Baron's GRE

copy deck

defer

give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous

abjure

renounce upon oath

bivouac

temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.

credo

creed

defray

provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay

cohorts

group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)

apothecary

druggist; pharmacist

carillon

a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played

buccaneer

pirate

aggregate

sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars

bigot

one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)

anticlimax

letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting

assimilate

absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)

capricious

unpredictable; fickle

ciliated

having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash

ameliorate

improve

adjourn

suspend until a later time; move from one place to another

austere

forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity

antidote

remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles

din

continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition

clout

great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist

addendum

addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)

abridge

condense or shorten

convivial

pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial

chaotic

in utter disorder

disinclination

unwillingness

deluge

flood; rush; V.

blue

gloomy; depressed

amputate

cut off part of body; prune (a limb)

acme

peak; pinnacle; highest point

diffidence

shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident

atone

make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for

condiments

seasonings; spices

calumny

malicious misrepresentation; slander

coy

shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer

cloister

monastery or convent

concurrent

happening at the same time; in agreement

astute

wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage

aphorism

pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic

beleaguer

besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset

assail

assault

bluff

pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured

caustic

burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless

demure

(of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure

billow

large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows

attrition

rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition

asymmetric

not identical on both sides of a dividing central line

domineer

rule over tyrannically

connivance

pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire

bluff

pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured

allay

calm; pacify

consort

associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)

caption

title; chapter heading; text under illustration

dawdle

loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing

combustible

easily burned; N. CF. combustion

apex

tip; summit; climax; highest point

consensus

general agreement; opinion reached by a group

anarchist

person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority

bastion

stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism

dally

trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time

airy

of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal

assumption

something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume

bizarre

fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional

abash

embarrass

cumbersome

heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform

asperity

sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter

auspicious

favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices

abrasive

rubbing away; tending to grind down

anonymity

state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous

autocratic

having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy

dehydrate

remove water from; dry out

creed

system of religious or ethical belief

circumspect

prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought

concatenate

link as in a chain

clientele

body of customers

credo

creed

defame

harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory

circuitous

roundabout

callus

area of thick hard skin

abscission

cutting off; separation

cower

shrink quivering as from fear; cringe

beset

harass or trouble from all directions; hem in

carrion

rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture

centripetal

tending toward the center

cogitate

think over; ponder

brazen

insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence

coddle

treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs

aberrant

abnormal or deviant

comprehend

include; understand

dilettante

aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight

ascribe

refer; attribute; assign

drivel

nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense

coalition

partnership; league; union of separate political parties

cursive

(of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined

decorum

propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct

blemish

mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished

comeback

retort; quick clever reply; return to former status

abominate

loathe; hate

animated

lively; spirited

decollete

(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)

apologist

one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia

corporeal

bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible

bicker

quarrel

dispatch

speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill

benefactor

gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose

contumacious

stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)

blowhard

talkative boaster; braggart

audacious

daring; bold; N. audacity

carousal

drunken revel; V. carouse

conversant

familiar with; having knowledge of

check

stop motion; curb or restrain

bait

harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals

biennial

every two years

bestow

confer

aquiline

curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose

brandish

wave around (a weapon); flourish

courier

messenger

condone

overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse

agitate

stir up; disturb

abide

dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.

conglomerate

corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.

convoluted

coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain

abnegation

renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation

aureole

sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light

apex

tip; summit; climax; highest point

conception

beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception

aureole

sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light

centaur

mythical figure, half man and half horse

beholden

obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude

collage

work of art put together from fragments

chaste

morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere

abnegation

renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation

brindled

tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)

clown

act stupidly; play the fool; N.

crust

hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)

bemused

confused; lost in thought; preoccupied

arboretum

place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited

compilation

listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling

annals

records arranged in yearly parts; history

contend

struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly

babble

chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.

arcane

esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener

disparity

difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity

beget

father; become the father of; produce; give rise to

complacency

self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent

career

rush wildly; go at full speed

deign

condescend; stoop

barb

sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark

apprehend

arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension

determination

resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision

context

writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs

conveyance

vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance

cipher

nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.

centrifugal

radiating; departing from the center

ambidextrous

capable of using either hand with equal ease

buffoonery

clowning

analogy

similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things

aboriginal

being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine

contraband

illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.

covetous

avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)

conversant

familiar with; having knowledge of

accessible

easy to approach; obtainable

corroborate

confirm; support; strengthen

dignitary

person of high rank or position

cherubic

angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order

annotate

comment; make explanatory notes

austere

forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity

acquittal

deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner

aghast

filled with great surprise or fear; horrified

addle

make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)

cadet

student at a military school

coin

make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented

chasm

abyss; very deep crack

champion

support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)

abridge condense

or shorten

antidote

remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles

colossal

huge

clandestine

secret

deserts

what someone deserves

abrogate

abolish

blasphemy

irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege

brochure

pamphlet

attribute

essential quality; V: ascribe; explain

blowhard

talkative boaster; braggart

bemused

confused; lost in thought; preoccupied

behemoth

huge creature; something of monstrous size or power

condiments

seasonings; spices

effervescence

inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce

don

put on; OP. doff

arcade

a covered passageway usually lined with shops

boorish

rude; insensitive

chassis

framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached

collected

composed; calm; self-possessed

annex

attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one

devious

roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route

causal

implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality

alchemy

medieval chemistry

copious

plentiful

allegiance

loyalty

defeatist

resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism

astute

wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage

boost

lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase

buttress

support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress

disarray

state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray

amend

correct; change ; generally for the better

decree

authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree

appreciate

be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference

detonation

explosion

decorous

proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)

diminution

lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish

compulsive

resulting from compulsion

disclaim

disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer

arrears

being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done

derelict

negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person

consistency

absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous

chisel

swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting

atheistic

denying the existence of God; N. atheism

abdicate

renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)

aquiline

curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose

bland

soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence

bugaboo

bugbear; object of baseless terror

chaff

worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff

bovine

cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm

dogged

determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean

bungle

mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior

catastrophe

calamity ; disaster

berserk

mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited

beset

harass or trouble from all directions; hem in

curtail

shorten; reduce

besiege

surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually

chafe

warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.

antique

made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare or valuable

affinity

feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages

abase

lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect

apparent

evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement

cogitate

think over; ponder

baleful

evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look

accolade

award of merit; strong praise and approval

alms

money or goods given to the poor

coalition

partnership; league; union of separate political parties

commiserate

feel or express pity or sympathy for

commonplace

ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark

eclipse

darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse

cow

terrorize; intimidate

cabal

small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests

anemia

condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic

antecedents

preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background

compress

force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.

concave

hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex

brittle

hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation

asteroid

small planet

deciduous

falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth

colloquial

pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression

chasm

abyss; very deep crack

coterie

group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests

defunct

dead; no longer in use or existence

accoutre

equip; N. accoutrement

ambrosia

food of the gods

axiom

self-evident truth requiring no proof

abstemious

sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

ciliated

having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash

adhere

stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality

buccaneer

pirate

acquiesce

assent; agree passively; comply without protest

cynical

skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness

bog

soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud

accretion

growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete

abscission

cutting off; separation

corporeal

bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible

adjunct

something attached to but holding an inferior position

complement

complete; consummate; make perfect; N.

bereft

deprived of (something valuable); lacking

chicanery

trickery; deception

cadaver

corpse; dead human body

alienate

make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of

bristle

short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly

buxom

full-bosomed; plump; jolly

convivial

pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial

compatible

harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together

bogus

counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview

decrepit

weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man

conscientious

scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker

antiquated

obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated

catcall

shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.

conscript

draftee; person forced into military service; V.

beneficiary

person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will

eerie

weird; causing fear because strange

doctrine

teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal

beleaguer

besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset

arid

(of land) dry; barren; unproductive

ashen

ash-colored; deadly pale

accost

approach and speak first to a person

cue

word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to

dissent

disagree

chuckle

laugh quietly

compassion

sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate

anchor

secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage

counterpart

thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system

dormant

sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent

adage

wise saying; proverb

acuity

sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)

cumulative

growing by addition; accumulative

abase

lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect

amphibian

able to live both on land and in water; N.

