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365 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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abridge
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v. condense or shorten
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Because the publishers felt the public wanted a shorter version of War and Peace, they proceeded to abridge the novel.
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abstemious
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adj. sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
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Concerned whether her vegetarian son's abstmeious diet provided him with sufficient protein, the worried mother pressed food on him.
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abstract
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adj. theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
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To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he had never missed a meal.
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abstruse
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adj. obscure; profound; difficult to understand
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Baffled by the abstruse philosophical texts assigned in class, Dave asked Lexy to explain Kant's Critique of Pure Reason.
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accessible
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adj. easy to approach; obtainable
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We asked our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot.
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acclaim
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v. applaud; announce with great approval
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The NBC sportscasters acclaimed every American victory in the Olympics and decried every American defeat. also n.
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acknowledge
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v. recognize; admit
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Although Iris acknowledged that teh Beatles' tunes sounded pretty dated nowadays, she still preferred them to the hip-hop songs her brothers played.
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adulation
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n. flattery; admiration
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The rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes-men. adulate, v.
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adversary
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n. opponent
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The young wrestler struggled to defeat his adversary.
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adversity
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n. poverty; misfortune
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We must learn to meet adversity gracefully.
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advocate
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v. urge; plead for
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The abolitionists advocated freedom for the slaves. also n.
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aesthetic
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adj. artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful
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The beauty of Tiffany's stained glass appealed to Esther's aesthetic sense. aesthete, n.
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affable
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adj. easily approachable; warmly friendly
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Accustomed to cold, aloof supervisors, Nicholas was amazed at how affable his new employer was.
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affirmation
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n. positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath
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Despite Tom's affirmations of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie.
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alleviate
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v. relieve
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This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs.
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aloof
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adj. apart; reserved
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Shy by nature, she remained aloof while all the rest conversed.
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altruistic
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adj. unselfishly generous; concerned for others
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In providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships for hundreds of economically disadvantaged youths, Eugene Lang performed a truly altruistic deed. altruism, n.
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ambiguous
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adj. unclear or doubtful in meaning
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His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take. ambiguity, n.
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ambivalence
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n. the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
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Torn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by the ambivalence of her feelings. ambivalent, adj.
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analogous
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adj. comparable
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She called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same.
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anarchist
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n. person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
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Denying she was an anarchist, Katya maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it entirely. anarchy, n.
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anecdote
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n. short account of an amusing or interesting event
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Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Reagan told anecdotes about poor people who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds.
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animosity
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n. active enmity
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He incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power.
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antagonism
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n. hostility; active resistance
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Barry showed his antagonism toward his new stepmother by ignoring her whenever she tried talking to him. antagonistic, adj.
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antidote
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n. medicine to counteract a poison or disease
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When Marge's child accidentally swallowed some cleaning fluid, the local poison control hotline instructed Marge how to administer the antidote.
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antiquated
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adj. old-fashioned; obsolete
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Philip had grown so accustomed to editing his papers on word processors that he thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to use.
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apathy
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n. lack of caring; indifference
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A firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote. apathetic, adj.
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appease
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v. pacify or soothe; relieve
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Tom and Jody tried to appease the crying baby by offering him one toy after another, but he would not calm down until they appeased his hunger by giving him a bottle.
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apprehension
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n. fear
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His nervous glances at the passersby on the deserted street revealed his apprehension.
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arbitrary
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adj. capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical
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Tom's arbitrary dismissal angered him; his boss had no reason to fire him. He threw an arbitrary assortment of clothes into his suitcase and headed off, not caring where he went.
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archaic
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adj. antiquated
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"Methinks," "thee," and "thou" are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary.
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arrogance
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n. pride; haughtiness
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Convinced that Emma thought she was better than anyone else in the class, Ed rebuked her for her arrogance.
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articulate
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adj. effective; distinct
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Her articulate presentation of the advertising campaign impressed her employers.
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artifact
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n. object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
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Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor but came to no conclusion about the culture they represented.
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artisan
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n. manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed to artist
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A noted artisan, Arturo was known for the fine craftsmanship of his inlaid cabinets.
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ascendancy
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n. controlling influence; domination
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Leaders of religious cults maintain ascendancy over their followers by methods that can verge on brainwashing.
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ascetic
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adj. practicing self-denial; austere
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The wealthy, self-indulgent young man felt oddly drawn to the strict, ascetic life led by members of some monastic orders.
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aspire
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v. seek to attain; long for
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Because he aspired to a career in professional sports, Philip enrolled in a graduate program in sports management. aspiration, n.
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astute
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adj. wise; shrewd; keen
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John Jacob Astor made astute investments in land, shrewdly purchasing valuable plots throughout New York City.
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attribute
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v. ascribe; explain
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I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
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augment
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v. increase; add to
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Armies augment their forces by calling up reinforcements; teachers augment their salaries by taking odd jobs.
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austere
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adj. forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unorgnamented
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The headmaster's austere demeanor tended to scare off the more timid students, who never visited his study willingly. The room reflected the man, austere and bare, like a monk's cell, with no touches of luxury to moderate its austerity.
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authoritarian
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adj. subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will
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The leaders of the authoritarian regime ordered the suppression of the democratic protest movement. After years of submitting to the will of her authoritarian father, Elizabeth Barrett ran away from home with the poet Robert Browning.
