly
novel
a new ; original ;
robust
a strong and healthy; vigorous
curtail
to shorten; to cut short ...
definitive
conclusive; providing the last word
marshal
v to arrange in order ; to gather together for the purpose of doing something ;
munificent
a very generous ; lavish lavish
patent
a obvious =obvious
lethargy
n sluggishness ; laziness ; drowsiness ; indifference
idyllic
a charming in a rustic way ; naturally peaceful
comprise
To consist of; to be composed of cf constitute compose
soporific
sleeping inducing; extremely boring; very sleepy
periphery
n the outside edge of something ;
parody
n a satirical imitation
decadent
decaying or decayed especially in terms of morals
coerce
To force someone to do or not to do something
flaunt
V show off; to display ostentatiously
elicit
Vt to bring out; to call forth ~a laugh from ~a reply elicitation n
levity
n lightness ; frivolity ; unseriousness
premise
n an assumption ; the basis for a conclusion
supercilious
haughty; patronizing
relegate
v to banish; to send away
indulgent
lenient ; yielding to desire
prolific
a abundantly productive; fruitful or fertile
perjury
n lying under oath
microcosm
n the world in miniature
precipitate
v to cause to happen abruptly
ardent
Passionate half-hearted
substantive
having substance; real; essential; solid; substantial
respite
n a period of rest or relief ;
abhor
To hate very very much; to detest
furtive
a secretive ; sly
equanimity
N composure; calm
malinger
v to pretend to be sick to avoid doing work
ebullient
A boiling; bubbling with excitement; exuberant; n ebullience-cy n ebullition
vociferous
loud; noisy
redundant
a unnecessarily repetitive; excessive; excessively wordy
serendipity
accidental good fortune; discovering good things without looking for them
perfunctory
a unenthusiastic ; careless careless; unenthusiastic
circumvent
To frustrate as though by surrounding
cliche
An overused saying or idea
postulate
n something accepted as true without proof ; and axiom
endemic
A native; restricted to a particular region or era; indigenous n endemicity
genteel
a refined ; polite ; aristocratic ; affecting refinement
acquiesce
To comply passively; to accept; to assent; to agree
slander
to speak badly about someone publicly; to defame; to spread malicious rumor
paternal
a fatherly ; fatherlike
latent
a present but not visible or apparent ; potential
stagnation
motionlessness; inactivity
unconscionable
not controlled by conscience; unscrupulous
extricate
V to free from difficulty
heyday
n golden age ; prime prime
ascendancy
Supremacy; domination
subversive
corrupting; overthrowing; undermining; insurgent
fatuous
Adj foolish; silly; idiotic ;
caustic
Like acid; corrosive
rigorous
a strict; harsh; severe ;
Imperial`
a like an emperor or an empire
mundane
a ordinary ; pretty boring ; not heavenly and eternal
ambivalent
Undecided; neutral; wishy-washy
corroborate
to confirm; to back up with evidence
autocratic
Ruling with absolute authority; extremely bossy
censure
To condemn severely for doing something bad
vicarious
experienced performed or suffered through someone else; living through the experiences of another as though they were ones own experiences
encroach
Vi to make gradual or stealthy inroads into; to trespass on upon
laconic
a using few words especially to the point of seeming rude
egocentric
A selfish; believing that one is the center of everything n egoism egoistic -tical
virtuoso
a masterful musician; a masterful practitioner in some other field
felicity
N happiness; skillfulness especially at expressing things; adeptness
replenish
v to fill again; to resupply; to restore
plaintive
a expressing sadness or sorrow
succinct
brief and to the point; concise
conventional
common; customary; unexceptional
compelling
Forceful; causing to yield
harbinger
n a forerunner ; a signal of ;
incessant
a unceasing
insinuate
v to hint ; to creep in hind
metamorphosis
n a magical change in form ; a striking or sudden change
coup
a brilliant victory or accomplishment; the violent overthrow of a government by a small internal group ;
blithe
Carefree; cheerful
turpitude
shameful wickedness; depravity
husbandry
n thrifty management of resources ; livestock farming
reparation
n paying back; making amends; compensation ;
static
stationary; not changing or moving
explicit
Adj clearly and directly expressed
incisive
a cutting right to the heart of the matter
amorphous
Shapeless; without a regular or stable shape
veracity
truthfulness
erudite
Adj scholarly; deeply learned ;
