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GRE Verbal Session 3

Terms

undefined, object
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churlish
adjectiverude in a mean-spirited and surly way : it seems ~ to complain.
turret
noun1 a small tower on top of a larger tower or at the corner of a building or wall, typically of a castle.~ 1• a low, flat armored gun emplacement, typically one that revolves, in a ship, aircraft, fort, or tank.• a rotating holder for tools, esp. on a lathe.2 (also ~ shell) a mollusk with a long, slender, pointed spiral shell, typically brightly colored and living in tropical seas. • Family Turitellidae, class Gastropoda: Turitella and other genera.
pusillanimous
adjectiveshowing a lack of courage or determination; timid.
entreaty
noun ( pl. -treaties)an earnest or humble request : the king turned a deaf ear to his ~ies.
ascetic
adjectivecharacterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons : an ~ life of prayer, fasting, and manual labor | a narrow, humorless, ~ face. See note at severe .
cur
nounan aggressive dog or one that is in poor condition, esp. a mongrel.• informal a contemptible man.
apex
noun ( pl. ~es |ˌeɪˈpɛksəz|or apices |ˌeɪpəˈsiz| |ˌøpəˈsiz|)the top or highest part of something, esp. one forming a point : the living-room extends right up into the ~ of the roof | figurative the ~ of his career was when he hoisted aloft the World Cup.• Geometry the highest point in a plane or solid figure, relative to a base line or plane.• Botany the growing point of a shoot.• the highest level of a hierarchy, organization, or other power structure regarded as a triangle or pyramid : the central bank is at the ~ of the financial system.verb [ intrans. ]reach a high point or climax : melodic lines build up to the chorus and it ~es at the solo.
obliterate
verb [ trans. ]destroy utterly; wipe out : figurative the memory was so painful that he ~d it from his mind.• cause to become invisible or indistinct; blot out : clouds were darkening, ~ing the sun.
middling
adjectivemoderate or average in size, amount, or rank : the village contained no poor households but a lot of ~ ones.• neither very good nor very bad : he had had a fair to ~ season.• [ predic. ] informal (of a person) in reasonably good but not perfect health.noun ( ~s)bulk goods of medium grade, esp. flour of medium fineness.adverb [as submodifier ] informal datedfairly or moderately : ~ rich.
lactic
adjectiveof, relating to, or obtained from milk.
corpulent
adjective(of a person) fat.
aficionado
a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime : aficionados of the finest wines. noun an aficionado of classical music connoisseur, expert, authority, specialist, pundit; enthusiast, devotee; informal fan, buff, freak, nut, fiend, maniac, fanatic, addict, junkie.
chisel
nouna long-bladed hand tool with a beveled cutting edge and a plain handle that is struck with a hammer or mallet, used to cut or shape wood, stone, metal, or other hard materials.verb ( -eled, -eling; Brit. -elled |ˌtʃɪzəld|, -elling |ˌtʃɪz(ə)lɪŋ|) [ trans. ]1 cut or shape (something) with a ~ : carefully ~ out a groove for the hinge.2 informal cheat or swindle (someone) out of something : he's ~ed me out of my dues.
inept
adjectivehaving or showing no skill; clumsy : the ~ handling of the threat.
aspersion
noun (usu. ~s)an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something : I don't think anyone is casting ~s on you.
protean
adjective tending or able to change frequently or easily : it is difficult to comprehend the whole of this ~ subject.• able to do many different things; versatile : Shostakovich was a remarkably ~ composer, one at home in a wide range of styles.
excitable
adjectiveresponding rather too readily to something new or stimulating; too easily excited : Chip could be a bit wayward and ~.• (of tissue or a cell) responsive to stimulation.
disenchant
verb [ trans. ] (usu. be ~ed)free (someone) from illusion; disappoint : he may have been ~ed by the loss of his huge following | [as adj. ] ( ~ed) he became ~ed with his erstwhile all
intricate
adjectivevery complicated or detailed : an ~ network of canals.