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autonomous
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adj. self-governing
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Although the University of California at Berkeley is just one part of the state university system, in many ways Cal Berkeley is autonomous, for it runs several programs that are not subject to outside control. autonomy, n.
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aversion
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n. firm dislike
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Bert had an aversion to yuppies; Alex had an aversion to punks. Their mutual aversion was so great taht they refused to speak to one another.
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belie
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v. contradict; give a false impression
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His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his inner sensitivity.
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benevolent
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adj. generous; charitable
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Mr. Fezziwig was a benevolent employer, who wished to make Christmas merrier for young Scrooge and his other employees.
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bolster
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v. support; reinforce
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The debaters amassed file boxes full of evidence to bolster their arguments.
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braggart
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n. boaster
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Modest by nature, she was no braggart, preferring to let her accomplishments speak for themselves.
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brevity
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n. conciseness
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Brevity is essential when you send a telegram or cablegram; you are charged for every word.
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cajole
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v. coax; wheedle
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Diane tried to cajole her father into letting her drive the family car. cajolery, n.
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calculated
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adj. deliberately planned; likely
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Lexy's choice of clothes to wear to the debate tournament was carefully calculated. Her conventional suit was one calculated to appeal to the conservative judges.
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candor
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n. frankness; open honesty
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Jack can carry candor too far; when he told Jill his honest opinion of her, she nearly slapped his face. candid, adj.
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capricious
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adj. unpredictable; fickle
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The storm was capricious: it changed course constantly. Jill ws capricious, too: she changed boyfriends almost as often as she changed clothes.
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censorious
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adj. critical
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Consorious people delight in casting blame.
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censure
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v. blame; criticize
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The senator was censured for behavior inappropriate to a member of Congress. also n.
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coercion
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n. use of force to get someone to obey
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The inquisitors used both physical and psychological coercion to force Joan of Arc to deny that her visions were sent by God. coerce, v.
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commemorate
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v. honor the memory of
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The statue of the Minute Man commemorates the valiant soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War.
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compile
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v. assemble; gather; accumulate
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We planned to compile a list of the words most frequently used on SAT examinations.
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complacency
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n. self-satisfaction; smugness
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Full of complacency about his latest victories, he looked smugly at the row of trophies on his mantelpiece. complacement, adj.
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compliance
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n. readiness to yield; conformity in fulfilling requirements
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Bullheaded Bill was not noted for easy compliance with the demands of others. As an architect, however, bill recognized that his design for the new school had to be in compliance wiht the local building code.
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composure
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n. mental calmness
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Even the latest work crisis failed to shake her composure.
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comprehensive
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adj. thorough; inclusive
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This book provides a comprehensive review of verbal and math skills for the SAT.
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concede
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v. admit; yield
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Despite all the evidence Monica had assembled, Mark refused to concede that she was right.
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conciliatory
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adj. reconciling; soothing
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She was still angry despite his concilatory words. conciliate, v.
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concise
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adj. brief and compact
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When you define a new word, be concise: the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember.
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concur
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v. agree
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Did you concur with the decision of the court or did your find it unfair?
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condone
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v. overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
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Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold.
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conflagration
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n. great fire
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In the conflagration that followed the 1906 earthquake, much of San Francisco was destroyed.
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confound
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v. confuse; puzzle
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No mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes for long.
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consensus
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n. general agreement
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Every time the garden club members had nearly reached a consensus about what to plant, Mistress Mary, quite contrary, disagreed.
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constraint
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n. compulsion; repression of feelings
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There was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one dared to criticize the speaker. constrain, v.
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contend
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v. struggle; compete; assert earnestly
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Sociologist Harry Edwards contends that young black athletes are exploited by some college recruiters.
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contentious
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adj. quarrelsome
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Disagreeing violently with the referees' ruling, the coach became so contentious that they threw him out of the game.
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contract
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v. compress or shrink; make a pledge; catch a disease
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Warm metal expands; cold metal contracts.
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conviction
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n. judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief
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Even her conviction for murder did not shake Peter's conviction that Harriet was innocent of the crime.
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cordial
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adj. gracious; heartfelt
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Our hosts greeted us at the airport with a cordial welcome and a hearty hug.
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corroborate
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v. confirm; support
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Though Huck was quite willing to corroborate Tom's story, Aunt Polly knew better than to believe either of them.
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credulity
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n. belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete
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Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors to swindle them our of their savings. credulous, adj.
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criterion
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n. standard used in judging
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What criterion did you use when you selected this essay as the prizewinner? criteria, pl.
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cryptic
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adj. mysterious; hidden; secret
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Thoroughly baffled by Holmes's cryptic remarks, Watson wondered whether Holmes was intentionally concealing his thoughts about the crime.
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cursory
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adj. casual; hastily done
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Because a cursory examination of the ruins indicates the possibility of arson, we believe the insurance agency should undertake a more extensive investigation of the fire's cause.
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curtail
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v. shorten; reduce
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When Herb asked Diane for a date, she said she was really sorry she couldn't go out with him, but her dad had ordered her to curtail her social life.
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decorum
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n. propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners
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Even the best-mannered students have trouble behaving with decorum on the last day of school. decorous, adj.
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deference
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n. courteous regard for another's wish
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In deference to the minister's request, please do not take photographs during the wedding service.