opulent
a luxurious
insurgent
n a rebel ; someone who revolts against a government
arbitrary
Random; capricious random
prevail
v to triumph ; to overcome rivals ; with on upon or with to persuade ;
prerogative
n a right or privilege connected exclusively with a position a person a class a nation or some other group or classification
facile
Adj fluent; skillful in a superficial way; easy
paradigm
n a model or example ;
enigma
N a mystery riddle
wistful
yearning; sadly longing
proponent
n an advocate; a supporter of a position ;
consonant
Harmonious; in agreement
labyrinth
n a maze ; something like a maze maze
lampoon
v to satirize ; to mock ; to parody
effusion
N a pouring forth Effuse v Effusive a
confluence
A flowing together especially of rivers; place where they begin to flow together
affable
Easy to talk to; friendly
vitriolic
caustic; full of bitterness
gravity
n seriousness
pedestrian
a unimaginative ; banal unimaginative banal
gratuitous
a given freely said of something bad ; unjustified ; unprovoked ; uncalled for
infatuated
a foolish ; foolishly passionate or attracted ; made foolish ; foolishly in love
sequester
v to set or keep apart ;
invective
n insulting or abusive speech
acerbic
Bitter; sour; severe
mellifluous
a sweetly flowing
manifest
a visible ; evident
apartheid
The abhorrent policy of racial segregation and oppression in the Repubic of South Africa
pedantic
a boringly scholarly or academic
apprehensive
Worried; anxious
banal
Unoriginal; ordinary
delineate
to describe accurately; to draw in outline
peripatetic
a wandering ; traveling continually ; itinerant
libel
n a written or published falsehood that injures the reputation of or defames someone ;
dormant
A inactive; as though asleep; asleep ~volcano ~window
proscribe
v to outlaw; to prohibit ;
alloy
A combination of two or more things usually metals
preclude
v to prevent something from ever happening
venerate
to revere; to treat as something holy especially because of great age
orthodox
a conventional ; adhering to established principles or doctrines especially in religion ; by the book
adherent
Follower; supporter; believer
mortify
a to humiliate
tantamount
equivalent to
rebut
v to contradict; to argue in opposition to; to prove to be false
polarize
v to break up into opposing factions or groupings
chimera
An illusion; a foolish fancy
chastise
To inflict punishment on; to discipline
perfidy
n treachery treachery
unctuous
oily both literally and figuratively; insincere
perquisite
n a privilege that goes along with a job ; a perk =perk
enervate
V to reduce the strength or energy of especially to do so gradually
discreet
prudent; judiciously reserved
apocryphal
Of dubious authenticity; fictitious; spurious
ethereal
Adj heavenly as light and insubstantial as a gas or ether heavenly
renounce
v to give up formally or resign; to disown; to have nothing to do with anymore
penitent
a sorry ; repentant ; contrite sorry repentant contrite
epigram
N a brief and usually witty or satirical saying
colloquial
Conversational; informal in language
tenet
a shared principle or belief
corollary
something that follows; a natural consequence
animosity
Resentment; hostility; ill will
lugubrious
a exaggeratedly mournful
stoic
indifferent at least outwardly to pleasure or pain to joy or grief to fortune or misfortune
amoral
Lacking a sense of right and wrong; neither good nor bad neither moral nor immoral; without moral feelings
absolve
To forgive or free from blame; to free from sin; to free from an obligation
degenerate
to break down; to deteriorate
fastidious
Adj meticulous; demanding; finicky
esoteric
Adj hard to understand; understood by only a select few; peculiar
conjure
To summon or bring into being as if by magic
reciprocal
a mutual; shared; interchangeable mutual
specious
deceptively plausible or attractive
obtuse
a insensitive ; blockheaded
noxious
a harmful ; offensive ;
ascetic
Hermit like; practicing self-denial
pertinent
a relevant ; dealing with the matter at hand ... relevant
platitude
n a dull or trite remark ; a cliché
culinary
relating to cooking or the kitchen
connoisseur
An expert particularly in matter of art or taste
complicity
Participation in wrongdoing; the act of being an accomplice
benefactor
One who provides help especially in the form of a gift or donation
maxim
n a fundamental principle ; an old saying
itinerant
a moving from place to place
empirical
Adj relying on experience or observation; not merely theoretical ; ~philosophy Empiricism
