BARRON SET#17
Terms
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- shudder
- shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
- shuffle
- mix together; jumble; move (something) from one place to another; slide (the feet) along the ground while walking; Ex. shuffle papers from one pile to another; N.
- shun
- keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by her neighbors.
- shunt
- move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.
- shyster
- lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner
- sibling
- brother or sister
- sibylline
- prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
- sidereal
- relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
- sidetrack
- switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from a main issue; N. CF. siding: short section of railroad track connected by switches with a main track
- sift
- put through a sieve to separate fine from coarse particles; sort or examine carefully
- significant
- expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant
- silt
- sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
- simian
- monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
- simile
- comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as
- simper
- smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
- simplistic
- oversimplified
- simulate
- feign; imitate
- sinecure
- well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
- sinewy
- (of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
- singular
- being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
- sinister
- evil; ominous
- sinuous
- twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
- siren
- apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
- skeptic
- sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
- skiff
- small light sailboat or rowboat
- skim
- read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
- skimp
- provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly
- skinflint
- miser; stingy person
- skirmish
- minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
- skittish
- inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
- skulduggery(skullduggery)
- dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
- skulk
- move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.
- slack
- moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V.
- slacken
- slow up; loosen; make or become slack
- slag
- glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
- slake
- satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
- slander
- defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ. slanderous
- slap
- hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
- slapdash
- hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)
- slaughter
- killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher (animals) for food; kill in large numbers
- slavish
- of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original
- sleazy
- shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
- sledge
- large sled drawn by work animals
- sleek
- smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
- sleeper
- one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable
- sleigh
- large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
- sleight
- dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks
- slew
- large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left
- slick
- make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib
- slight
- insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance
- slink
- move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)
- slipshod
- slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
- slither
- slip or slide
- sloth
- slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
- slough
- (of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed
- slovenly
- untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless
- sluggard
- lazy person
- sluggish
- lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell
- sluice
- artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
- slur
- slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.
- sly
- clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's intentions
- smart
- intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex. smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N: smarting pain
- smattering
- slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German
- smear
- spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing
- smelt
- melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition
- smirk
- conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone else's misfortune); V.
- smolder
- smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger
- smother
- kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in little stickers
- smudge
- dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
- smug
- self-satisfied; complacent
- sneak
- move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky
- snicker
- half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
- snip
- short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors
- snivel
- complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.
- snub
- ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she snubbed me; N.
- snuffle
- sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)
- soar
- rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.
- sober
- serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
- sobriety
- moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
- sodden
- thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
- sojourn
- temporary stay; V: stay for a time
- solace
- comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble
- solder
- repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts
- solecism
- nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette
- solemnity
- seriousness; gravity
- solicit
- entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer
- solicitor
- lawyer in the lower court of law
- solicitous
- anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
- soliloquy
- talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)
- solitude
- state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary: existing or living alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded; single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of proof
- solstice
- point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
- soluble
- able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved
- solvent
- able to pay all depths; N. solvency
- somatic
- pertaining to the body; bodily; physical
- somber
- dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow
- somnambulist
- sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
- somnolent
- half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
- sonic
- of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic
- sonnet
- 14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
- sonorous
- resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
- soothsayer
- one who foretells the future
- sophist
- teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument
- sophisticated
- worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
- sophistry
- seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism
- sophomoric
- immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
- soporific
- sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
- sordid
- filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
- sound
- in good condition; showing good judgment or good sense; thorough; complete; Ex. sound mind/investment/training
- sour
- having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.
- sovereign
- ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent
- sovereignty
- complete independence and self-government (of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern
- sow
- plant or scatter seed
- spangle
- small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
- spare
- give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time
- sparse
- not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
- spartan
- without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life
- spasmodic
- fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
- spat
- squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
- spate
- sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
- spatial
- relating to space
- spatula
- broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
- spawn
- lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals
- specious
- seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
- speck
- small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye
- spectral
- ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
- spectrum
- colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts
- speechless
- unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
- spendthrift
- someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth
- sphinx-like
- enigmatic; mysterious
- spin
- rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton, wool, etc.); N.