effectuate

effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation

brocade

rich, figured(patterned) fabric

befuddle

confuse thoroughly

charm

quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch

barefaced

shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie

avalanche

great mass of falling snow and ice

braggadocio

boasting

alleviate

relieve (pain)

crotchety

(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion

animated

lively; spirited

decipher

decode; CF. indecipherable

astral

relating to the stars

baroque

highly ornate

conflagration

great fire

blase

bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored

abash

embarrass

conducive

helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards

economy

efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources

assert

state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence

dearth

scarcity

complaisant

trying to please; obliging; willing to please others

debutante

young woman making formal entrance into society

consternation

great shock; dismay

desiccate

dry up

adherent

supporter; follower

celerity

speed; rapidity

distort

twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion

commemorate

honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war

dissolution

disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life

craft

skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning

decadence

decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent

chide

scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)

drudgery

hard unpleasant work; menial work

cadaverous

like a corpse; pale

concentric

having a common center

depravity

extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave

billow

large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows

deputize

work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away

barterer

trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money

chaperon

older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman

awe

solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome

beneficial

helpful; useful; advantageous

bauble

trinket; cheap jewel; trifle

composure

mental calmness

delineate

portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation

championship

position of champion; defense or support; competition held to determine a champion

cajole

persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle

cede

yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession

crone

hag; ugly old woman

abscond

depart secretly and hide

annul

make void

derivation

deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word

copious

plentiful

bargain

agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power

aegis

shield; protection; defense

abject

(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology

condole

express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow

catechism

book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize

clamber

climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble

ballast

heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast

churlish

boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo

affliction

state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on

catholic

(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes

atypical

not normal; not typical

compound

combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex. fac

bigotry

stubborn intolerance

authoritative

having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive

bump

hit or knock against with force; N.

bandy

discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with

cordon

extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; V.

accrue

come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual

balk

stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate

cistern

reservoir or water tank

chary

cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold

arbiter

person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware

acclimate

adjust to climate or environment; adapt

bereavement

state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft

bigot

one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)

colander

utensil with perforated bottom used for straining

abbreviate

shorten

bungle

mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior

belabor

harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically

anthropologist

student of the history and science of humankind

amble

walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly

default

failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.

dabble

work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid

carcinogenic

causing cancer; N. carcinogen

check

stop motion; curb or restrain

dinghy

small boat (often ship's boat)

arsenal

storage place for military equipment

clime

climate

ambiguous

unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation

celerity

speed; rapidity

cog

tooth projecting from a wheel

deport

send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment

airy

of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal

cornice

projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars);

discernible

distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement

downcast

disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward

denouement

final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained

buffoon

stupid person; clown

bountiful

generous; graciously generous; showing bounty

abominate

loathe; hate

brook

tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream

crust

hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)

brazen

insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence

bucolic

rustic; pastoral

badger

pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal

bellicose

warlike

absolve

pardon (an offense)

contingent

dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency

bizarre

fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional

abbreviate

shorten

dilute

make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president

asymmetric

not identical on both sides of a dividing central line

curfew

regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew

antithesis

contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical

charm

quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch

compute

reckon; calculate

culprit

one guilty of a crime

contagion

infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air

beneficiary

person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will

beneficent

kindly; doing good

buffet

strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set

degradation

humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank

cataclysm

deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change

dilatory

delaying; tending to delay

backslide

revert (to bad habits); N. reverter

derogatory

expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage

bilk

swindle; cheat

begrudge

envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.

abode

dwelling place; home

abusive coarsely

insulting; physically harmful

accelerate

move faster

abode

dwelling place; home

catharsis

purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art

benefit

advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits

allege

state without proof

dismember

cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb

ablution

washing

arboreal

of or living in trees

assent

agree; accept; N. assessment

besmirch

soil; defile; make dirty

askance

with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at

boorish

rude; insensitive

chant

tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant

atrocity

brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious

accomplice

partner in crime

eccentric

irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric

callous

hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind

dispassionate

calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings

culmination

highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war

adherent

supporter; follower

assuage

mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)

alias

an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias

cumulative

growing by addition; accumulative

cringe

shrink back as if in fear; cower

antiseptic

substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.

callous

hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind

allegiance

loyalty

callus

area of thick hard skin

decrepitude

state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age

consecrate

dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor

cordon

extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; V.

bate

let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate

assumption

something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume

cadet

student at a military school

diatribe

bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse

detraction

slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor

blues

state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)

didactic

(of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism

bastion

stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism

bromide

platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement

championship

position of champion; defense or support; competition held to determine a champion

botch

mismanage; blow

avuncular

of or like an uncle

adroit

skillful (in using mind or hand)

codicil

supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will

debutante

young woman making formal entrance into society

attentive

alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration

broil

cook by direct heat; N.

ancestry

family descent; ADJ. ancestral

degradation

humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank

anthropomorphic

having human form or characteristics

bestial

beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel

braggart

boaster; bragger

allure

entice; attract; tempt

centurion

Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)

apotheosis

elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something

bauble

trinket; cheap jewel; trifle

abstain

refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;

conception

beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception

concave

hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex

bugaboo

bugbear; object of baseless terror

conjure

cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.

bluster

blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale

canvass

determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.

comeuppance

deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke

acquittal

deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner

assent

agree; accept; N. assessment

concomitant

that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else

appropriate

acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate

crux

essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance

abysmal

bottomless

aviary

enclosure for birds; large cage

ebullient

showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling

contest

dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.

casualty

serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle

calligraphy

beautiful writing; excellent penmanship

alimentary

supplying nourishment

demented

insane

abide

dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.

autonomous

self-governing; N. autonomy

covenant

binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise

agenda

items of business at a meeting

abortive

unsuccessful; fruitless

compensatory

making up for; repaying

buoyant

able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market

blurt

utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement

chasten

discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate

acme

peak; pinnacle; highest point

debunk

expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule

balk

stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate

accessory

additional object; useful but not essential thing

abusive

coarsely insulting; physically harmful

chivalrous

courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry

corpus

collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse

bigotry

stubborn intolerance

accessible

easy to approach; obtainable

defile

pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains

carousal

drunken revel; V. carouse

accretion

growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete

disapprobation

disapproval; condemnation

asunder

into parts; apart; V. sunder

affidavit

written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)

arroyo

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

contend

struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly

calumny

malicious misrepresentation; slander

consecrate

dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor

amputate

cut off part of body; prune (a limb)

detached

emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment

distill

refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew

approbation

approval

acclaim

applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise

conduit

aqueduct; passageway for fluids

abstruse

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

accomplice

partner in crime

decoy

lure or bait; V.

cache

hiding place; V.

atrophy

wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)

bacchanalia

the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus

droll

queer and amusing

cartographer

map-maker

disenfranchise

disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise

aspirant

seeker after position or status

affront

insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally

aspersion

slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on

culpable

deserving blame; blameworthy

decollete

(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)

coroner

public official who investigates any death thought to be of other than natural causes

despondent

without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection

allude

refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference

dull

(of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.

conspire

take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.

brandish

wave around (a weapon); flourish

corrosive

eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce

bland

soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence

askew

crookedly; slanted; at an angle

adore

love deeply and respect highly

communal

held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune

abridge

condense or shorten

bound

leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty to do something (legally or morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late; Ex. I am bound to say my opi

daub

smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint

ardor

heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent

cavil

quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily

convex

curving outward

dexterous

skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity

avenge

take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.

amalgam

combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth

cohabit

live together

allure

entice; attract; tempt

amenities

convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies

averse

reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work

congeal

freeze; coagulate

defection

desertion

component

element; ingredient

caricature

distortion; burlesque

debar

bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services

collage

work of art put together from fragments

blunder

error; stupid mistake

aberrant

abnormal or deviant

brawny

muscular; having well-developed muscles

contrite

penitent; repentant; N. contrition

canard

unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report

belligerent

quarrelsome

commiserate

feel or express pity or sympathy for

automaton

mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself

consonance

harmony; agreement

betoken

signify; indicate; be a sign of

credulity

belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous

careen

lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger

consanguinity

kinship; relationship by birth

correlate

either of the correlated things; V.

blush

become red in the face (from embarrassment or shame); become red or rosy; N.

correlation

mutual relationship

disembark

debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark

dislodge

remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge

bureaucracy

overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic

abortive

unsuccessful; fruitless

defile

pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains

abate

subside or moderate

casual

happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark

debauch

corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)

backslide

revert (to bad habits); N. reverter

dart

move or throw suddenly and quickly

brusque

blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice

colossal

huge

acoustics

science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in

cuisine

style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine

controvert

oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy

biting

sharply painful to the body or mind; Ex. biting wind/remarks

diffuse

wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse

bane

posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous

artful

exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice

amazon

female warrior

benison

blessing

betoken

signify; indicate; be a sign of

brim

uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat); Ex. The glass was full to the brim; V: be full to the brim

aloft

upward; high up in the air

bifurcated

divided into two branches; forked

anesthetic

substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia

consummate

complete; V.

abstinence

restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote

discriminate

distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference

contagion

infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air

ambulatory

able to walk

arrhythmic

lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia

anguish

acute pain; extreme suffering

coiffure

hairstyle

circuit

closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place

analogous

comparable; similar

absolute

complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism

chapel

small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)

ambience

environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature

auxiliary

offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant

crescendo

increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent

compound

combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex. fac

charisma

divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism

aberration

deviation from the normal; mental disorder

draft

first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript

brocade

rich, figured(patterned) fabric

burlesque

give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly

anneal

reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)

askew

crookedly; slanted; at an angle

bombast

grandiloquent, pompous speech

agog

highly excited; intensely curious

dorsal

relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin

civil

having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic

apropos

with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.