intransigent
a uncompromising ; stubborn
repudiate
v to reject; to renounce; to disown to have nothing to do with
abstinent
Abstaining; voluntarily not doing something especially something pleasant that is bad for you or has a bad reputation
tenable
defensible as in ones position in an argument; capable of being argued successfully; valid
polemic
n a powerful argument often make to attack or refute a controversial issue
demagogue
a leader of the people but more a rabble rouser
grandiloquent
a pompous ; using a lot of big fancy words in an attempt to sound impressive
cajole
To persuade someone to do something he or she doesn't want to do
superficial
on the surface only; shallow; not thorough
palpable
a capable of being touched ; obvious ; tangible
burgeon
To expand; to flourish
broach
To open up a subject for discussion often a delicate subject
ambiguous
Unclear in meaning; confusing; capable of being interpreted in different ways
maudlin
a silly and overly sentimental
culpable
deserving blame; guilty
exacerbate
V to make worse ;
conjecture
To guess; to deduce or infer on slight evidence
recant
v to publicly take back and deny something previously said or believed; to openly confess error
virulent
extremely poisonous; malignant; full of hate
rogue
n a criminally dishonest persons; a scoundrel ;
unwitting
unintentional; ignorant; not aware
legacy
n something handed down from the past ; a bequest
vestige
a remaining bit of something; a last trace
qualify
v to modify or restrict
reticent
a quiet; restrained; reluctant to speak especially about oneself
refute
v to prove to be false; to disprove
insular
a like an island ; isolated
transient
not staying for a long time; temporary
accolade
An award; an honor
desultory
without a plan or purpose; disconnected; random
approbation
Approval; praise
disparage
to belittle; to say uncomplimentary things about usually in a somewhat indirect way
patriarch
n the male head of a family or tribe
abate
To subside; to reduce
superfluous
extra; unnecessary; redundant
quixotic
a romantic or idealistic to a foolish or impractical degree
placate
v to pacify ; to appease ; to soothe
reproach
v to scold usually in disappointment; to blame; to disgrace
kinetic
a having to do with motion ; lively ; active
cryptic
mysterious; mystifying; clandestine mysterious;
provident
a preparing for the future; providing for the future; frugal
integral
a essential
vilify
to say vile things about; to defame ;
mendicant
n a beggar beggar
circumlocution
An indirect expression; use of wordy or evasive language
disparate
different; incompatible; unequal
tautological
redundant; circular ; redundant
panacea
n something that cures everything
enormity
N extreme evil; a hideous offense; immensity
prodigious
a extraordinary; enormous; vast ;
archaic
Extremely old; ancient; outdated
assiduous
Hardworking; busy; quite diligent
infer
v to conclude ; to deduce
despondent
extremely depressed; full of despair
pernicious
a deadly ; extremely evil ; deadly
egregious
A extremely bad; flagrant
inveterate
a habitual ; firm in habit ; deeply rooted
domestic
having to do with the household or family; not foreign
precedent
n an earlier example or model of something
abject
Hopeless; extremely sad and servile; defeated; utterly bummed out
disdain
arrogant scorn; contempt
deprecate
to express disapproval of
nihilism
n the belief that there are no values or morals in the universe
surrogate
substitute
illicit
a illegal ; not permitted
abstruse
Hard to understand
querulous
a complaining; grumbling; whining ;
adroit
Skillful; dexterous; clever; shrewd; socially at ease
extraneous
Adj unnecessary; irrelevant; extra
stigmatize
to brand with disgrace; to set a mark of disgrace upon
countenance
face; facial expression especially an encouraging one
brevity
Briefness
artful
Wily; sly ; =crafty
putative
a commonly accepted; supposed; reputed
propitious
a marked by favorable signs or conditions
obfuscate
v to darken ; to confuse ; to make confusing
reprisal
n a military action undertaken in revenge for another; an act of taking an eye for an eye ;
bereaved
Deprived or left desolate especially through death
precursor
n forerunner ; something that goes before and anticipates or paves the way for whatever it is that follows
hegemony
n leadership especially of one nation over another
dialectical
relating to discussions; relating to the rules and methods of reasoning; approaching truth in the middle of opposing extremes
appease
