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2500 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
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abase
lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
n abash
embarrass
n abate
subside or moderate
abbreviate
shorten
abdicate
"renounce; give up (position
right
aberrant
abnormal or deviant
aberration
deviation from the normal; mental disorder
n abet
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
n abeyance
suspended action
abhor
detest; hate
abject
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
abjure
renounce upon oath
ablution
washing
abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
abolish
cancel; put an end to
abominate
loathe; hate
abominable
detestable; extremely unpleasant
aboriginal
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
abortive
unsuccessful; fruitless
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down
abridge
condense or shorten
abrogate
abolish
n abscission
cutting off; separation
abscond
depart secretly and hide
absolute
complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
absolve
pardon (an offense)
abstain
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote; ±â±ÇÇÏ´Ù
abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
abstinence
"restraint from pleasant things
esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote"
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmful
n abut
border upon; adjoin
abysmal
bottomless
abyss
enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
academic
related to a school; not practical or directly useful
accede
agree
accelerate
move faster
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing
acclaim
applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
n acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
accolade
award of merit; strong praise and approval
accommodate
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
accomplice
partner in crime
accord
agreement
accost
approach and speak first to a person
n accoutre
equip; N. accoutrement
accretion
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
accrue
come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
n acerbity
"bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste
manner
n acetic
vinegary
n acidulous
slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
acknowledge
recognize; admit
n acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
acoustics
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
acquiesce
assent; agree passively; comply without protest
acquittal
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
n acrid
bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
n acrimonious
stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
acrophobia
fear of heights
actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
actuary
someone who advises insurance companies
n actuate
motivate; activate; cause to act
acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
acumen
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
acute
(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
n adage
wise saying; proverb
s proverb
adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially
adamant
hard; inflexible
adapt
make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
n addendum
addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
addiction
compulsive habitual need
n addle
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
address
direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
adept
expert at; very skilled
adhere
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
adherent
supporter; follower
adjacent
adjoining; neighboring; close by
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position
adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
n adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
admonish
warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
adorn
decorate
adroit
skillful (in using mind or hand)
h 2
adulation
flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
adulterate
make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
advent
arrival
adventitious
accidental; casual; happening by chance
adversary
opponent; enemy
adverse
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
adversity
great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
n advert
refer
advocacy
support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
advocate
speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
n aegis
shield; protection; defense
"n aerie(aery
eyrie
eyry)"
aesthetic
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
affable
easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
affected
artificial; pretended
affidavit
written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
affiliation
joining; associating with
affinity
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
affliction
state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
affluence
abundance; wealth
affront
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
n agape
openmouthed
n agenda
items of business at a meeting
n agglomeration
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
aggrandize
"make greater; increase in power
wealth
aggregate
sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
aghast
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
agility
nimbleness; ability to move quickly
agitate
stir up; disturb
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
n agog
highly excited; intensely curious
agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
alacrity
cheerful promptness without reluctance
alchemy
medieval chemistry
n alcove
nook; recess
alias
an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
alienate
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
alimentary
supplying nourishment
n alimony
payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
allay
calm; pacify
allege
state without proof
allegiance
loyalty
n allegory
"story
play
alleviate
relieve (pain)
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
allocate
assign; set apart for a particular purpose
alloy
mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
allude
refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
allure
entice; attract; tempt
s siren
apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
n aloof
apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
n aloft
upward; high up in the air
altercation
noisy quarrel
altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
n amalgamate
(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
n amalgam
combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
n amass
"collect (gradually
in a very large amount)"
amazon
female warrior
ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease
ambience
environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
amble
walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
n ambrosia
food of the gods
s nectar
drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
ambulatory
able to walk
ameliorate
improve
amenable
obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
amend
correct; change ; generally for the better
h 3
amenities
convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
amiable
agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
amicable
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
n amiss
wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
amity
friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
amnesia
loss of memory
amnesty
pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
amoral
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
amorous
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
amorphous
formless; lacking shape or definition
amphibian
able to live both on land and in water; N.
amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
n ample
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
amplify
increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
n amputate
cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
n amok(amuck)
in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
n amulet
"charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil
bad luck"
anachronism
an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
n analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain; N.
s analgesia
condition of being unable to feel pain
analogous
comparable; similar
analogy
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
anarchist
person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder
n anathema
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
ancestry
family descent; ADJ. ancestral
anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
anecdote
short story of an amusing or interesting event
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering
angular
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
animadversion
critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
animated
lively; spirited
animosity
active enmity
n animus
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
annals
records arranged in yearly parts; history
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
annex
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
annihilate
destroy
annotate
comment; make explanatory notes
annuity
yearly allowance
annul
make void
s elope
run away secretly with the intention of getting married
n anodyne
drug that relieves pain or trouble; ÁøÅëÁ¦; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
anoint
consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
anomalous
abnormal; irregular
anomaly
irregularity
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
antagonism
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
antecede
precede
antecedents
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
antediluvian
antiquated; extremely ancient
n anthem
song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
n anthology
book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being; N.
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankind
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
anticlimax
"letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting
ordinary
antidote
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
antipathy
aversion; dislike or opposition
n antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
antiseptic
substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
n anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals
apathy
lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
n ape
imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
n aperture
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
n apex
tip; summit; climax; highest point
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
aphorism
pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
n apiary
a place where bees are kept
s hive
box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
s apiculture
bee-keeping
s apiarist
person who keeps bees
n aplomb
poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
s poise
good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
n apocryphal
(of a story) widely believed but untrue
apogee
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
n apolitical
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
n apologist
one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
n apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
n apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
n apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
h 4
n apothegm(apophthegm)
"pithy
compact saying"
n apotheosis
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
appall
dismay; shock deeply
apparition
ghost; phantom
appease
pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
n appellation
name; title
append
attach
n application
diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
apposite
appropriate; fitting
appraise
estimate value of; N. appraisal
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
apprehend
arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
n apprehensive
fearful; discerning
apprise
inform
approbation
approval
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
n appurtenances
subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
n apropos
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
aptitude
fitness; talent
n aquiline
curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
n arable
fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
arbiter
person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
arbitrate
act as judge (at the request of both sides)
n arboretum
place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
s arboreal
of or living in trees
arcade
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
n archaic
antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
n archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
arch-
chief; first; Ex. archbishop
n archipelago
group of closely located islands
n archives
public records; place where public records are kept
ardor
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
n arduous
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
n argot
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
aria
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
n arid
(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
armada
fleet of warships
aromatic
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
arraign
charge in court; indict
n array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
arrears
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
n arrhythmic
lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
arrogance
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
n arroyo
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
s artery
blood-vessel; CF. vein
articulate
effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
arsenal
storage place for military equipment
artifacts
"object made by human beings
either hand-made or mass-produced"
n artifice
deception; trickery
artisan
a manually skilled worker
n artless
without guile; open and honest
ascendancy
controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
ascertain
find out for certain; make certain
ascetic
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
ascribe
refer; attribute; assign
aseptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
n ashen
ash-colored; deadly pale
n asinine
stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
n askance
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
n askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
asperity
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
aspersion
slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
aspirant
seeker after position or status
aspire
seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
assail
assault
n assay
analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
assent
agree; accept; N. assessment
n assert
"state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights
claims
assiduous
diligent
assimilate
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)
assuage
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
s regent
"a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill
absent
assurance
"firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances
he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty"
asteroid
small planet
n astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
h 5
n astral
relating to the stars
astringent
binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
astronomical
enormously large or extensive
astute
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
n asunder
into parts; apart; V. sunder
asylum
place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
n atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
atheistic
denying the existence of God; N. atheism
atone
make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
atrocity
brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
atrophy
wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
attentive
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
attenuate
make thin; weaken
attest
testify; bear witness
attribute
essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
attrition
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
n atypical
not normal; not typical
audacious
daring; bold; N. audacity
audit
examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
augment
increase; add to
n augury
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
august
impressive; majestic
n aureole
sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
n auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
auspicious
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
austere
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
authenticate
prove genuine
authoritarian
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
authoritative
having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
autocratic
"having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat
autocracy"
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
autonomous
self-governing; N. autonomy
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
avalanche
great mass of falling snow and ice
avarice
greediness for wealth
avenge
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.
aver
state confidently; declare as true
averse
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
aversion
firm dislike
avert
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.
aviary
enclosure for birds; large cage
n avid
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
avow
declare openly; N. avowal
avuncular
of or like an uncle
awe
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
s awful
terrible; very bad
n awl
pointed tool used for piercing
n awry
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
n azure
sky blue
n babble
chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
n bacchanalian
drunken
s bacchanal
noisy party with a lot of drinking
s Bacchanalia
the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
n badger
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
n badinage
teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
baffle
frustrate; perplex
n bait
harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
n baleful
evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
n balk
"stop short
as if faced with an obstacle
n ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
n balm
something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
s pang
sudden sharp feeling of pain
n balmy
soft and mild (of air); fragrant
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed
n bandy
discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with
bane
posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
bantering
joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
barb
"sharp projection from fishhook
arrow
h 6
n bard
poet
n barefaced
shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
s unregenerate
making no attempt to change one's bad practices
n baroque
highly ornate
barrage
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
barrister
counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar
s solicitor
lawyer in the lower court of law
barterer
trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money
n bask
luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
s luxuriate
take pleasure in great comfort
n bastion
stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
n bate
let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate
n bauble
trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
n bawdy
indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
n beatific
giving or showing bliss; blissful
s bliss
complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
n beatitude
blessedness; state of great happiness
s mystic
of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
n bedizen
dress with vulgar finery
s finery
beautiful clothes for a special occasion
n bedraggle
wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
n beeline
direct quick route
n befuddle
confuse thoroughly
s fuddle
make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused
beget
father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
n begrudge
envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.
s grudge
deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.
n beguile
deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
n behemoth
huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
n beholden
obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
n behoove(behove)
be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.
n belabor
harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically
n belated
delayed
n beleaguer
besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
n belie
contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.
belittle
disparage; depreciate
bellicose
warlike
belligerent
quarrelsome
n bemoan
lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of
n bemused
confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
benediction
blessing
benefactor
gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
beneficent
kindly; doing good
beneficial
helpful; useful; advantageous
beneficiary
person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
n benefit
"advantage; anything that brings helpl
advantage
benevolent
generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
benign
kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor
benison
blessing
bent
determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination
bequeath
leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest
n berate
scold strongly
n bereavement
state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
n bereaved
deprived of (someone beloved through death)
n bereft
deprived of (something valuable); lacking
n berserk
mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
beseech
beg; plead with
n beset
harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
s hem
surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.
besiege
surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually
n besmirch
soil; defile; make dirty
n bestial
beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
bestow
confer
n betoken
signify; indicate; be a sign of
s token
outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude
n betray
be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
n betroth
become engaged to marry
n bevy
large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
bicameral
two-chambered as a legislative body
bicker
quarrel
biennial
every two years
n bifurcated
divided into two branches; forked
n bigotry
stubborn intolerance
s bigot
one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)
s intolerant
not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one's own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate
n bilious
suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated
n bilk
swindle; cheat
n billowing
swelling out in waves; surging
s billow
"large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge
swell
s swell
long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.
s surge
powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
n bivouac
temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
n blanch
bleach; whiten; make white or pale
n bland
soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
n blandishment
flattery
n blare
loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light
s screech
unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.
