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143 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
destitue (adj.)
not possessing the necessities of life, such as food, shelter, and clothing; needy; indigent

The severe earthquake killed hundreds of person and left thousands destitute.
economize (v.)
reduce expenses; be frugal

Consumers can economize by buying their milk in gallon containers
frugal (adj.)
1. barely enough; scanty

The old man had nothing to eat but bread and cheese; yet he offered to share this frugal meal with his visitor.

2. avoiding waste; economical; sparing; saving; thrifty

My weekly allowance for lunches and fares isn't much, but I can get by on it if I am frugal.
impoverish (v.)
make very poor; reduce to poverty; bankrupt; ruin; pauperize

The increase in dues of only a dollar a year will njot impoverish anyone.
indigence (n.)
poverty; penury

By hard work, countless thousands of Americans have raised themselves from indigence to wealth.
affluent (adj.)
very wealthy; rich; opulent

The new wing to the hospital is a gift from an affluent humanitarian.
avarice (n.)
excessive desire for wealth; greediness; cupidity

If manufacturers were to raise prices without justification, they could be accused of avarice.
avaricious (adj.)
greedy; grasping; covetous

An avaricious person likes to get and keep, but not to give or share.
covet (v.)
desire; long for; crave, especially something belonging to another

Jorge coveted his neighbor's farm but coulod not get her to sell it.
dowry (n.)
money, property, etc. that a bride brings to her husband

The dowry that his wife brought him enabled the Italian engraver Piranesi to devote himself completely to art.
financial (adj.)
having to do with money matters; monetary; pecuniary; fiscal

People who keep spending more than they earn usually get into financial difficulties.
fleece (v.)
(litterally,k to remove the wool from a sheep or a similar animal) deprive or strip of money or belongigns by fraud; charge excessively for goods or services; rob; cheat; swindle

If your sister paid $9000 fopr that car, she was fleeced. The mechanic says it is worth $5000.
hoard (v.)
save and conceal; accumulate; amass

Aunt Bonnie had a reputation as a miser who hoardede every penny she could get her hands on.
lavish (adj.)
1. too fre in giving, using, or spending; profuse; prodigal

The young heir was warned that he would soon have nothing left if he continued to be lavish with money.

2. given or spent too freely; very abundant; extravagant; profuse

Vera's composition is good, but it doesn't deserve the lavish praise that Linda gave it.
lucrative (adj.)
profitibale; moneymaking

Because the gift shop did not produce a sufficient profit, the owner decided to go into a more lucrative business.
means (n. pl.)
wealth; property; resources

To own an expensive home, a yacht, and a limo, you have to be a person of means.
opulence (n.)
wealth; riches; affluence


Dickens contrasts the opulence of France's nobility with the indigence of her peasants.
sumptuous (adj.)
involving large expense; luxurious; costly

The car with the leather upholstery and thick rugs is beautiful but a bit sumptuous for my simple tastes.
apprehensive (adj.)
expecting something unfavorable; afraid; anxious

Apprehensive parents telephoned the school when the class was late in getting home from the museum.
cower (v.)
draw back tremblingly; shrink or crouch in fear; cringe; recoil

If you stand up to your bullying sister instead of cowering before her, she may back down.
dastardly (adj.)
cowardly and mean

It was dastardly of the captain to desert the sinking vessel and leave the passengers to fend for themselves.
intimidate (v.)
make fearful or timid; frighten; force by fear; cow; bully

The younger children would not have given up the playing field so quickly if the older ones hadn't intimidated them.
poltroon (n.)
thorough coward; dastard; craven

Like the poltroon that he was, Tonseten hid under a bed when he saw a fight coming.
timid (adj.)
lacking courage or self-confidence; fearful; timorous; shy

If the other team challenges us, we should accept. Let's not be so timid!
trepidation (n.)
nervous agitation; fear; fright; trembling

I thought Carol would be nervous when she made her speech. but she delivered it without trepidation.
audacious (adj.)
1. bold; fearlessly daring

The audacious sea captain set a course for uncharted waters.