apprehensive

fearful; discerning

attest

testify; bear witness

clemency

disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement

abstain refrain;

withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;

beholden

obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude

abstemious

sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

apposite

appropriate; fitting

disproportion

lack of proportion (between the parts); ADJ. disproportionate

acquiesce

assent; agree passively; comply without protest

bump

hit or knock against with force; N.

contaminate

pollute

career

rush wildly; go at full speed

dawdle

loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing

brawl

noisy quarrel

covert

secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt

attenuate

make thin; weaken

contrived

unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.

blight

plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy

confound

confuse; puzzle

chip

lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp

debase

degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement

amorous

moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances

acclivity

sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity

chaotic

in utter disorder

blithe(blithesome)

gay; joyous

disconcert

confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb

credence

belief

crypt

secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)

disquietude

uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious

abscission

cutting off; separation

cavil

quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily

deadlock

standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate

context

writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs

dermatologist

one who studies the skin and its diseases

actuate

motivate; activate; cause to act

coy

shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer

contortions

twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist

bluster

blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale

converge

approach; tend to meet; come together

clot

half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.

effeminate

having womanly traits

demoniac(demoniacal)

fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil

compile

assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary

dribble

flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.

aplomb

poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence

conservatory(conservatoire)

school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy

decry

express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films

auroral

pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis

carat(karat)

unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold

brag

boast

cataract

great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)

chip

lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp

abject

(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology

aberration

deviation from the normal; mental disorder

aplomb

poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence

detain

keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention

convert

one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief

atavism

resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic

distinctive

clearly different from others of the same kind

abeyance

suspended action

casual

happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark

churlish

boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo

chronic

long established as a disease

astronomical

enormously large or extensive

amend

correct; change ; generally for the better

conformist

person who uncritically conforms to the customs of a group; OP. nonconformist: one who does not conform to accepted beliefs of norms

conformity

harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance

comeback

retort; quick clever reply; return to former status

cabal

small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests

beware

be cautious (of)

distend

expand; swell out

deign

condescend; stoop

clavicle

collarbone

capacity

mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president

abash

embarrass

cemetery

place for burying the dead

beeline

direct quick route

acute

(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain

coercion

use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce

denouement

final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained

affluence

abundance; wealth

aria

operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio

abjure

renounce upon oath

bereavement

state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft

commensurate

equal in extent; of the same size

component

element; ingredient

amity

friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations

amplify

increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph

adulterate

make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances

adjutant

staff officer assisting the commander; assistant

abase

lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect

blase

bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored

coup

highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills

anarchist

person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority

duplicity

double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous

caulk(calk)

make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)

anoint

consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)

cupidity

greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid

belligerent

quarrelsome

cede

yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession

alleviate

relieve (pain)

amenable

obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests

concerted

mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together

ceremonious

marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy

avert

prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.

catapult

slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult

compendium

brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious

discriminating

able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination

consonant

harmonious; in agreement; N.

ecstasy

rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy

colloquy

informal discussion; conversation

chameleon

lizard that changes color in different situations

clavicle

collarbone

deplore

regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition

discomfit

frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb

carping

petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble

appraise

estimate value of; N. appraisal

bust

piece of sculpture showing a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest; V: break up; arrest; Ex. crimebuster

adjoin

be next to

cavalcade

procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry

abstract

theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

arrhythmic

lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia

affirmation

positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination

arbiter

person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware

bolt

door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a | door); gobble down

decimate

kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of

conventional

ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons

abominable

detestable; extremely unpleasant

bereaved

deprived of (someone beloved through death)

demographic

related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population

divine

perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination

awful

terrible; very bad

dingy

(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain

ancillary

serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.

celibate

abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy

dissimulate

pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble

converge

approach; tend to meet; come together

atheistic

denying the existence of God; N. atheism

aptitude

fitness; talent

clangor

loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging

conifer

pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen

bowdlerize

expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler

abolish

cancel; put an end to

calculated

deliberately planned; likely

bully

one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.

causal

implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality

curator

superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)

bacchanal

noisy party with a lot of drinking

chaffing

bantering; joking

anthem

song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem

converse

opposite; ADJ.

adulation

flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved

compromise

adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one's principle; N.

bevy

large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets

bode

foreshadow; portend

braid

plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; N: braided segment (as of hair)

alcove

nook; recess

constituent

supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component

axiom

self-evident truth requiring no proof

allegory

story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable

cavalier

casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight

console

lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation

daze

stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.

aboriginal

being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine

corpulent

very fat; N. corpulence

compendium

brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious

anthem

song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem

alchemy

medieval chemistry

categorical

without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute

carnage

destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals

advocacy

support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something

blunder

error; stupid mistake

attentive

alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration

cohorts

group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)

coercion

use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce

deliberate

consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow

capacious

spacious

abortive

unsuccessful; fruitless

careen

lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger

apocryphal

(of a story) widely believed but untrue

conclave

private secret meeting

denomination

religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic

cardiologist

doctor specializing in ailments of the heart

dilapidated

falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation

adjutant

staff officer assisting the commander; assistant

effective

effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph

advert

refer

blackball

vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote

cross

bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry

barterer

trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money

cryptic

mysterious; hidden; secret

devolve

deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to

clap

strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause

analogy

similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things

aegis

shield; protection; defense

chuckle

laugh quietly

astigmatism

eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism

angular

sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner

constituent

supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component

craven

cowardly

ambidextrous

capable of using either hand with equal ease

char

make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion

abridge

condense or shorten

anarchy

absence of governing body; state of disorder

abyss

enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit

comity

courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations

cohabit

live together

clip

cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener

earmark

set aside (money or time) for a particular purpose

crone

hag; ugly old woman

concordat

formal agreement

dumbfound(dumfound)

astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck

benefactor

gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose

belabor

harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically

canter

slow gallop; V. CF. trot

affected

artificial; pretended

amphibian

able to live both on land and in water; N.

accelerate

move faster

brag

boast

commune

small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature

coma

deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow

beguile

deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile

chaplain

clergyman attached to a chapel

conduit

aqueduct; passageway for fluids

conjure

cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.

chide

scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)

crochet

make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet

caprice

whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause

contempt

scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible

contentious

quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments

appall

dismay; shock deeply

bourgeois

middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions

decrepitude

state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age

duration

length of time something lasts

abolish cancel;

put an end to

crotchety

(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion

cater

provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)

belie

contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.

daze

stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.

devoid

empty; lacking

decorous

proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)

appropriate

acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate

assuage

mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)

dominant

exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive

aspire

seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership

cog

tooth projecting from a wheel

affiliation

joining; associating with

delve

dig; search deeply; investigate

deposition

testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning

burlesque

give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly

canny

shrewd in money matters; thrifty

baffle

frustrate; perplex

assay

analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)

dysentery

inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract

convention

social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement

bacchanalian

drunken

bastard

illegitimate child

conspiracy

treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)

abeyance

suspended action

abut

border upon; adjoin

adjuration

solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly

aristocracy

hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat

centrifuge

machine that separates substances by whirling them

badinage

teasing conversation; banter; joking talk

amulet

charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck

coagulate

congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant

conceit

vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)

dapper

neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry

bar

railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister

crossbreed

hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed

crevice

crack; fissure

ambush

act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.

deplete

reduce; exhaust

circumvent

outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around

delusive

deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises

curtail

shorten; reduce

clich\'e

phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich\'ed

averse

reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work

artifacts

object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced

calamity

disaster; misery

abhor

detest; hate

bevy

large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets

confine

shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement

confidential

spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary

douse

plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse

conducive

helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards

blemish

mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished

artifacts

object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced

captious

faultfinding; too critical

aversion

firm dislike

anarchy

absence of governing body; state of disorder

cursory

casual; hastily done with little attention to detail

amenities

convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies

chaperon

older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman

comprehend

include; understand

asunder

into parts; apart; V. sunder

aberrant

abnormal or deviant

discrete

separate; unconnected

dainty

delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress

choreography

art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances

disinter

dig up; unearth; OP. inter

bent

determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination

benediction

blessing

debonair

(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition

chancellor

legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor

analgesic

causing insensitivity to pain; N.