s dazzle
make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder
n blas\'e
bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored
n blasphemy
irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
n blatant
extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
n bleak
cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing
n blighted
suffering from a disease; destroyed
s blight
plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
n blithe(blithesome)
gay; joyous
n bloated
(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air
n blowhard
talkative boaster; braggart
n bludgeon
club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
n bluff
pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured
h 7
blunder
error; stupid mistake
n blurt
utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement
n bluster
"blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze
gust
s bully
one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.
bode
foreshadow; portend
bogus
counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview
n bohemian
unconventional (in an artistic way)
boisterous
violent; rough; noisy
n bolster
support; reinforce
n bolt
door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a
s dart
move or throw suddenly and quickly
s gobble
eat very quickly
n bombardment
attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard
n bombastic
pompous; using inflated language
s bombast
"grandiloquent
pompous speech"
n boon
blessing; benefit; something very helpful
n boorish
rude; insensitive
s boor
"rude
insensitive person"
n bouillon
clear beef (or meat) soup
n bountiful
generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
s gracious
kind in a generous way (to someone less important)
bourgeois
middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions
bovine
cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm
n bowdlerize
expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
n brackish
somewhat saline
n braggadocio
boasting
s brag
boast
n braggart
boaster; bragger
n brandish
wave around (a weapon); flourish
n bravado
swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery
s swagger
walk or behave with an over-confident manner
n brawn
human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
s brawny
muscular; having well-developed muscles
s sturdy
strong and firm (in the body)
n brazen
insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence
s brawl
noisy quarrel
n breach
breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.
breadth
width; extent
brevity
conciseness; shortness of duration
n brindled
tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
s tawny
brownish yellow
n bristling
rising like bristles; showing irritation
s bristle
short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
n brittle
hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation
n broach
introduce as a subject; moot; open up
n brocade
"rich
figured(patterned) fabric"
brochure
pamphlet
n brooch
ornamental clasp; pin
s clasp
hold firmly within arms
n brook
tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream
n browbeat
bully; intimidate
n browse
graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
s graze
(of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an animal) to feed on grass; scrape (esp. the skin) or touch lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can't graze the cattle till summer; N: surface wound
s skim
read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
n brunt
main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument
n brusque
blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice
n buccaneer
pirate
n bucolic
rustic; pastoral
n buffet
strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set
s slap
hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
n buffoonery
clowning
s buffoon
stupid person; clown
s clown
act stupidly; play the fool; N.
n bugaboo
bugbear; object of baseless terror
n bullion
gold and silver in the form of bars
n bulwark
strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends
n bungle
mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior
s botch
mismanage; blow
buoyant
able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market
bureaucracy
overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic
n burgeon
grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon
n burlesque
give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly
n burnish
make shiny by rubbing; polish
n buttress
support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress
s prop
support placed under or against something; V.
n buxom
full-bosomed; plump; jolly
s plump
pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
n cabal
small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
cache
hiding place; V.
cacophonous
discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds
cadaver
corpse; dead human body
cadaverous
like a corpse; pale
n cadence
rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
n cajole
persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
s coax
persuade by flattery
calamity
disaster; misery
calculated
deliberately planned; likely
n caldron(cauldron)
large kettle
n caliber
ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber
calligraphy
beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
n callous
hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
s callus
area of thick hard skin
n callow
youthful; immature; inexperienced
n calorific
heat-producing; N. calorie
calumny
malicious misrepresentation; slander
n camaraderie
good-fellowship; CF. comrade
n cameo
shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film
n canard
unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
n candor
frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
n canine
related to dogs; doglike
n canker
any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
s ulcer
sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate
n canny
shrewd in money matters; thrifty
n cant
insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people
cantankerous
ill-humored; irritable
n cantata
story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)
n canter
slow gallop; V. CF. trot
h 8
n canto
division of a long poem
n canvass
"determine or seek opinions
votes
capacious
spacious
n capacity
mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president
n capillary
having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
n capitulate
surrender; give up all resistance
caprice
whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause
capricious
unpredictable; fickle
caption
title; chapter heading; text under illustration
n captious
faultfinding; too critical
n carafe
glass water bottle; decanter
n carapace
"shell covering the back (of a turtle
tortoise
n carat(karat)
unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold
n carcinogenic
causing cancer; N. carcinogen
n cardinal
chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order
cardiologist
doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
n careen
lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
s career
rush wildly; go at full speed
s sway
swing from side to side; influence (someone) to change one's opinion; N.
caricature
distortion; burlesque
carillon
a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played
carnage
destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals
carnal
fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
carnivorous
meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
n carousal
drunken revel; V. carouse
n carping
petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble
n carrion
rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
n cartographer
map-maker
cascade
small waterfall
n caste
one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige
castigation
punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
casualty
serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle
s casual
happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark
n cataclysm
deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change
n catalyst
agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis
catapult
slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
s hurl
throw forcefully; shout out violently
n cataract
great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
catastrophe
calamity ; disaster
n catcall
shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
n catechism
book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize
categorical
without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
s qualify
reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of something stated
catharsis
purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art
cathartic
purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
n catholic
(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes
n caucus
private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston
n caulk(calk)
make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
causal
implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality
caustic
burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless
n cauterize
"burn (a wound or snakebite
etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection"
n cavalcade
procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry
n cavalier
casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
n cavil
quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
n cede
yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession
celerity
speed; rapidity
celestial
heavenly
s hereafter
life after death
s afterlife
life after death; later part of one's life
n celibate
abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy
censor
(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.
n censorious
severely critical
censure
blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval
centaur
"mythical figure
half man and half horse"
centigrade
denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)
centrifugal
radiating; departing from the center
centrifuge
machine that separates substances by whirling them
centripetal
tending toward the center
centurion
Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)
cerebral
pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum
cerebration
thought; working of the brain
n ceremonious
marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
s unceremonious
not done politely without due formalities
n certitude
certainty
cessation
stoppage
n cession
yielding to another; ceding
n chafe
warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
n chaff
worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff
n chaffing
bantering; joking
n chagrin
annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)
n chalice
goblet; consecrated cup
chameleon
lizard that changes color in different situations
h 9
champion
"support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle
movement
s championship
position of champion; defense or support; competition held to determine a champion
chaotic
in utter disorder
charisma
divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism
n charlatan
quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)
n chary
cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold
n chase
ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch
chasm
abyss; very deep crack
n chassis
framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
chaste
morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere
n chasten
discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
n chastise
punish as by beating; criticize severely
chauvinist
"blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group
cause
check
stop motion; curb or restrain
n checkered(chequered)
marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares
n cherubic
angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order
n chicanery
trickery; deception
n chide
scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
n chimerical
fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
n chisel
swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting
s chip
lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp
chivalrous
courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry
n choleric
hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera
n choreography
art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances
s chore
"daily domestic task (such as cleaning
cooking
n chortle
chuckle with delight; N.
s chuckle
laugh quietly
chronic
long established as a disease
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order)
n churlish
boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
n ciliated
having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
cipher
nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
circlet
"small ring; band of gold
silver
circuitous
roundabout
s circuit
closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place
circumlocution
indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)
circumscribe
limit; confine; draw a line around
n circumspect
prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
circumvent
outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around
n cistern
reservoir or water tank
citadel
fortress
cite
quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record
civil
having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic
clairvoyant
having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
s hindsight
understanding the nature of an event after it has actually happened
n clamber
climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
clamor
loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous
clandestine
secret
s chaperon
older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman
n clangor
loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
n clapper
striker (tongue) of a bell
s clap
strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause
n clarion
"shrill
trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times"
claustrophobia
fear of being locked in
n clavicle
collarbone
s scrimmage
disorderly fight between two or more people
cleave
split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven
n cleft
N: split
n clemency
disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
clich\'e
phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich\'ed
s bromide
platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
n clientele
body of customers
climactic
relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
n clime
climate
n clique
small exclusive group of people
cloister
monastery or convent
n clout
great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist
cloying
distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess
n coagulate
congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant
s clot
half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
s pudding
hot sweet dish
coalesce
combine; fuse; N. coalescence
coalition
partnership; league; union of separate political parties
n coda
concluding section of a musical or literary composition
n coddle
treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs
n codicil
supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
codify
"arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws
rules
coercion
use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce
n coeval
living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age
n cog
tooth projecting from a wheel
cogent
convincing
cogitate
think over; ponder
cognate
having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
cognitive
having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing
cognizance
knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware
n cohabit
live together
cohere
stick together
cohesion
tendency to keep together
n cohorts
group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
n coiffure
hairstyle
coin
make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented
coincidence
"the chance occurrence
at the same time
n colander
utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
h 10
collaborate
work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy
n collage
work of art put together from fragments
s scrap
small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel
s scraps
leftover food
s scrappy
quarrelsome
collate
examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)
collateral
security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters
n collation
a light meal; collating
colloquial
pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression
colloquy
informal discussion; conversation
collusion
conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude
colossal
huge
colossus
gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance
n comatose
in a coma; extremely sleepy
s coma
"deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease
poison
combustible
easily burned; N. CF. combustion
comely
attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
s homely
not good-looking; unattractive
comestible
something fit to be eaten
n comeuppance
deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke
s deserts
what someone deserves
n comity
courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
commandeer
take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes
s draft
first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript
s draught
current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid swallowed at a time
n commemorative
remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp
s commemorate
honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war
commensurate
equal in extent; of the same size
commiserate
feel or express pity or sympathy for
commodious
spacious and comfortable
n communal
held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
s commune
small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature
compact
agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement
compatible
harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together
compelling
overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel
s compulsion
compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse
s compulsory
obligatory; that must be done
s compulsive
resulting from compulsion
compendium
"brief
comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious"
compensatory
making up for; repaying
compilation
listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling
compile
assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary
complacency
self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
s smug
self-satisfied; complacent
complaisant
trying to please; obliging; willing to please others
complement
complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
complementary
serving to complete something
compliance
conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply
compliant
"readily acting in accordance with a rule
order
complicity
participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
component
element; ingredient
n comport
bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
s deport
"send out of the country; behave; N. deportation
deportment"
s bearing
deportment; connection
composure
mental calmness
compound
combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex. factory compound; CF. complex
comprehensive
broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive
compress
"force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling
reduce fever
comprise
include; consist of
n compromise
"adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger
disrepute
compunction
remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
compute
reckon; calculate
s reckon
count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose
concatenate
link as in a chain
concave
hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
concede
admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal
conceit
vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)
s vain
full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity
concentric
having a common center
conception
beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception
n concerted
mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together
concession
"an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point
right
conciliatory
reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)
concise
brief and compact
n conclave
private secret meeting
conclusive
decisive; ending all debate
concoct
prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction
concomitant
that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else
concord
harmony; accord
s concordat
formal agreement
concur
agree; coincide; happen at the same time
concurrent
happening at the same time; in agreement
condescend
(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior
condign
adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
condiments
seasonings; spices
condole
express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow
condone
overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
conducive
helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
conduit
aqueduct; passageway for fluids
n confidant(confidante)
trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)
s confide
tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about
s confidence
self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling you this in confidence; Ex. exchange confidences about their boyfriends; ADJ. confident
s confidential
spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary
confine
shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement
confiscate
seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer
conflagration
great fire
confluence
flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together
conformity
harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance
n confound
confuse; puzzle
congeal
freeze; coagulate
congenial
pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
congenital
existing at birth
h 11
conglomeration
mass of material sticking together
s conglomerate
corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.
