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199 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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caitiff
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a cowardly and mean person
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curio
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something unusual that is collected
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dissever
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to separate into parts
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sequacious
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having a sequence; following
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sepulcher
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a grave chamber
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homologous
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corresponding in characteristics
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ablaut
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vowel change
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beatific
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giving joy
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dastard
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malicious coward
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iambic
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having two syllables
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jaded
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exhausted
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kibbutz
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collective farm
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laggard
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wasting time
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macrobiotic
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promoting longevity
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paltry
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contemptibly small
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qualify
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prove capable or fit
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ramble
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move aimlessly
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tacit
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necessarily indicated
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footless
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lacking substance
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mot juste
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appropriate expression
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horripilation
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goose bumps
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soiree
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nighttime party
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obsequies
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funeral rites
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ensconced
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fixed firmly
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frowzy
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habitually unkempt
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adduce
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produce evidence for
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affectation
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exaggerated display; pretense
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eminence grise
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powerful person
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amatory
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expressing love
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Lucullan
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profusely extravagant
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nabob
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wealthy person
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escutcheon
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a shield or decorative covering
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guerdon
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reward or payment
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reprobate
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someone without scruples
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emollient
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cream or something which softens
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balustrade
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staircase railing
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slugabed
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one who stays in bed until a late hour.
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donnybrook
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a brawl or dispute.
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littoral
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on a coastal or shore region.
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volte-face
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an about-face.
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rubicund
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inclining to redness; ruddy.
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implacable
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incapable of being pacified.
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aficionado
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an enthusiastic admirer; a fan.
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sobriquet
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a nickname.
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otiose
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ineffective; also, being at leisure; also, of no use.
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misprize
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to despise; also, to undervalue.
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expeditious
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characterized by speed and efficiency.
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alfresco
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outdoors; outdoor.
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bailiwick
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a person's specific area of knowledge, authority, interest, skill, or work.
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synecdoche
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figure of speech
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plenary
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full; complete.
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quandary
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a state of difficulty or perplexity.
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corroborate
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to strengthen or make more certain with other evidence.
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execrable
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detestable; extremely bad.
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bivouac
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a usually temporary encampment; also, to encamp.
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gloaming
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twilight; dusk.
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admonition
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gentle or friendly reproof; friendly warning.
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immolate
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to kill or destroy, often by fire.
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bevy
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a group; an assembly.
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cosmopolite
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a cosmopolitan person.
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kitsch
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art in pretentious bad taste.
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suffuse
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spread through or over; to flush.
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tintinnabulation
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a tinkling sound, as of a bell or bells.
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misprize
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to despise; also, to undervalue.
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proponent
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an advocate.
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scion
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a descendant; an heir.
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numismatics
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the collection and study of coins.
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edify
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to instruct and improve.
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melee
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a confused conflict.
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capitulate
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to surrender under agreed conditions.
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fettle
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a state or condition of fitness, order, or mind.
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panoply
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a splendid or impressive array.
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sapient
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wise; sage; discerning.
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brummagem
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cheap and showy; also, spurious.
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obeisance
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an expression of deference.
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vituperate
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to overwhelm with wordy abuse.
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spoony
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foolishly or sentimentally in love.
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vexillology
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the study of flags.
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tittle-tattle
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idle, trifling talk.
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provenance
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origin; source.
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chichi
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affectedly trendy.
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blackguard
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a scoundrel.
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philter
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a love potion.
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knell
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the stoke of a bell tolled at a funeral.
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aestival
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of or belonging to the summer.
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bruit
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To report; to noise abroad.
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juju
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an object superstitiously believed to embody magical powers.
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Hobson's choice
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a choice without an alternative.
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comity
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a state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect.
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berate
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to scold severely or angrily.
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peregrination
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a traveling from place to place.
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naif
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a naive or inexperienced person.
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chthonic
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dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld.
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condign
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deserved; adequate.
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laconic
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using or marked by the use of a minimum of words.
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tutelage
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guardianship; protection; also, instruction.
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dapple
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a small contrasting blotch; also, to mark with spots.
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meticulous
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extremely careful about details.
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palaver
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idle talk; also, to talk idly.
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troglodyte
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someone who dwells in a cave.
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contemn
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to scorn; to despise.
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fiduciary
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relating to the holding of something in trust for another.
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mephitic
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offensive to the smell; also, noxious.
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tatterdemalion
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a person dressed in tattered clothing.
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insensate
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lacking sensation or awareness.
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gamine
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an urchin; also, a mischievous girl or young woman.
