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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
apparent
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evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
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apparition
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ghost; phantom
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appease
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pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
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appellation
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name; title
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append
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attach
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application
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diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
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apposite
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appropriate; fitting
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appraise
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estimate value of; N. appraisal
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appreciate
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be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
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apprehend
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arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
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apprehensive
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fearful; discerning
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apprise
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inform
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approbation
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approval
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appropriate
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acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
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appurtenances
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subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
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apropos
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with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
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aptitude
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fitness; talent
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aquiline
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curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
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arable
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fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
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arbiter
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person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influentialjudgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
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arbitrary
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unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
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arbitrate
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act as judge (at the request of both sides)
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arboreal
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of or living in trees
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arboretum
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place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
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arcade
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a covered passageway usually lined with shops
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arcane
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esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
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arch-
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chief; first; Ex. archbishop
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archaeology
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study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
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archaic
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antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
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archetype
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prototype; primitive pattern
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archipelago
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group of closely located islands
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archives
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public records; place where public records are kept
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ardor
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heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
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arduous
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hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
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argot
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slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
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aria
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operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
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arid
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(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
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aristocracy
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hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
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armada
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fleet of warships
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aromatic
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fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
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arraign
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charge in court; indict
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array
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marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
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arrears
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being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
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arrhythmic
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lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
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arrogance
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pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
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arroyo
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gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
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arsenal
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storage place for military equipment
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artery
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blood-vessel; CF. vein
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artful
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exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
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articulate
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effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
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artifacts
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object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
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artifice
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deception; trickery
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artisan
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a manually skilled worker
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artless
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without guile; open and honest
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ascendancy
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controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
Superiority or decisive advantage; domination |
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ascertain
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find out for certain; make certain
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ascetic
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practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
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ascribe
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refer; attribute; assign
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aseptic
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Free of pathogenic microorganisms: aseptic surgical instruments.
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ashen
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ash-colored; deadly pale
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asinine
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stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
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askance
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with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
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askew
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crookedly; slanted; at an angle
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asperity
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sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
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aspersion
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slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
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aspirant
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seeker after position or status
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aspire
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seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
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assail
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assault
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assay
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analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
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assent
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agree; accept; N. assessment
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assert
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state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
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assiduous
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diligent
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assimilate
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absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
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assuage
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mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
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assumption
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something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of;
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asteroid
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small planet
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astigmatism
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eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
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astral
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relating to the stars
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astringent
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binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
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astronomical
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enormously large or extensive
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astute
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wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
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asunder
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into parts; apart; V. sunder
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asylum
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place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
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asymmetric
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not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
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atavism
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resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
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atheistic
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denying the existence of God; N. atheism
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atone
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make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
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atrocity
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brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
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atrophy
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wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
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attentive
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alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
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attenuate
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make thin; weaken
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attest
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testify; bear witness
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attire
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clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
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attribute
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essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
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attrition
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rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
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atypical
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not normal; not typical
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audacious
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daring; bold; N. audacity
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audit
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examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
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augment
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increase; add to
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augury
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omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
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august
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impressive; majestic
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aureole
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sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
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auroral
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pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
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auspicious
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favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
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austere
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forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
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authenticate
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prove genuine
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authoritarian
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subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
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authoritative
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having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
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autocratic
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having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
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automaton
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mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
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autonomous
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self-governing; N. autonomy
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autopsy
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examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
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auxiliary
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offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
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avalanche
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great mass of falling snow and ice
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avantgarde
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group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
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avarice
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greediness for wealth
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avenge
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take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.
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aver
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state confidently; declare as true
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averse
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reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
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aversion
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firm dislike
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avert
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prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
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aviary
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enclosure for birds; large cage
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avid
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greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
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avocation
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secondary or minor occupation
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avow
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declare openly; N. avowal
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avuncular
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of or like an uncle
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awe
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solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
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awful
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terrible; very bad
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awl
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pointed tool used for piercing
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awry
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distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
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axiom
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self-evident truth requiring no proof
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azure
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sky blue
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babble
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chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
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bacchanal
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noisy party with a lot of drinking
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Bacchanalia
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the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
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bacchanalian
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drunken
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backslide
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revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
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badger
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pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal
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badinage
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teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
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baffle
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frustrate; perplex
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bait
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harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
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baleful
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evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
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balk
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stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate
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ballast
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heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
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balm
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something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
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balmy
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soft and mild (of air); fragrant
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banal
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hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich'ed
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bandy
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discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with
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bane
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posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
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bank
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heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning
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bantering
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joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
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bar
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railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister
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barb
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sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark
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bard
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poet
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barefaced
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shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
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bargain
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agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power
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baroque
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highly ornate
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barrage
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barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
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barrister
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counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar
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barterer
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trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money
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base
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contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron
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bask
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luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
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bastard
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illegitimate child
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bastion
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stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
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bate
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let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate
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battalion
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army unit made up of four or more companies
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bauble
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trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
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bawdy
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indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
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bearing
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deportment; connection
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beatific
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Showing or producing exalted joy or blessedness: a beatific smile.
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beatitude
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blessedness; state of great happiness
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bedizen
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dress with vulgar finery
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bedraggle
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wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
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beeline
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direct quick route
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befuddle
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confuse thoroughly
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beget
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father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
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begrudge
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envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.
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beguile
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deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
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behemoth
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huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
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beholden
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obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
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behoove(behove)
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be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.
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belabor
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harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically
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belated
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delayed
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beleaguer
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besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
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belie
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contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.
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belittle
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disparage; depreciate
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bellicose
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warlike
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belligerent
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quarrelsome
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bemoan
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lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of
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bemused
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confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
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benediction
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blessing
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benefactor
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gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
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beneficent
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kindly; doing good
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beneficial
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helpful; useful; advantageous
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beneficiary
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person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
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benefit
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advantage; anything that brings help, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits
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benevolent
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generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
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benign
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kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor
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benison
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blessing
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bent
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determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination
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bequeath
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leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest
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berate
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scold strongly
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bereaved
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deprived of (someone beloved through death)
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bereavement
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state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
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bereft
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deprived of (something valuable); lacking
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berserk
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mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
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beseech
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beg; plead with
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beset
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harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
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besiege
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surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually
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besmirch
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soil; defile; make dirty
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bestial
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beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
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bestow
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confer
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betoken
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signify; indicate; be a sign of
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betray
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be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
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betroth
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become engaged to marry
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bevy
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large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
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beware
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be cautious (of)
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bewitch
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cast a spell over; captivate completely
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bicameral
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two-chambered as a legislative body
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bicker
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quarrel
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bid
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command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom
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biennial
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every two years
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bifurcated
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divided into two branches; forked
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bigot
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one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)
One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ |
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bigotry
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stubborn intolerance
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bilious
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suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated
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bilk
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swindle; cheat
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billow
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large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows
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billowing
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swelling out in waves; surging
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bivouac
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temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
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bizarre
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fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
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blackball
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vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote
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blanch
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bleach; whiten; make white or pale
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bland
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soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
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blandishment
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flattery
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blare
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loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light
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blase
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bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored
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blasphemy
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irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
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blatant
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extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
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bleak
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cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing
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blemish
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mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished
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blight
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plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
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blighted
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suffering from a disease; destroyed
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bliss
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complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
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blithe(blithesome)
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gay; joyous
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bloated
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(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air
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blotch
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spot; blot; CF. blot+botch
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blowhard
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talkative boaster; braggart
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bludgeon
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club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
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blue
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gloomy; depressed
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