congruence
correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity
congruent
in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous
n conifer
pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen
conjecture
surmise; guess; V.
conjugal
pertaining to marriage
conjure
cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.
connivance
pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire
connoisseur
"person competent to act as a judge of art
etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art"
connotation
suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote
connubial
pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
s matrimony
state of being married
s patrimony
property inherited from a father
consanguinity
kinship; relationship by birth
s consanguineous(consanguine)
having a common ancestor
conscientious
scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
conscript
draftee; person forced into military service; V.
consecrate
dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor
consensus
general agreement; opinion reached by a group
consequential
self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
conservatory(conservatoire)
school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
consign
"send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor
consignee"
consistency
absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous
console
lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation
consolidation
unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen
consonance
harmony; agreement
s consonant
harmonious; in agreement; N.
consort
associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)
conspiracy
treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)
s conspire
take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.
s consternation
great shock; dismay
constituent
supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component
s constituency
voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)
s constitution
constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions
constraint
restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison
construe
explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
consummate
complete; V.
contagion
infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air
s drastic
strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures
contaminate
pollute
contempt
scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible
contend
struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly
contention
assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
s thesis
opinion put forward and supported by reasoned arguments
s boost
lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase
contentious
quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
contest
dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.
context
writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs
contiguous
adjacent to; touching upon
n continence
self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent
n contingent
"dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers
ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency"
contortions
twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist
n contraband
illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
n contravene
"contradict; oppose; violate (a rule
law
contrite
penitent; repentant; N. contrition
n contrived
unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.
s contrive
invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention
s contrivance
something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme
controvert
oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
contumacious
stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
contusion
bruise
s bruise
injure without breaking the skin; N.
n conundrum
riddle; difficult problem
convene
come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council
convention
social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement
conventional
ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons
converge
approach; tend to meet; come together
conversant
familiar with; having knowledge of
converse
opposite; ADJ.
convert
one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief
convex
curving outward
conveyance
vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance
conviction
judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief
convivial
pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
convoke
call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
convoluted
coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain
s convulsion
violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive
n copious
plentiful
n coquette
flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
s flirt
behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal triflingly with; N: one (or woman) given to flirting; ADJ. flirtatious
cordial
warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome
n cordon
extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; (¾î±ú¿¡¼­ °Üµå¶û ¹ØÀ¸·Î °ÉÄ¡´Â) Àå½Ä ¸®º»; V.
n cornice
projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars); ó¸¶ Àå½Ä
n cornucopia
horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty
corollary
natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
n corporeal
bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible
corpulent
very fat; N. corpulence
s corpus
collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse
s corpuscle
red or white cell in the blood
correlation
mutual relationship
s correlate
either of the correlated things; V.
corroborate
confirm; support; strengthen
corrode
destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)
corrosive
eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
n corrugated
wrinkled; ridged
s wrinkle
small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.
s crinkle
wrinkle
cosmic
pertaining to the universe; vast
n coterie
group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
countenance
approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance
n countermand
cancel; revoke (an order)
h 12
counterpart
thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system
n coup
highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills
couple
join; unite; OP. uncouple
n courier
messenger
n covenant
binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise
s bargain
agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power
covert
secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
n covetous
avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)
n cow
terrorize; intimidate
n cower
shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
n coy
shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer¸¦ ¹Þ¾ÒÀ» ¶§
n cozen
cheat; hoodwink; swindle
n crabbed
sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
s peevish
bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry
n crass
very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
craven
cowardly
credence
belief
n credo
creed
credulity
belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous
creed
system of religious or ethical belief
crescendo
increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
s far-fetched
too improbable to be believed; implausible; Ex. far-fetched story
s overture
musical introduction to a long musical piece; first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace
n crestfallen
dejected; dispirited
s crest
top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird
n crevice
crack; fissure
cringe
shrink back as if in fear; cower
criteria
standards used in judging; CF. criterion
n crone
hag; ugly old woman
n crotchety
(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
n crux
essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
crypt
secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)
cryptic
mysterious; hidden; secret
n cubicle
small chamber used for sleeping or work
s compartment
one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided
n cuisine
style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
n culinary
relating to cooking or kitchen
n cull
pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.
culmination
highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
culpable
deserving blame; blameworthy
s culprit
one guilty of a crime
n culvert
artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
cumbersome
heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
cumulative
growing by addition; accumulative
cupidity
greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
curator
superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)
n curmudgeon
"churlish
miserly individual; bad-tempered old person"
n cursive
(of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined
cursory
casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
curtail
shorten; reduce
cynical
skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness
n cynosure
object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
n dabble
work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
n dais
raised platform for speakers or other important people
n dally
trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
n dank
damp; unpleasantly wet
n dapper
neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
n dappled
spotted
n daub
smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
s smear
spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing
s smudge
dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
daunt
intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
dauntless
bold; fearless
dawdle
loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
deadlock
standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
s standstill
condition of no movement or activity; stop
n deadpan
wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
dearth
scarcity
d\'eb\^acle
sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
debase
degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
s kneel
go down on one's knee(s)
n debauch
corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
s seduce
lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive
debilitate
"weaken (esp. through heat
hunger
s bout
match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu
n debonair
"(of men) friendly
charming
d\'ebris
rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
n debunk
"expose as false
exaggerated
n debutante
young woman making formal entrance into society
s debut
d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society
decadence
"decay; fall to a lower level (of morality
civilization
decant
pour off gently (wine or liquid)
decapitate
behead
decelerate
slow down
h 13
n deciduous
falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
decimate
kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
decipher
decode; CF. indecipherable
n declivity
downward slope
n d\'ecollet\'e
(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
s decree
authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree
n decomposition
decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
decorum
propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
s decorous
"proper (in behavior
conduct
decoy
lure or bait; V.
decrepitude
state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
s decrepit
weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
n decry
express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
deducible
derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
deface
mar; disfigure
s mar
spoil the appearance of
defame
harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
default
failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
n defeatist
resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
defection
desertion
s defect
shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
defer
"give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect
comply with
deference
courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
defiance
refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
defile
pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
definitive
most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
deflect
turn aside; turn away from a straight course
n defoliate
destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
n defray
provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
n defrock
strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
s frock
long loose garment (worn by monks)
deft
neat; skillful
defunct
dead; no longer in use or existence
degenerate
become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
degradation
humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
s dishonor
disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
n dehydrate
remove water from; dry out
deify
turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
n deign
condescend; stoop
s stoop
bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying
delete
erase; strike out
n deleterious
harmful
deliberate
consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
delineate
portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
delirium
mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
delta
flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
delude
deceive
deluge
flood; rush; V.
delusion
false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
delusive
deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
n delve
dig; search deeply; investigate
demagogue
person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
demean
disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
demeanor
behavior; bearing
demented
insane
demise
death
n demographic
related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
demolition
destruction; V. demolish
n demoniac(demoniacal)
fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
s fiend
evil spirit; devil
n demotic
of or pertaining to the people
n demur
"object (because of doubts
scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday"
n demure
(of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
denigrate
blacken; defame
denizen
"(animal
person
denotation
meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
n d\'enouement
final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
denounce
condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
depict
portray
s expos\'e
public revelation of something discreditable
deplete
reduce; exhaust
deplore
regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition
deploy
spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
s battalion
army unit made up of four or more companies
depose
dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
deposition
testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
depravity
extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
deprecate
express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
depreciate
lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
depredation
plundering; destruction
deranged
insane
s institute
organization for a special purpose; V: establish
s institution
"instituting; (building for the) organization; established custom
practice
s institutionalize
make into an institution; put or confine in an institution
derelict
negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
s dereliction
neglect of duty; abandonment
deride
ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
derision
ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
derivative
unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
s derivation
deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word
dermatologist
one who studies the skin and its diseases
s acne
skin disease (on the face)
h 14
derogatory
expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
n descry
catch sight of (something distant)
desecrate
profane; violate the sanctity of
s violate
break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually; Ex. violate graves
desiccate
dry up
desolate
(of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless
desolate
make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
n desperado
"reckless
desperate outlaw"
s desperate
having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
despise
look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
despoil
plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
despondent
without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
despot
"tyrant; harsh
authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism"
destitute
extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
s impoverish
make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil
desultory
aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
n detached
emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
s detain
keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
n determinate
having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
n determination
resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
deterrent
something that discourages or deters
detonation
explosion
detraction
slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
detrimental
harmful; damaging; N. detriment
deviate
"turn away from (a principle
norm); move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism"
n devious
roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
devise
think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
devoid
empty; lacking
n devolve
"deputize; pass or be passed to others (power
work
s deputize
work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away
devotee
enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
devout
pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
dexterous
skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
diabolical
diabolic; devilish; fiendish
n diadem
crown
dialectical
relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
diaphanous
sheer; transparent
n diatribe
bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
dichotomy
division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
n dictum
"authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental
nonbinding remark (something said in passing)"
n didactic
(of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
n die
metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
diffidence
shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
n diffuse
wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
digression
wandering away from the subject; V. digress
dilapidated
falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
dilate
expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
dilatory
delaying; tending to delay
dilemma
situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
n dilettante
aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
diligence
steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
dilute
make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president
diminution
lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
din
continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
s weary
tired after long work; V.
n dinghy
small boat (often ship's boat)
s maroon
leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
n dingy
(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
s dull
(of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.
n dint
means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
n diorama
"life-size
three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background"
n dire
warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
n dirge
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
disabuse
correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
n disaffected
disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
disapprobation
disapproval; condemnation
n disarray
state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray
n disavowal
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
n disband
dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
n disburse
pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
n disclaim
disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
disclose
reveal; N. disclosure
n discombobulated
discomposed; confused
s discompose
disturb the composure of; confuse
discomfit
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
n disconcert
confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
disconsolate
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
discord
conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
discordant
not harmonious; conflicting
n discount
disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost
discourse
"serious speech
writing
discredit
defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful
discrepancy
lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
discrete
separate; unconnected
discretion
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
discriminating
able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
s discriminate
distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference
s brisk
quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
n discursive
(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)
disdain
treat with scorn or contempt
n disembark
debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
disenfranchise
disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
n disengage
uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage
disfigure
mar the appearance of; spoil
n disgorge
surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
n disgruntle
make discontented
h 15
dishearten
discourage
n disheveled
untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
disinclination
unwillingness
n disingenuous
not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
n disinter
dig up; unearth; OP. inter
disinterested
unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
disjointed
disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin
disjunction
act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
n dislodge
remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
n dismantle
take apart; disassemble
s mantle
loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
s crust
hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
dismember
cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb
n dismiss
eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal
disparage
belittle
maneuver(manoeuver)
strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end
disparate
basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
disparity
difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
dispassionate
calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
dispatch
speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
dispel
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
s dispense
distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule
disperse
scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
n dispirited
lacking in spirit
n disport
amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
disputatious
argumentative; fond of argument
disquietude
uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
n disquisition
formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
dissection
analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
n dissemble
disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
disseminate
distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
dissent
disagree
dissertation
formal essay; treatise
dissident
"dissenting (with an opinion
a group
n dissimulate
pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
dissipate
squander; waste foolishly; scatter
n dissolution
disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
s reduce
diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction
dissuade
persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
s dissonance
discord
n distant
reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
distend
expand; swell out
distill
refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew
n distinction
honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
s distinct
clearly different; clearly noticed
s distinctive
clearly different from others of the same kind
distort
twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion
n distrait
absentminded; distracted
n distraught
upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry
s distract
take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted
diurnal
daily; occurring during the daytime
diva
operatic singer; prima donna
diverge
vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
diverse
differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N. diversity:
diversion
act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse
divest
strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)
divine
perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
s dowse
use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals
divulge
reveal
docile
obedient; easily managed; submissive
s ferocious
fierce; violent; N. ferocity
n docket
program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket
n doctrinaire
unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
doctrine
"teachings in general; particular principle (religious
legal
s indoctrinate
cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism
n document
provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.