conciliate
verb [ trans. ]1 stop (someone) from being angry or discontented; placate; pacify : concessions were made to ~ the peasantry. See note at pacify .• [ intrans. ] act as a mediator : he sought to ~ in the dispute.• formal reconcile; make compatible : all complaints about charges will be ~d if possible.2 archaic gain (esteem or goodwill). : the arts which ~ popularity.
resplendent
adjectiveattractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous : she was ~ in a sea-green dress. See note at bright .
turquoise
noun1 a semiprecious stone, typically opaque and of a greenish-blue or sky-blue color, consisting of a hydrated hydroxyl phosphate of copper and aluminum.2 a greenish-blue color like that of this stone : [as adj. ] the ~ waters of the bay.
insouciant
nouncasual lack of concern; indifference : an impression of boyish insouciance.
convivial
adjective(of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable.• (of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial.
disseminate
verb [ trans. ]spread or disperse (something, esp. information) widely : health authorities should foster good practice by ~ing information. See note at scatter .• [usu. as adj. ] ( ~d) spread throughout an organ or the body : ~d colonic cancer.
impervious
adjectivenot allowing fluid to pass through : an ~ layer of basaltic clay.• [ predic. ] ( ~ to) unable to be affected by : he worked, apparently ~ to the heat.
dispatch
1 files ready for ~ sending, posting, mailing, e-mailing.2 efficiency and ~ promptness, speed, speediness, swiftness, rapidity, briskness, haste, hastiness; literary fleetness, celerity.3 the latest ~ from the front communication, communiqué, bulletin, report, statement, letter, message; news, intelligence; informal memo, info, story, lowdown, scoop; literary tidings.4 the capture and ~ of the rogue bull killing, slaughter, massacre, extermination, elimination; murder, assassination, execution; literary slaying.
lionize
verb [ trans. ]give a lot of public attention and approval to (someone); treat as a celebrity : modern athletes are ~d.
inveterate
adjective [ attrib. ]having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change : he was an ~ gambler.• (of a feeling or habit) long-established and unlikely to change.
malediction
nouna magical word or phrase uttered with the intention of bringing about evil or destruction; a curse.
abide
verb1 [ intrans. ] ( ~ by) accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation) : I said I would ~ by their decision.2 [ trans. ] ( can/could not ~) informal be unable to tolerate (someone or something) : if there is one thing I cannot ~ it is a lack of discipline.3 [ intrans. ] (of a feeling or a memory) continue without fading or being lost.• archaic live; dwell.
banal
adjectiveso lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring : songs with ~, repeated words.
gallows
plural noun [usu. treated as sing. ]a structure, typically of two uprights and a crosspiece, for the hanging of criminals.• ( the ~) execution by hanging : saved from the ~ by a last-minute reprieve.
stentorian
adjective(of a person's voice) loud and powerful : he introduced me to the staff with a ~ announcement.
overwrought
adjective1 in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety : she was too ~ to listen to reason.2 (of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction.
invertebrate
nounan animal lacking a backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusk, annelid, coelenterate, etc. The ~s constitute an artificial division of the animal kingdom, comprising 95 percent of animal species and about 30 different phyla. Compare with vertebrate .
lax
adjective1 not sufficiently strict or severe : ~ security arrangements at the airport | he'd been a bit ~ about discipline in school lately. See note at lenient .• careless : why do software developers do little more than parrot their equally ~ competitors?2 (of the limbs or muscles) re~ed.• (of the bowels) loose.• Phonetics (of a speech sound, esp. a vowel) pronounced with the vocal muscles re~ed. The opposite of tense 1 . noun -xity
cleaver
nouna tool with a heavy broad blade, used by butchers for chopping meat.
subterfuge
noundeceit used in order to achieve one's goal.• a statement or action resorted to in order to deceive.
disconsolate
adjectivewithout consolation or comfort; unhappy : he'd met the man's ~ widow.• (of a place or thing) causing or showing a complete lack of comfort; cheerless : solitary, ~ clumps of cattails.