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degradation
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n. humiliation; debasement; degeneration
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Some secretaries object to fetching the boss a cup of coffee because they resent the degradation fo being made to do such lowly tasks. degrade, v.
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delineate
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v. portray; depict; sketch
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Using only a few descriptive phrases, Austen delineates the character of Mr. collins so well that we can predict his every move. delineation, n.
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denounce
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v. condemn; criticize
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The reform candidate denounced the corrupt city officers for having betrayed the public's trust. denunciation, n.
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deplore
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v. regret; disapprove of
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Although I deplore the vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express yourself freely.
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depravity
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n. extreme corruption; wickedness
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the depravity of Caligula's behavior came to sicken even those who had willingly participated in his earlier, comparatively innocent orgies.
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deprecate
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v. express disapproval of; protest against; belittle
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A firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy, Miss Post deprecated the modern tendency to address new acquaintances by their first names. deprecatory, adj.
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deride
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v. ridicule; make fun of
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The critics derided his pretentious dialogue and refused to consider his play seriously. derision, n.
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derivative
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adj. unoriginal derived from another source
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Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature, the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice.
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despondent
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adj. depressed; gloomy
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To the dismay of his parents, William became seriously despondent after he broke up with Jan; they despaired of finding a cure for his gloom. despondency, n.
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detached
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adj. emotionally removed; calm and objetive; physically unconnected
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A psychoanalyst must maintain a detached point of view and stay uninvolved with his or her patients' personal lives. To a child growing up in an apartment or a row house, to live in a detached house was an unattainable dream.
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deterrent
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n. something that discourages; hindrance
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Does the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers? deter, v.
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detrimental
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adj. harmful; damaging
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The candidate's acceptance of major financial contributions from a well-known racist ultimately proved detrimental to his campaign, for he lost the backing of many of his early grassroots supporters. detriment, n.
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devious
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adj. roundabout; erratic; not straightforward
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The Joker's plan was so devious that it was only with great difficulty we could follow its shifts and dodges.
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devise
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v. think up; invent; plan
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How clever he must be to have devised such a devious plan! What ingenious inventions might he have devised if he had turned his mind to science and not to crime.
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diffuse
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adj. wordy; rambling; spread out (like a gas)
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If you pay authors by the word, you tempt them to produce diffuse manuscripts rather than brief ones. diffusion, n.
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digression
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n. wandering away from the subject
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Nobody minded when Professor Renoir's lectures wandered away from their official theme; his digressions were always more fascinating than the topic of the day. digress, v.
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diligence
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n. steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
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Her employers were greatly impressed with her diligence and offered her a partnership in the firm. diligent, adj.
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diminution
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n. lessening; reduction in size
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Old Jack was as sharp at eighty as he had been at fifty; increasing age led to no diminution of his mental acuity.
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discerning
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adj. mentally quick and observant; having insight
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Though no genius, the star was sufficiently discerning to tell her true friends from the countless phonies who flattered her.
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disclose
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v. reveal
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Although competitors offered him bribes, he refused to disclose any information about his company's forthcoming product. disclosure, n.
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discordant
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adj. not harmonious; conflicting
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Nothing is quite so discordant as the sound of a junior high school orchestra tuning up.
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discount
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v. disregard; dismiss
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Be prepared to discount what he has to say about his ex-wife.
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discrepancy
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n. lack of consistency; difference
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The police noticed some discrepancies in his description of the crime and did not believe him.
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discriminating
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adj. able to see differences; prejudiced
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A superb interpreter of Picasso, she was sufficiently discriminating to judge the most complex works of modern art. (secondary meaning) discrimination, n.
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disdain
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v. view with scorn or contempt
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In the film Funny Face, the bookish heroine disdained fashion models for their lack of intellectual interests. also n.
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disinclination
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n. unwillingness
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Some mornings I feel a great disinclination to get out of bed.
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dismiss
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v. put away from consideration; reject
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Believing in John's love for her, she dismissed the notion that he might be unfaithful. (secondary meaning)
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disparage
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v. belittle
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A doting mother, Emma was more likely to praise her son's crude attempts at art than to disparage them.
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disparity
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n. difference; condition of inequality
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Their disparity in rank made no difference at all to the prince and Cinderella.
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disperse
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v. scatter
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The police fired tear gas into the crowd to disperse the protesters. dispersion, n.
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disputatious
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adj. argumentative; fond of arguing
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Convinced he knew more than his lawyers, Alan was a disputatious client, ready to argue about the best way to conduct the case. disputant, n.
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disseminate
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v. distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
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By their use of the Internet, propagandists have been able to disseminate their pet docrines to new audiences around the globe.
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dissent
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v. disagree
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in the recent Supreme Court decision, Justice O'connor dissented from the majority opinion. also n.
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divergent
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adj. differing, deviating
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Since graduating from medical school, the two doctors have taken divergent paths, one going on to become a nationally prominent surgeon, the other dedicating himself to a small family practice in his home town. divergence, n.
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doctrine
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n. teachings, in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc) taught
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He was so committed to the doctrines of his faith that he was unable to evaluate them impartially.
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document
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v. provide written evidence
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She kept all the receipts from her business trip in order to document her expenses for the firm. also n.
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dogmatic
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adj. opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal
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We tried to discourage Doug from being so dogmatic, but never could convince him that his opinions might be wrong.
