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50 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
trenchant
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adj. 1.incisive or penetrating, as perception or wit. 2. vigorous and effective, as an argument or policy. 3. well-defined; clear-cut.
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didactic
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adj. 1. intended to educate or instruct, esp. in moral values. 2. showing or having a tendency to teach, preach, or moralize.
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machinations
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n. 1.scheming or plotting, esp. for a devious purpose. 2. (usu. pl.) elaborate or devious schemes.
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acerbity
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n. 1.sharpness or severity of temper or manner. 2. bitterness of taste; astringency.
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obfuscate
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v. 1.to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. 2. to baffle or confuse (a person).
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cogent
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adj. 1.convincing, or compelling by virtue of a strong argument or clear presentation.
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concomitant
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adj. 1.existing or happening at the same time as something else, esp. as the less important thing or event; accompanying; attendant.
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capricious
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adj. 1.tending to act on impulse; subject to whim or caprice; erratic and unpredictable.
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omniscient
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adj. 1. infinite in knowledge; all-knowing. 2. possessing great knowledge; seeming to know everything.
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alacrity
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n. 1.willing promptness. 2. speed or liveliness.
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ingratiate
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v. 1.to seek or secure another's favor or approval for (oneself) (usu. fol. by with).
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raucous
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adj. 1.loud, sharp, and rasping, as a voice or laugh. 2. loud and disorderly.
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wreak
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v. 1.to inflict or carry out (punishment, revenge, destruction, or the like). 2. to make someone the victim or object of (one's anger, resentment, or the like).
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foible
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n. 1.a minor flaw or weakness in personality, character, or behavior. 2. a sword blade's weaker part, from the middle to the point.
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taciturn
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adj. 1.habitually silent and uncommunicative.
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desiccate
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v. 1.to eliminate the moisture in; dry up. 2. to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it.
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enervate
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v. 1.to take away the strength or vitality of; weaken.
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propitiate
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v. 1.To conciliate (an offended power); appease
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undulate
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v. 1. to cause a wavelike motion in or of. 2. to give a wavelike form or appearance to; ripple.
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magnanimous
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adj. 1.having or showing a generous, forgiving, or noble nature.
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cajole
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v. 1. to coax or persuade insistently, as by flattery or false promises.
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truculent
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adj. 1. extremely hostile or belligerent; inclined to fight. 2. savagely and fiercely cruel or harsh; brutal.
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sinecure
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n. 1.a paid position or office that requires little or no work.
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panache
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n. 1. a stylish, dashing manner; flamboyance. 2. a feathery plume, as on a hat.
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ineffable
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adj. 1.beyond description; inexpressible.
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inveigh
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v. 1.to utter angry or bitter complaints or criticism; protest vigorously (usu. fol. by against.)
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vitiate
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v. 1.to make (a legal document or the like) ineffective or invalid. 2. to harm the quality of; mar; spoil.
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ignominy
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n. 1.the condition of being in disgrace or dishonor; humiliation. 2. behavior or a quality that merits disgrace or dishonor.
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maudlin
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adj. 1.foolishly sentimental or tearful, as from drunkenness.
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paucity
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n. 1. smallness of number or amount; scarcity.
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scintilla
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n. 1.a tiny amount; trace.
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satiate
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v. 1.to satisfy completely, as a hunger or desire. 2. to glut or fill to excess; oversupply; surfeit.
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remonstrate
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v. 1.to say in opposition, protest, or objection.
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obdurate
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adj. 1.stubbornly holding to a position or course of action; unyielding; unpersuadable. 2. hardhearted or without remorse.
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pefidy
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perspicacious
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adj. 1.keenly perceptive or understanding; discerning.
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harbinger
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n. 1.someone or something that signals or foreshadows a later arrival or occurrence; herald; forerunner.
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abysmal
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adj. 1.of great extent; unmeasurable; extreme. 2. (informal) very bad.
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dichotomy
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n. 1.division or separation into two usu. opposed parts, positions, or opinions. 2. in botany, the characteristic of branching or dividing into two equal-sized limbs, veins, or the like.
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invective
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n. 1.strongly abusive or denunciatory speech or language. 2. an instance of such speech.
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gratitous
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adj. 1.given or received without charge or cost. 2. given or done without sufficient reason or justification; unwarranted.
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disparage
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v. 1. to depreciate or belittle, esp. in speech. 2. to lower in esteem or rank; degrade.
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rejuvenescence
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n. 1.A renewal of youthful appearance or character.
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jocund
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adj. 1.merry or cheerful in manner or appearance; jovial.
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pedantic
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n. 1.one who makes an excessive or offensive display of learnedness. 2. one who insists on an overly formal or detailed approach to scholarship.
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androgynous
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adj. 1. possessing both male and female characteristics or traits; hermaphroditic. 2. in botany, possessing both staminate and pistillate flowers.
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erudite
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adj. 1.having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned.
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fortuitous
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adj. 1.happening or appearing by chance, as a coincidence. 2. occurring or appearing by lucky chance.
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quaff
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v. 1.to take a drink, esp. a large one, with obvious enjoyment.
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exonerate
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v. 1.to free from blame; absolve; exculpate. 2. to release from a task or obligation.
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