n doddering
shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
s merit
deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
n doff
take off; OP. don
n dogged
determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
s persevere
continue steadily in spite of difficulties
n doggerel
poor verse
dogmatic
opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal
n doldrums
blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums
s blues
"state of depression or melancholy; style of slow
mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)"
dolorous
sorrowful; N. dolor
n dolt
slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
n domicile
home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
n domineer
rule over tyrannically
s dominate
control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height; ³»·Á´Ùº¸´Ù
s dominant
exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive
n don
put on; OP. doff
s outfit
clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy outfit
dormant
sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
n dormer
window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room
dorsal
relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
n dossier
file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
n dotage
senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage
n dote
be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
n dour
sullen; gloomy; stubborn
s sullen
silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
s brood
sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time
n douse
plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse
n dowdy
untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
n downcast
disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
n drab
dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
n draconian
extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
n dregs
sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
n drivel
nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
s nonsense
speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
s dribble
flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
s drip
fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
s trickle
flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
n droll
queer and amusing
s queer
strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal
n drone
idle person who lives on other people's work; male bee
n drone
talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
s murmur
"low
indistinct
n dross
waste matter; worthless impurities
drudgery
hard unpleasant work; menial work
s drudge
do drudgery; N: person who drudges
n dubious
questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
n ductile
malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
n dulcet
sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
n dumbfound(dumfound)
"astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded
dumfounded
n dupe
someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
n duplicity
double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
h 16
duration
length of time something lasts
n duress
"forcible restraint
especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress"
n dutiful(duteous)
(of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)
n dwindle
shrink; reduce gradually
dynamic
energetic; vigorously active
s dynamo
generator for producing electricity; energetic person
n dyspeptic
suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food
s dys-
abnormal; impaired
s dyslexia
word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read
s dysentery
inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract
s earthly
of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason
ebb
(of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide
ebullient
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling
eccentric
irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric
eccentricity
oddity; idiosyncrasy
ecclesiastic
ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman
s chapel
"small church (in a prison
college
s chaplain
clergyman attached to a chapel
s padre
chaplain (in the armed forces)
eclectic
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism
eclipse
darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse
s ecliptic
path of the sun and the planets
ecologist
person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology
s ecosystem
ecological community together with its environment
economy
efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources
ecstasy
rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy
s rapture
great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
n eddy
"swirling current of water
air
edict
decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command
s sovereign
ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent
s sovereignty
complete independence and self-government (of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern
n edify
instruct; correct morally
s edifice
building (of imposing size)
eerie
weird; causing fear because strange
efface
rub out; remove the surface of
effectual
able to produce a desired effect; valid
s effective
effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph
s effectuate
effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation
effeminate
having womanly traits
s emasculate
weaken; castrate
s castrate
remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
n effervescence
inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce
effete
having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted
efficacy
power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual
effigy
"dummy; likeness of a person made of wood
paper
s dummy
imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy
n effluvium
noxious(harmful) smell
effrontery
rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
s effulgent
shining brightly; brilliant
effusion
pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing
s gush
(of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole; make an excessive display of feeling (without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from the wound.
egoism
"excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic
egoistical"
s ego
one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem
egotistical
egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited
s egotism
tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively; conceit; self-importance
egregious
notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking
n egress
exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress
n ejaculation
exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate
n elaboration
addition of details; intricacy
s elaborate
work out carefully; add more detail or information; ADJ.
elated
filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation
n elegy
"poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiacal
elegiac"
elicit
draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone)
n elixir
cure-all; panacea; something invigorating
ellipsis
omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses
elliptical
elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out
eloquence
expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced
elucidate
explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid
elusive
"evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp
catch
n elysian
relating to paradise; blissful
s Elysium
place or condition of bliss
emaciated
thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)
emanate
issue forth; come out
emancipate
set free; liberate
embargo
ban on commerce or other activity
embark
commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey
embed(imbed)
enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass
embellish
adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding fictitious details)
embezzlement
taking for one's own use in violation of trust; stealing (of money placed in one's care)
s emblazon
ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment
s embody
give a bodily form to; incorporate; include
n emboss
produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design
embrace
hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet
s encircle
surround
embroider
decorate with needlework; ornament (a story) with fancy or fictitious details; embellish
embroil
"throw into confusion; involve in strife
dispute
embryonic
undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of development
emend
correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement
n emetic
substance causing vomiting; ADJ.
n eminent
rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position
emissary
agent (sent on a mission to represent another); messenger
emollient
soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.
emolument
salary; payment for an office; compensation
n empathy
"ability to identify with another's feelings
ideas
s compassion
sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate
empirical
based on experience
n emulate
imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)
n enamored
in love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V. enamor: inspire with love
encipher
encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher
enclave
territory enclosed within an alien land
encomiastic
praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy
encompass
surround; include; Ex. His activities encompass publishing and computers.
encroachment
gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another's possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon
h 17
encumber
burden; N. encumbrance
n endearment
fond word or act; expression of affection
s endear
make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone; ADJ. dear: loved; cherished; high-priced
endemic
prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic
endorse
approve; support; write one's signature on the back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal
endue
provide with some quality; endow
enduring
lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering) for a long time; remain alive (in spite of difficulties); last; survive
energize
invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active
enervate
weaken; take away energy from
enfranchise
admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise
n engage
attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle
engaging
charming; attractive
s engaged
employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict
engender
cause; produce; give rise to
engross
occupy fully; absorb
enhance
"increase; make greater (as in value
reputation
enigma
puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling
s puzzle
baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over a problem in an effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the answer; N.
enjoin
command; order; forbid
enmity
ill will; hatred; hostility
n ennui
boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; CF. annoy
enormity
hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous
n enrapture
please intensely; fill with rapture and delight
n ensconce
settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)
ensue
follow (as a result)
entail
make necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit the inheritance of (property) to a specified succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B
n enterprising
full of initiative; showing enterprise
s enterprise
willingness to take new ventures; initiative; business organization; plan (that is difficult or daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round the world in a small boat
enthrall
capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of (as if magic); hold spellbound
entice
lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract; tempt
s mischief
behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome
entity
real being
entomology
study of insects
n entrance
put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight
s trance
hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition
s hypnosis
induced sleeping state; ADJ. hypnotic; V. hypnotize
entreat
plead; ask earnestly
n entree(entr\'ee)
entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle
entrepreneur
businessperson (who assumes the risk of a business venture); contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial
enumerate
list; mention one by one
n enunciate
"announce; proclaim; utter or speak
especially distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory was first enunciated by him."
environ
enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city)
n eon(aeon)
long period of time; an age; longest division of geologic time containing two or more eras
n epaulet(epaulette)
"ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform
etc.)"
s fringe
decorative edge of hanging threads; edge
ephemeral
short-lived; fleeting
s fleet
fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral
epic
"long heroic poem
novel
epicure
connoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ. epicurean; CF. Epicurus
s Epicurean
believing that pleasure is good and suffering is bad and should be avoided; N.
n epigram
"witty thought or saying
usually short"
epilogue
short speech at conclusion of dramatic work
n episodic
(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience
n epistemologist
philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge; N. epistemology
n epitaph
inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a tombstone)
n epithet
word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)
epitome
perfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody
epoch
period of time
equable
tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform
equanimity
calmness of temperament; composure
n equestrian
rider on horseback; ADJ.
equilibrium
balance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity
n equine
resembling a horse; Ex. equine face
equinox
period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial
n equipoise
balance; balancing force; equilibrium
equitable
fair; impartial; OP. inequitable
equity
fairness; justice; OP. inequity
n equivocal
(of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally misleading; (of behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal
n equivocate
use equivocal language to deceive people; lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth; N. equivocation
erode
eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks.
erotic
pertaining to passionate love or sexual love
n errant
wandering (esp. in search of adventure); straying from proper moral standards; Ex. knight-errant
n erratic
odd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable
erroneous
mistaken; wrong; incorrect
erudite
(of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition
escapade
prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that disobeys rules
s prank
mischievous trick
s flighty
"(esp. of a woman's behavior) capricious; often changing
esp. from one lover to another; impulsive"
n eschew
avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks
n esoteric
"hard to understand; known only to the chosen few
esp. initiates; N. esoterica"
espionage
spying
n espouse
adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N. espousal
esteem
respect; value; judge; N.
estranged
separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N. estrangement
n ethereal
like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air
s airy
of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
n ethnic
relating to races
n ethnology
study of humankind; study of the different races of human beings; CF. anthropology
n ethos
"underlying character of a culture
group
etymology
study of word parts; study of the origins of words
eugenic
pertaining to the improvement of race; N. eugenics: study of hereditary improvement of the human race
eulogistic
praising; full of eulogy
h 18
n eulogy
"expression of praise
often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize"
euphemism
mild expression in place of an unpleasant one; ADJ. euphemistic
euphony
sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
n euphoria
feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being; feeling of great happiness or well-being (when unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric
euthanasia
mercy killing
evanescent
fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce
n evasive
not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading; V. evade: avoid (a duty or responsibility) or escape from by deceit
evince
show clearly
n evenhanded
impartial; fair
evocative
"tending to call up (emotions
memories)"
evoke
call forth (memory or feeling); Ex. That old film evoked memories of my childhood; N. evocation
n ewe
female sheep
s ram
male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
exacerbate
worsen; aggravate; embitter
s embitter
make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.
exacting
extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety
s exact
demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction
exalt
raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex. exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation
n exasperate
vex; annoy or make angry (by testing the patience)
n exceptionable
objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable
s except
exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality
n excerpt
selected passage (written or musical) taken from a longer work; V.
n exchequer
treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer
s chancellor
legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor
s treasure
keep as precious; cherish
excise
cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good produced and used inside a country; N. excision
exclaim
cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory
n excoriate
scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off
exculpate
clear from blame or guilt
n execrable
very bad; detestable
execrate
curse; express abhorrence for; detest
execute
put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution
s executor
person designated to execute the terms of a will; ¿¹¼ú ÀÛÇ°ÀÇ Á¦ÀÛÀÚ
s executioner
person administering capital punishment
s executive
person having administrative authority; one branch of government executing laws; ADJ: relating to executing
s legislature
legislating branch of government; CF. legislate: make laws
s judiciary
judicial branch of government
n exegesis
"explanation
especially of biblical(of the bible) passages"
exemplary
serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary punishment/behavior; N. exemplar: typical example; model
exemplify
show by example; furnish an example; serve as an example of; Ex. His pictures exemplify that sort of painting.
exempt
not subject to a duty or obligation; free from a duty; V.
