Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
399 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
abandon |
total lack of inhibition
|
|
|
aberration |
Deviation from what is correct or right.
|
|
|
abet
|
to aid; act as accomplice
|
|
|
abject
|
miserable, pitiful
|
|
|
abolitionist
|
one who opposes the proactive of slavery
|
|
|
abridge
|
to condense, shorten
|
|
|
absolve
|
to forgive, free from blame
|
|
|
accessible
|
attainable, available; approachable
|
|
|
accessory
|
attachment, ornament; accomplice, partner
|
|
|
acme
|
highest point; summit
|
|
|
acute
|
1. Perceptive. 2. Excruciating.
|
|
|
adapt
|
to accommodate; adjust
|
|
|
adept
|
Proficient; masterful; expert.
|
|
|
adjacent
|
next to
|
|
|
advantageous
|
favorable, useful
|
|
|
aerie
|
nook or nest built high in the air
|
|
|
aerodynamic
|
relating to objects moving through the air
|
|
|
agenda
|
plan, schedule
|
|
|
agile
|
well coordinated, nimble
|
|
|
agitation
|
commotion, excitement; uneasiness
|
|
|
alacrity
|
Eagerness; zeal; speed.
|
|
|
alias
|
assumed name
|
|
|
alliteration
|
repetition of the beginning sounds of words
|
|
|
altercation
|
noisy dispute
|
|
|
amend
|
to improve or correct flaws in
|
|
|
amphibian
|
creature equally at home on land or in water
|
|
|
ample
|
abundant, plentiful
|
|
|
amplify
|
increase, intensify
|
|
|
animate
|
Energize; enliven.
|
|
|
animation
|
enthusiasm, excitement
|
|
|
antagonist
|
foe, opponent, adversary
|
|
|
antecedent
|
coming before in place or time
|
|
|
appropriate
|
to take possession of
|
|
|
aquatic
|
belonging or living in water
|
|
|
arid
|
extremely dry or deathly boring
|
|
|
arrogant
|
Feeling superior to other people; egotistical.
|
|
|
arsenal
|
ammunition storehouse
|
|
|
artifact
|
historical relic, item made by human craft
|
|
|
artisan
|
craftsperson; expert
|
|
|
ashen
|
resembling ashes; deathly pale
|
|
|
askew
|
crooked, tilted
|
|
|
aspire
|
to have great hopes; to aim at a goal
|
|
|
asymmetrical
|
not corresponding in size, shape, position, etceteras
|
|
|
attain
|
to accomplish, gain
|
|
|
auditory
|
having to do with hearing
|
|
|
august
|
dignified, awe-inspiring, venerable
|
|
|
authoritarian
|
1. Person who acts like a dictator; tyrant. 2. Disciplinarian.
|
|
|
aviary
|
Large enclosure confining birds.
|
|
|
balk
|
to refuse, shirk; prevent
|
|
|
ballad
|
folk song, narrative poem
|
|
|
balm
|
Soothing ointment for pain or healing; salve.
|
|
|
ban
|
to forbid, outlaw
|
|
|
barren
|
1. Infertile; impotent. 2. Arid; unproductive.
|
|
|
belittle
|
Humiliate; tease; diminish in importance.
|
|
|
bellow
|
to roar, shout
|
|
|
bias
|
prejudice, slant
|
|
|
bibliography
|
list of books
|
|
|
bliss
|
Gaiety; happiness; enjoyment.
|
|
|
boon
|
blessing; something to be thankful for
|
|
|
botanist
|
scientist who studies plants
|
|
|
bountiful
|
plentiful
|
|
|
bovine
|
cow-like; relating to cows
|
|
|
bungle
|
Botch; mismanage; spoil.