debar

bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services

clasp

hold firmly within arms

altruistic

unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism

chalice

goblet; consecrated cup

dote

be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline

craven

cowardly

conspiracy

treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)

bestow

confer

cognitive

having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing

countenance

approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance

discordant

not harmonious; conflicting

catastrophe

calamity ; disaster

corrugated

wrinkled; ridged

couple

join; unite; OP. uncouple

barrage

barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism

criteria

standards used in judging; CF. criterion

dross

waste matter; worthless impurities

curator

superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)

anachronism

an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic

allay

calm; pacify

cordial

warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome

broach

introduce as a subject; moot; open up

blotch

spot; blot; CF. blot+botch

acidulous

slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic

abash

embarrass

adversary

opponent; enemy

alluvial

pertaining to soil deposits left by running water

ascetic

practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism

dormer

window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room

blunt

having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt

dereliction

neglect of duty; abandonment

anathema

solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize

broil

cook by direct heat; N.

chaste

morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere

compulsion

compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse

edifice

building (of imposing size)

anomaly

irregularity

cognitive

having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing

cantata

story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)

chorus

phrase repeated throughout a song or poem

divest

strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)

compliant

readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements

consonant

harmonious; in agreement; N.

doggerel

poor verse

anemia

condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic

citadel

fortress

eclectic

selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism

bulwark

strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends

canter

slow gallop; V. CF. trot

analgesia

condition of being unable to feel pain

brackish

somewhat saline

bridle

harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger

carnivorous

meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore

dowdy

untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman

abdicate

renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)

compatible

harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together

apprehend

arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension

convert

one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief

begrudge

envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.

brochure

pamphlet

cantankerous

ill-humored; irritable

debase

degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement

condescend

(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior

dolt

slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull

culprit

one guilty of a crime

catapult

slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult

deleterious

harmful

ebb

(of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide

distinction

honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction

adage

wise saying; proverb

bourgeois

middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions

contaminate

pollute

buffoon

stupid person; clown

abscond

depart secretly and hide

drudge

do drudgery; N: person who drudges

abbreviate

shorten

chronicle

report; record (in chronological order)

betroth

become engaged to marry

demise

death

array

marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array

congenital

existing at birth

bruise

injure without breaking the skin; N.

diverge

vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating

comestible

something fit to be eaten

benevolent

generous; charitable; having a wish to do good

deleterious

harmful

arsenal

storage place for military equipment

benediction

blessing

archives

public records; place where public records are kept

adapt

make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.

brooch

ornamental clasp; pin

affirmation

positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination

bar

railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister

choreography

art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances

caricature

distortion; burlesque

caste

one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige

chapel

small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)

adversary

opponent; enemy

amenable

obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests

blanch

bleach; whiten; make white or pale

ample

enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space

aesthetic

artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics

cession

yielding to another; ceding

cistern

reservoir or water tank

avow

declare openly; N. avowal

coiffure

hairstyle

belittle

disparage; depreciate

bookish

fond of books and reading

assiduous

diligent

dilate

expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)

abstruse

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

acne

skin disease (on the face)

compelling

overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel

aberration

deviation from the normal; mental disorder

caliber

ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber

colossus

gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance

benefit

advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits

desultory

aimless; haphazard; digressing at random

deadlock

standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate

draconian

extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician

bristling

rising like bristles; showing irritation

ascendancy

controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant

carapace

shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)

apostate

one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy

corollary

natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)

azure

sky blue

censorious

severely critical

bicameral

two-chambered as a legislative body

approbation

approval

camaraderie

good-fellowship; CF. comrade

contiguous

adjacent to; touching upon

bout

match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu

anguish

acute pain; extreme suffering

decorum

propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct

cloying

distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess

cameo

shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film

charlatan

quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)

defect

shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)

bargain

agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power

cajole

persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle

acoustics

science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in

belated

delayed

brave

face courageously; Ex. brave the storm

drastic

strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures

brevity

conciseness; shortness of duration

bastard

illegitimate child

defrock

strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock

antecedents

preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background

dapper

neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry

abstain

refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;

connotation

suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote

anthology

book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus

ecologist

person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology

besiege

surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually

composure

mental calmness

cornice

projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars);

beseech

beg; plead with

catalyst

agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis

abstract

theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

archipelago

group of closely located islands

bask

luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth

bedizen

dress with vulgar finery

aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)

nest of a large bird of prey

cynosure

object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor

bully

one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.

deliberate

consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow

efface

rub out; remove the surface of

disfigure

mar the appearance of; spoil

circlet

small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)

advocate

speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for

codicil

supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will

abate

subside or moderate

aperture

opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light

assurance

firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in f

anvil

iron block used in hammering out metals

assay

analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)

bolster

support; reinforce

alimentary

supplying nourishment

asinine

stupid; Ex. asinine remarks

disputatious

argumentative; fond of argument

buffoonery

clowning

contravene

contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention

arduous

hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work

concession

an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire

deranged

insane

disparate

basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated

dishearten

discourage

credential

evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.

archetype

prototype; primitive pattern

carafe

glass water bottle; decanter

concede

admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal

cater

provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)

deface

mar; disfigure

blare

loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light

coeval

living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age

browse

graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually

blues

state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)

dominate

control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height; ³»·Á´Ùº¸´Ù

barb

sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark

affable

easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly

acclivity

sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity

bust

piece of sculpture showing a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest; V: break up; arrest; Ex. crimebuster

allegory

story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable

balmy

soft and mild (of air); fragrant

aboriginal

being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine

absolute

complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism

alimony

payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce

bitter

having a sharp biting taste; ¾´; causing sharp pain to the body or mind; filled with resentment, disappointment, or other unpleasant feelings; Ex. bitter wind/sorrow/tears

bog

soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud

arcade

a covered passageway usually lined with shops

centigrade

denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)

discredit

defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful

delete

erase; strike out

cantata

story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)

cathartic

purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.

amazon

female warrior

cloying

distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess

complement

complete; consummate; make perfect; N.

commonplace

ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark

debut

d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society

amass

collect (gradually, in a very large amount)

cognizance

knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware

codify

arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs

abominate

loathe; hate

baleful

evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look

decapitate

behead

confluence

flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together

appease

pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement

constitution

constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions

argot

slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people

cross

bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry

clip

cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener

corpulent

very fat; N. corpulence

clemency

disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement

cubicle

small chamber used for sleeping or work

authoritarian

subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father

anomalous

abnormal; irregular

analgesia

condition of being unable to feel pain

avid

greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity

armada

fleet of warships

dainty

delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress

adverse

going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile

despot

tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism

adjacent

adjoining; neighboring; close by

breadth

width; extent

autocratic

having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy

aphasia

loss of speech due to injury or illness

artless

without guile; open and honest

complacency

self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent

burgeon

grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon

archaeology

study of artifacts and relics of early mankind

conundrum

riddle; difficult problem

casualty

serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle

anonymity

state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous

aseptic

preventing infection; having a cleansing effect

cite

quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record

convoke

call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation

abate

subside or moderate

daub

smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint

conjugal

pertaining to marriage

crest

top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird

compassion

sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate

crinkle

wrinkle

climactic

relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic

amulet

charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck

badger

pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal

convention

social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement

alimony

payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce

crave

desire; want intensely

dubious

questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety

bucolic

rustic; pastoral

baroque

highly ornate

cozen

cheat; hoodwink; swindle

canker

any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer

bate

let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate

apiary

a place where bees are kept

aspire

seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership

colossus

gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance

anecdote

short story of an amusing or interesting event

constituency

voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)

caucus

private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston

dissemble

disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend

bicker

quarrel

alms

money or goods given to the poor

convulsion

violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive

anachronism

an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic

consensus

general agreement; opinion reached by a group

daunt

intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten

beget

father; become the father of; produce; give rise to

actuarial

calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics

attenuate

make thin; weaken

backwards

and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights

brunt

main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument

battalion

army unit made up of four or more companies

arrears

being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done

brittle

hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation

acuity

sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)

bid

command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom

chortle

chuckle with delight; N.

abyss

enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit

aphasia

loss of speech due to injury or illness

cognizance

knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware

cameo

shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film

cuisine

style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine

court

attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite; attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster

conventional

ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons

dummy

imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy

adjunct

something attached to but holding an inferior position

bicameral

two-chambered as a legislative body

cerebral

pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum

contentious

quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments

apparition

ghost; phantom

commonwealth

nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation

adorn

decorate

dispirited

lacking in spirit

abominable

detestable; extremely unpleasant

bank

heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning

belated

delayed

comeuppance

deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke

edict

decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command

affiliation

joining; associating with

categorical

without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute

archives

public records; place where public records are kept

caulk(calk)

make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)

crux

essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance

bullion

gold and silver in the form of bars

avow

declare openly; N. avowal

compunction

remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt

dirge

funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)

disdain

treat with scorn or contempt

collateral

security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters

antiseptic

substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.