To soothe; to pacify by giving in to
subordinate
lower in importance position or rank; secondary
sacrosanct
a sacred; held to be inviolable
forgo
v to do without ; to forbear
cognitive
Dealing with how we know the world around us through our senses; mental
introspective
a tending to think about oneself ; examining ones feelings
tirade
prolonged bitter speech
minuscule
a very tiny
intractable
a uncontrollable ; stubborn ; disobedient
sobriety
the state of being sober; seriousness
appreciate
To increase in value
subjugate
to subdue and dominate; to enslave
aristocratic
Of noble birth; snobbish
emigrant
a n immigrate
ephemeral
A lasting a very short time
acrimonious
Full of spite; bitter; nasty
caricature
A portrait or description that is purposely distorted or exaggerated often to prove some point about its subject
civil
Polite; civilized; courteous
autonomous
Acting independently
inherent
a part of the essential nature of something ; intrinsic
nominal
a in name only ; insignificant ; A-OK during rocket launches
uniform
consistent; unchanging; the same for everyone consistent unchanging
purported
a rumored; claimed
complacent
Self-satisfied; overly pleased with oneself; contented to a fault
complement
To complete or fill up; to be the perfect counterpart
charisma
A magical-seeming ability to attract followers or inspire loyalty
agnostic
One who believes that the existence of a god can be neither proven nor disproven
predilection
n a natural preference for something
obscure
a unknown ; hard to understand ; dark
acumen
Keenness of judgment; mental sharpness
philistine
n a smugly ignorant person with no appreciation of intellectual or artistic matters
finesse
N skillful maneuvering; subtlety; craftiness
idiosyncrasy
n a peculiarity ; an eccentricity
partisan
n one who supports a particular person cause or idea
condescend
To stoop to someone else level usually in an offensive way; to patronize
tenuous
flimsy; extremely thin
affinity
Sympathy; attraction; kinship; similarity
extrovert
N an open outgoing person; a person whose attention is focused on others rather than on himself or herself
anguish
Agonizing physical or mental pain
matriculate
v to enroll especially at a college
urbane
poised; sophisticated; refined
pristine
a original ; unspoiled ; pure
beget
To give birth to; to create; to lead to; to cause
nuance
n a subtle difference or distinction
immutable
a unchangeable
profligate
a extravagantly wasteful and usually wildly immoral
candor
Truthfulness; sincere honesty
hackneyed
a overused ; trite ; stale
catalyst
In chemistry~; anyone or anything that makes something happen without being directly involved in it
juxtapose
v to place side by side
chasm
A deep gaping hole; a gorge
collusion
Conspiracy; secret cooperation
parsimonious
a stingy =stingy
deleterious
harmful
charlatan
Fraud; quack; con man
verbose
using too many words; not succinct; circumlocutory
consensus
Unanimity or general agreement
inaugurate
v to begin officially ; to induct formally into office
taciturn
untalkative by nature
martyr
n someone who gives up his or her life in pursuit of a cause especially a religious one ; one who suffers for a cause ; one who makes a show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy
frugal
a economical ; penny-pinching
tout
to praise highly; to brag publicly about
fidelity
N faithfulness; loyalty
sanctimonious
a pretending to be devout; affecting religious feeling
conciliatory
Making peace; attempting to resolve a dispute through goodwill
sacrilege
n a violation of something sacred; blasphemy
dogmatic
arrogantly assertive of unproven ideas; stubbornly claiming that something often a system of beliefs is beyond dispute
synthesis
the combing of parts to form a whole ;
recrimination
n a bitter counteraccusation or the act of making a bitter counteraccusation
neologism
n a new word or phrase ; a new usage of a word
impugn
v to attack especially to attack the truth or integrity of something
laud
v to praise ; to applaud ; to extol ; to celebrate
tenacious
persistent; stubborn; not letting go
manifesto
n a public declaration of beliefs or principles usually political ones
attrition
Gradual wearing away weakening or loss; a natural or expected decrease in numbers of size
parochial
a narrow or confined in point of view ; provincial
notorious
a famous for something bad
rebuke
v to criticize sharply
beset
Harass; to surround
consecrate
To make or declare sacred
analogy
A comparison of one thing to another; similarity similarity
exalt