|
|
|
burly
|
brawny, husky
|
|
|
bustle
|
commotion, energetic activity
|
|
|
butt
|
person or thing that is object of ridicule
|
|
|
byway
|
back road
|
|
|
cadence
|
rhythmic flow of poetry; marching beat
|
|
|
callous
|
thick-skinned, insensitive
|
|
|
caricature
|
exaggerated portrait, cartoon
|
|
|
cast
|
copy, replica
|
|
|
cast
|
to fling, to throw
|
|
|
caulk
|
to make watertight
|
|
|
cease
|
Stop; end; halt.
|
|
|
celebrity
|
fame, widespread acclaim
|
|
|
chaotic
|
extremely disorderly
|
|
|
choice
|
specially selected, preferred
|
|
|
chortle
|
to chuckle
|
|
|
circumference
|
boundary or distance around a circle or sphere
|
|
|
civil
|
polite; relating to citizens
|
|
|
civility
|
courtesy, politeness
|
|
|
cleave
|
to split or separate or to stick, cling, adhere
|
|
|
coddle
|
Pamper: overindulge: baby; spoil.
|
|
|
coerce
|
to compel by force or intimidation
|
|
|
coffer
|
strongbox, large chest for money
|
|
|
cohabit
|
to live together
|
|
|
coherent
|
intelligible, lucid, understandable
|
|
|
comeliness
|
physical grace and beauty
|
|
|
commend
|
to compliment, praise
|
|
|
commonplace
|
ordinary, found every day
|
|
|
communicable
|
transmittable
|
|
|
compile
|
Collect data; accumulate; amass.
|
|
|
compound
|
complex; composed of several parts
|
|
|
compound
|
to combine, augment
|
|
|
confection
|
something sweet to eat
|
|
|
congruity
|
correspondence, harmony, agreement
|
|
|
consensus
|
unanimity, agreement of opinion or attitude
|
|
|
cosmetic
|
relating to beauty; affecting the surface of something
|
|
|
countenance
|
facial expression; look of approval or support
|
|
|
covet
|
to desire strongly something possessed by another
|
|
|
creed
|
statement of belief or principle
|
|
|
crescendo
|
gradual increase in volume of sound
|
|
|
criteria
|
standard for judging, rule for testing
|
|
|
culprit
|
guilty person
|
|
|
curator
|
caretaker and overseer of an exhibition, esp. in a museum
|
|
|
cygnet
|
young swan
|
|
|
dainty
|
delicate, sweet
|
|
|
daub
|
Blur: smear; spread.
|
|
|
dawdle
|
Procrastinate; loiter; idle: daily.
|
|
|
deface
|
to mar the appearance of, vandalize
|
|
|
deform
|
to disfigure, distort
|
|
|
deft
|
skillful, dexterous
|
|
|
delegate
|
to give powers to another
|
|
|
demean
|
to degrade, humiliate, humble
|
|
|
depict
|
to describe, represent
|
|
|
deplete
|
to use up, exhaust
|
|
|
desist
|
Discontinue or stop; cease; renounce.
|
|
|
desolate
|
Alone; without hope or comfort; forsaken.
|
|
|
dialect
|
regional style of speaking
|
|
|
dichotomy
|
division into two parts
|
|
|
diffuse
|
widely spread out
|
|
|
dilate
|
to enlarge, swell, extend
|
|
|
disarray
|
clutter, disorder
|
|
|
disband
|
Disperse; dissipate; scatter; dispel.
|
|
|
discern
|
to perceive something obscure
|
|
|
discontent
|
Unhappy; displeased; miserable.
|
|
|
distend
|
Bloat, bulge; swell; stretch.
|
|
|
distrust
|
disbelief and suspicion
|
|
|
docile
|
tame, willing to be taught
|
|
|
donor
|
benefactor, contributor
|
|
|
dormant
|
at rest, inactive, in suspended animation
|
|
|
draft
|
to plan, outline; to recruit, conscript
|
|
|
dulcet
|
pleasant sounding, soothing to the ear
|
|
|
dupe
|
to deceive, trick
|
|
|
dupe
|
fool, pawn
|
|
|
duplicity
|
Cunning; fraud; trickery; deception.