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dubious
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adj. questionable; filled with doubt
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Many critics of the SAT contend the test is of dubious worth. Jay claimed he could get a perfect 2400 on the new SAT, but Ellen was dubious; she knew he hadn't cracked a book in three years.
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duplicity
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n. double-dealing; hypocrisy
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When Tanya learned that Mark had been two-timing her, she was furious at his duplicity.
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eclectic
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adj. composed of elements drawn from disparate sources
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His style of interior decoration was eclectic: bits and pieces of frunishings from widely divergent periods, strikingly juxtaposed to create a unique decor. eclecticism, n.
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egotistical
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adj. excessively self-centered; self-important; conceited
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Typical egotistical remark: "But enough of this chit-chat about you and your little problems. Let's talk about what's really important: Me!"
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elated
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adj. overjoyed; in high spirits
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Grinning from ear to ear, Bonnie Blair was clearly elated by her fifth Olympic gold medal. elation, n.
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eloquence
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n. expressiveness; persuasive speech
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The crowds were stirred by Martin Luther King's eloquence. eloquent, adj.
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elusive
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adj. evasive; baffling; hard to grasp
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Trying to pin down exactly when the contractors would be finished remodeling the house, Nancy was frustrated by their elusive replies. elude, v.
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embellish
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v. adorn; ornament
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The costume designer embellished the leading lady's ball gown with yards and yards of ribbon and lace.
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emulate
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v. irritate; rival
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In a brief essay, describe a person you admire, someone whose virtues you would like to emulate.
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endorse
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v. approve; support
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Everyone waited to see which one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor would endorse. (secondary meaning) endorsement, n.
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enhance
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v. increase; improve
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You can enhance your chances of being admitted to the college of your choice by learning to write well; an excellent essay can enhance any application.
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enigma
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n. puzzle; mystery
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"What do women want?" asked Dr. Sigmund Freud. Their behavior was an enigma to him.
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enmity
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n. ill will; hatred
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At Camp David, President Carter labored to bring an end to the enmity that prevented the peaceful coexistence of Egypt and Israel.
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ephemeral
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adj. short-lived; fleeting
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The mayfly is an ephemeral creature: its adult life lasts little more than a day.
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equivocal
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adj. ambiguous; intentionally misleading
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Rejecting the candidate's equivoal comments on tax reform, the reporters pressed him to state clearly where he stood on the issue. equivocate, v.
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erroneous
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adj. mistaken; wrong
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I thought my answer was correct, but it was erroneous.
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erudite
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adj. learned; scholarly
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Unlike much scholarly writing, Huizinga's prose was entertaining as well as erudite, lively as well as learned.
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esoteric
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adj. hard to understand; known only to the chosen few
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The New Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and events: the implication is, if you are in the in-crowd, you'll get the reference; if you come from Cleveland, you won't.
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eulogy
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n. expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death
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Instead of delivering a spoken eulogy at Genny's memorial service, Jeff sang a song he had written in her honor.
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euphemism
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n. mild expression in place of an unpleasant one
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The expression "he passed away" is a euphemism for "he died."
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exacerbate
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v. worsen; embitter
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The latest bombing exacerbated England's already existing bitterness against the IRA, causing the prime minister to break off the peace talks abruptly.
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exalt
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v. raise in rank or dignity; praise
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The actor Alec Guinness was exalted tothe rank of knighthood by the queen.
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execute
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v. put into effect; carry out
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The choreographer wanted to see how well she could execut a pirouette. (secondary meaning) execution, n.
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exemplary
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adj. serving as a model; outstanding
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At commencement the dean praised Ellen for her exemplary behavior as class president.
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exemplify
|
v. serve as an example of; embody
|
For a generation of balletgoers, Rudolf Nureyev exemplified the ideal of masculine grace.
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exhaustive
|
adj. thorough; comprehensive
|
We have made an exhaustive study of all published SAT tests and are happy to share our research with you.
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|
exhilarating
|
adj. invigorating and refreshing; cheering
|
Though some of the hikers found tramping through the snow tiring, Jeffrey found the walk on the cold, crisp day exhilarating.
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|
exonerate
|
v. acquit; exulpate
|
The defense team feverishly sought fresh evidence that might exonerate their client.
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|
|
expedient
|
adj. suitable; practical; politic
|
A pragmatic politician, he was guided by what was expedient rather than by what was ethical. expediency, n.
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|
|
expedite
|
v. hasten
|
Because we are on a tight schedule, we hope you will be able to expedite the delivery of our order. The more expeditious your response is, the happier we'll be.
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explicit
|
adj. totally clear; definite; outspoken
|
Don't just hint around that you're dissatisfied: be explicit about what's bugging you.
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exploit
|
v. make use of, sometimes unjustly
|
Cesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit migrant farmworkers in California. exploitation, n. exploitative, adj.
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extol
|
v. praise; glorify
|
The president extolled the astronauts, calling them the pioneers of the Space Age.
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extraneous
|
adj. not essential; superfluous
|
No wonder Ted can't think straight! His mind is so cluttered up with extraneous trivia, he can't concentrate on the essentials.
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|
|
extricate
|
v. free; disentangle
|
Icebreakers were needed to extricate the trapped whales from the icy floes that closed them in.