2. too bold; insolent; impudent

After we had waited for about twenty minutes, an audacious latecomer strolled up and tried to get in at the head of our line.
audacity (n.)
nerve; rashness; temerity

Oliver Twist, nine-year-old poorhouse inmate, was put inot solitary confinement when he had the audacity to ask for a second helping of porridge.
dauntless (adj.)
fearless; intrepid; very brave; valiant

The frightened sailors wanted to turn back, but their dauntless captain urged them to sail on.
exploit (n.)
heroic act; taring deet; feat

Amelia Earhart won worlwide fame for her exploits as an aviator.
fortitude (n.)
courage in facing danger, hardship, or pain; endurance; bravery; pluck; backbone; valor

The bronco that would not be broken threw all its riders. It had an indomitable will to be free.
pluck (adj.)
corageous; brave; valiant; valorous

After tow days on a life raft, the plucky survivors were rescued by a helicopter.
rash (adj.)
overhasty; toolhardy; reckless; impetuous; taking too much risk
alias (n.)
assumed name

Inspector Javert discovered that Monsieur Madeleine was not the mayr's real name but an alias for Jean valjean, the ex-convict.
alias (adv.)
otherwise called; otherwise known as

Jean Valjea, alias Monsieur Madeleine, was arrested by Inspector Javert.
clandestine (adj.)
carried on in secrecy and concealment; secret; covert; underhand; undercover

Before the Revolutionary War, a patriot underground organization used to hold clandestine meetings in Boston.
enigma (n.)
puzzling statement; riddle; mystery; puzzling problem or person

I have read the sentence several times but cannot understand it. Maybe you can help me with this enigma.
enigmatic (adj.)
mysterious; puzzling; obscure

Her statement is enigmatic; we cannot make head or tail of it.
latent (adj.)
present but not showing itself; hidden but capable of being brought to light; dormant; potential

A good education will help you discover and develop your latent talents.
lurk (v.)
1. be hidden; lie in ambush

2. move stealthily; sneak; slink

Katherine called the police when she noticed a stranger lurking behind her neighbor's garage.
seclude (v.)
shut up apart from others; confine in a place hard to reach; hide; cloister; sequester

To find a quiet place to study, Amy had to seclude herself in the attic.
stealthy (adj.)
secret in action or character; catlike; sly; furtive

The spy had to be very stealthy to get past the two guards without being noticed.
apprise (v.)
inform; notify; advise

The magazine has apprised it sreaders of an increase in rates beginning May 1.
avowal (n.)
open acknowledgement; frank declaration; admission; confession

The white flag of surrender is an avowal of defeat.
divulge (v.)
make public; disclose; reveal; tell

I told my secret only to Margaret because I knew she would not divulge it.
elicit (v.)
draw forth; bring out; evoke; extract

By questioning the witness, the attorney elicited that it was raining at the time of the accident.
enlighten (v.)
shed the light of truth and knowledge upon; free from ignorance; inform; instruct

The newcomer was going in the wrong direction until someone enlightened him that his room was at the other end of the hall.
accede (v.)
(usually followed by to) agree; assent; consent; acquiesce

When I asked my teacher if I might change my topic, he readily acceded to my request.
accord (n.)
agreement; harmony

Though we are in accord on what our goals should be, we differ onh the means for achieving them.
compact (n.)
agreement; understanding; accord; covenant

The states bordering on the Delaware River have entered into a compact for the sharing of its water.
compatible (adj.)
able to exist together harmoniously; in harmony; agreeable; congenial

Arthur and I can't be on the same committee. We're not compatible.
compromise (n.)
wettlement reached by a partial yielding on both sides

At first,the union and management were far apart on wages, but they finally came to a compromise.
conform (v.)
be in agreement or harmony with; act in accordance with accepted standards or customs; comply; obey

When a new style in clothes appears, do you hasten to conform?
consistent (adj.)
keeping to the same principles throughout; showing no contradiction; in accord; compatible; consonant