outlandish
adjective1 looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar : ~ brightly colored clothes | the most ~ ideas.2 archaic foreign; alien.
commend
verb [ trans. ]1 (often be ~ed) praise formally or officially : he was ~ed by the judge for his courageous actions. See notes at approve, praise .• present as suitable for approval or acceptance; re~ : I ~ her to you without reservation.• cause to be acceptable or pleasing : this recording has a lot to ~ it.2 ( ~ someone/something to) entrust someone or something to : I ~ them to your care.PHRASES~ me to archaic remember me kindly to (someone) : ~ me to my son, and bid him rule better than I.ORIGIN Middle English : from Latin ~are, from com- (expressing intensive force) + mandare 'commit, entrust.' Compare with command .
stalwart
adjectiveloyal, reliable, and hardworking : he remained a ~ supporter of the cause.• dated strongly built and sturdy : he was of ~ build.
emeritus
adjective(of the former holder of an office, esp. a college professor) having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor : ~ professor of microbiology | [ postpositive ] the gallery's director ~.
estimable
adjectiveworthy of great respect.
tepid
adjective(esp. of a liquid) only slightly warm; lukewarm.• figurative showing little enthusiasm : the applause was ~.
remonstrate
make a forcefully reproachful protest : he turned angrily to ~ with Tommy | [with direct speech ] "You don't mean that," she ~d.
iniquity
noun ( pl. -ties)immoral or grossly unfair behavior : a den of ~ | a liberal lawyer could uncover the ~ies committed on his own doorstep.
stolid
adjective(of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation.
lout
nounan uncouth or aggressive man or boy : drunken ~s.
hairdo
noun ( pl. -dos) informalthe style of a person's hair.• an act of styling a person's hair (used esp. of a woman's hair).
cabaret
nounentertainment held in a nightclub or restaurant while the audience eats or drinks at tables : she was seen recently in ~ | [as adj. ] a ~ act.• a nightclub or restaurant where such entertainment is performed.
felicity
noun ( pl. -ties)1 intense happiness : domestic ~.2 the ability to find appropriate expression for one's thoughts : speech that pleased by its accuracy, ~, and fluency.• a particularly effective feature of a work of literature or art : the King James version, thanks to its ~ies of language, ruled supreme.
provincial
adjective1 of or concerning a province of a country or empire : ~ elections.• of or pertaining to a style of architecture or furniture in fashion in the provinces of various European countries : French Provincial furnishing.2 of or concerning the regions outside the capital city of a country : scenes of violence were reported in ~ towns.• unsophisticated or narrow-minded, esp. when considered as typical of such regions.noun1 an inhabitant of a province of a country or empire.• ( ~s) (in Canada) athletic contests held between teams representing the country's administrative divisions.2 an inhabitant of the regions outside the capital city of a country, esp. when regarded as unsophisticated or narrow-minded.3 Christian Church the head or chief of a province or of a religious order in a province.
perturb
verb [ trans. ]1 (often be ~ed) make (someone) anxious or unsettled : they were ~ed by her capricious behavior | [ trans. ] they were ~ed that the bank had begun switching some of its problem loans.2 subject (a system, moving object, or process) to an influence tending to alter its normal or regular state or path : nuclear weapons could be used to ~ the orbit of an asteroid.
puritanical
adjective often derogatorypracticing or affecting strict religious or moral behavior.
downright
adjective1 [ attrib. ] (of something bad or unpleasant) utter; complete (used for emphasis) : it's a ~ disgrace.2 (of a person's manner or behavior) straightforward; so direct as to be blunt : her common sense and ~ attitude to life surprised him.adverb [as submodifier ]to an extreme degree; thoroughly : he was ~ rude.
dour
adjectiverelentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance : a hard, ~, humorless fanatic. See note at glum .