exertion
effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert oneself: make a great effort
s exhale
breathe out; OP. inhale
exhilarating
invigorating and refreshing; cheering; V. exhilarate: make cheerful and excited; Ex. exhilarated by the ride in the sports car
n exhort
urge (by strong argument or advice); Ex. The general exhorted his men to fight bravely; N. exhortation
s urge
drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to take action; impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that prompts action
s urgent
compelling immediate action; pressing; persistent; importunate; Ex. urgent in his demands
exhume
dig out of the ground; remove from a grave
exigency
urgent situation; ADJ. exigent
exiguous
small in amount; minute
n existential
pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism
exodus
departure (of a large number of people)
exonerate
acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
exorbitant
(of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable bounds
exorcise
drive out evil spirits
exotic
not native; from another part of the world; strange; intriguingly unusual; Ex. exotic flower/dress
s intrigue
make secret plans; plot; arouse the curiosity of; N: secret scheme; plot; secret love affair
n expansive
(of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size
s outgoing
sociable; eager to mix socially with others
n expatiate
talk at length; speak or write in detail
expatriate
exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish; leave one's country
expedient
suitable (for a particular purpose although not necessarily morally correct); practical; politic(prudent); N: something expedient
expedite
hasten; make go faster
s expeditious
done with speed; quick; N. expedition
expenditure
payment or expense; expending; something expended; output; Ex. receipt for the expenditure; Ex. expenditure of all the energy
expertise
specialized knowledge (in a particular field); expert skill
expiate
make amends for (a sin)
n expletive
meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word
s interjection
exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch''
s swear
vow; promise; use profane oaths; use offensive words
s swear-word
word considered offensive; Ex. ``bloody''
s oath
solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''
explicate
explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable
explicit
totally clear; definite; outspoken
exploit
"brave and successful act; deed or action
particularly a brave deed; CF. crossing the Atlantic ocean"
exploit
"make use of
sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation"
expository
explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition
n expostulation
protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate
exposure
"risk
particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open; Ex. exposure of governmental corruption"
expound
explain
n expropriate
take possession of (often for public use and without payment)
n expunge
cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase
expurgate
clean; remove offensive parts of a book
extant
(of something written or painted) still in existence
extemporaneous
not planned; impromptu; extempore
n extenuate
weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of (bad behavior)
extirpate
root up; uproot; destroy completely
n extol
praise very highly; glorify
extort
"wring from; get money by threats
etc.; obtain by force or threats; CF. extortionate: exorbitant"
s wring
twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting; wrench painfully (necks or hands)
n extradition
surrender of prisoner by one state to another; Ex. extradition treaty; V. extradite
n extraneous
not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external; coming from the outside; Ex. extraneous details/noise/to the subject
n extrapolation
projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from known information
extricate
free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle
extrinsic
external; not essential or inherent; extraneous; OP. intrinsic
extrovert
person interested mostly in external objects and actions
s mingle
mix together in close association
n extrude
force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die
n exuberance
overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness; ADJ. exuberant: high-spirited and lively; growing abundantly and strongly
s glow
shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals); show redness and heat (in the face) after hard work or because of strong feelings; N: light produced by a heated body; brilliance of a color
n exude
flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation
s ooze
(of a thick liquid) pass or flow slowly; N: mud or thick liquid as at the bottom of a river
exult
rejoice
fabricate
build; lie; make up (a story) in order to deceive; Ex. fabricate the whole story; CF. fabric: underlying structure; Ex. fabric of society
n facade(fa\c{c}ade)
front or face (of building); superficial or false appearance
facet
small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side
n facetious
joking (often inappropriately); unserious; humorous
n facile
easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial; not deep; Ex. facile solution to a complex problem; Ex. facile speaker; N. facility: ability to do something easily and well; ease in doing resulting from skill or aptitude; something that facilitates an action; amenity; Ex. with great facility
facilitate
help bring about; make less difficult
facsimile
copy
n faction
party; clique (within a large group); dissension
s dissension
disagreement of opinions causing strife within a group
n factious
inclined to form factions; causing dissension
n factitious
artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears
n factotum
handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything
faculty
mental or bodily powers; teaching staff
h 19
fallacious
false; based on a fallacy; misleading; N. fallacy: false idea or notion; false reasoning; Ex. popular fallacy; Ex. fallacy of the argument
fallible
liable to err
s falsify
make (something written) false by changing
n fallow
(of land) plowed but not sowed (to improve the quality); uncultivated
s sow
plant or scatter seed
n falter
hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or move unsteadily through weakness; N.
s stumble
trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act falteringly; N.
fanaticism
excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause; N. fanatic; ADJ. fanatic
fancied
imagined; unreal
n fancier
"breeder or dealer of animals; one who has a special interest
as for raising specific plant or animal"
n fanciful
whimsical; visionary; imaginary; produced by imagination; Ex. fanciful scheme
s fancy
imagination (of a whimsical or fantastic nature); capricious liking; V: imagine; be fond of; ADJ. decorative; elaborate
n fanfare
call by bugles or trumpets; showy display; spectacular public display
n farce
broad comedy; mockery; humorous play full of silly things happening; ADJ. farcical
n fastidious
difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky
s squeamish
easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.
n fatalism
belief that events are determined by forces or fates beyond one's control; ADJ. fatalistic; CF. fatal: causing death
fathom
comprehend; investigate; determine the depth of; N. unit of measurement for the depth of water
s fathomless
too deep to be measured or understood; unfathomable
n fatuous
"smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity
fatuousness"
fauna
animals of a period or region; CF. flora
n fawning
courting favor by cringing and flattering; V. fawn: exhibit affection as a dog; seek favor or attention by obsequiousness
s court
attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite; attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster
n faze
disconcert; dismay; embarrass
feasible
practical; able to be carried out; practicable
n febrile
feverish
n fecundity
fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young
s fertile
"producing many young
fruits
s fruitful
producing results; profitable; prolific; producing in abundance
feign
pretend
n feint
trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw away defensive action; V.
s shift
change position or place; exchange (one thing) for another; change in direction or position; Ex. shift the stolen goods; N. group of workers which takes turns with other groups; working period of such a group
n felicitous
(of a word or remark) apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
n felicity
"happiness; appropriateness (of a remark
choice
s feline
of a member of the cat family; N.
n fell
cruel; (of a disease) deadly
n fell
cut or knock down (a tree or a person); bring down (with a missile)
felon
person convicted of a grave crime; CF. felony: serious crime
n feral
(of an animal) not domestic; wild
n ferment
agitation; commotion(noisy and excited activity); unrest (of a political kind); V. produce by fermentation; undergo fermentation; cause (a state of trouble)
s fermentation
chemical reaction that splits complex organic compounds; unrest; agitation
n ferret
drive or hunt out of hiding; hunt with ferrets; drive out (as from a hiding place); expel; uncover or discover by searching; Ex. ferret out the secret; N. small fierce animal which catches rats and rabbits by going into their holes
n fervent
ardent; zealous; hot
n fervid
ardent; zealous; hot
s impassioned
(of speech) filled with passion; fervent
n fervor
glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
n fester
rankle; produce irritation or resentment; (of a cut or wound) generate pus or rot; Ex. His insult festered in my mind for days.
festive
joyous; celebratory; relating to a feast or festival
n fete(f\^ete)
honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a feast; N. (outdoor) festival or feast; CF. feast
n fetid(foetid)
malodorous; foul
s foul
very bad or disagreeable; very dirty; Ex. foul smell/flavor/temper/language/air/deed/weather/means; N. act against the rules; V. make or become foul; commit a foul
s fetish(fetich)
object believed to have spiritual powers; object of excessive attention or reverence; CF. fetishism
n fetter
shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or shackle for the foot of a prisoner; CF. foot
n fiasco
total failure; CF. bottle
n fiat
command; arbitrary order; Ex. presidential fiat; CF. let it be done
fickle
changeable (in affections or friendship); faithless
n fictitious
imaginary; non-existent; purposely invented to deceive; untrue; Ex. fictitious name/boyfriend; CF. fictional
fidelity
loyalty; accuracy
n figment
invention; something invented; imaginary thing; Ex. figment of your imagination
figurative
not literal but metaphorical; using a figure(impression) of speech
s figure
written symbols; number; amount represented in numbers; outline or silhouette of a thing or human body; person (well-known); impression; diagram; pattern; group in a dance; Ex. figure of speech; V. calculate with numbers; adorn with figures; appear; consider; Ex. My name did not figure in the list.
n figurine
small ornamental statuette(very small statue)
n filch
steal (things of small value)
s pilfer
steal things of small value; filch; snitch
n filial
pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter; Ex. filial respect
n filibuster
block legislation or prevent action in a lawmaking body by making very slow long speeches; N; freebooter
s freebooter
pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich
s bust
"piece of sculpture showing a person's head
shoulders
n filigree
delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork
s lace
cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges (as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace
n filing
particle removed by a file
finale
conclusion; concluding part
n finesse
delicate skill; V: handle with finesse
n finicky
too particular; fussy; difficult to please; too concerned with unimportant details or quality; Ex. finicky about her food
s fussy
fastidious; finicky; easily upset
s fuss:
trouble or worry over trifles; make nervous; pay too much attention to; N: needless concern or worry (about a trivial thing); anxious nervous condition; display of attention; Ex. make a fuss over the baby
finite
limited
n firebrand
piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker; person who stirs up trouble
s hothead
person who does things too quickly without thinking; ADJ. hotheaded
fissure
crevice; crack
n fitful
spasmodic; intermittent; irregular
s fit
sudden outburst of an illness or feeling; convulsion caused by epilepsy
n flaccid
flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles
s limp
walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak
n flag
droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ. flagging; CF. unflagging
s droop
bend or hang downward; become weakened; Ex. His shoulders drooped with tiredness; N.
flagrant
"conspicuously wicked
bad
outrage
act of extreme violence or viciousness; resentful anger; V: commit an outrage on; produce anger in; ADJ. outrageous: offensive
n flail
beat with or as if with a flail; move wildly; thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about; N: threshing tool consisting of a stick swinging from the end of a long handle
s thresh
beat (cereal plants) with a machine or flail to separate the grains from the straw
s toss
throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion; flip (a coin) to decide something
n flair
talent
n flamboyant
ornate; highly elaborate; richly colored; ostentatious; showy; CF. flame
n flaunt
"display ostentatiously; Ex. ``Honey
if you've got it
n flay
strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly
n fleck
spot; mark with flecks; N: small mark or spot
n fledgling(fledgeling)
inexperienced; N: young bird that has acquired wing feathers and is learning to fly; inexperienced person
n fleece
wool coat of a sheep; V: shear the fleece from; rob by a trick; swindle; plunder
s shear
remove (fleece or hair) by cutting; remove the hair or fleece from; cut with or as if with shears; N: shears; pair of scissors
s trickster
person who cheats people
n flick
light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light quick blow; strike with a light quick blow (as from a whip); Ex. flick the switch
s flicker
burn unsteadily or fitfully; move waveringly; N: flickering movement or light; brief sensation; Ex. flicker of excitement
s flutter
"(of a bird with large wings) wave (the wings) lightly
rapidly
n flinch
hesitate; shrink back (in fear of something unpleasant); Ex. She did not flinch in the face of danger.
h 20
n flippant
lacking proper seriousness; Ex. flippant remarks about death; N. flippancy
s flip
"send (something) spinning
often into the air
n flit
fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
n floe
flat mass of floating ice
flora
plants of a region or era
s florescence
condition or period of flowering
n florid
ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose
s flush
redden; blush; flow suddenly and abundantly; wash out by a rapid brief flow of water; N: reddish tinge; blush; brief rush; rush of strong feeling; Ex. flush of pride; ADJ: having surfaces in the same plane; even; blushing
s blush
become red in the face (from embarrassment or shame); become red or rosy; N.