V to raise high; to glorify
catholic
Universal; embracing everything
catharsis
Purification that brings emotional relief or renewal
blight
Disease in plants; anything that injures or destroys
staunch
firmly committed; firmly in favor of; steadfast
spawn
to bring forth; to produce a large number
squander
to waste
unremitting
unceasing; unabated; relentless
docile
easily taught; obedient; easy to handle
exult
V to rejoice; to celebrate
alleviate
To relieve usually temporarily or incompletely; to make bearable; to lessen
requisite
required necessary
flout
V to disregard something out of disrespect
fortuitous
a accidental ; occurring by chance
culminate
to climax; to reach full effect
insatiable
a hard or impossible to satisfy ; greedy ; avaricious
apotheosis
Elevation to divine status; the perfect example of something
consummate
Perfect; complete; supremely skillful
ineffable
a incapable of being expressed or described
promulgate
v to proclaim; to publicly or formally declare something
cursory
hasty; superficial
replete
a completely filled; abounding ;
prudent
a careful; having foresight
mercenary
n a hired soldier ; someone who will do anything for money
revere
v to respect highly; to honor
profane
a not having to do with religion; irreverent; blasphemous
coalesce
To come together as one; to fuse; to unite ;
elliptical
Adj oval; missing a word or words; obscure
pathology
n the science of diseases
vocation
an occupation; a job ;
secular
a having nothing to do with religion or spiritual concerns
hapless
a unlucky unlucky
aptitude
Capacity for learning; natural ability
iconoclast
n one who attacks popular beliefs or institutions
condone
To overlook; to permit to happen
anachronism
Something out of place in time or history; an incongruity
arbiter
One who decides; a judge
allege
To assert without proof
litigate
v to try in court ; to engage in legal proceedings
subtle
not obvious; able to make fine distinctions; ingenious; crafty
fervor
N great warmth or earnestness; ardor; zeal ardor
exasperate
V to annoy thoroughly; to make very angry; to try the patience of
intrinsic
a part of the essential nature of something ; inherent
preempt
v to seize something by prior right
capitulate
To surrender; to give up or give in
anarchy
Absence of government or control; lawlessness; disorder
engender
V to bring into existence; to create; to cause produce ment
faction
N a group usually a small part of a larger group united around some cause; disagreement within an organization
paradox
n a true statement or phenomenon that nonetheless seems to contradict itself ; an untrue statement or phenomenon that nonetheless seems logical
auspicious
Favorable; promising; pointing to a good result
contingent
Dependent; possible
foment
V to stir up; to instigate
machination
n scheming activity for an evil purpose
fraternal
a like brothers
covet
to wish for enviously
ambiance
Atmosphere; mood; feeling mood
profess
v to declare; to declare falsely or pretend cf professed professional a n
inordinate
a excessive ; unreasonable
vernacular
everyday speech; slang; idiom
utilitarian
stressing usefulness or utility above all other qualities; pragmatic
defame
to libel or slander; to ruin the good name of
acute
Sharp; shrewd
saccharine
a sweet; excessively or disgustingly sweet
blatant
Unpleasantly or offensively noisy; glaring
disinterested
not taking sides; unbiased
circuitous
Round about; not following a direct path
perturb
v to disturb greatly
recalcitrant
a stubbornly defiant of authority or control; disobedient
milieu
n environment ; surroundings
axiom
Self-evident rule or truth; a widely accepted saying
vicissitude
upheaval; natural cange; change in fortune ;
chronicle
A record of events in order of time; a history
permeate
v to spread or seep through ; to penetrate
vex
to annoy; to pester; to confuse
belie
To give a false impression of; to contradict
reprehensible
a worthy of blame or censure
extrapolate
V to protect or deduce from something known; to infer
pacify
v to calm someone down ; to placate
inept
a clumsy ; incompetent ; gauche
steadfast
loyal; faithful loyal faithful
sublime
awesome; extremely exalted; lofty; majestic
Vitiate
to make impure; to pollute
monolithic
a massive solid uniform and unyielding
efface
Vt to erase; to rub away the features of eclipse Cf effaceable effacement
audacity
Boldness; reckless daring; impertinence ;
officious
a annoyingly eager to help or advise
circumscribe
To draw a line around; to set the limits; to define; to restrict.