partisan
noun1 a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.2 a member of an armed group formed to fight secretly against an occupying force, in particular one operating in enemy-occupied Yugoslavia, Italy, and parts of eastern Europe in World War II.adjectiveprejudiced in favor of a particular cause : newspapers have become increasingly ~
cache
nouna collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place : an arms ~ | a ~ of gold coins.• a hidden or inaccessible storage place for valuables, provisions, or ammunition.• (also ~ memory) Computing an auxiliary memory from which high-speed retrieval is possible.verb [ trans. ]store away in hiding or for future use.• Computing store (data) in a ~ memory.• Computing provide (hardware) with a ~ memory.
sere
adjective dry; arid : a harsh life on the ~ granite ledges of those remote offshore islands. See note at dry .• (esp. of plants) withered.{DEF 2}noun Ecologya natural succession of plant (or animal) communities, esp. a full ~ies from uncolonized habitat to the appropriate climax vegetation. Compare with succession .
trying
adjectivedifficult or annoying; hard to endure : it had been a very ~ day. See note at hard .
meek
adjectivequiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive : I used to call her Miss Mouse because she was so ~ and mild | the ~ compliance of our politicians.
extemporize
verb [ intrans. ]compose, perform, or produce something such as music or a speech without preparation; improvise : he ~d at the piano | [ trans. ] she was ~ing touching melodies.
spoof
noun1 a humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect : a Robin Hood ~.2 a trick played on someone as a joke.verb [ trans. ]1 imitate (something) while exaggerating its characteristic features for comic effect : it is a movie that ~s other movies.2 hoax or trick (someone) : they proceeded to ~ Western intelligence with false information.• interfere with (radio or radar signals) so as to make them useless.
tactile
adjectiveof or connected with the sense of touch : vocal and visual signals become less important as ~ signals intensify.• perceptible by touch or apparently so; tangible : she had a distinct, almost ~ memory.• designed to be perceived by touch : ~ exhibitions help blind people enjoy the magic of sculpture.• (of a person) given to touching others, esp. as an unselfconscious expression of sympathy or affection.
blandish
verb [ trans. ] archaiccoax (someone) with kind words or flattery : I was ~ing her with imprudences to get her off the subject.
insidious
adjectiveproceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects : sexually transmitted diseases can be ~ and sometimes without symptoms.• treacherous; crafty : tangible proof of an ~ alliance.
sedulous
adjective(of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence : he watched himself with the most ~ care. See note at busy . noun -lity
commensurate
adjectivecorresponding in size or degree; in proportion : salary will be ~ with experience | such heavy responsibility must receive ~ reward.
inventive
adjective(of a person) having the ability to create or design new things or to think originally : she is the most ~ painter around. See note at creative .• (of a product, process, action, etc.) showing creativity or original thought : methods of communication during the war were diverse and ~.
truculent
adjectiveeager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant : his days of ~ defiance were over.
seclude
keep (someone) away from other people : I ~d myself up here for a life of study and meditation.
tortuous
adjectivefull of twists and turns : the route is remote and ~.• excessively lengthy and complex : a ~ argument.
abject
adjective1 [ attrib. ] (of a situation or condition) extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading : ~ poverty.• (of an unhappy state of mind) experienced to the maximum degree : his letter plunged her into ~ misery.• (of a failure) absolute and humiliating.2 (of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing : an ~ apology.
overwrought
adjective1 in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety : she was too ~ to listen to reason.2 (of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction.
slouch
verb1 [ intrans. ] stand, move, or sit in a lazy, drooping way : he ~ed against the wall | ( be ~ed) he was ~ed in his chair.2 [ trans. ] dated bend one side of the brim of (a hat) downward.noun [in sing. ]1 a lazy, drooping posture or movement : his stance was a round-shouldered ~.2 [usu. with negative ] informal an incompetent person : my brother was no ~ at making a buck.3 a downward bend of a hat brim.
gauche
adjectivelacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward.
machinate
verb [ intrans. ]engage in plots and intrigues; scheme.
fuselage
nounthe main body of an aircraft.