s tinge
give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N: slight degree of a color or quality; Ex. tinged with grey/jealousy
s tint
slight degree of color; V: give a tint to
s flowery
full of flowers; full of ornate expressions
n flotsam
drifting wreckage
s jetsam
things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)
n flounder
"struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter (as in water
mud
s thrash
beat with a whip or flail; defeat utterly; talk about thoroughly in order to find the answer; move wildly or violently; Ex. The fishes thrashed about in the net.
flourish
grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave; brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the sun. N: showy movement or gesture; embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in handwriting)
n flout
reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules
s curb
chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain
fluctuate
waver; shift; rise and fall as if in waves; change or vary irregularly
fluency
smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent
n fluke
unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune; accidental stroke of good luck; ADJ. fluky
n fluster
confuse; make nervous and confused; N.
n fluted
having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column
s groove
long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the movement of something; Ex. groove of the record
s stammer
speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
n flux
flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux
n fodder
"coarse food for cattle
horses
n foible
small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble
n foil
contrast; one that by contrast enhances the distinctive characteristics of another
n foil
defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart; CF. fail
n foist
insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion; palm off; pass off as genuine or worthy; CF. fist
s palm
conceal in the palm of the hand; palm off: pass off; Ex. palm off some bad oranges onto the lady/the painting as a real Renoir
s pass_off
present falsely; represent falsely to be
n foliage
masses of leaves; CF. defoliate
n foment
stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or unpleasant)
n foolhardy
rash; reckless; foolishly daring
n foppish
vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance
n foray
raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.
n forbearance
patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from (in a generous and forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear to send him to prison
n ford
place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.
n forebears(forbears)
ancestors
foreboding
premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V. forebode: be a warning of (something unpleasant)
n forensic
suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in legal proceedings and the tracking of criminals; Ex. forensic science/medicine
s forum
public square of an ancient Roman city; public place for open discussion; court of law
foreshadow
give an indication beforehand; be a sign of (what is coming); portend; prefigure
s prefigure
be a sign of; foreshadow
s forerunner
predecessor; one that comes before and indicates the approach of another
foresight
ability to foresee future happenings; prudence in providing for the future
forestall
prevent by taking action in advance
s nuptial
of marriage or the wedding ceremony; N; nuptials; wedding ceremony
s forfeit
something surrendered as punishment for a crime or breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture
s forge
counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by heating in a forge and hammering into shape; move with a sudden increase of speed or power; Ex. forged ahead in the last two years; N: furnace where metals are heated
forgo(forego)
give up; do without
forlorn
sad and lonely; wretched; desolate
formality
ceremonious quality; ceremonious adherence to rules; something done just for form's sake; Ex. mere formality
formidable
menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question
s menace
threat; V: threaten
n forsake
desert; abandon; renounce
n forswear
renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure
forte
strong point or special talent in a person's character
n forthright
straightforward; direct; frank
s forthcoming
happening in the near future; ready; willing to help; Ex. No answer was forthcoming.
fortitude
bravery; courage; strength of mind
n fortuitous
accidental; by chance; N. fortuity
n foster
rear; bring up (for a certain period only); encourage; promote the development of (feelings or ideas); Ex. help foster friendly relations; ADJ: giving parental care although not related by blood; Ex. foster parents
n founder
fail completely; sink; CF. flounder
founder
person who establishes (an organization or business)
n fracas
brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number of people take part; melee
n fractious
unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex. fractious horse
frail
weak; N. frailty
franchise
right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory
n frantic
wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic with fear
fraudulent
cheating; deceitful; Ex. fraudulent means; N. fraud: deception; swindle
n fraught
filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight
n fray
brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have loose threads developing; cause to become worn out (a person's temper or nerves); CF. rub
n frenetic(phrenetic)
frenzied; frantic
n frenzied
madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement
n fresco
painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)
s paste
smooth viscous mixture as of flour(powder made by crushing grain) and water (used as an adhesive); V: cause to adhere by applying paste
s pastry
paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)
s plaster
paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls; V.
n fret
be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful
friction
clash or conflict in opinion; rubbing against
n frieze
ornamental horizontal band on a wall
frigid
intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone
n fritter
waste (time or money on unimportant things)
frivolous
lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently carefree; unworthy of serious attention; relatively unimportant; trivial
s self-indulgence
excessive indulgence of one's own desire
s carefree
free from worries; having no problems
n frolicsome
prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky
s frolic
play and jump about happily; frisk; Ex. frolicking young lambs
n frond
fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
s litter
waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter
n fructify
bear fruit; produce fruit
frugality
thrift; economy; ADJ. frugal: practicing economy; costing little; inexpensive
fruition
bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization; Ex. come to/be brought to fruition
frustrate
thwart; defeat; prevent from accomplishing a purpose
fugitive
fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large
n fulcrum
support on which a lever rests or pivots
n fulminate
thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation
n fulsome
disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome praise/expressions of admire
fumble
move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in search of something); mishandle or drop a ball that is in play; bungle; botch; spoil by mishandling; N.
n functionary
official (who performs a particular function)
s functional
made for practical use only (without decoration); functioning; Ex. functional modern furniture; CF. functionalism
fundamental
basic; primary; essential
n funereal
sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
n furor
frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury
n furtive
stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive glance
s sneak
"move
give
s underhand(underhanded)
done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)
s sly
clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's intentions
n fusillade
"simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles
questions
fusion
union; coalition; V. fuse
futile
useless; hopeless; ineffectual
n gadfly
animal-biting fly; irritating person
n gaffe
social blunder
h 21
n gainsay
deny
n gait
manner of walking or running; speed
galaxy
"large isolated system of stars
such as the Milky Way; collection of brilliant personalities"
gale
"windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughters
tears); Ex. gale of laughter"
n gall
bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; ´ãÁó(bile); CF. gall bladder
n gall
annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse); exasperation
galleon
large three-masted sailing ship
s galley
low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
s clipper
sailing vessel built for great speed
s pinnace
small boat
s clip
cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener
n galvanize
stimulate or shock by an electric current; stimulate by shock; shock into action; stir up; coat with rust-resistant zinc by using electricity
s galvanic
of the production of electricity by the action of an acid on a metal; having the effect of an electric shock; Ex. galvanic cell; galvanic effect; CF. Luigi Galvani
n gambit
opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action made to produce a future advantage
s ploy
strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management ploy
n gambol
romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
s romp
play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N.
s zest
outer skin of an orange used for giving a special taste to food; spice; interest; flavor; spirited enjoyment; Ex. add a certain zest to the affair; Ex. zest for life
n gamely
in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game
n gamut
entire range
n gape
open widely; open the mouth wide; stare wonderingly with the mouth open; CF. agape
n garbled
mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up or distort (a message) to such an extent as to make misleading or unintelligible
s jumble
mix in a confused way
n gargantuan
huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel
gargoyle
waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building
n garish
overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
s trim
make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by removing what is unnecessary; ornament; decorate (round the edges); Ex. trim the cost; Ex. jacket trimmed with fur; N. ADJ: tidy; in good order
n garner
gather; store up; amass
n garnish
decorate; add a garnish to; decorate (food or drink) with small items such as lemon slices; N.
n garrulous
loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity
n gastronomy
art and science of preparing and serving good food; CF. gastronome
gauche
clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth
n gaudy
flashy; showy
s flashy
showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance
s gild
cover with a thin layer of gold
n gaunt
lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren
n gavel
hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.
s bid
command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom
n gawk
stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe
n gazette
official periodical publication; newspaper
genealogy
record of descent; lineage; ancestry; study of ancestry
generality
vague statement; general statement which is not detailed; quality of being general; greater part; most; Ex. generality of people
generate
cause; produce; create
generic
characteristic of an entire class or species; of a genus
s genus
"division of animals or plants
below a family and above a species"
genesis
beginning; origin
n geniality
cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy; ADJ. genial: cheerful and good-tempered
genre
particular variety of art or literature
n genteel
well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance of refinement; Ex. genteel poverty
n gentility
those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel
s breed
produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant
s crossbreed
hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
s well-bred
of good upbringing; well-mannered and refined
n gentry
people of standing(rank or position); people of good family or high social position; class of people just below nobility
s gentle
kindly; soft; mild; of good family
n genuflect
bend the knee as in worship
germane
pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; appropriate
n germinal
pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea
s germ
earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something that may develop into something larger or more important; microbe
germinate
cause to sprout; sprout
s sprout
begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new growth on a plant; shoot
s shoot
new growth from a plant
gerontocracy
government ruled by old people
s gerontology
study of the sociological phenomena associated with old age
s geriatrics
medical treatment and care of old age
n gerrymander
change voting district lines in order to favor a political party; N. CF. Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander
n gestate
evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth
s natal
connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF. postnatal
n gesticulation
motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures (while speaking)
n ghastly
horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast
n gibberish
nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or writing; babbling
n gibe
mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks
n giddy
light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy; causing dizziness; Ex. giddy youth; Ex. giddy climb/height
n gingerly
very carefully; ADJ.
n girth
distance around something; circumference
n gist
essence; main point; substance
glacial
like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg
n glaring
(of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly bright; shining intensely and blindingly
s glare
shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.
n glaze
"cover with a thin and shiny surface; apply a glaze to; N: thin
smooth
n glean
gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty
glib
fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick
s slick
make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib
s sleek
smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
n glimmer
shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady light; faint indication; Ex. glimmer of hope
s glitter
shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex. glittering diamond ring; N: sparkling light; attractiveness; glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on the waves
s glamor
compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous
n gloat
express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels.
n gloss_over
explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults
s gloss
brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression; V.
glossary
brief explanation of words used in the text
n glossy
smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on a surface; superficially attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners
s mat
not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
s finish
surface texture; completeness of execution
s finished
properly made and complete; Ex. finished product/performance
n glower
scowl; glare; look or stare angrily
s scowl
frown angrily; N: angry frown
n glut
overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply
n glutinous
sticky; viscous; gluey
glutton
someone who eats too much; ADJ. gluttonous: given to gluttony; greedy; CF. gluttony: habit of eating too much
n gnarled
twisted
s gnarl
protruding knot on a tree; V.
gnome
dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure hoards
goad
urge on; drive with a goad; cause (someone) to do something by continued annoyance; Ex. They goaded him into doing it by saying he was a coward; N: sharp-pointed stick for driving cattle; stimulus; CF. annoy continually
n gorge
narrow canyon; steep rocky cleft; ravine (made by a stream which runs through it)
n gorge
stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful
n gory
bloody; N. gore: blood (from a wound)
s shudder
shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
n gossamer
sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb
s sheer
pure; thin and transparent; very steep
h 22
n gouge
tear out; cut out (as if with a gouge); Ex. gouge his eyes out; N: chisel for cutting out hollow areas in wood
n gouge
overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex. gouge the public; CF. usury
n gourmand
epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink
n gourmet
connoisseur of food and drink; epicure
graduated
"arranged by degrees (of height
difficulty
s graduate
arrange into categories or grades; divide into marked intervals (for use in measurement); Ex. graduated ruler
n granary
storehouse for grain
grandeur
impressiveness; stateliness; majesty
s stately
formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
grandiloquent
(of a person or speech) using high sounding or important-sounding language; pompous; bombastic
grandiose
affectedly grand; pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously exaggerated; impressive; great in size or scope; grand; Ex. grandiose ideas
s high-flown
highly pretentious or inflated
s matin\'ee(matinee)
dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon
n granulate
form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle
graphic
pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described
s vivid
(of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking lifelike mental images; Ex. vivid red hair/description
s graphite
black form of carbon used in lead pencils
n grapple
wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and struggle with; Ex. grapple with the burglar
n grate
make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred by rubbing against a rough surface; Ex. grated cheese N: framework of metal bars to hold fuel in a fireplace
gratify
please; satisfy; Ex. gratify a desire
n gratis
free; without charge; ADJ.
