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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
shudder
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shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
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shuffle
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mix together; jumble; move (something) from one place to another; slide (the feet) along the ground while walking; Ex. shuffle papers from one pile to another; N.
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shun
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keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by her neighbors.
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shunt
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move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.
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shyster
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lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner
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sibling
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brother or sister
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sibylline
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prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
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sidereal
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relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
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sidetrack
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switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from a main issue; N. CF. siding: short section of railroad track connected by switches with a main track
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sift
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put through a sieve to separate fine from coarse particles; sort or examine carefully
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significant
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expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant
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silt
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sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
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simian
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monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
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simile
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comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as
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simper
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smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
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simplistic
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oversimplified
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simulate
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feign; imitate
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sinecure
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well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
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sinewy
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(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
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singular
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being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
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sinister
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evil; ominous
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sinuous
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twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
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siren
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apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
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skeptic
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sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
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skiff
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small light sailboat or rowboat
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skim
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read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
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skimp
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provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly
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skinflint
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miser; stingy person
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skirmish
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minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
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skittish
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inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
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skulduggery(skullduggery)
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dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
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skulk
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move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.
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slack
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moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V.
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slacken
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slow up; loosen; make or become slack
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slag
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glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
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slake
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satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
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slander
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defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ. slanderous
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slap
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hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
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slapdash
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hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)
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slaughter
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killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher (animals) for food; kill in large numbers
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slavish
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of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original
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sleazy
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shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
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sledge
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large sled drawn by work animals
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sleek
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smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
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sleeper
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one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable
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sleigh
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large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
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sleight
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dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks
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slew
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large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left
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slick
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make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib
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slight
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insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance
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slink
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move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)
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slipshod
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slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
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slither
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slip or slide
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sloth
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slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
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slough
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(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed
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slovenly
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untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless
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sluggard
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lazy person
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sluggish
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lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell
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sluice
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artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
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slur
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pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble
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slur
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slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.
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sly
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clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's intentions
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smart
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intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex. smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N: smarting pain
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smattering
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slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German
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smear
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spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing
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smelt
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melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition
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smirk
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conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone else's misfortune); V.
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smolder
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smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger
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smother
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kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in little stickers
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smudge
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dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
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smug
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self-satisfied; complacent
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sneak
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move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky
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snicker
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half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
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snip
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short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors
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snivel
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complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.
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snub
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ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she snubbed me; N.
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snuffle
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sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)
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soar
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rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.
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sober
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serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
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sobriety
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moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
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sodden
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thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
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sojourn
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temporary stay; V: stay for a time
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solace
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comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble
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solder
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repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts
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solecism
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nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette
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solemnity
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seriousness; gravity
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solicit
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entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer
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solicitor
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lawyer in the lower court of law
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solicitous
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anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
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soliloquy
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talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)
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solitude
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state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary: existing or living alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded; single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of proof
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solstice
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point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
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soluble
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able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved
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solvent
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substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of dissolving another substance
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solvent
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able to pay all depths; N. solvency
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somatic
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pertaining to the body; bodily; physical
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somber
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dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow
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somnambulist
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sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
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somnolent
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half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
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sonic
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of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic
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sonnet
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14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
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sonorous
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resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
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soothsayer
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one who foretells the future
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sophist
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teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument
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sophisticated
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worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
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sophistry
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seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism
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sophomoric
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immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
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soporific
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sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
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sordid
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filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
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sound
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in good condition; showing good judgment or good sense; thorough; complete; Ex. sound mind/investment/training
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sour
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having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.
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sovereign
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ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent
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sovereignty
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complete independence and self-government (of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern
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sow
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plant or scatter seed
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spangle
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small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
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spare
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give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time
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sparse
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not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
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spartan
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without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life
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spasmodic
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fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
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spat
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squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
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spate
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sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
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spatial
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relating to space
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spatula
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broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
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spawn
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lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals
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specious
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seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
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speck
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small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye
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spectral
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ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
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spectrum
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colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts
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speechless
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unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
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spendthrift
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someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth
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sphinx-like
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enigmatic; mysterious
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spin
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rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton, wool, etc.); N.