lush
adjective(of vegetation) growing luxuriantly : ~ greenery and cultivated fields. See note at profuse .• opulent and luxurious : a hall of gleaming marble, as ~ as a Byzantine church.• (of color or music) very rich and providing great sensory pleasure : ~ orchestrations.• (of a woman) very sexually attractive : Marianne, with her ~ body and provocative green eyes.
stolid
adjective(of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation.
reprehensible
adjectivedeserving censure or condemnation : his complacency and ~ laxity.
entreat
verb 1 [ reporting verb ] ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something : [ trans. ] his friends ~ed him not to go. See note at beg .• [ trans. ] ask earnestly or anxiously for (something) : a message had been sent, ~ing aid for the Navajos.2 [ trans. ] archaic treat (someone) in a specified manner : the King, I fear, hath ill ~ed her.
aver
verb ( ~red |əˌvərd|, ~ring |əˌvərɪŋ|) [ reporting verb ] formalstate or assert to be the case : [with clause ] he ~red that he was innocent of the allegations | [with direct speech ] "You're the most beautiful girl in the world," he ~red.• [ trans. ] Law allege as a fact in support of a plea.
allay
verb [ trans. ]diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry) : the report attempted to educate the public and ~ fears.• relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger) : some stale figs partly ~ed our hunger.See note at alleviate .
unrepentant
adjectiveshowing no regret for one's wrongdoings : he was ~ and said that his comments were completely accurate.
goad
nouna spiked stick used for driving cattle.• a thing that stimulates someone into action : for him the visit was a ~ to renewed effort.verb [ trans. ]provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate some action or reaction : he ~ed her on to more daring revelations.• [ trans. ] drive or urge (an animal) on with a ~.
reprieve
verb [ trans. ]cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, esp. someone condemned to death) : under the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were ~d.• abandon or postpone plans to close or put an end to (something) : the threatened pits could be ~d.
dormant
adjective(of an animal) having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down for a period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep : ~ butterflies figurative | the event evoked memories that she would rather had lain ~.• (of a plant or bud) alive but not actively growing.See note at latent .• (of a volcano) temporarily inactive.• (of a disease) causing no symptoms but not cured and liable to recur.• [usu. postpositive ] Heraldry (of an animal) depicted lying with its head on its paws.
anodyne
adjectivenot likely to provoke dissent or offense; uncontentious or inoffensive, often deliberately so : ~ new age music | I attempted to keep the conversation as ~ as possible.nouna pain-killing drug or medicine.• figurative something that alleviates a person's mental distress : an ~ to the misery she had put him through.
engender
verb [ trans. ]cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition) : the issue ~ed continuing controversy.• archaic (of a father) beget (offspring).• [ intrans. ] come into being; arise.
fastidious
adjectivevery attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail : he chooses his words with ~ care.• very concerned about matters of cleanliness : the child seemed ~ about getting her fingers sticky or dirty.
clod
noun1 a lump of earth or clay.2 informal a stupid person (often used as a general term of abuse).
vestibule
noun1 an antechamber, hall, or lobby next to the outer door of a building.• an enclosed entrance compartment in a railroad car.2 Anatomy a chamber or channel communicating with or opening into another, in particular• the central cavity of the labyrinth of the inner ear.• the part of the mouth outside the teeth.• the space in the vulva into which both the urethra and vagina open.
limelight
nounintense white light obtained by heating a cylinder of lime in an oxyhydrogen flame, formerly used in theaters.• ( the ~) the focus of public attention : the works that brought the artists into the ~.
yokel
noun informal often derogatoryan uneducated and unsophisticated person from the countryside.
lachrymose
adjective formal or poetic/literarytearful or given to weeping : she was pink-eyed and ~.• inducing tears; sad : a ~ children's classic.
fast
verb [ intrans. ]abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, esp. as a religious observance.nounan act or period of ~ing : a five-day ~.
prolix
adjective(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy : he found the narrative too ~ and discursive.