|
|
|
durability
|
strength, sturdiness
|
|
|
duration
|
period of time that something lasts
|
|
|
duress
|
threat of force or intimidation; imprisonment
|
|
|
editorialize
|
to express an opinion on an issue
|
|
|
elation
|
exhilaration, joy
|
|
|
emanate
|
Radiate; flow from; emit.
|
|
|
emancipate
|
to set free, liberate
|
|
|
emcee
|
Master of ceremonies.
|
|
|
emend
|
to correct a text
|
|
|
encore
|
additional performance, often demanded by audience
|
|
|
endurance
|
ability to withstand hardships
|
|
|
entreat
|
to plead, beg
|
|
|
enunciate
|
to pronounce clearly
|
|
|
equestrian
|
one who rides on horseback
|
|
|
equine
|
relating to horses
|
|
|
etymology
|
origin and history of a word; study of words
|
|
|
evade
|
to avoid, dodge
|
|
|
evict
|
to put out or force out
|
|
|
exasperation
|
irritation
|
|
|
excerpt
|
selection from a book or play
|
|
|
exotic
|
foreign; romantic, excitingly strange
|
|
|
expansive
|
sweeping, comprehensive; tending to expand
|
|
|
expire
|
to come to an end; die; breathe out
|
|
|
extinction
|
end of a living thing or species
|
|
|
extremity
|
outermost or farthest point
|
|
|
fathom
|
to measure the depth of, gauge
|
|
|
fathom
|
Measure; discover; perceive.
|
|
|
fault
|
break in a rock formation; mistake or error
|
|
|
fawn
|
to flatter excessively, seek the favor of
|
|
|
faze
|
to bother, upset, or disconcert
|
|
|
feasible
|
possible, capable of being done
|
|
|
fell
|
to chop, cut down
|
|
|
fetter
|
Restrain; restrict; curb.
|
|
|
finicky
|
fussy, difficult to please
|
|
|
flammable
|
combustible, being easily burned
|
|
|
flaunt
|
to show off
|
|
|
fledgling
|
Young or inexperienced person; young bird.
|
|
|
foil
|
to defeat, frustrate
|
|
|
forgo
|
to go without, refrain from
|
|
|
forlorn
|
dreary, deserted; unhappy; hopeless, despairing
|
|
|
foundation
|
groundwork, support; institution established by donation to aid a certain cause
|
|
|
frond
|
leaf
|
|
|
fume
|
Gas; vapor; harmful or irritating smoke.
|
|
|
gavel
|
mallet used for commanding attention
|
|
|
genre
|
type, class, category
|
|
|
giddy
|
Scatterbrained; silly; frivolous.
|
|
|
global
|
involving the entire world; relating to a whole
|
|
|
grasp
|
to perceive and understand; to hold securely
|
|
|
grimace
|
facial expression showing pain or disgust
|
|
|
grimy
|
dirty, filthy
|
|
|
grisly
|
Frightening; ghastly; gory; hideous.
|
|
|
guzzle
|
Gulp; swill; consume to excess.
|
|
|
habitat
|
dwelling place
|
|
|
hardy
|
Stalwart; robust; sturdy.
|
|
|
hasten
|
to hurry, to speed up
|
|
|
hectic
|
hasty, hurried, confused
|
|
|
heterogeneous
|
composed of unlike parts, different, diverse
|
|
|
hew
|
to cut with an ax
|
|
|
holocaust
|
widespread destruction, usually by fire
|
|
|
homogeneous
|
composed of identical parts
|
|
|
homonym
|
word identical in pronunciation and spelling but different in meaning
|
|
|
honor
|
to praise, glorify, pay tribute to
|
|
|
humane
|
merciful, kindly
|
|
|
hymn
|
religious song, usually of praise or thanks
|
|
|
hypothesis
|
assumption subject to proof
|
|
|
ignoramus
|
Moron; fool; dimwit.