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exuberance
|
n. overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness
|
I was bowled over by the exuberance of Amy's welcome. What an enthusiastic greeting!
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|
facilitate
|
v. help bring about; make less difficult
|
Rest and proper nourishment should facilitate the patient's recovery.
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|
fallacious
|
adj. false; misleading
|
Paradoxically, falacious reasoning does not always yield erronneous results: even though your logic may be faulty, the answer you get may nevertheless be correct. fallacy, n.
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fanaticism
|
n. excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause
|
When Islamic fundamentalists demanded the death of Salman Rushdie because his novel questioned their faith, world opinion condemned them for the fanaticism.
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fastidious
|
adj. difficult to please; squeamish
|
Bobby was such a fastidious eater taht he would eat a sandwich only if his mother first cut off every scrap of crust.
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|
feasible
|
adj. practical
|
Is it feasible to build a new stadium for the Yankees on New York's West Side? Without additional funding, the project is clearly unrealistic.
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|
fervor
|
n. glowing ardor; intensity of feeling
|
At the protest rally, the students cheered the strikers and booed the dean with equal fervor.
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flagrant
|
adj. conspicuously wicked; blatant; outrageous
|
The governor's appointment of his brother-in-law to the State Supreme Court was a flagrant violation of the state laws against nepotism (favoritism based on kinship).
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frivolous
|
adj. lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant
|
Though Nancy enjoyed Bill's frivolous, lighthearted companionship, she sometimes wondered whether he could ever be serious. frivolity, n.
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|
frugality
|
n. thrift; economy
|
In economic hard times, anyone who doesn't learn to practice frugality risks bankruptcy. frugal, adj.
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|
|
furtive
|
adj. stealthy; sneaky
|
Noticing the furtive glance the customer gave the diamond bracelet on the counter, the jewler wondered whether he had a potential shoplifter on his hands.
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|
|
garrulous
|
adj. loquacious; wordy; talkative
|
My Uncle Henry is the most garrulous person in Cayuga County: he can outtalk anyone I know. garrulity, n.
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|
glutton
|
n. someone who eats too much
|
When Mother saw that Bobby had eaten all the cookies, she called him a little glutton. gluttonous, adj.
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gratify
|
v. please
|
Lori's parents were gratified by her successful performance on the SAT.
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|
gratuitous
|
adj. given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for
|
Quit making gratuitous comments about my driving; no one asked you for your opinion.
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|
gravity
|
n. seriousness
|
We could tell we were in serious trouble from the gravity of the principal's exression. (secondary meaning) grave, adj.
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|
gregarious
|
adj. sociable
|
Typically, partygoers are gregarious; hermits are not.
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guile
|
n. deceit; duplicity; williness; cunning
|
Iago uses considerable guile to trick Othello into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful.
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|
|
gullible
|
adj. easily deceived
|
Overly gullible people have only themselves to blame if they fall for con artists repeatedly. As the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
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|
|
hamper
|
v. obstruct
|
The new mother didn't realize how much the effort of caring for an infant would hamper her ability to keep an immaculate house.
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|
|
hardy
|
adj. sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weather
|
We asked the gardening expert to recommend particularly hardy plants that could withstand our harsh New England winters.
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|
|
haughtiness
|
n. pride; arrogance
|
When she realized that Darcy believed himself too good to dance with his inferiors, Elizabeth took great offense at his haughtiness.
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|
|
hedonist
|
n. one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life
|
A thoroughgoing hedonist, he considered only his own pleasure and ignored any claims others had on his money or time.
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|
|
heresy
|
n. opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion
|
Galileo's assertion that the earth moved around the sun directly contradicted the religious teachings of his day; as a result, he was tried for heresy. heretic, n.
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|
|
hierarchy
|
n. arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks
|
To be low man on the totem pole is to have an inferior place in the hierarchy.
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|
|
homogeneous
|
adj. of the same kind
|
Because the student body at Elite Prep was so homogeneous, Sara and James decided to sent their daughter to a school that offered greater cultural diversity. homogenize, v.
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|
|
hypocritical
|
adj. pretending to be virtuous; deceiving
|
It was hypocritical of Martha to say nice things about my poetry to me and them make fun of my verses behind my back. hypocrisy, n.
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|
|
hypothetical
|
adj. based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed
|
Suppose you are accepted by Harvard, Stanford, and Brown. Which one would you choose to attend? Remember, this is only a hypothetical situation. hypothesis, n.
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|
|
idiosyncrasy
|
n. individual trait, usually odd in nature; eccentricity
|
One of Richard Nixon's little idiosyncrasies was his liking for ketchup on cottage cheese. One of Hannibal Lecter's little idiosyncrasies was his liking for human flesh. idiosyncratic, adj.
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|
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illusory
|
adj. deceptive; not real
|
Unfortunately, the costs of running the lemonade stand were so high that Tom's profits proved illusory.
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|
|
immutable
|
adj. unchangeable
|
All things chage over time; nothing is immutable.
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|
|
impair
|
v. injure; hurt
|
Drinking alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely; if you're going to drink, don't drive.
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|
|
impeccable
|
adj. faultless
|
The uncrowned queen of the fashion industry, Diana was acclaimed for her impeccable taste.
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|
|
impede
|
v. hinder; block; delay
|
A series of accidents impeded the launching of the space shuttle.