forlorn
adjective1 pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely : ~ figures at bus stops.2 (of an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled; hopeless : a ~ attempt to escape.PHRASES ~ hope a persistent or desperate hope that is unlikely to be fulfilled. [ORIGIN: mid 16th cent.: from Dutch verloren hoop 'lost troop,' from verloren (past participle of verliezen 'lose' ) and hoop 'company' (related to heap ). The phrase originally denoted a band of soldiers picked to begin an attack, many of whom would not survive; the current sense (mid 17th cent.) derives from a misunderstanding of the etymology.
radiant
adjective1 sending out light; shining or glowing brightly : a bird with ~ green and red plumage. See note at bright .• (of a person or their expression) clearly emanating great joy, love, or health : she gave him a ~ smile.• (of an emotion or quality) emanating powerfully from someone or something; very intense or conspicuous : he praised her ~ self-confidence.2 [ attrib. ] (of heat) transmitted by radiation, rather than conduction or convection.• (of an appliance) designed to emit such energy, esp. for cooking or heating.nouna point or object from which light or heat radiates, esp. a heating element in an electric or gas heater.
fractious
adjectiveeasily irritated; bad-tempered : they fight and squabble like ~ children.• (of an organization) difficult to control; unruly : the ~ coalition of Social Democrats.
dilettante
noun ( pl. -tanti |ˈdɪləˌtɑnti|or -tantes |ˈdɪləˌtɑnts|)a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge : [as adj. ] a ~ approach to science.• archaic a person with an amateur interest in the arts.
concede
verb1 [ reporting verb ] admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it : [with clause ] I had to ~ that I'd overreacted | [ trans. ] that principle now seems to have been ~d.• [ trans. ] admit (defeat) in a contest : he ~d defeat.• [ trans. ] admit defeat in (a contest) : ready to ~ the gold medal.2 [ trans. ] surrender or yield (something that one possesses) : to ~ all the territory he'd won.• grant (a right, privilege, or demand) : their rights to redress of grievances were ~d once more.• (in sports) fail to prevent the scoring of (a goal or point) by an opponent : the coach ~d three safeties rather than kick into the wind.• allow (a lead or advantage) to slip : he took an early lead that he never ~d.• [ intrans. ] make a concession:: Zoie ~d with a grin and went with Jay.
antiseptic
adjectiveof, relating to, or denoting substances that prevent the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.• (of medical techniques) based on the use of such substances.See note at sanitary .• figurative scrupulously clean or pure, esp. so as to be bland or characterless : the ~ modernity of a conference center.
acquisitive
adjectiveexcessively interested in acquiring money or material things. See note at greedy .
scupper
noun (usu. ~s)a hole in a ship's side to carry water overboard from the deck.• an outlet in the side of a building for draining water.verb [ trans. ] chiefly Brit.sink (a ship or its crew) deliberately.• informal prevent from working or succeeding; thwart : plans for a casino were ~ed by a public inquiry.
taciturn
adjective(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
elitist
nouna person who believes that a system or society should be ruled or dominated by an elite.• a person who believes that they belong to an elite : designers are a bunch of ~s who don't live in the real world.adjectivefavoring, advocating, or restricted to an elite : the old, ~ image of the string quartet.
craven
adjectivecontemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly : a ~ abdication of his moral duty.noun archaica cowardly person.
sustenance
nounfood and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment : poor rural economies turned to potatoes for ~.• the maintaining of someone or something in life or existence : he kept two or three cows for the ~ of his family | the ~ of democracy.
catsup
nounvariant spelling of ketchup .
putrid
adjective(of organic matter) decaying or rotting and emitting a fetid smell.• of or characteristic of rotting matter : the ~ smells from the slaughterhouses.• informal very unpleasant; repulsive : the cocktail is a ~ pink color.
grandiloquent
adjectivepompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, esp. in a way that is intended to impress : a ~ celebration of Spanish glory.