allusion
An indirect reference often to a literary work; a hint hint
Capitalism
Free enterprise
luminous
a giving off light ; glowing ; bright
existential
Adj having to do with existence; having to do with the body of thought called existentialism which basically holds that human beings are responsible for their own actions but is otherwise too complicated to summarize in a single sentence
covenant
a solemn agreement; a contract; a pledge
castigate
To criticize severely; to chastise
denizen
inhabitant
martial
a warlike ; having to do with combat
ostensible
a apparent but misleading ; professed
awry
Off course; twisted to one side ;
tentative
experimental; temporary; uncertain
recondite
a hard to understand; over ones head
austere
Unadorned; stern; forbidding; without excess
clemency
Mercy; forgiveness; mildness
misanthropic
a hating mankind
abysmal
Extremely hopeless or wretched; bottomless
mediate
v to help settle differences
gregarious
a sociable ; enjoying the company of others
absolute
Total; unlimited; perfect
singular
unique; superior; exceptional; strange
burlesque
A ludicrous mocking or exaggerated imitation
ignominy
n deep disgrace
peremptory
a final ; categorical ; dictatorial categorical
perennial
a continual ; happening again and again or year after year continual
altruism
Selflessness; generosity; devotion to the interests of others
congenial
Agreeably suitable; pleasant
incense
a make very angry
concise
Brief and to the point; succinct
indignant
a angry especially as a result of something unjust or unworthy ; insulted
terse
using no unnecessary words; succinct succinct
antecedent
Someone or something that went before; something that provides a model for something that came after it
portent
n an omen ; a sign of something coming in the future
antipathy
Firm dislike; a dislike ↔sympathy ;
antithesis
The direct opposite
sanguine
a cheerful; optimistic; hopeful
poignant
a painfully emotional ; extremely moving ; sharp or astute
incandescent
a brilliant ; giving off heat or light
frenetic
a frantic ; frenzied
agrarian
Relating to land; relating to the management or farming of land
propensity
n a natural inclination or tendency; a predilection
evanescent
Adj fleeting; vanishing; happening for only the briefest period
amenable
Obedient; willing to give in to the wishes of another; agreeable
histrionic
a overly dramatic ; theatrical ;
provincial
a limited in outlook to ones own small corner of the world; narrow
scrupulous
a strict; careful; hesitant for ethical reasons
redolent
a fragrant fragrant
dictum
an authoritative saying; an adage; a maxim; a proverb
ideology
n a system of social or political ideas
admonish
To scold gently; to warn
deride
to ridicule; to laugh at contemptuously
amnesty
An official pardon for a group of people who have violated a law or policy
judicious
a exercising sound judgment
ingenuous
a frank ; without deception ; simple ; artless ; charmingly na ve
expedient
Adj providing an immediate advantage; serving ones immediate self-interest; practical
proprietary
a characteristic of an owner of property; constituting property
sedition
n treason; the incitement of public disorder or rebellion
tangible
touchable; palpable touchable palpable
eclectic
A choosing the best from many sources; drawn from many sources n cf eclecticism
moribund
a dying
glut
n surplus ; an overabundance
disseminate
to spread the seeds of something; to scatter; to make widely known
sporadic
stopping and starting; scattered; occurring in bursts every once in a while
paucity
n scarcity =scarcity
salient
a sticking out; conspicuous; leaping ;
magnate
n a rich powerful or very successful businessperson
futile
a useless ; hopeless ;
stymie
to thwart; to get in the way of; to hinder
volatile
quick to evaporate; highly unstable; explosive
protract
v to prolong prolong
dissolution
the breaking up or dissolving of something into parts; disintegration
painstaking
a extremely careful ; taking pains =pains-taking = taking pains
lament
v to mourn
bemused
Confused; bewildered
torpor
sluggishness; inactivity; apathy
concord
Harmony; agreement
innocuous
a harmless ; banal
astute
Shrewd; keen in judgment ;
indifferent
a not caring one way or the other ; apathetic ; mediocre
homogeneous
a uniform ; made entirely of one thing uniform
contentious
Argumentative; quarrelsome
propriety
n properness; good manners ;
visionary
a dreamer; someone with impractical goals or ideas about the future
benevolent
Generous; kind; doing good deeds
anomaly
An aberration; an irregularity; a deviation ;
vapid
without liveliness; dull; spiritless
malleable
a easy to shape or bend
contiguous
Side by side; adjoining
aloof
Uninvolved; standing off; keeping ones distance
remonstrate
v to argue against; to protest; to raise objections
profound
a deep several senses; ~sleep ~knowledge ~meaning ~thanks ~anxiety ~bow n profundity profoundness ; n
ponderous
a so large as to be clumsy ; massive ; dull massive dull