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|
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implausible
|
adj. unlikely; unbelievable
|
Though her alibi seemed implausible, it in fact turned out to be true.
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|
|
implement
|
v. put into effect; supply with tools
|
The mayor was unwilling to implement the plan until she was sure it had the governor's backing. also n.
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|
impudence
|
n. impertinence; insolence
|
Kissed on the cheek by a perfect stranger, Lady Catherine exclaimed, "Of all the nerve! Young man, I should have you horse-whipped for your impudence."
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|
|
inadvertently
|
adv. unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
|
Judy's great fear was that she might inadvertently omit a question on the exam and mismark her whole answer sheet.
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|
|
inane
|
adj. silly, senseless
|
There's no point to what you're saying. Why are you bothering to make such inane remarks?
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|
|
incisive
|
adj. cutting; sharp
|
His incisive remarks made us see the fallacy in our plans.
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|
|
incite
|
v. arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist
|
In a fiery speech, Mario incited his fellow students to go out on strike to protest the university's anti-affirmative action stand.
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|
|
inclusive
|
adj. tending to include all
|
The comedian turned down the invitation to join the Player's Club, saying any club that would let him in was too inclusive for him.
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|
|
incongruous
|
adj. not fitting; absurd
|
Dave saw nothing incongruous about wearing sneakers with his tuxedo; he couldn't understand why his date took one look at him and started to laugh. incongruity, n.
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|
|
inconsequential
|
adj. insignificant; unimportant
|
Brushing off Ali's apologies for having broken the wineglass, Tamara said, "Don't worry about it; it's inconsequential."
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|
|
incorrigible
|
adj. not correctable
|
Though Widow Douglass hoped to reform Huck, Miss Watson called him incorrigible and said he would come to no good end.
|
|
|
indict
|
v. charge
|
The distric attorney didn't want to indict the suspect until she was sure she had a strong enough case to convince a jury. indictment, n.
|
|
|
indifferent
|
adj. unmoved or unconcerned by; mediocre
|
Because Ann felt no desire to marry, she was indifferent to Carls constant proposals. Not only was she indifferent to him personally, but she felt that, given his general silliness, he would make an indifferent husband.
|
|
|
indiscriminate
|
adj. choosing at random; confused
|
She disapproved of her son's indiscriminate television viewing and decided to restrict him to educational programs.
|
|
|
induce
|
v. persuade; bring about
|
After the quarrel, Tina said nothing could induce her to talk to Tony again. inducement, n.
|
|
|
inert
|
adj. inactive; lacking power to move
|
"Get up, you lazybones," she cried to her husband, who lay in bed inert. inertia, n.
|
|
|
ingenious
|
adj. clever; resourceful
|
Kit admired the ingenious way that her computer keyboard opened up to reveal the built-in CD-ROM below. ingenuity, n.
|
|
|
inherent
|
adj. firmly established by nature or habit
|
Katya's inherent love of justice caused her to champion anyone she considered treated unfairly by society.
|
|
|
innate
|
adj. inborn
|
Mozart's parents soon recognized young Wolfgang's innate talent for music.
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|
|
innocuous
|
adj. harmless
|
An occasional glass of wine with dinner is relatively innocuous and shouuld have no ill effect on you.
|
|
|
innovation
|
n. change; introduction of something new
|
Although Richard liked to keep up with all the latest technological innovations, he didn't always abandon tried and true techniques in favor of something new. innovate, v.
|
|
|
insipid
|
adj. lacking in flavor; dull
|
Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid: both lack sparkle.
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|
|
instigate
|
v. urge; start; provoke
|
Rumors of police corruption led the mayor to instigate an investigation into the department's activities.
|
|
|
insularity
|
n. narrow-mindedness; isolation
|
The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anything foreign. insular, adj.
|
|
|
integrity
|
n. uprightness; wholeness
|
Lincoln, whose personal integrity has inspired millions, fought a civil war to maintain the integrity of the Republc, that these United States might remain undivided for all time.
|
|
|
intervene
|
v. come between
|
When two close friends get into a fight, be careful if you try to intervene; they may join forces to gang up on you.
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|
|
intimidate
|
v. frighten
|
I'll learn karate and then those big bullies won't be able to intimidate me any more.
|
|
|
intrepid
|
adj. fearless
|
For her intrepid conduct nursing the wounded during the war, Florence Nightingale was honored by Queen Victoria.
|
|
|
inundate
|
v. overwhelm; flood; submerge
|
This semester I am inundated with work: You should see the piles of paperwork flooding my desk. Until the great dam was built, the waters of the Nile used to inundate the river valley like clockwork every year.
|
|
|
invert
|
v. turn upside down or inside out
|
When he inverted his body in a handstand, he felt the blood rush to his head.
|
|
|
ironic
|
adj. resulting in an unexpected and contrary outcome
|
It is ironic that his success came when he least wanted it.
|
|
|
lament
|
v. grieve; express sorrow
|
Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat. also n. lamentation, n.
|
|
|
laud
|
v. praise
|
The NFL lauded Boomer Esiason's efforts to raise money to combat cystic fibrosis. laudable, laudatory, adj.