bearing

deportment; connection

aspersion

slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on

acetic

vinegary

absolute

complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism

convene

come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council

cynical

skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness

defer

give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous

dally

trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time

attribute

essential quality; V: ascribe; explain

docile

obedient; easily managed; submissive

celestial

heavenly

assiduous

diligent

abut

border upon; adjoin

denotation

meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation

advocate

speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for

disconsolate

hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)

couple

join; unite; OP. uncouple

choice

delicate; of very fine quality

complicity

participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)

disjointed

disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin

ambiguous

unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation

censor

(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.

alienate

make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of

chalice

goblet; consecrated cup

avalanche

great mass of falling snow and ice

chafe

warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.

breadth

width; extent

connotation

suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote

crescendo

increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent

aloft

upward; high up in the air

acne

skin disease (on the face)

conundrum

riddle; difficult problem

canto

division of a long poem

dart

move or throw suddenly and quickly

attire

clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel

amorphous

formless; lacking shape or definition

burnish

make shiny by rubbing; polish

clangor

loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging

deft

neat; skillful

conjugal

pertaining to marriage

abate

subside or moderate

abbreviate

shorten

ecosystem

ecological community together with its environment

apocalyptic

prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse

abominable

detestable; extremely unpleasant

condole

express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow

broach

introduce as a subject; moot; open up

coquette

flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.

august

impressive; majestic

anathema

solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize

audacious

daring; bold; N. audacity

debunk

expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule

counterpart

thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system

curb

chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain

agog

highly excited; intensely curious

cipher

nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.

adorn

decorate

bivouac

temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.

debacle

sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster

chaffing

bantering; joking

covenant

binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise

connubial

pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state

abrogate

abolish

avenge

take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.

distraught

upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry

aspirant

seeker after position or status

amalgamate

(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body

clique

small exclusive group of people

boisterous

violent; rough; noisy

dissension

disagreement of opinions causing strife within a group

beware

be cautious (of)

corollary

natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)

artisan

a manually skilled worker

compliance

conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply

credulity

belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous

congeal

freeze; coagulate

brink

edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon

cerebration

thought; working of the brain

carcinogenic

causing cancer; N. carcinogen

constraint

restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison

adulation

flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved

ambush

act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.

curmudgeon

churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person

antagonism

hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist

alloy

mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness

cryptic

mysterious; hidden; secret

alacrity

cheerful promptness without reluctance

aseptic

preventing infection; having a cleansing effect

abstain

refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;

Bohemian

unconventional (in an artistic way)

amoral

nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong

comport

bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment

debonair

(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition

adjourn

suspend until a later time; move from one place to another

culinary

relating to cooking or kitchen

balmy

soft and mild (of air); fragrant

comprise

include; consist of

aver

state confidently; declare as true

dishonor

disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable

char

make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion

asylum

place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)

clasp

hold firmly within arms

covetous

avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)

constraint

restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison

brook

tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream

conspire

take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.

candor

frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid

circumspect

prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought

calligraphy

beautiful writing; excellent penmanship

diversion

act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse

corroborate

confirm; support; strengthen

disavowal

denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim

betray

be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.

ecliptic

path of the sun and the planets

demolition

destruction; V. demolish

dogmatic

opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal

brand

trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar.

acclimate

adjust to climate or environment; adapt

cohesion

tendency to keep together

bereaved

deprived of (someone beloved through death)

avarice

greediness for wealth

continence

self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent

defoliate

destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant

brim

uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat); Ex. The glass was full to the brim; V: be full to the brim

contiguous

adjacent to; touching upon

definitive

most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court

compromise

adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one's principle; N.

application

diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself

demur

object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday

defray

provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay

demeanor

behavior; bearing

countermand

cancel; revoke (an order)

deflect

turn aside; turn away from a straight course

destitute

extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience

advocacy

support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something

colloquial

pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression

deify

turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity

debauch

corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)

countermand

cancel; revoke (an order)

coincidence

the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental

duress

forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress

bifurcated

divided into two branches; forked

concoct

prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction

decomposition

decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts

braid

plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; N: braided segment (as of hair)

aristocracy

hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat

avid

greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity

astral

relating to the stars

cosmic

pertaining to the universe; vast

diaphanous

sheer; transparent

bleak

cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing

cleft

N: split

dauntless

bold; fearless

beneficial

helpful; useful; advantageous

agglomeration

collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap

beatific

giving or showing bliss; blissful

collation

a light meal; collating

cerebration

thought; working of the brain

acrophobia

fear of heights

baffle

frustrate; perplex

arable

fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land

disjunction

act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive

astringent

binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism

congruence

correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity

burgeon

grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon

complementary

serving to complete something

convoke

call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation

bouillon

clear beef (or meat) soup

crass

very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior

arboretum

place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited

divulge

reveal

bloated

(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air

cremate

incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium

apiculture

bee-keeping

dismantle

take apart; disassemble

earthly

of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason

amok(amuck)

in a state of rage; Ex. run amok

concerted

mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together

assail

assault

browbeat

bully; intimidate

correlation

mutual relationship

disingenuous

not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous

decrepit

weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man

condescend

(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior

anesthetic

substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia

blunt

having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt

aromatic

fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell

correlate

either of the correlated things; V.

arbitrate

act as judge (at the request of both sides)

brusque

blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice

bawdy

indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd

badinage

teasing conversation; banter; joking talk

agrarian

pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform

aromatic

fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell

circuit

closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place

assurance

firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in f

crestfallen

dejected; dispirited

coddle

treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs

cue

word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to

amalgam

combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth

alcove

nook; recess

contrivance

something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme

arraign

charge in court; indict

creep

move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.

collate

examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)

defalcate

embezzle

behoove(behove)

be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.

chivalrous

courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry

conviction

judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief

carat(karat)

unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold

bedraggle

wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled

dabble

work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid

cumbersome

heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform

chauvinist

blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin

antipathy

aversion; dislike or opposition

dynamic

energetic; vigorously active

covert

secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt

conjecture

surmise; guess; V.

cartographer

map-maker

anoint

consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)

boost

lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase

conjecture

surmise; guess; V.

abeyance

suspended action

contrivance

something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme

amorphous

formless; lacking shape or definition

effete

having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted

clime

climate

asperity

sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter

ambivalence

the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions

apolitical

having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs

dispense

distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule

abject

(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology

anecdote

short story of an amusing or interesting event

dazzle

make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder

coda

concluding section of a musical or literary composition

contingent

dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency

distract

take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted

congenial

pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather

cathartic

purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.

arch-

chief; first; Ex. archbishop

backwards

and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights

deducible

derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning

camp

group sharing a common cause or opinion

convulsion

violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive

commune

small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature

congenial

pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather

crave

desire; want intensely

analgesic

causing insensitivity to pain; N.

buoyant

able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market

concurrent

happening at the same time; in agreement

dotage

senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage

determinate

having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final

bristling

rising like bristles; showing irritation

discourse

serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.

clairvoyant

having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance

carefree

free from worries; having no problems

credence

belief

artless

without guile; open and honest

cherubic

angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order

antediluvian

antiquated; extremely ancient

aptitude

fitness; talent

comity

courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations

bandy

discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with

acrimonious

stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior

blanch

bleach; whiten; make white or pale

bleak

cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing

dehydrate

remove water from; dry out

anodyne

drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement

brunt

main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument

affable

easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly

bulge

protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude

clarion

shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times

cloister

monastery or convent

deducible

derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning

boon

blessing; benefit; something very helpful

agility

nimbleness; ability to move quickly

billowing

swelling out in waves; surging

defunct

dead; no longer in use or existence

chimerical

fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature

clap

strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause

agnostic

one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality

bravado

swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery

abide

dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.

application

diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself

abusive

coarsely insulting; physically harmful

distant

reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly

absolute

complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism

decry

express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films

carrion

rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture

abject

(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology

abhor

detest; hate

abeyance

suspended action

compost

mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put or make compost

articulate

effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints

artifice

deception; trickery

abnegation

renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation

abolish

cancel; put an end to

ablution

washing

crevice

crack; fissure

craft

skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning

dank

damp; unpleasantly wet

apostate

one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy

apiculture

bee-keeping

carnivorous

meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore

abjure

renounce upon oath

diabolical

diabolic; devilish; fiendish

collation

a light meal; collating

aviary

enclosure for birds; large cage

dissection

analysis; cutting apart in order to examine

disaffected

disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty

concise

brief and compact

capillary

having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity

denigrate

blacken; defame

consonance

harmony; agreement

checkered(chequered)

marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares

caucus

private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston

apocryphal

(of a story) widely believed but untrue

archaeology

study of artifacts and relics of early mankind

debilitate

weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble

brawn

human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness

dolorous

sorrowful; N. dolor

deterrent

something that discourages or deters

apparent

evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement

atavism

resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic

conclusive

decisive; ending all debate

braggart

boaster; bragger

allege

state without proof

dowse

use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals

diligence

steadiness of effort; persistent hard work

banal

hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed

congenital

existing at birth

debris

rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed

chisel

swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting

anvil

iron block used in hammering out metals

blighted

suffering from a disease; destroyed

dissipate

squander; waste foolishly; scatter

atrophy

wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)

append

attach

benison

blessing

animosity

active enmity

disengage

uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage

alacrity

cheerful promptness without reluctance

convex

curving outward

contention

assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition

convene

come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council

awe

solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome

abscission

cutting off; separation

drone

talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.