gratuitous
given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done without good reason; Ex. gratuitous comment
gratuity
tip
gravity
seriousness; ADJ. grave
gregarious
sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group
grievance
cause of complaint; complaint
n grill
question severely; cook on a grill; broil; N: cooking surface of parallel metal bars
s broil
cook by direct heat; N.
s grim
causing great fear; unrelenting; determined in spite of fear; Ex. grim smile
n grimace
"facial distortion to show feeling such as pain
disgust
n grisly
ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies
s groom
man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush (an animal)
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or amusement)
s hideous
repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex. hideous face/scream
n grotto
small cavern
n grouse
complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump chickenlike game bird
s grumble
complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.
s mutter
utter (complaining words) indistinctly in low tones
s rumble
make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder or stomach)
n grovel
crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate; behave in a servile manner
grudging
unwilling; reluctant; stingy(giving reluctantly)
n gruel
thin liquid porridge
s porridge
soft food made by boiling oatmeal
s oatmeal
crushed oats used for making porridge
n grueling
exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race
n gruesome
grisly; horrible
n gruff
rough-mannered; (of a voice) rough; hoarse
s grunt
utter a deep guttural sound (as a pig does); N.
n guffaw
boisterous laughter; V.
guile
deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning; Ex. persuade her by guile
s cunning
clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit
guileless
without deceit
guise
outward appearance; costume; Ex. in a new guise
n gull
trick; deceive; hoodwink; N: person who is easily tricked; dupe
gullible
easily deceived
n gustatory
affecting or relating to the sense of taste
n gusto
eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm
gusty
windy
s gust
strong abrupt rush of wind; V. CF. bluster
n guy
cable or chain attached to something that needs to be braced or steadied; CF. guide
s topple
become unsteady and fall down
s overthrow
topple; N.
s overturn
turn over; capsize; topple
s capsize
(of a boat) turn over
gyroscope
"apparatus used to maintain balance
ascertain direction
n habituate
accustom or familiarize; addict
n hackles
"hairs on back and neck
especially of a dog; Ex. make someone's hackles rise"
s growl
"low
guttural
hackneyed
commonplace; trite
n haggard
wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the rescued miners
n haggle
argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain)
n halcyon
calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days
n hale
healthy
s hail
frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate hail
n hallowed
blessed; consecrated; Ex. hallowed ground; V. hallow: set apart as holy
hallucination
delusion; false idea; false perception of objects with a compelling sense of their reality; objects so perceived; V. hallucinate; ADJ. hallucinatory
n halting
hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act with uncertainty; falter; hesitate; waver; stop
s waver
move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady in decision or movement; Ex. wavering between accepting and refusing
hamper
obstruct; prevent the free movement of; N: ½Ä·áÇ°À̳ª ÀǺ¹ µîÀ» ´ã´Â ¹Ù±¸´Ï
n hap
chance; luck
haphazard
random; by chance; happening in an unplanned manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town
n hapless
unfortunate; luckless
n harangue
"long
passionate
harass
annoy by repeated attacks
harbinger
forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
harbor
give protection (by giving food and shelter); provide a refuge for; hide; keep in mind (thoughts or feelings); Ex. harbor a grudge/criminal; N: place of shelter; refuge
s habitat
natural home of a plant or animal; CF. habitation
n hardy
(of people or animals) sturdy; robust; (of plants) able to stand inclement(stormy) weather
n harping
tiresome dwelling on a subject; V. harp: dwell on(think or speak a lot about) tediously
n harrowing
agonizing; distressing; traumatic; V. harrow: break up and level (soil) with a harrow; inflict great distress on; agonize; N: farming machine to break up the earth
harry
"harass
annoy
hatch
deck opening; lid covering a deck opening; V: emerge from an egg; produce (young) from an egg
s latch
fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch
s notch
V-shaped cut in a surface; V.
haughtiness
pride; arrogance; ADJ. haughty
s haunt
(of a spirit) visit (a place); come to mind continually; visit (a place) regularly; frequent; Ex. haunted house; Ex. haunted by his last words; N: place much frequented
n haven
place of safety; refuge; harbor; Ex. tax haven
s havoc
widespread damage; disorder; chaos
hazardous
dangerous
s hazard
venture; put in danger; risk; Ex. hazard a guess; N: possible source of danger
hazy
slightly obscure; misty; unclear; N. haze: light mist or smoke; confused state of mind
n headlong
hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.
s headfirst
moving with the head leading; headlong
n headstrong
willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to have one's own way; CF. no 'excessive'
n heckler
person who verbally harasses others; V. heckle: verbally harass as with gibes (by interrupting a speaker or speech)
hedonist
one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life; CF. hedonism: practice of living one's life purely for pleasure
heedless
not noticing; disregarding
s heed
pay attention to; N: close attention
n hegemony
dominance especially of one nation over others
n heinous
atrocious; wicked; hatefully bad; Ex. heinous crime
s gross
total; fragrant; clearly wrong; (of people's behavior) coarse; corpulent; Ex. gross insolence/behavior; V: earn as a total amount; N: 12 dozens
s helm
steering wheel of a ship; position of control
herbivorous
grain-eating; CF. herbivore
heresy
opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion; ADJ. heretical; CF. heretic
n hermetic
sealed by fusion so as to be airtight; airtight
n hermetic
concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult
s sterile
incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V. sterilize
n hermitage
home of a hermit
n herpetologist
one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians
n heterodox
(of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional
heterogeneous
dissimilar; mixed; not homogeneous; consisting of dissimilar elements or plants
n hew
cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.
n heyday
time of greatest success or power; prime
s prime
period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V: make ready; prepare
s primary
first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first
s primal
first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man's primal innocence
s primate
group of mammals including humans
n hiatus
gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break
h 23
n hibernal
wintry; wintery; of or like winter
hibernate
sleep throughout the winter; N. hibernation
hierarchy
arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks; body of persons having authority
s totem
"animal
plant
hieroglyphic
picture writing; ADJ.
n hilarity
boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ. hilarious: full of laughter
n hindmost
furthest behind; farthest to the rear
s wage
begin and continue (a war)
hindrance
block; obstacle; V. hinder
n hinterlands
back country; inner part of a country; OP. foreland
n hireling
one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously); one who works solely for compensation; Ex. hireling politician
n hirsute
hairy; having a lot of hair
n histrionic
theatrical; excessively dramatic or emotional; affected; of actors or acting; N. histrionics: histrionic behavior
s historic
important in history; Ex. historic battle
s historical
connected with history; based on events in history (whether regarded as important or not)
n hoard
stockpile; accumulate for future use; N: supply stored for future use
n hoary
white with age
n hoax
trick which makes someone take action; practical joke; Ex. hoax mail; V.
n holocaust
destruction by fire; CF. burnt whole; CF. Holocaust
n holster
leather pistol case (that hangs on a belt around the waist)
homage
honor; tribute; great respect; Ex. pay/do homage to
n homeostasis
tendency of a system or organism to maintain relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF. homeo-: constant; Ex. homeotherm
homespun
domestic; made at home; spun or woven at home; simple and ordinary; Ex. homespun philosophy
s spin
"rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton
wool
n homily
sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic
homogeneous
of the same kind; uniform in composition throughout
n hone
sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a tool
n hoodwink
deceive; delude
n horde
crowd; swarm
s swarm
large group of insects moving in a mass; crowd of people or animals; V: move in a crowd or mass
n hortatory
encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort
n horticultural
"pertaining to cultivation of gardens; N. horticulture: science or art of cultivating fruits
vegetables
hostility
unfriendliness; hatred; enmity; ADJ. hostile
n hovel
shack; small wretched house
s hut
crude dwelling; shack
s shack
crude cabin
s shed
small roofed structure for storage and shelter; V: pour forth; lose by natural process; repel without allowing penetration; radiate; cast; Ex. shed tears/light/water/skin/leaves
n hover
hang about; (of birds or aircraft) stay in the air in one place; (of people) wait nearby; stay around one place; waver; be in an uncertain state
n hubbub
confused uproar; loud noise; din
n hubris
arrogance; excessive self-conceit
n hue
color; aspect; Ex. opinions of every hue
n hue_and_cry
outcry; loud cry or clamor; strong protest; Ex. hue and cry against the new rule
humane
marked by kindness or consideration; kind and compassionate; humanitarian
humanitarian
one devoted to the promotion of human welfare; CF. humanism
n humdrum
dull; monotonous
humid
damp; N. humidity
n humility
humbleness of spirit
s humble
of low rank or position; modest; having a low opinion of oneself and a high opinion of others; unassuming; not proud; V. humiliate: make humble; cause to feel ashamed or to lose the respect of others
n hummock
small hill; hillock
n humus
substance or rich soil formed by decaying vegetable matter; CF. soil
n hurtle
crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling runaway train
n husband
use sparingly; conserve; save; Ex. husband one's energy; CF. house holder
n husbandry
frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman
hybrid
mongrel; mixed breed; V. hybridize
s mongrel
plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.
s pedigree
line of ancestors; ancestry; lineage; ADJ. (of an animal) descended from of a chosen family; Ex. pedigree dog; CF. crane's foot
n hydrophobia
fear of water; rabies
s rabies
disease passed on by the bite of an infected animal (causing madness and death)
s hygiene
science and practice of the promotion and preservation of health; ADJ. hygienic: showing careful attention to cleanness (to prevent disease); Ex. hygienic condition
n hyperbole
exaggeration; overstatement; ADJ. hyperbolic: of hyperbole; of a hyperbola
hypercritical
excessively exacting; too critical (without noticing good qualities)
n hypochondriac
person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness; ADJ. CF. hypochondria: neurosis that one is or is becoming ill; CF. abdomen
hypocritical
pretending to be virtuous; deceiving; N. hypocrisy: profession of beliefs one does not possess; CF. hypocrite
hypothetical
based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed; N. hypothesis
n ichthyology
study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish
icon(ikon)
religious image; idol; image or representation
n iconoclastic
attacking cherished traditions; N. iconoclast: one who attacks traditional ideas; one who destroys sacred images
ideology
system of ideas characteristic of a group or culture
n idiom
expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic
idiosyncrasy
"individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral peculiarity; eccentricity; attitude
behavior
n idolatry
worship of idols; excessive admiration or devotion; ADJ. idolatrous
n idyllic
charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene
s idyll(idyl)
short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy period of life (in the country); scene from such a time; Ex. idyll of two young lovers
n igneous
produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks) formed from lava; Ex. igneous meteorite
ignite
kindle; light; catch fire or set fire to
n ignoble
unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed
n ignominy
deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat
illicit
illegal
n illimitable
infinite; limitless
illuminate
brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten; enable to understand; Ex. illuminating remarks
illusion
misleading vision or visual image; false idea or belief; CF. delusion
illusive
deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive
illusory
illusive; deceptive; not real
imbalance
lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion
s disproportion
lack of proportion (between the parts); ADJ. disproportionate
n imbecility
weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N. imbecile: stupid person; fool
imbibe
drink in
n imbroglio
complicated situation (as in a play); painful or complex misunderstanding (as in a play); entanglement; confused mass (as of papers); V. embroil
n imbue
saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings
h 24
immaculate
spotless; flawless; absolutely clean
s tenant
one that pays rent to use property owned by another
s tenancy
possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant's occupancy
imminent
impending; near at hand
immobility
state of being immovable
n immolate
offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)
immune
resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity
n immure
imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall
immutable
unchangeable
impair
injure; hurt; damage
n impale
pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear
impalpable
imperceptible(not easily understood); intangible; OP. palpable: tangible; easily perceptible
impartial
not biased; fair; N. impartiality
s impart
grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart
impassable
not able to be traveled or crossed
impasse
predicament(dangerous condition) from which there is no escape; situation allowing for no further progress
impassive
without feeling; expressionless; imperturbable; stoical; Ex. impassive face
n impeach
charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a witness's credibility
n impeccable
faultless
s credential
evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.