|
|
|
immense
|
enormous, huge
|
|
|
immune
|
exempt; protected from harm or disease; unresponsive to
|
|
|
impair
|
to damage, injure
|
|
|
impulse
|
sudden tendency, inclination
|
|
|
impulsive
|
spontaneous, unpredictable
|
|
|
inconceivable
|
impossible, unthinkable
|
|
|
indenture
|
Contract binding a person to work for another.
|
|
|
industry
|
business or trade; diligence, energy
|
|
|
infantile
|
childish, immature
|
|
|
infer
|
to conclude, deduce
|
|
|
initiate
|
to begin, introduce; to enlist, induct
|
|
|
inject
|
to force into; to introduce into conversation
|
|
|
innumerable
|
too many to be counted
|
|
|
inoffensive
|
harmless, innocent
|
|
|
instigate
|
to incite, urge, agitate
|
|
|
integrity
|
decency, honesty; wholeness
|
|
|
intermittent
|
starting and stopping
|
|
|
intersect
|
to divide by passing through or across
|
|
|
intramural
|
within an institution, such as a school
|
|
|
iota
|
very tiny amount
|
|
|
issue
|
Discharge; emerge; emanate.
|
|
|
jangling
|
clashing, jarring; harshly unpleasant (in sound)
|
|
|
jargon
|
nonsensical talk; specialized language
|
|
|
keen
|
having a sharp edge; intellectually sharp, perceptive
|
|
|
kernel
|
innermost, essential part; seed grain, often in a shell
|
|
|
keynote
|
note or tone on which a musical key is founded; main idea of a speech, program, etceteras
|
|
|
kindle
|
to set fire to ignite; excite or inspire
|
|
|
knoll
|
Hillock; mound.
|
|
|
knotty
|
Snarled; tangled.
|
|
|
Kudos
|
Credit or praise for an achievement; glory.
|
|
|
lap
|
to drink using the tongue; to wash against
|
|
|
larceny
|
theft of property
|
|
|
larynx
|
organ containing vocal cords
|
|
|
laxity
|
Carelessness; indifference.
|
|
|
leery
|
suspicious
|
|
|
legible
|
readable
|
|
|
legislate
|
to decree, mandate, make laws
|
|
|
lenient
|
easygoing, permissive
|
|
|
lexicon
|
dictionary, list of words
|
|
|
linger
|
Loiter; remain; hesitate.
|
|
|
literate
|
able to read and write; well-read and educated
|
|
|
logo
|
corporate symbol
|
|
|
loiter
|
to stand around idly
|
|
|
low
|
to make a sound like a cow, moo
|
|
|
lumber
|
to move slowly and awkwardly
|
|
|
lunar
|
relating to the moon
|
|
|
malice
|
animosity, spite, hatred
|
|
|
mandatory
|
necessary, required
|
|
|
maritime
|
relating to the sea or sailing
|
|
|
martial
|
warlike, pertaining to the military
|
|
|
medieval
|
relating to the Middle Ages (about A.D. 500-1500)
|
|
|
melody
|
pleasing musical harmony; related musical tunes
|
|
|
meridian
|
circle passing through the two poles of the earth
|
|
|
metaphor
|
figure of speech comparing two different things
|
|
|
metronome
|
time-keeping device used in music
|
|
|
microbe
|
microorganism
|
|
|
minimal
|
smallest in amount, least possible
|
|
|
miserliness
|
extreme stinginess
|
|
|
misnomer
|
an incorrect name or designation
|
|
|
mock
|
to deride, ridicule
|
|
|
molt
|
to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically
|
|
|
moot
|
debatable; purely academic, deprived of practical significance
|
|
|
needle
|
Provoke.