irrevocable
a irreversible
discriminate
to notice or point out the difference between two or more things; to discern; to differentiate ;
contrite
Admitting guilt; especially feeling remorseful
egalitarian
A believing in the social and economic equality of all people
destitute
extremely poor; utterly lacking
figurative
Adj based on figures of speech; expressing something in terms usually for something else; metaphorical
morose
a gloomy ; sullen gloomy sullen
precipitous
a steep steep;
fauna
N animals cf flora animal
blasphemy
Irreverence; an insult to something held sacred; profanity
nostalgia
n sentimental longing for the past ; homesickness; homesickness
avarice
Greed; excessive love of riches
solvent
not broke or bankrupt; able to pay ones bills
adulterate
To contaminate; to make impure
heresy
n any belief that is strongly opposed to established beliefs
choleric
Hot-tempered; quick to anger
pensive
a thoughtful and sad
exhaustive
Adj thorough; rigorous; complete; painstaking
ramification
n a consequence; a branching out
distend
to swell; to extend a great deal
zealous
enthusiastically devoted to something; fervent
arcane
Mysterious; known only to a select few mysterious
hierarchy
n an organization based on rank or degree ; pecking order
exacting
Adj extremely demanding; difficult; requiring great skill or care
apocalypse
A prophetic revelation especially one concerning the end of the world
stricture
a restriction; a limitation; a negative criticism ;
vindictive
seeking revenge
inert
a inactive ; sluggish ; not reacting chemically
venal
capable of being bribed; willing to do anything for money; corrupt
narcissism
n excessive love of ones body or oneself
prepossess
v to preoccupy ; to influence beforehand or prejudice ; to make a good impression on beforehand
sloth
laziness; sluggishness
largess
n generous giving of gifts or the gifts themselves ; generosity ; philanthropy
onerous
a burdensome ; oppressive
peccadillo
n a minor offense
deduce
to conclude from evidence; to infer
indigent
a poor
tacit
implied; not spoken implied
archetype
An original model or pattern
cognizant
Aware; conscious
bovine
Cow related; cow like cf canine equine feline pis cine porcine ursine
languish
v to become weak listless or depressed ;
conducive
Promoting
cosmopolitan
at home in many places or situations; internationally sophisticated
protagonist
n the leading character in a novel play or other work; a leader or champion
abnegate
To deny oneself things; to reject; to renounce
bane
Poison; torment; cause of harm
euphemism
N a pleasant or inoffensive expression used in place of an unpleasant or offensive one
ruminate
v to contemplate; to ponder; to mull over
founder
v to fail ; to collapse ; to sink
reprove
v to criticize mildly
proliferate
v to spread or grow rapidly
squalor
filth; wretched degraded or repulsive living conditions
impeccable
a flawless ; entirely without sin
hiatus
n a break or interruption often from work ;
renaissance
n a rebirth or revival
mentor
n a teacher tutor counselor or coach ; especially in business an experienced person who shows an inexperienced person the ropes teacher tutor
forsake
v to abandon ; to renounce ; to relinquish
peruse
v to read carefully
fatalist
N someone who believes that future events are already determined and that humans are powerless to change them
genre
n a type or category especially of art or writing
repercussion
n a consequence; an indirect effect
myriad
n a huge number ;
loquacious
a talking a lot or too much
dearth
lack; scarcity
tangential
only superficially related to the matter at hand; not especially relevant; peripheral ;
circumspect
Cautious
fecund
Adj fertile; productive
patronize
v to treat as an inferior ; to condescend to
debauchery
wild living; excessive intemperance
usurp
to seize wrongfully
chicanery
Trickery; deceitfulness; artifice; especially legal or political
succumb
to yield or submit; to die ;
amenity
Pleasantness; attractive or comfortable feature
ostentatious
a excessively conspicuous ; showing off
prodigy
n an extremely talented child; an extraordinary accomplishment or occurrence; wonder /
beleaguer
To surround; to besiege; to harass
proletariat
n the industrial working class
indigenous
a native ; originating in that area
nefarious
a evil ; flagrantly wicked
belittle
To make to seem little; to put someone down
preeminent
a better than anyone else ; outstanding ; supreme
impartial
a fair ; not favoring one side or the other ; unbiased
hypothetical
a uncertain ; unproven
mitigate
v to moderate the effect of something
viable
capable of living; workable
discern
to have insight; to see things clearly to discriminate; to differentiate
resolute
determined; firm; unwavering
desiccate
to dry out
trepidation
fear; apprehension; nervous trembling fear
equitable
Adj fair
philanthropy
n love of mankind especially by doing good deeds
increment
n an increase ; one in a series of increases