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splice
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join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.
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spoilsport
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one who spoils the pleasure of others
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spontaneity
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lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening without being planned
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spoof
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parody
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spoonerism
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accidental transposition of sounds in successive words; Ex. ``Let me sew you to your sheet'' for ``Let me show you to your seat''; CF. William Spooner
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sporadic
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occurring irregularly; intermittent
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sportive
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playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike
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sprightly
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lively
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sprout
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begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new growth on a plant; shoot
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spruce
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neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.
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spry
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(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
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spurious
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false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments
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spurn
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reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
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squabble
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minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
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squalor
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condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story
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squander
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waste; spend foolishly
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squash
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crush; quash; suppress
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squat
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short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
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squeamish
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easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.
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squelch
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produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash; CF. ??? ??? ?? ?
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staccato
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played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
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stagnant
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(of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output
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staid
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serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
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stalemate
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deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
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stalwart
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physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower
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stamina
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power of endurance; strength; staying power
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stammer
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speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
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stampede
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sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals or people); V: participate in or cause stampede; Ex. stampede before the price rises
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stanch
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stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
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standstill
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condition of no movement or activity; stop
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stanza
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division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
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start
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move suddenly or involuntarily; Ex. start at the sight of a snake
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stately
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formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
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static
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having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state
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statute
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law enacted by the legislature
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statutory
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created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
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steadfast
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steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
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stealth
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action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
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steep
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soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
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stellar
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pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance
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stem
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stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
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stem_from
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arise from; originate from
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stench
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strong foul odor; reek; stink
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stentorian
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(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad
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sterile
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incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V. sterilize
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stickler
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perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
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stifle
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suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
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stigma
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token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
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stilted
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bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
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stink
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stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
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stint
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supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
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stint
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set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings
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stipend
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pay for services
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stipple
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paint or draw with dots or short strokes
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stipulate
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state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
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stock
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standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique
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stockade
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wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
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stodgy
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dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
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stoic
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stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
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stoke
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stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
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stolid
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dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
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stoop
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bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying
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stout
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rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
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straggle
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stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out in a scattered group; Ex. straggling marathon racer; Ex. straggling branch
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strangle
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kill by choking or suffocating; suppress
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stratagem
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deceptive scheme; clever trick
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stratified
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divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
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stratum
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layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata
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strew
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spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals
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striated
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marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
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stricture
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severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
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strident
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loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
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stringent
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(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
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strut
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pompous walk; V: walk in a self-important manner
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strut
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supporting bar;
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studied
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carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
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studious
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given to diligent study
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stultify
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make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression
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stumble
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trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act falteringly; N.
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stump
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base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle
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stun
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make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
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stupefy
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stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
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stupor
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state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
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sturdy
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strong and firm (in the body)
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stygian
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unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
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stymie
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thwart; present an obstacle; stump
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suavity
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urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
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subaltern
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subordinate
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subdue
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less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one's anger
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subjective
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influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence
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subjugate
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conquer; bring under control
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sublimate
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refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
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sublime
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causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
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subliminal
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below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
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submerge
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place under water; dip; go under water; cover completely (as with water); Ex. submerged in work
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submissive
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willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
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subordinate
|
occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
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suborn
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persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
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subpoena
|
writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena
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subsequent
|
following in time or order; later
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subservient
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behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience
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subside
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sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
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subsidiary
|
serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
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subsidy
|
direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy
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subsistence
|
existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
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substantial
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of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
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substantiate
|
support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
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substantive
|
substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
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subsume
|
include (as a member of a group); encompass
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subterfuge
|
stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
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subtlety
|
perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning
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subversive
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tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
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succor
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assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
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succulent
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juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus
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succumb
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yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness
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suckle
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give or take milk at the breast or udder
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suffocate
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die or kill from lack of air; suppress
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suffragist
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advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage
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