GRE General Set 16
Terms
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- apolitical
- having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
- gerontology
- study of the sociological phenomena associated with old age
- pigment
- coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)
- bard
- poet
- exhume
- dig out of the ground; remove from a grave
- aureole
- sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
- extrapolation
- projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from known information
- plane
- carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
- prognosis
- forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
- supple
- flexible; limber; pliant
- flick
- light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light quick blow; strike with a light quick blow (as from a whip); Ex. flick the switch
- 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
- callus
- area of thick hard skin
- cleft
- N: split
- pare
- cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a knife); trim; Ex. pare apples/expenses
- alimony
- payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
- transgression
- violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond (a limit); violate; do wrong
- defoliate
- destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
- sophisticated
- worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
- contravene
- contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention
- skiff
- small light sailboat or rowboat
- elucidate
- explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid
- sonic
- of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic
- rusticate
- banish to the country; dwell in the country
- apprehensive
- fearful; discerning
- vagabond
- wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp
- agape
- openmouthed
- cog
- tooth projecting from a wheel
- gaudy
- flashy; showy
- emancipate
- set free; liberate
- demoniac(demoniacal)
- fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
- introspective
- looking within oneself; N. introspection: self-examination
- incline
- slope; slant; Ex. steep incline
- fallible
- liable to err
- precept
- practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept
- equilibrium
- balance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity
- throes
- violent anguish
- affliction
- state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
- daunt
- intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
- plenitude
- abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty
- contumacious
- stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
- inviolable
- secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or profanation); unassailable; Ex. inviolable oath/rights; N. inviolability
- solace
- comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble
- coquette
- flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
- verbatim
- word for word; in the same words; repeating the actual words exactly
- misdemeanor
- minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing
- flip
- send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking with a light quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip over
- auspicious
- favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
- expletive
- meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word
- vigor
- active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous
- preposterous
- absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
- gobble
- eat very quickly
- seethe
- be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.
- suborn
- persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
- foolhardy
- rash; reckless; foolishly daring
- bovine
- cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm
- misadventure
- mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
- stamina
- power of endurance; strength; staying power
- sequester
- isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life
- solstice
- point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
- tendentious
- promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend: move in a certain direction
- resurrect
- revive
- impale
- pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear
- buccaneer
- pirate
- temperament
- characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess; ADJ. temperamental: of temperament; having frequent changes of temper; Ex. temperamental dislike of sports; Ex. temperamental actress
- incarnation
- act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex. previous ~/reincarnation
- hirsute
- hairy; having a lot of hair
- zenith
- point directly overhead in the sky; summit; acme; highest point
- credence
- belief
- gourmet
- connoisseur of food and drink; epicure
- rider
- amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
- apogee
- highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
- inextricable
- from which it is impossible to get free; that cannot be untied; Ex. inextricable troubles; Ex. inextricable two histories
- avid
- greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
- flounder
- struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter (as in water, mud, snow, etc.); proceed in confusion
- savor
- enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality
- analogous
- comparable; similar
- pediatrician
- physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics
- demerit
- fault; bad quality
- skittish
- inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
- mangle
- tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex. badly mangled bodies
- ardor
- heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
- suspense
- state of being undecided; anxiety or apprehension resulting from uncertainty
- placid
- peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
- check
- stop motion; curb or restrain
- amalgamate
- (of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
- lampoon
- ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution
- actuate
- motivate; activate; cause to act
- title
- name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation as of rank or office (such as Lord or General); right or claim to possession; championship; Ex. title as head of the family; Ex. title to the estate
- eclectic
- selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism
- unfetter
- liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter
- crypt
- secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)
- flagrant
- conspicuously wicked, bad, or offensive; blatant; outrageous
- ruse
- trick to deceive; stratagem
- militia
- army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers
- benefactor
- gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
- jostle
- shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly; Ex. jostled by the crowds
- inscrutable
- difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious
- sheaf
- bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
- composure
- mental calmness
- larder
- pantry; place where food is kept
- holster
- leather pistol case (that hangs on a belt around the waist)
- blurt
- utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement
- forte
- strong point or special talent in a person's character