|
|
|
nettle
|
to irritate
|
|
|
niche
|
recess in a wall; best position for something
|
|
|
ouster
|
expulsion, ejection
|
|
|
parole
|
conditional release of a prisoner
|
|
|
peer
|
contemporary, equal, match
|
|
|
pending
|
not yet decided, awaiting decision
|
|
|
pert
|
lively and bold
|
|
|
pious
|
dedicated, devout, extremely religious
|
|
|
pithy
|
1. Substantial; profound. 2. Brief: concise.
|
|
|
plait
|
to braid
|
|
|
pliant
|
pliable, yielding
|
|
|
pluck
|
to pull strings on musical instrument
|
|
|
plucky
|
courageous, spunky
|
|
|
ply
|
to use diligently; to engage; to join together
|
|
|
poach
|
to steal game or fish; cook in boiling liquid
|
|
|
podium
|
platform or lectern for orchestra conductors or speakers
|
|
|
polar
|
relating to a geographic pole; exhibiting contrast
|
|
|
polarize
|
to tend towards opposite extremes
|
|
|
pore
|
to study closely or meditatively
|
|
|
portly
|
stout, dignified
|
|
|
prose
|
ordinary language used in everyday speech
|
|
|
pry
|
to intrude into; force open
|
|
|
psychic
|
perceptive of nonmaterial, spiritual forces
|
|
|
pudgy
|
chubby, overweight
|
|
|
quack
|
faker; one who falsely claims to have medical skill
|
|
|
qualify
|
to provide with needed skills; modify, limit
|
|
|
quibble
|
Argue or bicker.
|
|
|
quicken
|
to hasten, arouse, excite
|
|
|
rabid
|
Berserk; diseased; sick.
|
|
|
rally
|
to assemble; recover, recuperate
|
|
|
ramble
|
Meander; roam.
|
|
|
rant
|
to harangue, rave, forcefully scold
|
|
|
rarefy
|
Make thin; purify; make less dense.
|
|
|
rash
|
careless, hasty, reckless
|
|
|
ratify
|
to approve formally, confirm
|
|
|
ration
|
to supply; to restrict consumption of
|
|
|
ration
|
portion, share
|
|
|
ravine
|
deep, narrow gorge
|
|
|
raze
|
Demolish; level; topple.
|
|
|
recruit
|
to draft, enlist; to seek to enroll
|
|
|
remote
|
distant, isolated
|
|
|
rend
|
Rip; tear; splinter.
|
|
|
repeal
|
to revoke or formally withdraw (often a law)
|
|
|
repent
|
to regret a past action
|
|
|
retain
|
to hold, keep possession of
|
|
|
retard
|
to slow, hold back
|
|
|
revoke
|
to annul, cancel, call back
|
|
|
rhythm
|
regular pattern or variation of sounds and stresses
|
|
|
riddle
|
to make many holes in; permeate
|
|
|
root
|
to dig with a snout (like a pig)
|
|
|
rustic
|
rural
|
|
|
scanty
|
Meager: scarce.
|
|
|
scoff
|
Mock; ridicule.
|
|
|
score
|
notation for a musical composition
|
|
|
score
|
to make a notch or scratch
|
|
|
shirk
|
to avoid a task due to laziness or fear
|
|
|
signify
|
denote, indicate; symbolize
|
|
|
skulk
|
to move in a stealthy or cautious manner; sneak
|
|
|
slight
|
to treat as unimportant; insult
|
|
|
sloth
|
sluggishness, laziness
|
|
|
smelt
|
to melt metal in order to refine it
|
|
|
solstice
|
shortest and longest day of the year
|
|
|
spartan
|
austere, severe, grave; simple, bare
|
|
|
sporadic
|
infrequent, irregular
|
|
|
spur
|
to prod
|
|
|
spurn
|
Defy; reject.
