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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
juggernaut
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irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its path
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jumble
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mix in a confused way
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juncture
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crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining
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junket
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trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense
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juridical
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of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of courts of law; CF. judiciary
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jurisdiction
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right and power to apply the law; authority
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jurisprudence
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science of law
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juxtapose
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place side by side; CF. next
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kaleidoscope
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tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce interesting symmetrical effects; series of changing events; Ex. kaleidoscope of European history; CF. beautiful
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ken
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range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken
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kernel
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central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)
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killjoy
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grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others
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kindle
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start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse
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kindred
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related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N: relative; kin; kinship
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kinetic
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producing motion; of motion
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kismet
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fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.
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kleptomaniac
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person who has a compulsive desire to steal
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knack
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special talent; art
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knave
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untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery
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knead
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mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough
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kneel
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go down on one's knee(s)
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knell
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tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.
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knit
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contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit together in a few weeks.
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knoll
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little round hill; hillock
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knotty
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intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot
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kudos
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honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement
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labile
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likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability
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laborious
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demanding much work or care; tedious
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labyrinth
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maze
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lace
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cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges (as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace
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laceration
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torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin as with broken glass); wound
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lachrymose
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producing tears; tearful
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lackadaisical
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lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
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lackluster
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lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull
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laconic
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brief and to the point; using few words; terse
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lag
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move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag behind the rest; N.
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laggard
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slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler
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lagoon
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shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs
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laity
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laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy
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lament
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grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
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lampoon
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ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution
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lance
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pierce with a lance; cut into; N: spearlike weapon
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lancet
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small surgical tool for making incisions
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languid
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lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless
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languish
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lose animation or strength
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languor
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lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression
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lank
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long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln
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lap
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take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently; Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person
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larceny
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theft; Ex. petit larceny
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larder
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pantry; place where food is kept
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largess
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generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)
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lascivious
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lustful
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lassitude
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languor; weariness; listlessness
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latch
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fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch
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latent
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present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF. potential
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lateral
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of or coming from the side
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latitude
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freedom from narrow limitations
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laud
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praise; N. ADJ. laudable: praiseworthy; ADJ. laudatory: expressing praise
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lavish
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liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance
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lax
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careless; negligent; not paying enough attention; Ex. lax service
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layman
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man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional
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leash
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restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
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leaven
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add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens
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leave-taking
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farewell or departure
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lechery
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gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
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lectern
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reading desk or stand for a public speaker
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leery
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(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious
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leeway
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room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline
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legacy
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gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor
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legato
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(of music) played smoothly
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legend
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explanatory list of symbols on a map
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legerdemain
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sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
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legislature
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legislating branch of government; CF. legislate: make laws
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leniency
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mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe in judgment or punishment
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leonine
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like a lion
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lethal
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deadly
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lethargic
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drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness and inactivity
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levee
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earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise
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levitate
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rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light
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levity
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lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner
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levy
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impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect (a tax); Ex. levy a tax on tobacco
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lewd
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lustful
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lexicographer
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compiler of a dictionary; CF. lexicography: work of compiling a dictionary
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lexicon
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dictionary
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liability
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drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)
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liaison
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contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups; one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection
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libel
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defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character; V. ADJ. libelous
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libertine
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debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou'e; CF. free
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libidinous
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lustful
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libido
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psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire
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libretto
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text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
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license
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official or legal permission; latitude of action or speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or damage; V.
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licentious
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amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
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lien
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legal claim or right on a property
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ligneous
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like wood
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lilliputian
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extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels
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limber
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flexible; supple; pliable; V.
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limbo
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region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo
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limn
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draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
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limp
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walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak
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limpid
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crystal clear
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lineage
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descent; ancestry
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lineaments
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features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line
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linger
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loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going; continue or persist; be slow to disappear; Ex. The smell lingered for days.
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linguistic
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pertaining to language
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lionize
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treat (a person) as a celebrity
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liquidate
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settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate; kill or abolish
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list
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tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
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listless
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lacking in spirit or energy; languid
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litany
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supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words
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lithe
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flexible; supple; CF. limber
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litigation
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lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V. litigate
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litotes
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understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''
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litter
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waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter
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livid
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lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely angry
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loath
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reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go.
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loathe
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detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive; Ex. loathsome smell
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lode
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metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)
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loft
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room or space under the roof; attic
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lofty
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very high
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log
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record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk; V.
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loiter
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hang about/around; stand idly about; linger
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loll
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lounge about
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longevity
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long life; long duration
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lookout
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act of keeping watch; high place commanding a wide view; person who keeps watch
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loom
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appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct, or distorted form); Ex. The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly. N: apparatus for making thread into cloth
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lope
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gallop slowly
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lopsided
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heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
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loquacious
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talkative; N. loquacity
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lot
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object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land
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lottery
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contest in which winners are selected in a drawing of lots
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lounge
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stand, sit, or lie in a lazy, relaxed way
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lout
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clumsy person; ADJ. loutish; CF. from countrysides ?
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low
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moo; make the sound of a cow
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lubricate
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apply a lubricant to; N. lubricant: substance that reduces friction
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lucid
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easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity
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lucrative
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profitable; producing wealth
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lucre
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money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre
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ludicrous
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laughable; ridiculous; trifling
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lugubrious
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mournful; sorrowful
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lull
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moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex. a lull in the rain; V: cause to become less active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false sense of security; CF. lullaby
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lumber
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move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered through the woods; N: timber
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lumen
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unit of light energy (one candle's worth)
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luminary
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celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object that gives light (as a celestial body)
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luminous
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shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light; Ex. luminous paint/road signs
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lunar
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pertaining to the moon
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lunatic
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insane; Ex. lunatic asylum
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lurid
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wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; Ex. lurid details of the murder
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lurk
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stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived
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luscious
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pleasing to taste or smell; delicious
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lush
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(of a plant or grass) growing very well
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lust
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intense sexual desire; intense eagerness; V.
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luster
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shine; gloss (of a polished surface)
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lustrous
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shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair
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luxuriant
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abundant; growing healthily and in large amounts; excessively ornate; rich and splendid; fertile; Ex. luxuriant forests/prose; CF. luxurious, luxuriate
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luxuriate
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take pleasure in great comfort
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macabre
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gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
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mace
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ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval weapon
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macerate
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soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper
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Machiavellian
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crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power
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machinations
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evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate
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maculated
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spotted; stained; CF. immaculate
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madrigal
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pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments
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maelstrom
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violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream
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magisterial
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authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner
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magistrate
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official with power to administer the law
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magnanimity
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generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous
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magnate
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person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate
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magniloquent
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boastful; pompous
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magnitude
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greatness (in size or extent); extent
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maim
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mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life
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makeshift
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temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
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maladroit
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clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling
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malady
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illness
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malaise
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uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)
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malapropism
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comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop
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malapropos
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inappropriate; ADV.
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malcontent
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person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person; ADJ: discontented
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malediction
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curse
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malefactor
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evildoer; criminal
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maleficient
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doing evil; N. maleficience
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malevolent
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wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence
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malfeasance
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wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)
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malicious
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hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite
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malign
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speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame; ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence
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malignant
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tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor
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malingerer
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one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work
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malleable
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(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable
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malodorous
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foul-smelling
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mammal
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vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young
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mammoth
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gigantic; enormous
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manacle
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restrain; handcuff; N.
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mandate
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order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another country; power to given to a government; region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex. mandated territory
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mandatory
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obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
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maneuver(manoeuver)
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strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end
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mange
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skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair
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mangle
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tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex. badly mangled bodies
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mangy
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shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance
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maniacal
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raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm
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manifest
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evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly
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manifestation
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outward demonstration; manifesting; indication of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation of his pronounced musical bent
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manifesto
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public declaration of principles; statement of policy
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manifold
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many in number or kind; numerous; varied
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manipulate
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operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate publicity and men; ADJ. manipulative
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mannered
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affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech
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mannerism
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distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art (according to a set of styles)
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mantle
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loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
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manumit
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emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
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mar
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spoil the appearance of
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maraud
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move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
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margin
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border; room; allowance beyond what is needed; Ex. margin of safety
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marginal
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of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal effect/writing ability
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marital
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pertaining to marriage
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maritime
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bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces
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marked
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noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man
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maroon
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leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
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marred
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damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure
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marrow
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soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood cells
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marshal
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put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official
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marsupial
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one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat
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martial
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warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law
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martinet
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strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet
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martyr
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one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism
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mash
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crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl
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masochist
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person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism
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mason
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one who builds or works with stone or brick; N. masonry: work of a mason; stonework or brickwork
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masquerade
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wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume party or ball at which masks are worn; pretense; disguise
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mass
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Christian religious ceremony; CF. Mass: ceremony of the Eucharist
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masticate
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chew
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mat
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not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
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materialism
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preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)
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maternal
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motherly; N. maternity: motherhood
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matin'ee(matinee)
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dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon
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matriarch
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woman who rules a family or larger social group
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matriculate
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enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix
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matrimony
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state of being married
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matrix
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point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization
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maudlin
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effusively sentimental
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maul
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handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer
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mausoleum
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monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos
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mauve
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pale purple
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maverick
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rebel; nonconformist (in a group)
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mawkish
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mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental
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maxim
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proverb; truth pithily stated
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mayhem
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injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim
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meager
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scanty; inadequate
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mealymouthed
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indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive
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meander
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wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly
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meddlesome
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interfering; V. meddle: interfere
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mediate
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settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire
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