emphatic
adjectiveshowing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly : the children were ~ that they would like to repeat the experience | an ~ movement of his hand• (of an action or event or its result) definite and clear : he walked stiffly, with an ~ limp.• (of word or syllable) bearing the stress.• Linguistics denoting certain Arabic consonants that are pronounced with both dental articulation and constriction of the pharynx.noun Linguisticsan ~ consonant.
prolix
adjective(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy : he found the narrative too ~ and discursive.
rapt
adjective1 completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing : Andrew looked at her, ~.• indicating or characterized by such a state of fascination : they listened with ~ attention.• filled with an intense and pleasurable emotion; en~ured : she shut her eyes and seemed ~ with desire.2 archaic or poetic/literary having been carried away bodily or transported to heaven : he was ~ on high.
antithesis
noun ( pl. -ses |ønˌtɪθəˈsiz|)a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else : love is the ~ of selfishness.• a contrast or opposition between two things : the ~ between occult and rational mentalities.• a figure of speech in which an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are the opposites of, or strongly contrasted with, each other, such as "hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins" : his sermons were full of startling antitheses.• (in Hegelian philosophy) the negation of the thesis as the second stage in the process of dialectical reasoning. Compare with synthesis .
voracious
adjectivewanting or devouring great quantities of food : he had a ~ appetite.• having a very eager approach to an activity : his ~ reading of literature.
umbrage
noun1 offense or annoyance : she took ~ at his remarks.2 archaic shade or shadow, esp. as cast by trees.
misery
noun ( pl. -eries)a state or feeling of great distress or discomfort of mind or body : she went upstairs and cried in ~ | he wrote endlessly about his frustrations and ~ies.• (usu. ~ies) a cause or source of great distress or discomfort : the ~ies of war.
taper
diminish or reduce or cause to diminish or reduce in thickness toward one end : [ intrans. ] the tail ~s to a rounded tip | [ trans. ] David asked my dressmaker to ~ his trousers.• [ intrans. ] gradually lessen : the impact of the dollar's depreciation started to ~ off.nouna slender candle.• a wick coated with wax, used for conveying a flame.• a gradual narrowing : the current industry standard ~ of 5 degrees.
panegyric
nouna public speech or published text in praise of someone or something : Vera's ~ on friendship.
antics
plural nounfoolish, outrageous, or amusing behavior : the ~ of our political parties.
candor
nounthe quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness : a man of refreshing ~.
laggard
nouna person who makes slow progress and falls behind others : there was no time for ~s.adjective slower than desired or expected : a bell to summon ~ children to school.
allay
verb [ trans. ]diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry) : the report attempted to educate the public and ~ fears.• relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger) : some stale figs partly ~ed our hunger.See note at alleviate .
asseveration
nounthe solemn or emphatic declaration or statement of something : I fear that you offer only unsupported ~ | the dogmatic outlook marks many of his ~s.
cow
verb [ trans. ] (usu. be ~ed)cause (someone) to submit to one's wishes by intimidation : the intellectuals had been ~ed into silence.
duplicity
noun1 deceitfulness; double-dealing.2 archaic doubleness.
ponderous
adjectiveslow and clumsy because of great weight : her footsteps were heavy and ~. See note at heavy .• dull, laborious, or excessively solemn : Liz could hardly restrain herself from finishing all his ~ sentences.
abscond
verb [ intrans. ]leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft : she ~ed with the remaining thousand dollars.• (of someone on bail) fail to surrender oneself for custody at the appointed time.• (of a person kept in detention or under supervision) escape : 176 detainees ~ed.• (of a colony of honeybees, esp. Africanized ones) entirely abandon a hive or nest.
gaunt
adjective(of a person) lean and haggard, esp. because of suffering, hunger, or age. See note at thin .• (of a building or place) grim or desolate in appearance.
ascetic
adjectivecharacterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons : an ~ life of prayer, fasting, and manual labor | a narrow, humorless, ~ face. See note at severe .nouna person who practices such self-discipline and abstention.
wastrel
noun1 poetic/literary a wasteful or good-for-nothing person.2 archaic a waif; a neglected child.

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