|
|
|
squander
|
to waste
|
|
|
stalk
|
to hunt, pursue
|
|
|
stifle
|
to smother or suffocate; suppress
|
|
|
stint
|
period of time spent doing something
|
|
|
stint
|
to be sparing or frugal
|
|
|
stockade
|
enclosed area forming defensive wall
|
|
|
stoic
|
indifferent to or unaffected by emotions
|
|
|
stolid
|
having or showing little emotion
|
|
|
strife
|
Conflict; turmoil; struggle.
|
|
|
stunted
|
having arrested growth or development
|
|
|
sullen
|
brooding, gloomy
|
|
|
sully
|
to soil, stain, tarnish, taint
|
|
|
supervise
|
to direct or oversee the work of others
|
|
|
surly
|
Choleric; rude; sullen.
|
|
|
surplus
|
excess
|
|
|
survey
|
to examine in a comprehensive way
|
|
|
tacit
|
silently understood or implied
|
|
|
taint
|
to spoil or infect; to stain honor
|
|
|
tainted
|
stained, tarnished; corrupted, poisoned
|
|
|
talon
|
claw of an animal, esp. a bird of prey
|
|
|
tang
|
sharp flavor or odor
|
|
|
taper
|
Diminish; thin; narrow.
|
|
|
tarnished
|
corroded, discolored; discredited, disgraced
|
|
|
terminal
|
depot, station
|
|
|
terse
|
concise, brief, free of extra words
|
|
|
thesis
|
theory or hypothesis; dissertation or long, written composition
|
|
|
thwart
|
to block or present from happening; frustrate
|
|
|
tidings
|
news
|
|
|
titan
|
person of colossal stature or achievement
|
|
|
tolerance
|
capacity to respect different values; capacity to endure or resist something
|
|
|
torrid
|
burning hot; passionate
|
|
|
toxin
|
poison
|
|
|
trying
|
difficult to deal with
|
|
|
tumult
|
state of confusion; agitation
|
|
|
tundra
|
treeless plain found in arctic or sub-arctic regions
|
|
|
unavailing
|
hopeless, useless
|
|
|
undermine
|
to sabotage, thwart
|
|
|
undocumented
|
not certified, unsubstantiated
|
|
|
uniform
|
consistent and unchanging; identical
|
|
|
unkempt
|
Uncombed; messy; untidy.
|
|
|
unwieldy
|
Clumsy; awkward; unmanageable.
|
|
|
unwitting
|
unconscious; unintentional
|
|
|
unyielding
|
firm, resolute
|
|
|
vanquish
|
to conquer, defeat
|
|
|
variable
|
changeable, inconstant
|
|
|
vaunted
|
boasted about, bragged about
|
|
|
vent
|
to express, say out loud
|
|
|
vermin
|
small creatures offensive to humans
|
|
|
veto
|
to reject formally
|
|
|
vex
|
to irritate, annoy; confuse, puzzle
|
|
|
vigilant
|
attentive, watchful
|
|
|
vilify
|
Defame; denigrate.
|
|
|
vim
|
energy, enthusiasm
|
|
|
virulent
|
Fatal; lethal; toxic.
|
|
|
vivid
|
bright and intense in color; strongly perceived
|
|
|
void
|
not legally enforceable; empty
|
|
|
vouchsafe
|
Confer; grant; permit.
|
|
|
wan
|
Anemic; colorless; pale.
|
|
|
wanton
|
undisciplined, unrestrained, reckless
|
|
|
weather
|
to endure, undergo
|
|
|
whet
|
Stimulate; sharpen; intensify.
|
|
|
wistful
|
Yearning; pensive; sad.
|
|
|
woe
|
anguish; grief; affliction.
|
|
|
writ
|
written document, usually in law
|
|
|
writhe
|
Squirm; twist.
|
|
|
yeoman
|
Peasant; ordinary person.
|
|
|
yore
|
Time long past.
|
|
|
yowl
|
Long, mournful cry or howl. |