- splice
- join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.
- spoilsport
- one who spoils the pleasure of others
- spontaneity
- lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening without being planned
- spoof
- parody
- spoonerism
- accidental transposition of sounds in successive words; Ex. ``Let me sew you to your sheet'' for ``Let me show you to your seat''; CF. William Spooner
- sporadic
- occurring irregularly; intermittent
- sportive
- playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike
- sprightly
- lively
- sprout
- begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new growth on a plant; shoot
- spruce
- neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.
- spry
- (esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
- spurious
- false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments
- spurn
- reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
- squabble
- minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
- squalor
- condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story
- squander
- waste; spend foolishly
- squash
- crush; quash; suppress
- squat
- short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
- squeamish
- easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.
- squelch
- produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash; CF. ??? ??? ?? ?
- staccato
- played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
- stagnant
- (of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output
- staid
- serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
- stalemate
- deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
- stalwart
- physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower
- stamina
- power of endurance; strength; staying power
- stammer
- speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
- stampede
- sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals or people); V: participate in or cause stampede; Ex. stampede before the price rises
- stanch
- stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
- standstill
- condition of no movement or activity; stop
- stanza
- division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
- start
- move suddenly or involuntarily; Ex. start at the sight of a snake
- stately
- formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
- static
- having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state
- statute
- law enacted by the legislature
- statutory
- created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
- steadfast
- steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
- stealth
- action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
- steep
- soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
- stellar
- pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance
- stem
- stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
- stem_from
- arise from; originate from
- stench
- strong foul odor; reek; stink
- stentorian
- (of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad
- sterile
- incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V. sterilize
- stickler
- perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
- stifle
- suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
- stigma
- token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
- stilted
- bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
- stink
- stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
- stint
- set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings
- stipend
- pay for services
- stipple
- paint or draw with dots or short strokes
- stipulate
- state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
- stock
- standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique
- stockade
- wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
- stodgy
- dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
- stoic
- stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
- stoke
- stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
- stolid
- dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
- stoop
- bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying
- stout
- rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
- straggle
- stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out in a scattered group; Ex. straggling marathon racer; Ex. straggling branch
- strangle
- kill by choking or suffocating; suppress
- stratagem
- deceptive scheme; clever trick
- stratified
- divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
- stratum
- layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata
- strew
- spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals
- striated
- marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
- stricture
- severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
- strident
- loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
- stringent
- (of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
- strut
- supporting bar;
- studied
- carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
- studious
- given to diligent study
- stultify
- make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression
- stumble
- trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act falteringly; N.
- stump
- base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle
- stun
- make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
- stupefy
- stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
- stupor
- state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
- sturdy
- strong and firm (in the body)
- stygian
- unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
- stymie
- thwart; present an obstacle; stump
- suavity
- urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
- subaltern
- subordinate
- subdue
- less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one's anger
- subjective
- influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence
- subjugate
- conquer; bring under control
- sublimate
- refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
- sublime
- causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
- subliminal
- below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
- submerge
- place under water; dip; go under water; cover completely (as with water); Ex. submerged in work
- submissive
- willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
- subordinate
- occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
- suborn
- persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
- subpoena
- writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena
- subsequent
- following in time or order; later
- subservient
- behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience
- subside
- sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
- subsidiary
- serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
- subsidy
- direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy
- subsistence
- existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
- substantial
- of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
- substantiate
- support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
- substantive
- substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
- subsume
- include (as a member of a group); encompass
- subterfuge
- stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
- subtlety
- perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning
- subversive
- tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
- succor
- assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
- succulent
- juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus
- succumb
- yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness
- suckle
- give or take milk at the breast or udder
- suffocate
- die or kill from lack of air; suppress
- suffragist
- advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage