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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
mediocre
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ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad
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meditation
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reflection; thought; V. meditate
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medley
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mixture
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meek
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submissive; patient and long-suffering
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megalomania
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mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance
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melancholy
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gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia
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melee
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fight
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mellifluous
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(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune
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memento
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token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit
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memoir
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memoirs; autobiography; biography
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memorial
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something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to honor the memory of a person or event; ADJ: commemorative
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memorialize
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commemorate
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menace
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threat; V: threaten
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menagerie
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collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo
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mendacious
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lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity
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mendicant
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beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
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menial
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suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)
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mentor
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counselor; teacher
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mercantile
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concerning trade or merchants
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mercenary
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motivated solely by money or gain; N.
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mercurial
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capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood
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meretricious
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flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute
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merger
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combination (of two business corporations); act of merging
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merit
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deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
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mesmerize
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hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer
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metallurgical
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pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores
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metamorphosis
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change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis
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metaphor
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implied comparison; CF. simile
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metaphysical
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pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality
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mete
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measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
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meteoric
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like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor
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meter
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arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual rhythm)
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methodical
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systematic; N. method: systematic method of procedure
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meticulous
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excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous
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metrical
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metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of Homer
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metropolis
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large city
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mettle
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courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome
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miasma
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swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence
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microcosm
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small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society
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migrant
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changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one that migrates
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migratory
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wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another; move periodically from one region to another
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milieu
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social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.
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militant
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combative; bellicose; N.
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militate
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work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier
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militia
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army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers
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millennium
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thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity
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mime
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pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic; pantomime
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mimicry
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imitation
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minatory
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menacing; threatening
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mincing
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affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way, taking little short steps; Ex. The actor minced across the stage; CF. mincemeat; CF. mincer
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mingle
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mix together in close association
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minion
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servile dependent; obsequious follower
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minuscule(miniscule)
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extremely small
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minute
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extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting
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minutiae
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petty or trivial details; CF. minutia
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mirage
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unreal reflection; optical illusion
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mire
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entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire
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mirth
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merriment; laughter
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misadventure
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mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
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misanthrope
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one who hates mankind; misanthropist
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misapprehension
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error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
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miscellaneous
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made up of a variety of parts
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miscellany
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mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items
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mischance
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ill luck
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mischief
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behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome
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misconduct
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immoral behavior; bad management; V.
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misconstrue
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interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge
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miscreant
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wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF. believe
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misdemeanor
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minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing
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miserly
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stingy; mean
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misgivings
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doubts
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mishap
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unfortunate accident
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misnomer
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wrong or improper name; incorrect designation
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misogamy
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hatred of marriage
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misogynist
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hater of woman; CF. misogyny
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missile
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object to be thrown or projected
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missive
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letter; written statement; CF. sent
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mite
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very small object or insect-like creature; small coin
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mitigate
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appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity
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mnemonic
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pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid
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mobile
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movable; not fixed; N. mobility
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mock
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ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision
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mode
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prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life
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modicum
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limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate
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modish
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fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
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modulate
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tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G
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mogul
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powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol, Moghul; CF. Mongolian
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molecule
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the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance
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mollify
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soothe an angry person
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mollycoddle
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pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively
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molt(moult)
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periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)
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molten
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melted; Ex. molten lava
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momentous
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very important; N. moment; CF. momentary
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momentum
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quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force
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monarchy
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government under a single ruler
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monastic
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related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns
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monetary
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pertaining to money
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mongrel
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plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.
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monochromatic
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having only one color
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monochrome
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painting in only one color; ADJ.
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monogram
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design composed of one or more initials of a name; V.
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monograph
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scholarly article
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monolithic
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solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone
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monotheism
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belief in one God
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monotony
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sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone
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monumental
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massive; impressively large; built as a monument
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moodiness
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fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood:state of mind or emotion
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moratorium
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legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses
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morbid
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given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
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mordant
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biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit
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mores
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conventions; moral standards; moral customs
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morgue
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mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation
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moribund
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dying; at the point of death; CF. death
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morose
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ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
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mortar
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vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle
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mortician
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undertaker; CF. death
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mortify
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humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die
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mosaic
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picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.
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mote
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small speck (esp. of dust)
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motif
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theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure
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motility
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ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously
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motley
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multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)
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mottled
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blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors
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motto
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brief statement used to express a principle
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mountebank
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charlatan; boastful pretender
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muddle
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confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion
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muggy
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(of weather) warm and damp
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mulct
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defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy
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multifarious
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varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities
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multiform
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having many forms
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multilingual
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having many languages; fluent in several languages
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multiplicity
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state of being numerous or multiple; large number; Ex. multiplicity of details; ADJ. multiple: of more than one element
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mundane
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worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world
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munificent
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very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience
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mural
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wall painting
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murky
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dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom
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murmur
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low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
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muse
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ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)
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musky
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having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer
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muster
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gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.
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musty
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stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist
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mutablility
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ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant
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mute
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silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V: soften the sound, color, shade of
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muted
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silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic noise
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mutilate
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maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part
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mutinous
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unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer
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mutter
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utter (complaining words) indistinctly in low tones
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myopic
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nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia
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myriad
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very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand
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mystic
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of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
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n decry
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express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
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n dehydrate
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remove water from; dry out
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n ovation
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enthusiastic applause
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nadir
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lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith
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naivet'e(naivety)
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"quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na""ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous"
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narcissist
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conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus
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narrative
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related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration
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nascent
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incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex. nascent ability in music
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natal
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connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF. postnatal
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natation
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swimming
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natty
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neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser
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nausea
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feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness
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nauseate
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cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea
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nauseous
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causing nausea; feeling nausea
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nautical
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pertaining to ships or navigation
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navigable
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(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered
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nebula
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diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy
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nebulous
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vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal
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necromancy
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black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis
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nectar
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drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
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nefarious
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very wicked
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negate
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cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation
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negligence
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neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care
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negligible
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so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded
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nemesis
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someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis
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neologism
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new or newly coined word or phrase
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neophyte
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recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant
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nepotism
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favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
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nether
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lower; Ex. nether garments/regions
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nettle
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irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
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nexus
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connection
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nib
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beak(bill); pen point
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nicety
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precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties
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niggardly
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meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person
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niggle
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spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling
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nimble
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quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
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nip
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snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
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nirvana
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in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude
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nocturnal
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done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne
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noisome
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foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
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nomadic
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wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place
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nomenclature
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terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things
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nominal
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in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint
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nonchalance
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indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts
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noncommittal
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neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided
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nondescript
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undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd
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nonentity
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person of no importance; nonexistence
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nonplus
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put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
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nonsense
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speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
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noose
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loop formed in a rope
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nostalgia
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homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
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nostrum
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questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
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notable
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conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted
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notch
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V-shaped cut in a surface; V.
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notoriety
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disrepute; ill fame
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nourish
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provide with food necessary for life and growth
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nourishment
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something that nourishes; food
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nova
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star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness
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novelty
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something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original
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novice
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beginner
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noxious
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harmful; CF. obnoxious
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nuance
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shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction
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nubile
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marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
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nugatory
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worthless; futile
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nullify
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make invalid; make null; invalidate
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numismatist
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person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals
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nuptial
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related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony
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nuptial
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of marriage or the wedding ceremony; N; nuptials; wedding ceremony
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nurse
|
suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone
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nurture
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nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing
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nutrient
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nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment
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nutrition
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process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition
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nutritious
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providing nourishment
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oaf
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stupid awkward person; CF. elf
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oath
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solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''
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oatmeal
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crushed oats used for making porridge
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obdurate
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stubborn; refusing to change one's belief
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obeisance
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bow (to show respect and obedience)
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obelisk
|
tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid
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obese
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excessively fat; N. obesity
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obfuscate
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confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand
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obituary
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death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.
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objective
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not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim
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obligatory
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binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate
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oblique
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indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference
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obliterate
|
destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village
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oblivion
|
obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness
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oblivious
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inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful(having the habit of forgetting)
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obloquy
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slander; disgrace; infamy
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obnoxious
|
offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell
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obscure
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dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning
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obsequious
|
slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic
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obsequy
|
funeral ceremony
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obsessive
|
related to thinking about something constantly; of an obsession; preoccupying; N. obsession: compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea; compulsive idea; V. obsess: preoccupy the mind of excessively
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obsidian
|
black volcanic rock
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obsolete
|
outmoded; no longer used
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obstetrician
|
physician specializing in delivery(assisting in giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF. midwife
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obstinate
|
stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy
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obstreperous
|
boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable
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obtrude
|
push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; impose (oneself or one's ideas) on others; butt in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B; ADJ. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; CF. unobtrusive
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