annotate

comment; make explanatory notes

convoluted

coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain

affidavit

written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)

automaton

mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself

confound

confuse; puzzle

congruent

in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous

discord

conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)

armada

fleet of warships

clairvoyant

having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance

defection

desertion

berserk

mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited

consort

associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)

ameliorate

improve

blandishment

flattery

accord

agreement

affinity

feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages

artful

exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice

breach

breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.

cosmic

pertaining to the universe; vast

accost

approach and speak first to a person

apprise

inform

decant

pour off gently (wine or liquid)

annihilate

destroy

abstemious

sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

biennial

every two years

cacophonous

discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds

cauterize

burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection

disperse

scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd

aesthetic

artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics

absolve pardon

(an offense)

deference

courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery

delta

flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river

coagulate

congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant

benign

kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor

aversion

firm dislike

compliance

conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply

connoisseur

person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art

contravene

contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention

confidant(confidante)

trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)

compact

agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement

accoutre

equip; N. accoutrement

breed

produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant

babble

chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.

adept

expert at; very skilled

discrepancy

lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions

bilk

swindle; cheat

ancestry

family descent; ADJ. ancestral

carefree

free from worries; having no problems

affluence

abundance; wealth

appraise

estimate value of; N. appraisal

clamor

loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous

accede

agree

cascade

small waterfall

absolve

pardon (an offense)

amiss

wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.

cascade

small waterfall

draught

current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid swallowed at a time

capacious

spacious

balm

something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees

decant

pour off gently (wine or liquid)

abscond

depart secretly and hide

caption

title; chapter heading; text under illustration

derivative

unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.

annihilate

destroy

august

impressive; majestic

barrister

counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar

agility

nimbleness; ability to move quickly

cadence

rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm

carapace

shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)

disabuse

correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief

cleave

split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven

compliant

readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements

centaur

mythical figure, half man and half horse

brisk

quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor

collate

examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)

dulcet

sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious

conglomerate

corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.

amble

walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly

animus

hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition

bliss

complete happiness; ADJ. blissful

bequeath

leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest

blasphemy

irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege

collateral

security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters

caliber

ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber

askance

with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at

addendum

addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)

disquisition

formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report

arcane

esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener

chant

tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant

appellation

name; title

caste

one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige

actuary

someone who advises insurance companies

dynamo

generator for producing electricity; energetic person

devise

think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest

aboriginal

being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine

augment

increase; add to

audit

examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.

continence

self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent

compulsion

compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse

anticlimax

letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting

acrophobia

fear of heights

boor

rude, insensitive person

amiable

agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly

chastise

punish as by beating; criticize severely

deviate

turn away from (a principle, norm); move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism

cognate

having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.

Advent

arrival

anthropoid

manlike; resembling a human being; N.

blackball

vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote

delete

erase; strike out

diurnal

daily; occurring during the daytime

annals

records arranged in yearly parts; history

barefaced

shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie

abdicate

renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)

autopsy

examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.

callow

youthful; immature; inexperienced

contumacious

stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)

decapitate

behead

antediluvian

antiquated; extremely ancient

censure

blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval

depredation

plundering; destruction

brave

face courageously; Ex. brave the storm

afterlife

life after death; later part of one's life

abrasive

rubbing away; tending to grind down

coax

persuade by flattery

eccentricity

oddity; idiosyncrasy

cerebral

pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum

breed

produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant

array

marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array

canine

related to dogs; doglike

astringent

binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism

brand

trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar.

ascertain

find out for certain; make certain

dispel

scatter; drive away; cause to vanish

controvert

oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy

demerit

fault; bad quality

confine

shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement

archipelago

group of closely located islands

cursory

casual; hastily done with little attention to detail

denounce

condemn; criticize; N. denunciation

amiable

agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly

contention

assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition

chastise

punish as by beating; criticize severely

deft

neat; skillful

drama

prose or verse composition to be performed by actors; play; exciting and unusual situation

beguile

deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile

bulge

protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude

contest

dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.

avert

prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.

augment

increase; add to

chasten

discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate

cogent

convincing

compress

force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.

adamant

hard; inflexible

dearth

scarcity

bristle

short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly

dichotomy

division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)

betray

be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.

demotic

of or pertaining to the people

discount

disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost

abode

dwelling place; home

decree

authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree

contortions

twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist

cornucopia

horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty

defect

shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)

burnish

make shiny by rubbing; polish

antique

made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare or valuable

articulate

effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints

carillon

a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played

disparage

belittle

abortive

unsuccessful; fruitless

apprehensive

fearful; discerning

bruise

injure without breaking the skin; N.

artery

blood-vessel; CF. vein

clamor

loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous

bombardment

attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard

construe

explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue

deciduous

falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth

canker

any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer

aberrant

abnormal or deviant

congruent

in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous

base

contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron

blare

loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light

colloquy

informal discussion; conversation

clandestine

secret

disgruntle

make discontented

acumen

mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen

concur

agree; coincide; happen at the same time

accord

agreement

deploy

spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically

apolitical

having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs

adapt

make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.

agitate

stir up; disturb

cohesion

tendency to keep together

angular

sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner

acrid

bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent

adhere

stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality

canto

division of a long poem

dys-

abnormal; impaired

blatant

extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy

ascertain

find out for certain; make certain

bacchanalian

drunken

droop

bend or hang downward; become weakened; Ex. His shoulders drooped with tiredness; N.

comestible

something fit to be eaten

antiquated

obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated

allocate

assign; set apart for a particular purpose

dire

warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food

ashen

ash-colored; deadly pale

abstruse

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

abrasive

rubbing away; tending to grind down

corrode

destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)

augury

omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)

disgorge

surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge

allocate

assign; set apart for a particular purpose

benevolent

generous; charitable; having a wish to do good

animosity

active enmity

doctrinaire

unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties

asinine

stupid; Ex. asinine remarks

circumscribe

limit; confine; draw a line around

brood

sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time

caustic

burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless

consequential

self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent

compunction

remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt

clapper

striker (tongue) of a bell

crinkle

wrinkle

captious

faultfinding; too critical

doff

take off; OP. don

compartment

one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided

astigmatism

eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism

cupidity

greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid

collaborate

work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy

antler

bony growth on the head of a deer

appreciate

be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference

cringe

shrink back as if in fear; cower

centripetal

tending toward the center

antiquity

quality of being very old; ancient times;

contrive

invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention

capitulate

surrender; give up all resistance

candor

frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid

altercation

noisy quarrel

bard

poet

autonomous

self-governing; N. autonomy

choice

delicate; of very fine quality

creed

system of religious or ethical belief

crass

very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior

cornucopia

horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty

condone

overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse

Bohemian

unconventional (in an artistic way)

amphitheater

oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena

ascetic

practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism

append

attach

chronic

long established as a disease

clout

great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist

crest

top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird

caldron(cauldron)

large kettle

amicable

peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement

avantgarde

group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard

desecrate

profane; violate the sanctity of

assert

state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence

academic

related to a school; not practical or directly useful

cordial

warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome

carafe

glass water bottle; decanter

bountiful

generous; graciously generous; showing bounty

billowing

swelling out in waves; surging

commodious

spacious and comfortable

ardor

heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent

concede

admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal

abode

dwelling place; home

defeatist

resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism

climactic

relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic

centigrade

denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)

apathy

lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic

drip

fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops

acclaim

applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise

abide

dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.

abstinence

restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote

collusion

conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude

conformity

harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance

dour

sullen; gloomy; stubborn

connubial

pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state

adroit

skillful (in using mind or hand)

doze

sleep lightly; nap

disport

amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert

aloof

apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.

beneficent

kindly; doing good

defiance

refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant

cardinal

chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order

brawn

human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness

abstinence

restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote

defoliate

destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant

bitter

having a sharp biting taste; ¾´; causing sharp pain to the body or mind; filled with resentment, disappointment, or other unpleasant feelings; Ex. bitter wind/sorrow/tears

amass

collect (gradually, in a very large amount)

apoplexy

stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain

centrifuge

machine that separates substances by whirling them

bearing

deportment; connection

address

direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech

bedizen

dress with vulgar finery

canvass

determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.