By bringing up an unrelated matter you are not being consistent with your previous statement that we should stick to the topic.
correspond (v.)
be in harmony; match; fit; agreed;be similar

The rank of second lieutenant in the Army corresponds to that of ensign in the Navy.
dovetail (v.)
to fit togetherwith, so as to form a harmonious whole; interlock with

Gilbert's skill as a writer dovetailed with Sullivan's talend as a composer.
reconcile (v.)
cause to be friendly again; bring back to harmony

After their quarrel, Althea and Pat refused to talk to each other until I reconciled them.
relent (v.)
become less harsh, severe, or strict; soften in temper; yield

Serena gave her parents so many good reasons for letting her borrow the car that they finally relented.
altercation (n.)
noisy, angry dispute; quarrel; wrangle

We halted the altercation by separating the two opponents before they could come to blows.
antagonize (v.)
make an enemy of; arouse the hostility of

The official antagonized the leader of her own party by not campaigning for him.
cleavage (n.)
split; division; schism; chasm

We hope compromise will repair the cleavage in our ranks.
discord (n.)
disagreement; dissention; strife

Billy Budd put an end to the discord aboart the ship. He was an excellent peacemaker.
discrepancy (n.)
difference; disagreement; variation; inconsistency

Eight people were at the dance but only seventy-four tickets were collected at the door. What accounts for the discrepancy?
dissent (v.)
differ in opinion; disagree; object

The vote approving the amendment was far from unanimous; six members dissented.
embroil (v.)
draw into a conflict

My enthusiastic suppor tfor Lynette;s candidacy sonn embroiled me in a debate with her opponents.
estrange (v.)
turn (someone) from affection to dislike or enmity; make unfriendly; separate; alienate


A quarrel over an inheritance estranged the b rothers for many years.
friction (n.)
conflict of ideas between persons or parties of opposing views; disagreement

At the budget hearing, there was considerable friction between the supporters and the opponents of higher taxes.
irreconcilable (adj.)
unable to be brought into friendly accord or understanding; hostile beyhond the possibility of reconcilliation; not reconcilable; incompatible

It is doubtful whether anyone can make peace between the estranged partners; they have become irreconcilable.
litigation (n.)
lawsuit; act or process of carrying on a lawsuit

Some business disputes can be settled out of court; others require litigation.
at variance (adj.)
in disagreement; at odds

Cynthia is an independent thinker. Her opinions are often at variance with those ov the rest of our group.
wrangle (n.)
quarrel noisily; dispute angrily; brawl; bicker

When I left, two neighbors were quaqrreling noisily. When I returned an hour later, they were still wrangling.
condiment (n.)
something (such as a pepper or spices) added to or served with food to enhance its flavor; seasoning

There is a shelf in our kitchen for pepper, salt, mustard, catsup and other condiments.
devour (v.)
eat up greedily; feast upon like an animal or glutton; dispatch

The hikers were so hungry that they devoured the food as fast as it was served.
edible (adj.)
fit for human consumption; eatable; comestible; nonpoisonous

Neve eat wild mushrooms, even though they look edible. They may be poisonous.
glutton (n.)
1. greedy eater; person in the habit of eating too much

Andrea had a second helping and would have taken a third except that she didn't want to be considered a glutton.

2. person with a great capacity for enduring or doing something

He is a glutton for punishment.
luscious (adj.)
delicious; juicy and sweet; delectable

Ripe watermelon is luscious. Everyone will want a second slice.
palatable (adj.)
agreeable to the taste; pleasing; savory

The main dish had little flavor, but I made it more palatable by adding condiments.
slake (v.)
(with reference to thirst) bring to an end through refreshing drink; satisfy; quench

On a sultry afternoon, there is a long line of people at the drinking fountain, waiting to slake their thirst.
succulent (adj.)
full of juice; juicy

The steak will be dry if you leave it in the oven longer. Take it out now if you wnt it to be succulent.
voracious (adj.)
having a huge appetite; greedy in eating; gluttonous; ravenous

If Chester skips breakfast, he is voracious by lunchtime.
colossal (adj.)
huge; enormous; gigantic; mammoth; vast

The game was played in a colossal sports arena with a seating capacity of more than 60,000.
commodious (adj.)
spacious and comfortable; roomy; ample; not confining

It will be easy to move in the equipment because the halls and stairways are commodious.
gamut (n.)
entire range of anything, as of musical notes, emotions, etc.