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|
|
lavish
|
adj. generous; openhanded; extravagant; wasteful
|
Her wealthy suitors wooed her with lavish gifts. also v.
|
|
|
lethargic
|
adj. drowsy; dull
|
The stuffy room made her lethargic: she felt as if she was about to not off.
|
|
|
levity
|
n. lack of seriousness; lightness
|
Stop giggling and wriggleing around in the pew: such levity is improper in church.
|
|
|
linger
|
v. loiter or dawdle; continue or persist
|
Hoping to see Juliet pass by, Romeo lingered outside the Capulet house for hours. Though Mother made stuffed cabbage on Monday, the smell lingered around the house for days.
|
|
|
listless
|
adj. lacking in spirit or energy
|
We had expected him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude.
|
|
|
lofty
|
adj. very high
|
Though Barbara Jordan's fellow students used to tease her about her lofty ambitions, she rose to hold one of the highest positions in the land.
|
|
|
malicious
|
adj. hateful; spiteful
|
Jealous of Cinderella's beauty, her malicious step sisters expressed their spite by forcing her to do menial tasks. malice, n.
|
|
|
marred
|
adj. damaged; disfigured
|
She had to refinish the marred surface of the table. mar, v.
|
|
|
materialism
|
n. preoccupation with physical comforts and things
|
By its nature, materialism is opposed to idealism, for where the materialist emphasizes the needs of the body, the idealist emphaizes the needs of the soul.
|
|
|
methodical
|
adj. systematic
|
An accountatnt must be methodical and maintain order among his financial records.
|
|
|
meticulous
|
adj. excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous
|
Martha Stewart was a meticulous housekeeper, fussing about each and every detail that went into making up her perfect home.
|
|
|
miserly
|
adj. stingy; mean
|
Transformed by his vision on Christmas Eve, mean old Scrooge ceased being miserly and became a generous, kind old man.
|
|
|
mitigate
|
v. appease; moderate
|
Nothing Jason did could mitigate Medea's anger; she refused to forgive him for betraying her.
|
|
|
morose
|
adj. ill-humored; sullen; melancholy
|
Forced to take early retirement, Bill acted morose for months; then, all of a sudden, he shook off his sullen mood and was his usual cheerful self.
|
|
|
mundane
|
adj. worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday
|
Uninterested in philosophical or spiritual discussions, Tom talked only of mundane matters such as the daily weather forecast or the latest basketball results.
|
|
|
negate
|
v. cancel out; nullify; deny
|
A sudden surge of adrenalin can negate the effect of fatigue: there's nothing like a good shock to wake you up.
|
|
|
nonchalance
|
n. indifference; lack of concern; composure
|
Cool, calm, and collected under fire, James Bond shows remarkable nonchalance in the face of danger.
|
|
|
notoriety
|
n. disrepute; ill fame
|
To the starlet, any publicity was good publicity: if she couldn't have a good reputation, she'd settle for notoriety. notorious, adj.
|
|
|
novelty
|
n. something new; newness
|
the computer in no longer an novelt at work; every desk in our office has one. novel, adj.
|
|
|
nurture
|
v. nourish; educate; foster
|
The Head Start program attempts to nurture pre-kindergarten children so that they will do well when they enter public school. also n.
|
|
|
obliterate
|
v. destroy completely
|
The tidal wave obliterated several island villages.
|
|
|
oblivion
|
n. obscurity; forgetfulness
|
After a decade of popularity, Hurston's works had fallen into oblivion; no one bothered to read them anymore.
|
|
|
obscure
|
v. darken; make unclear
|
At times he seemed purposely to obsure his meaning, preferring mystery to clarity.
|
|
|
obstinate
|
adj. stubborn; hard to control or treat
|
We tried to persuade him to give up smoking, but he was obstinate and refused to change. Blackberry stickers are the most obstinate weeds I know: once established in a yard, they're extremely hard to root out. obstinacy, n.
|
|
|
ominous
|
adj. threatening
|
Those clouds are ominous; they suggest a severe storm is on the way.
|
|
|
opaque
|
adj. dark; not transparent
|
The opaque window shade kept the sunlight out of the room. opacity, n.