impecunious
without money
impede
hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block
s retard
delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a child) slower in development
impediment
hindrance; stumbling-block; speech defect preventing clear articulation; Ex. speech impediment
impel
drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action
impending
nearing; approaching; about to happen
impenetrable
not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding; impossible to understand; Ex. impenetrable mystery
impenitent
not repentant
imperative
absolutely necessary; that must be done; critically important; expressing command; Ex. It is imperative that; N: something that must be done
imperceptible
unnoticeable; impossible to perceive; undetectable
imperial
like an emperor; related to an empire; CF. imperialism
s imperil
put in danger
n imperious
domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor
impermeable
impervious; not permitting passage through its substance; impossible to permeate
impertinent
insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence
imperturbable
unshakably calm; placid
s collected
composed; calm; self-possessed
n impervious
impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being affected (in one's opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism
impetuous
violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful thought; Ex. impetuous decision
impetus
moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse
impiety
irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety
n impinge
infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with; Ex. The effects are impinging on every aspect of our lives.
impious
irreverent
implacable
incapable of being pacified; impossible to appease; Ex. implacable enemy
implausible
unlikely (to be true); unbelievable; Ex. implausible alibi
implement
put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with tools; Ex. implement the plan/suggestion; N: tool or instrument
implicate
incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be involved (in a crime); Ex. implicate someone in the crime
implication
something hinted at or suggested; implying; implicating
implicit
understood but not stated; implied; unquestioning and complete; Ex. implicit trust
implode
burst inward; CF. vaccum tube
implore
beg
imply
suggest a meaning not expressed; signify
n impolitic
not wise; not expedient; not politic
imponderable
weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound
import
significance; importance; meaning
s significant
expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant
n importunate
urging; always demanding; troublesomely urgent or persistent
n importune
beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way)
imposture
assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor
s masquerade
wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume party or ball at which masks are worn; pretense; disguise
impotent
weak; ineffective; lacking in physical strength or power
s crave
desire; want intensely
n imprecation
curse; swearword
n impregnable
invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take
s impregnate
make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate
impromptu
without previous preparation; off the cuff(end of a sleeve); on the spur of the moment
impropriety
improperness; unsuitableness
improvident
thriftless; not providing for the future
improvise
compose on the spur of the moment
imprudent
lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious
impudence
impertinence; insolence
n impugn
dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight
n impuissance
powerlessness; feebleness
impunity
freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish
n impute
attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation
inadvertently
unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
s oversee
watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight: unintentional failure to notice or do something; supervision
inalienable
not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex. inalienable rights
n inane
silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity
inanimate
lifeless; not animate
n inarticulate
speechless; producing indistinct speech; not articulate; not expressing oneself clearly
s speechless
unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
inaugurate
begin formally; install in office; induct into office by a formal ceremony; N. inauguration; ADJ. inaugural
n incandescent
strikingly bright; shining with intense heat; emitting visible light when heated; Ex. incandescent light bulb; CF. candle
n incantation
singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant
s chant
tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant
s charm
quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch
s bewitch
cast a spell over; captivate completely
s recite
repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation
s recital
act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)
n incapacitate
disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity
incarcerate
imprison
incarnate
endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody
incarnation
act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex. previous incarnation/reincarnation
s personify
represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification
incendiary
arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb
incense
enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned to produce a pleasant odor
incentive
spur; motive; something which encourages one to greater activity
inception
start; beginning
incessant
uninterrupted; unceasing
h 25
n inchoate
"(of desire
wish
incidence
rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex. high incidence of infant mortality
incidental
not essential; minor; N: something incidental
s incident
event; event that causes a crisis
s incinerate
burn to ashes
incipient
beginning; in an early stage
incisive
(appreciatively) cutting; sharp; Ex. incisive remarks; V. incise: make a cut into
incite
arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist; Ex. incite a riot/the crowd to rebellion
n inclement
stormy; unkind; unmerciful; CF. clement
incline
slope; slant; Ex. steep incline
inclined
tending or leaning toward; bent; V. incline: slant; dispose; be disposed; tend
s tend
have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply one's attention; attend
inclusive
tending to include all; all-inclusive; Ex. inclusive charge
incognito
with identity concealed; using an assumed name; ADJ.
incoherent
unintelligible; muddled; unable to express one's thoughts in an orderly manner; illogical; lacking cohesion; not coherent
incommodious
not spacious; inconvenient
incompatible
inharmonious; N. incompatibility
incongruity
lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous: lacking in harmony; inappropriate
s attire
clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
inconsequential
insignificant; unimportant
inconsistency
state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness; ADJ. inconsistent: displaying a lack of consistency; erratic; contradictory; incompatible
incontinent
lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious
incontrovertible
indisputable; impossible to dispute; not open to question; unquestionable
incorporate
introduce something into a larger whole; include; embody; give material form to; ADJ.
n incorporeal
without a material body; insubstantial
incorrigible
uncorrectable
incredulity
tendency to disbelief
incredulous
withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief
increment
increase
incriminate
accuse of or implicate in a crime; serve as evidence against; cause to seem or make guilty of a crime; Ex. incriminating evidence
n incrustation
hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust
incubate
hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for development; be holding in one's body an infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:disease
s inasmuch_as
since; owing to the fact that
incubus
burden; very worriying problem; mental care; nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus
inculcate
teach (ideas or principles); instill
incumbent
obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently holding an office; N: person who holds an office
incur
bring upon oneself
incursion
temporary invasion; CF. excursion: short journey
indefatigable
tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting tired
indelible
not able to be erased
n indemnify
make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured
indentation
notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth
n indenture
bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind by indenture; N: contract binding one party into the service of another for a specified time (as between an apprentice and his master)
indeterminate
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
indicative
suggestive; implying; serving to indicate
indices
signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student's potential; CF. index: something that reveals or indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index
indict
charge; N. indictment
indifferent
unmoved or unconcerned by; having no interest in; mediocre; neither good nor bad
indigence
poverty
indigenous
native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World
indigent
poor; destitute
indignation
anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation; ADJ. indignant
s righteous
morally upright; just
s rightful
legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
indignity
"treatment or situation that causes shame or loss of dignity
respect; offensive or insulting treatment; humiliating or degrading treatment; Ex. I suffered the indignity of having to say that in front of them."
indiscriminate
choosing at random; confused; not based on careful distinctions
indisputable
too certain to be disputed; beyond doubt
indissoluble
permanent; impossible to dissolve or disintegrate
indite
write; compose
indolent
lazy
indomitable
unconquerable; unyielding
n indubitable
unable to be doubted; which cannot be doubted; unquestionable
induce
persuade; lead to do something; bring about; N. inducement
inductive
pertaining to induction or proceeding from the specific to the general
s induct
place formally in office; install; admit as a member; initiate; N. induction: inducting; process of deriving general principles from particular facts
indulgent
humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence
s indulge
yield to; gratify; allow oneself a special pleasure; Ex. indulge one's every whim/a child/in a big cigarette; N. indulgence
s humor
indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality that makes something amusing; state of mind; mood; Ex. in a bad humor; Ex. out of humor
industrious
diligent; hard-working; N. industry
n inebriated
habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety
s inebriate
make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person
s intoxicate
make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated by all the money he might win
n ineffable
unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy
ineffectual
not effective; not having a desired effect; weak
n ineluctable
irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable
inept
unsuited; inappropriate; lacking skill; incompetent; CF. inapt: (of statements or ideas) inappropriate
inequity
unfairness; ADJ. inequitable
n inerrancy
infallibility
n inert
inactive; lacking power to move; unable to move or act; Ex. chemically inert; N. inertia: state of being inert; force which keeps a thing in the position or state
inevitable
unavoidable
n inexorable
relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable price rises
infallible
unerring; never making mistakes
infamous
notoriously bad; notorious; well known for being bad; Ex. infamous behavior; N: infamy: infamous act; evil fame or reputation
infantile
childish; infantlike
infer
deduce; conclude; N. inference
n infernal
pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of fiery heat or destruction
n infidel
unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion)
infiltrate
pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an organization) sneakily; Ex. infiltrate the troops into enemy territory; CF. infiltrator
s penetrate
enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand
infinitesimal
very small
infirmity
weakness
inflated
exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)
influx
flowing into
infraction
violation (of a rule or regulation); breach
h 26
infringe
violate (a law); encroach (the right of another person)
ingenious
marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N. ingenuity
s resourceful
"clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource
resourcefulness"
ingenuous
naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid
s ingenue
ing\'enue; young innocent girl
ingrained
deeply established; firmly rooted; Ex. ingrained dirt/prejudice
ingrate
ungrateful person (not expressing thanks)
n ingratiate
become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss
inherent
firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic
inhibit
restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent; N. inhibition
s inhibited
(of a person) unable to express what one really feels
s uninhibited
having no inhibitions; free in behavior and feelings
n inimical
(of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy
inimitable
matchless; not able to be imitated
iniquitous
wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity
initiate
begin; originate; receive into a group; introduce to a new field or activity; Ex. initiate someone into the mysteries of a secret religion; N: one who has been initiated
injurious
harmful; causing injury
n inkling
hint; slight indication
innate
inborn
innocuous
harmless
innovation
change; something newly introduced; introduction of something new; V. innovate: begin or introduce (something new); be creative; ADJ. innovative
n innuendo
indirect or subtle (derogatory) hint; insinuation; Ex. sexual innuendo
inopportune
untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly chosen
n inordinate
beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive; Ex. inordinate demands
inquisitor
questioner (especially harsh); investigator; person making an inquisition
s inquisitive
eager for knowledge; unduly curious
n insalubrious
unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place
s healthful
conducive to good health; Ex. healthful mountain air
s healthy
possessing good health; healthful
s wholesome
conducive to mental or physical health; healthful
insatiable
not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex. insatiable appetite
n inscrutable
difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious
n insensate
without feeling; lacking sense; foolish
n insensible
unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible
n insidious
treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading harmfully in a stealthy manner; Ex. insidious spreading of dry rot
insightful
discerning; perceptive
n insinuate
hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex. insinuate himself into the boss's favor; CF. ingratiate
s creep
move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.
s artful
exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
n insipid
lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character
insolence
impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ. insolent; CF. haughty + rude
insolvent
bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency
insomnia
wakefulness; inability to sleep
n insouciant
without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent
n instigate
start; urge; provoke; incite; Ex. instigate a search/quarrel
insubordination
disobedience; rebelliousness; ADJ. insubordinate
insubstantial
lacking substance; insignificant; frail; immaterial
n insularity
narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula
insuperable
insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties
s odds
chances; probability; disagreement; Ex. The odds are that it will rain. Ex. at odds with