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melange
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a mixture.
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sempiternal
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everlasting; eternal.
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diadem
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a crown.
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quondam
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former; sometime.
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sesquipedalian
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(of words) long; having many syllables.
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harridan
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a scolding, vicious woman.
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bagatelle
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a trifle; also, a short, light literary or musical piece.
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surfeit
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an excessive amount; also, to supply to excess.
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prink
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to primp.
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claque
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a group of fawning admirers.
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verdure
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greenness.
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cogent
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appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing.
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defenestrate
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to throw out of a window.
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renascent
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rising again into being; showing renewed vigor.
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choler
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anger.
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capacious
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able to contain much.
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glutinous
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gluey; sticky.
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forlorn
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sad and lonely because deserted, abandoned, or lost.
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Cockaigne
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an imaginary land of ease and luxury.
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mazy
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resembling a maze; intricate or confusing.
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cloy
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to weary or become distasteful through excess.
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sub rosa
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secretly; privately; confidentially.
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fustian
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pompous or pretentious language.
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amalgam
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an alloy of mercury with other metals; also, a mixture.
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moiety
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a half; a small part.
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subfusc
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dark or dull in color.
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latitudinarian
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having or expressing broad and tolerant views.
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obtrude
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to thrust out; also, to impose on others.
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Potemkin village
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a false front or facade.
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boulevardier
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a man-about-town.
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aright
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rightly; correctly.
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ruminate
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to chew the cud; also, to ponder; to reflect.
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listless
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having no desire or inclination.
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vehement
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marked by intensity of emotions or convictions.
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ribald
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characterized by, or given to, vulgar humor.
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schadenfreude
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a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others.
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grandee
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a man of elevated rank or station; a nobleman.
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patina
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a superficial layer.
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amanuensis
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one employed to take dictation or to copy manuscripts.
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recherche
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exotic; rare; also, affected, pretentious.
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rara avis
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a rare or unique person or thing.
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gewgaw
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a trinket; a bauble.
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inchoate
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partly but not fully in existence or operation.
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rodomontade
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pretentious, bragging speech.
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chagrin
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acute vexation or embarrassment.
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nefarious
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wicked in the extreme.
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acerbic
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sharp, biting, or acid in temper, expression, or tone.
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repine
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to feel or express discontent.
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acrid
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sharp and harsh; bitter.
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excrescence
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something growing out; also, a disfiguring or unwanted part.
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mien
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demeanor; also, aspect; appearance.
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magniloquent
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lofty or grandiose in speech or expression.
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ineffectual
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without effect; weak; useless.
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lubricious
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lewd; also, slippery or smooth.
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extempore
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without premeditation or preparation.
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menagerie
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a collection of wild or unusual animals; also, a diverse group.
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ersatz
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being a substitute or imitation.
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copacetic
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very satisfactory.
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perdurable
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very durable; long lasting.
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amative
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pertaining to or disposed to love.
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virago
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an ill-tempered, overbearing woman; a woman of strength and courage.
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pestiferous
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bearing or bringing disease, moral harm, or annoyance.
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sine qua non
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an indispensable thing.
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abominate
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to detest intensely.
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factitious
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artificial; not authentic or genuine.
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relegate
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to assign or remove, usually to an inferior position.
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dissolute
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loose in morals and conduct.
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nettlesome
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causing irritation, vexation, or distress.
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irrupt
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to burst in forcibly or suddenly.
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lissom
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supple; nimble.
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temerarious
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reckless; rash.
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supererogatory
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going beyond what is required or expected
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Zeitgeist
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the spirit of the time.
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faineant
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doing nothing; idle; also, a do-nothing.
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arcanum
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a secret; a mystery.
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obdurate
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hardened in feelings or in wrongdoing; unyielding.
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friable
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easily crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder.
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mimetic
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imitative.
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pertinacious
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holding obstinately to a belief; stubbornly persistent.
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imprimatur
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approval or sanction.
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raillery
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good-humored banter or teasing repartee.
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supplicate
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to make a humble and earnest petition.
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primogeniture
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the state of being the firstborn
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nonagenarian
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someone whose age is in the nineties.
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upbraid
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to scold or criticize harshly.
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quietus
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final acquittance, as from debt; also, rest; death.
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adventitious
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added extrinsically; not essentially inherent.
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callow
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immature.
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effusive
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excessively demonstrative.
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nolens volens
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whether unwilling or willing.
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disheveled
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in loose disorder; disarranged.
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caterwaul
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to make a harsh cry or screech.
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canorous
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melodious; musical.
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