|
|
|
opporunist
|
n. individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances
|
|
|
|
optimist
|
n. person who looks on the good side
|
|
|
|
opulence
|
n. extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance
|
|
|
|
orator
|
n. public speaker
|
|
|
|
ostentatious
|
adj. showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention
|
|
|
|
pacifist
|
n. one opposed to force; antimilitarist
|
|
|
|
partisan
|
adj. one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party
|
|
|
|
peripheral
|
adj. marginal; outer
|
|
|
|
perpetuate
|
v. make something last; preserve from extinction
|
|
|
|
pervasive
|
adj. pervading; spread throughout every part
|
|
|
|
pessimism
|
n. belief that life is basically bad or evil
|
|
|
|
phenomena
|
n. observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation
|
|
|
|
philanthropist
|
n. lover of mankind; doer of good
|
|
|
|
piety
|
n. religious devotion; godliness
|
|
|
|
placate
|
v. pacify; conciliate
|
|
|
|
ponderous
|
adj. weighty; unwieldy
|
|
|
|
pragmatic
|
adj. practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something
|
|
|
|
preclude
|
v. make impossible; eliminate
|
|
|
|
precocious
|
adj. advanced in development
|
|
|
|
predator
|
n. creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others
|
|
|
|
predecessor
|
n. former occupant of a post
|
|
|
|
presumptuous
|
adj. overconfident; impertinently bold; taking liberties
|
|
|
|
pretentious
|
adj. ostentatious; pompous; making unjustified claims; overly ambitious
|
|
|
|
prevalent
|
adj. widespread; generally accepted
|
|
|
|
prodigal
|
adj. wasteful; reckless with money
|
|
|
|
profane
|
v. violate; desecrate; treat unworthily
|
|
|
|
profound
|
adj. deep; not superficial; complete
|
|
|
|
profusion
|
n. overabundance; lavish expenditure; excess
|
|
|
|
proliferation
|
n. rapid growth; spread; multiplication
|
|
|
|
prolific
|
adj. abundantly fruitful
|
|
|
|
provincial
|
adj. pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated
|
|
|
|
proximity
|
n. nearness
|
|
|
|
prudent
|
adj. cautious; careful
|
|
|
|
qualified
|
adj. limited; restricted
|
|
|
|
quandary
|
n. dilemma
|
|
|
|
ramble
|
v. wandar aimlessly (physically or mentally)
|
|
|
|
rancor
|
n. bitterness; hatred
|
|
|
|
ratify
|
v. approve formally; confirm; verify
|
|
|
|
rebuttal
|
n. refutation; response with contrary evidence
|
|
|
|
recluse
|
n. hermit; loner
|
|
|
|
recount
|
v. narrate or tell; count over again
|
|
|
|
rectify
|
v. set right; correct
|
|
|
|
redundant
|
adj. superfluous; repetitious; excessively wordy
|
|
|
|
refute
|
v. disprove
|
|
|
|
relegate
|
v. banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign
|
|
|
|
remorse
|
n. guilt; self-reproach
|
|
|
|
renounce
|
v. abandon; disown; repudiate
|
|
|
|
repel
|
v. drive away; disgust
|
|
|
|
reprehensible
|
adj. deserving blame
|
|
|
|
reprimand
|
v. reprove severely
|
|
|
|
reprove
|
v. censure; rebuke
|
|
|
|
repudiate
|
v. disown; disavow
|
|
|
|
reserve
|
n. self-control; formal but distant manner
|
|
|
|
resigned
|
adj. accepting one's fate; unresisting; patiently submissive
|
|
|
|
resolution
|
n. determination; resolve
|
|
|
|
resolve
|
n. determination; firmness of purpose
|
|
|
|
restraint
|
n. moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
|
|
|
|
reticence
|
n. reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclinationto silence
|
|
|
|
retract
|
v. withdraw; take back
|
|
|
|
reverent
|
adj. respectful; worshipful
|
|
|
|
rhetorical
|
adj. pertaining to effective communication; insincere in language
|
|
|
|
rigor
|
n. severity
|
|
|
|
robust
|
adj. vigorous; strong
|
|
|
|
sage
|
n. person celebrated for wisdom
|
|
|
|
sanction
|
v. approve; ratify
|
|
|
|
satirical
|
adj. mocking
|
|
|
|
saturate
|
v. soak thoroughly
|
|
|
|
scanty
|
adj. meager; insufficient
|
|
|
|
scrupulous
|
adj. conscientious; extremely thorough
|
|
|
|
scrutinize
|
v. examine closely and critically
|
|
|
|
seclusion
|
n. isolation; solitude
|
|
|
|
servile
|
adj. slavish; cringing
|
|
|
|
skeptic
|
n. doubter; person who suspends judgment until the evidence supporting a point of view has been examined
|
|
|
|
sluggish
|
adj. slow; lazy; lethargic
|
|
|
|
somber
|
adj. gloomy; depressing; dark; drab
|
|
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sporadic
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adj. occuring irregularly
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squander
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v. waste
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stagnant
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adj. motionless; stale; dull
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static
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adj. unchanging; lacking development
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submissive
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adj. yielding; timid
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subordinate
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adj. occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive
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subside
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v. settle down; descend; grow quiet
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substantiate
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v. establish by evidence; verify; support
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succinct
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adj. brief; terse; compact
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superficial
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adj. trivial; shallow
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superfluous
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adj. unnecessary; excessive; overabundant
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surpass
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v. exceed
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surreptitious
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adj. secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
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susceptible
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adj. impressionable; easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a disease; receptive to
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sustain
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v. experience; support; nourish
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sycophant
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n. servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man
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taciturn
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adj. habitually silent; talking little
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temper
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v. moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel)
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tentative
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adj. hesitant; not fully worked out or developed; experimental; not definite or positive
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terse
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adj. irritable; short-tempered
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thrive
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v. prosper; flourish
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tranquility
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n. calmness; peace
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transient
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adj. momentary; temporary; staying for a short time
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trite
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adj. hackneyed; commonplace
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turbulence
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n. state of violent agitation
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turmoil
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n. great commotion and confusion
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undermine
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v. weaken; sap
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uniformity
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n. sameness; monotony
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unwarranted
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adj. unjustified; groundless; undeserved
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usurp
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v. seize another's power or rank
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vacillate
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v. waver; fluctuate
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venerate
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v. revere
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verbose
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adj. wordy
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vigor
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n. active strength
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vilify
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v. slander
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vindicate
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v. clear from blame; exonerate; justify or support
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virtuoso
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n. highly skilled artist
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volatile
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adj. changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly
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whimsical
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adj. capricious; fanciful
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zealot
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n. fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
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