accrue

come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual

blatant

extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy

attire

clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel

arrogance

pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)

ape

imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)

bound

leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty to do something (legally or morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late; Ex. I am bound to say my opi

damn

condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation

avocation

secondary or minor occupation

commandeer

take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes

banal

hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed

affected

artificial; pretended

apiary

a place where bees are kept

communal

held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune

dazzle

make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder

conscript

draftee; person forced into military service; V.

digression

wandering away from the subject; V. digress

concomitant

that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else

conifer

pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen

combustible

easily burned; N. CF. combustion

aria

operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio

analogous

comparable; similar

alluvial

pertaining to soil deposits left by running water

dwindle

shrink; reduce gradually

adversity

great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event

bane

posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous

bereft

deprived of (something valuable); lacking

collusion

conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude

dint

means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work

alliteration

repetition of beginning sound in poetry

cacophonous

discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds

delirium

mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious

crossbreed

hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed

denizen

(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor

azure

sky blue

avantgarde

group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard

balm

something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees

callow

youthful; immature; inexperienced

conviction

judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief

daunt

intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten

coalesce

combine; fuse; N. coalescence

coquette

flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.

bellicose

warlike

Advent

arrival

cauterize

burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection

arduous

hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work

despoil

plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village

bent

determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination

consistency

absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous

domicile

home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.

adore

love deeply and respect highly

chicanery

trickery; deception

edify

instruct; correct morally

aphorism

pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic

bromide

platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement

cessation

stoppage

devotee

enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach

dyslexia

word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read

creep

move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.

belie

contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.

antecede

precede

clot

half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.

desperate

having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort

cower

shrink quivering as from fear; cringe

abrogate

abolish

auxiliary

offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant

boisterous

violent; rough; noisy

acerbity

bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)

ascribe

refer; attribute; assign

conciliatory

reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)

bank

heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning

adventitious

accidental; casual; happening by chance

contraband

illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.

abusive

coarsely insulting; physically harmful

animadversion

critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval

concatenate

link as in a chain

apparition

ghost; phantom

concise

brief and compact

awl

pointed tool used for piercing

annex

attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one

deadpan

wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face

cemetery

place for burying the dead

amalgamate

(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body

dossier

file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back

adverse

going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile

colander

utensil with perforated bottom used for straining

doddering

shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder

apathy

lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic

connoisseur

person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art

compulsory

obligatory; that must be done

choleric

hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera

cunning

clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit

beatitude

blessedness; state of great happiness

audit

examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.

befuddle

confuse thoroughly

agrarian

pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform

behemoth

huge creature; something of monstrous size or power

cleave

split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven

consolidation

unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen

appurtenances

subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing

coroner

public official who investigates any death thought to be of other than natural causes

culvert

artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road

avarice

greediness for wealth

disinterested

unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective

certitude

certainty

diverse

differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N. diversity: | variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance

cow

terrorize; intimidate

accommodate

oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging

bode

foreshadow; portend

commemorative

remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp

compulsive

resulting from compulsion

apiarist

person who keeps bees

dais

raised platform for speakers or other important people

bogus

counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview

depreciate

lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value

betroth

become engaged to marry

cursive

(of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined

capacity

mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president

antagonism

hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist

chortle

chuckle with delight; N.

arable

fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land

arid

(of land) dry; barren; unproductive

anthropoid

manlike; resembling a human being; N.

abstract

theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

bolster

support; reinforce

boor

rude, insensitive person

accommodate

oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging

commodious

spacious and comfortable

bilious

suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated

adjacent

adjoining; neighboring; close by

chary

cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold

coincidence

the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental

contempt

scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible

consanguineous(consanguine)

having a common ancestor

disband

dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.

contusion

bruise

blotch

spot; blot; CF. blot+botch

amplify

increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph

apposite

appropriate; fitting

earthy

unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal

culpable

deserving blame; blameworthy

derision

ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory

disclose

reveal; N. disclosure

drab

dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life

curmudgeon

churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person

amiss

wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.

arbitrary

unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler

contusion

bruise

berate

scold strongly

crabbed

sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting

carnal

fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body

addle

make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)

adulterate

make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances

buffet

strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set

buttress

support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress

compile

assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary

choir

group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services); place for choir

coeval

living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age

corrosive

eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce

discombobulated

discomposed; confused

abstemious

sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

corrugated

wrinkled; ridged

bolt

door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a | door); gobble down

defalcate

embezzle

buxom

full-bosomed; plump; jolly

declivity

downward slope

choir

group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services); place for choir

awry

distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.

bulk

size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size

aghast

filled with great surprise or fear; horrified

dank

damp; unpleasantly wet

antecede

precede

abnegation

renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation

coalesce

combine; fuse; N. coalescence

compelling

overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel

accede

agree

atone

make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for

abet

assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

concur

agree; coincide; happen at the same time

bantering

joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter

botch

mismanage; blow

bouillon

clear beef (or meat) soup

actuate

motivate; activate; cause to act

contrive

invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention

die

metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice

deify

turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity

abscond depart

secretly and hide

annuity

yearly allowance

choleric

hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera

base

contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron

cite

quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record

blight

plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy

abrogate

abolish

clamber

climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble

benign

kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor

amnesia

loss of memory

antithesis

contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical

cognate

having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.

comprehensive

broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive

consign

send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee

consign

send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee

compartment

one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided

degenerate

become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person

abhor

detest; hate

circumvent

outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around

cant

insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people

acidulous

slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic

cynosure

object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor

auspicious

favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices

circumlocution

indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)

curfew

regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew

abhor

detest; hate

breach

breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.

crabbed

sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting

defame

harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory

ecclesiastic

ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman

blush

become red in the face (from embarrassment or shame); become red or rosy; N.

cadence

rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm

bovine

cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm

codify

arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs

doldrums

blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums

conveyance

vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance

capsize

(of a boat) turn over

bullion

gold and silver in the form of bars

capricious

unpredictable; fickle

bookish

fond of books and reading

desolate

make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert

charlatan

quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)

confiscate

seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer

dilemma

situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives

delude

deceive

clapper

striker (tongue) of a bell

corpuscle

red or white cell in the blood

commonwealth

nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation

arrogance

pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)

absolve

pardon (an offense)

credential

evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.

aperture

opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light

cavalcade

procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry

comatose

in a coma; extremely sleepy

compensatory

making up for; repaying

awl

pointed tool used for piercing

debacle

sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster

cession

yielding to another; ceding

dissident

dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.

acknowledge

recognize; admit

concentric

having a common center

adjuration

solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly

bulk

size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size

cull

pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.

decadence

decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent

acute

(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain

confide

tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about

agape

openmouthed

cogent

convincing

browse

graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually

brindled

tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)

autopsy

examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.

bantering

joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter

chassis

framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached

clientele

body of customers

circumscribe

limit; confine; draw a line around

circuitous

roundabout

demean

disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave

chaff

worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff

docket

program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket

court

attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite; attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster

brink

edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon

bewitch

cast a spell over; captivate completely

apothecary

druggist; pharmacist

calamity

disaster; misery

degenerate

become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person

centurion

Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)

arboreal

of or living in trees

bliss

complete happiness; ADJ. blissful

censure

blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval

conciliatory

reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)

courier

messenger

cleft

N: split

attest

testify; bear witness

decipher

decode; CF. indecipherable

arbitrate

act as judge (at the request of both sides)

cardinal

chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order

castigation

punishment; severe criticism or disapproval

acerbity

bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)

brawny

muscular; having well-developed muscles

abjure

renounce upon oath

chagrin

annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)

amorous

moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances

alloy

mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness

console

lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation

brackish

somewhat saline

celibate

abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy

alliteration

repetition of beginning sound in poetry

despise

look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible

criteria

standards used in judging; CF. criterion

anchor

secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage

beatitude

blessedness; state of great happiness

disheveled

untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel

boon

blessing; benefit; something very helpful

coax

persuade by flattery

atrocity

brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious

definitive

most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court

abet

assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

brooch

ornamental clasp; pin

anodyne

drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement

chronicle

report; record (in chronological order)

cohere

stick together

addiction

compulsive habitual need

abase

lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect

censorious

severely critical

distrait

absentminded; distracted

capillary

having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity

abdicate

renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)

camp

group sharing a common cause or opinion

compact

agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement

aggrandize

make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement

antipathy

aversion; dislike or opposition

crestfallen

dejected; dispirited

amnesia

loss of memory

appellation

name; title

adjoin

be next to

appease

pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement

chorus

phrase repeated throughout a song or poem

browbeat

bully; intimidate

conceit

vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)

amnesty

pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)

abolish

cancel; put an end to

authenticate

prove genuine

diva

operatic singer; prima donna

blandishment

flattery

dissonance

discord

bait

harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals

earn

gain for the performance of service or labor; gain (something that one deserves); deserve

bestial

beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel

charisma

divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism

confiscate

seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer

dappled

spotted

braggadocio

boasting

descry

catch sight of (something distant)

damn

condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation

belittle

disparage; depreciate

archaic

antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.