rudimentary
a basic; crude; unformed or undeveloped ;
insolent
a arrogant ; insulting
inane
a silly ; senseless
precept
n a rule to live by ; a principle establishing a certain kind of action or behavior ; a maxim maxim;
exhort
V to urge strongly; to give a serious warning to
apathy
Lack of interest; lack of feeling
convivial
Fond of partying; festive
bureaucracy
A system of government administration consisting of numerous bureaus or offices especially one run according to inflexible and inefficient rules; any large administrative system characterized by inefficiency lots of rules and red tape
mendacious
a lying ; dishonest
derogatory
disapproving; degrading
rapacious
a greedy; plundering; avaricious
cynic
one who deeply distrusts human nature; one who believes humans are motivated only by selfishness
chronic
Constant; lasting a long time; inveterate
avow
To claim; to declare boldly; to admit
assimilate
To take in; to absorb; to learn thoroughly
appropriate
To take without permission; to set aside for a particular use
covert
secret; hidden
imminent
a just about to happen
strife
bitter conflict; discord; a struggle or clash
aesthetic
Having to do with artistic beauty; artistic
adamant
Stubborn; unyielding; completely inflexible
willful
deliberate; obstinate; insistent on having ones way
aberration
Something not typical; a deviation from the standard
impervious
a not allowing anything to pass through ; impenetrable
delude
to deceive
decimate
to kill or destroy a large part of 10:1
instigate
v to provoke ; to stir up
congenital
A trait or condition acquired between conception and birth; innate
didactic
intended to teach; morally instructive; pedantic
cerebral
Brainy; intellectually refined
dubious
A full of doubt; uncertain a ~ friend be ~ about cf dubitable
oblique
a indirect ; at an angle ;
stipulate
to require something as part of an agreement
reclusive
a hermitlike; withdrawn from society
elusive
Adj hard to pin down; evasive elude V elusion
construe
To interpret
forbear
v to refrain from ; to abstain
injunction
n a command or order especially a court order
maverick
n a nonconformist ; a rebel
innate
a existing since birth ; inborn ; inherent
copious
Abundant; plentiful
avuncular
Like an uncle especially a nice uncle ;
insipid
a dull ; bland ; banal
transgress
to violate a law; to sin violate
implement
v to carry out
transcend
to go beyond or above; to surpass
chagrin
Humiliation; embarrassed disappointment
arduous
Hard; difficult
anecdote
A short account of a humorous or revealing incident
incantation
n a chant ; the repetition of statements or phrases in a way reminiscent of a chant
contrived
Artificial; labored
expatriate
V to throw someone out of his or her native land; to move away from ones native land; to emigrate
bequest
Something left to someone in a will
qualitative
a having to do with the quality or qualities of something as opposed to the quantity
equivocal
Adj ambiguous; intentionally confusing; capable of being interpreted in more than one way
utopia
an ideal society
address
To speak to; to direct ones attention to
touchstone
a standard; a test of authenticity or quality
scrutinize
v to examine very carefully
surfeit
excess; an excessive amount; excess or overindulgence in eating or drinking
patrician
n a person of noble birth ; an aristocrat ;
diffident
timid; lacking in self-confidence
callow
Immature
proficient
a thoroughly competent; skillful; very good at something at in n expert
dissipate
to thin out drift away or dissolve; to cause to thin out drift away or dissolve; to waste or squander
espouse
V to support; to advocate
dilettante
someone with superficial knowledge of the arts; an amateur; a dabbler
debacle
violent breakdown; sudden overthrow; overwhelming defeat
cogent
Powerfully convincing
vindicate
to clear from all blame or suspicion; to justify
sentient
a able to perceive by the senses; conscious ...
verisimilitude
similarity to reality; the appearance of truth; looking like real thing
discrete
unconnected; separate; distinct
daunt
to make fearful; to intimidate
hermetic
a impervious to external influence ; airtight
obsequious
a fawning ; subservient ; sucking up to
plebeian
n common ; vulgar ; low class ; bourgeois ; vulgar
prodigal
a wastefully extravagant ;
cadence
Rhythm the rise and fall of sounds
expedite
V to speed up or ease the progress of
belabor
To go over repeatedly or to an absurd extent
petulant
a rude ; cranky ; ill-tempered cranky rude
coherent
Holding together; making sense
relentless
a continuous; unstoppable
obdurate
a stubborn and insensitive
compendium
A summary; an abridgment
hedonism
n the pursuit of pleasure as a way of life
servile
submissive and subservient; like a servant
penchant
n a strong taste or liking for something ; a predilection
salutary
a healthful; remedial; curative
adulation
Wild or excessive admiration; flattery
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