Word List 31-32
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- missive
- letter; written statement; CF. sent
- mitigate
- appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity
- mnemonic
- pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid
- mode
- prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life
- modicum
- limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate
- modish
- fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
- molt(moult)
- periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)
- moratorium
- legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses
- morbid
- given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
- mordant
- biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit
- mores
- conventions; moral standards; moral customs
- moribund
- dying; at the point of death; CF. death
- morose
- ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
- mote
- small speck (esp. of dust)
- motif
- theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure
- motility
- ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously
- motley
- multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)
- mottled
- blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors
- mountebank
- charlatan; boastful pretender
- mulct
- defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy
- multifarious
- varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities
- munificent
- very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience
- mural
- wall painting
- murky
- dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom
- muster
- gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.
- musty
- stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist
- nadir
- lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith
- narcissist
- conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus
- natation
- swimming
- natty
- neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser
- nebulous
- vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal
- necromancy
- black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis
- nefarious
- very wicked
- nemesis
- someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis
- neophyte
- recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant
- nepotism
- favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
- nettle
- irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
- nexus
- connection
- nicety
- precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties
- niggardly
- meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person
- niggle
- spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling
- nihilist
- one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement
- nip
- snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
- noisome
- foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
- nominal
- in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint
- nonchalance
- indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts
- noncommittal
- neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided
- nondescript
- undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd
- nostrum
- questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
- nonplus
- put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
- nubile
- marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
- nugatory
- worthless; futile
- obelisk
- tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid
- oblique
- indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference
- obliterate
- destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village
- oblivion
- obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness
- obnoxious
- offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell
- obsequy
- funeral ceremony
- obsidian
- black volcanic rock