bacchanalia

the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus

complicity

participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)

ambulatory

able to walk

calculated

deliberately planned; likely

asylum

place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)

abet

assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

bludgeon

club; heavy-headed weapon; V.

agenda

items of business at a meeting

cantankerous

ill-humored; irritable

eddy

swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.

dismiss

eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal

corpuscle

red or white cell in the blood

altercation

noisy quarrel

amicable

peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement

chaplain

clergyman attached to a chapel

circlet

small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)

ascendancy

controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant

distinct

clearly different; clearly noticed

discerning

mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive

bemoan

lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of

confide

tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about

antiquity

quality of being very old; ancient times;

disburse

pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse

agnostic

one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality

culvert

artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road

appall

dismay; shock deeply

aberration

deviation from the normal; mental disorder

altruistic

unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism

calorific

heat-producing; N. calorie

canny

shrewd in money matters; thrifty

antler

bony growth on the head of a deer

condign

adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved

blighted

suffering from a disease; destroyed

conglomeration

mass of material sticking together

cavalier

casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight

contrived

unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.

awful

terrible; very bad

abrasive

rubbing away; tending to grind down

disbar

make (a lawyer) leave the bar or the legal profession

bombast

grandiloquent, pompous speech

capitulate

surrender; give up all resistance

archetype

prototype; primitive pattern

delineate

portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation

commensurate

equal in extent; of the same size

castrate

remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)

acknowledge

recognize; admit

accolade

award of merit; strong praise and approval

deface

mar; disfigure

bulwark

strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends

dappled

spotted

carping

petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble

diadem

crown

brisk

quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor

atypical

not normal; not typical

annul

make void

coda

concluding section of a musical or literary composition

champion

support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)

aggregate

sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars

chore

daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task

anomaly

irregularity

affront

insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally

catholic

(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes

agape

openmouthed

contrite

penitent; repentant; N. contrition

carnage

destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals

deadpan

wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face

congruence

correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity

bloated

(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air

concoct

prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction

accessory

additional object; useful but not essential thing

depict

portray

desperado

reckless, desperate outlaw

apocalyptic

prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse

confidence

self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling you thi

apothegm(apophthegm)

pithy, compact saying

conformist

person who uncritically conforms to the customs of a group; OP. nonconformist: one who does not conform to accepted beliefs of norms

claustrophobia

fear of being locked in

compute

reckon; calculate

chase

ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch

cohere

stick together

castrate

remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)

catalyst

agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis

amity

friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations

apogee

highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee

battalion

army unit made up of four or more companies

admonish

warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove

concordat

formal agreement

bemoan

lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of

amphitheater

oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena

annuity

yearly allowance

complaisant

trying to please; obliging; willing to please others

acrimonious

stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior

cessation

stoppage

apotheosis

elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something

besmirch

soil; defile; make dirty

discretion

prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary

centrifugal

radiating; departing from the center

dauntless

bold; fearless

ablution

washing

bewitch

cast a spell over; captivate completely

bowdlerize

expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler

abstract

theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

adept

expert at; very skilled

comatose

in a coma; extremely sleepy

blurt

utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement

defiance

refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant

collaborate

work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy

connivance

pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire

bravado

swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery

confluence

flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together

bombastic

pompous; using inflated language

bombardment

attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard

beeline

direct quick route

apogee

highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee

dupe

someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive

bask

luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth

apiarist

person who keeps bees

default

failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.

abominable

detestable; extremely unpleasant

arch-

chief; first; Ex. archbishop

bawdy

indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd

bout

match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu

acumen

mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen

compilation

listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling

address

direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech

declivity

downward slope

blue

gloomy; depressed

carnal

fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body

bureaucracy

overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic

brood

sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time

abstinence

restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote

cataclysm

deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change

discursive

(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)

archaic

antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.

capsize

(of a boat) turn over

amoral

nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong

cull

pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.

apoplexy

stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain

apropos

with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.

debilitate

weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble

cache

hiding place; V.

aggrandize

make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement

assimilate

absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)

ablution

washing

auroral

pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis

chancellor

legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor

commandeer

take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes

ancillary

serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.

celestial

heavenly

arraign

charge in court; indict

ape

imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)

adamant

hard; inflexible

chimerical

fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature

bid

command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom

castigation

punishment; severe criticism or disapproval

arbitrary

unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler

devout

pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope

camaraderie

good-fellowship; CF. comrade

clown

act stupidly; play the fool; N.

cardiologist

doctor specializing in ailments of the heart

cadaverous

like a corpse; pale

citadel

fortress

afterlife

life after death; later part of one's life

coterie

group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests

detrimental

harmful; damaging; N. detriment

coup

highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills

demagogue

person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery

culinary

relating to cooking or kitchen

bacchanal

noisy party with a lot of drinking

bequeath

leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest

awry

distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.

clipper

sailing vessel built for great speed

brevity

conciseness; shortness of duration

culmination

highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war

brawl

noisy quarrel

bilious

suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated

construe

explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue

bedraggle

wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled

acrid

bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent

crypt

secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)

depose

dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify

avuncular

of or like an uncle

abysmal

bottomless

delusion

false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that

commemorate

honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war

confidence

self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling you thi

effectual

able to produce a desired effect; valid

deflect

turn aside; turn away from a straight course

calorific

heat-producing; N. calorie

ductile

malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled

decimate

kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of

catcall

shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.

deference

courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery

avocation

secondary or minor occupation

ballast

heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast

cremate

incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium

canard

unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report

ambience

environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature

cadaver

corpse; dead human body

censor

(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.

constituency

voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)

coma

deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow

defrock

strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock

argot

slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people

advert

refer

consummate

complete; V.

debut

d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society

cozen

cheat; hoodwink; swindle

canine

related to dogs; doglike

doom

condemnation to a severe penalty; ruin; fate (esp. a tragic or ruinous one); V.

debris

rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed

abstruse

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

caprice

whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause

collected

composed; calm; self-possessed

dictum

authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)

catechism

book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize

corpus

collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse

comprise

include; consist of

decelerate

slow down

chagrin

annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)

beseech

beg; plead with

ceremonious

marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy

concession

an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire

condign

adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved

aver

state confidently; declare as true

comely

attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance

decoy

lure or bait; V.

bridle

harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger

amnesty

pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)

compost

mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put or make compost

dissuade

persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion

chauvinist

blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin

artery

blood-vessel; CF. vein

coin

make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented

amok(amuck)

in a state of rage; Ex. run amok

ambrosia

food of the gods

cunning

clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit

chore

daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task

conclave

private secret meeting

animus

hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition

concord

harmony; accord

actuarial

calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics

berate

scold strongly

ample

enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space

anomalous

abnormal; irregular

bombastic

pompous; using inflated language

abominate

loathe; hate

clique

small exclusive group of people

attrition

rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition

compulsory

obligatory; that must be done

disseminate

distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)

dowry

money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage

apprise

inform

decelerate

slow down

artifice

deception; trickery

corrode

destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)

clipper

sailing vessel built for great speed

dutiful(duteous)

(of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)

bludgeon

club; heavy-headed weapon; V.

acetic

vinegary

dais

raised platform for speakers or other important people

academic

related to a school; not practical or directly useful

dialectical

relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments

converse

opposite; ADJ.

chameleon

lizard that changes color in different situations

comport

bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment

conclusive

decisive; ending all debate

countenance

approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance

abet

assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

concord

harmony; accord

artisan

a manually skilled worker

civil

having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic

adversity

great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event

dissertation

formal essay; treatise

admonish

warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove

biting

sharply painful to the body or mind; Ex. biting wind/remarks

deprecate

express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory

aloof

apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.

certitude

certainty

dyspeptic

suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food

delirium

mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious

crochet

make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet

cataract

great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)

affliction

state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on

alias

an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias

augury

omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)

constitution

constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions

confidential

spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary

draw

choosing of a lot or card

deride

ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect

discompose

disturb the composure of; confuse

catharsis

purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art

authenticate

prove genuine

comely

attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance

dregs

sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue

document

provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.

cubicle

small chamber used for sleeping or work

asteroid

small planet

anneal

reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)

addiction

compulsive habitual need

actuary

someone who advises insurance companies

anthology

book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus

adventitious

accidental; casual; happening by chance

apologist

one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia

clich\'e

phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich\'ed

chase

ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch

arroyo

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

ambivalence

the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions

astronomical

enormously large or extensive

barrage

barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism

bard

poet

barrister

counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar

allude

refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference

diorama

life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background

curb

chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain

clarion

shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times

cant

insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people

beatific

giving or showing bliss; blissful