First I thought I had done very well, then well, and finally, poorly. I ran the gamut from confidence to despair.
infinite (adj.)
without ends orlimits; boundless; endless; inexhaustible

We do not know whether space is bounded or infinite.
infinitesimal (adj.)
so small as to be almost nothing; immeasurably small; very minute

If ther is any salt in this soup, it must be infinitesimal. I can't taste it.
inflate (v.)
swell with air or gas; expand; puff up

We inflated balloons for the party.
inordiante (adj.)
much too great; not kept witin reasonable bounds; excessive; immoderate

There are an inordinate number of vocab words to study for the English exam.
iota (n.)
(ninth and smallest letter of the Greek alphabet) very small quantity; infinitesimal amount; bit

If you make the same mistake again, despite all my warnings, I will not have one iota of sympathy for you.
magnitude (n.)
size; greatness; largeness; importance

To supervise eight hundred employees is a responsibility of considerable magnitude.
picayune (adj.)
concerned with trifling matters; petty; small; of little value

In studying, don't spend too much time on picayune details. Concentrate on the really important matters.
pittance (n.)
small amount; meager wage or allowance

People without good eductations must work very hard for a pittance.
puny (adj.)
slight or inferior in size, power, or importance; weak; insignificant

The skyscraper twarfs the surrounding buildings. By comparison to it, they seem puny.
superabundance (n.)
great abundance; surplus; excess

Ronald's committee doesn't need any more assistance. He has a superabundance of helpers.
debilitate (v.)
impair the strenght of; enfeeble; weaken

Gran had surgery to correct her debilitating back pain so she could work in her garden again.
decadent (adj.)
marked by decay or decline; falling off; declining; deteriorating

When industry moves away, a flourishing town may quickly become decadent.
decrepit (adj.)
broken down or weakened by old age or use; worn out

My decrepit mom drives a decrepit old volvo.
dilapidated (adj.)
falling to pieces; decayed; partly ruined or decayed through neglect

Old blue is a dilapidated truck but we still use it for dirty jobs.
enervate (v.)
lessen the vigor or strenght of; weaken; enfeeble

The extreme head had enervated us. We had to rest under a shady tree until our strength was restored.
flimsy (adj.)
lacking stgrenght or solidity; frail; unsubstantial

Judy understand algebra well, but I have only a flimsy grasp of the subject.
frail (adj.)
not very strong; weak; fragile

Mountain climbing is for the robust, not the frail.
incapacitate (v.)
render incapable or unfit; disable; paralyze

Ruth will be absent today. A sore throat has incapacitated her.
infirmity (n.)
weakness; feebleness; frailty

On leaving the hospital, John felt almost too weak to walk, but he soon overcame this infirmity.
bulwark (n.)
wall-like defensive structure; rampart; defense; protection; safeguard

For centuries the British regarded their navy as their principal bulwark against invasion.
citadel (n.)
fortress; stronghold

The fortified city of Singapore was once considered unconquerable. In 1942, however, this citadel fell to the Japanese.
cogent (adj.)
forcible; compelling; powerful; convincing

A request for a raise is more likely to succeed if supported with cogent reasons.
dynamic (adj.)
forceful; energetic; active

Audrrey represents us forcefully and energetically. She is a dynamic speaker.
formidable (adj.)
exciting fear by reason of strength, size, difficulty, etc.; hard to overcome; to be dreaded

The climbers gasped when they caught sight of the formidable peak.
forte (n.)
strong point; that which one does with excellence

I am better than Jack in writing but not in math; that his his forte.
impregnable (adj.)
incapable of being taken by assault; uncoinquerable; invincible

Before WWII, the French regarded their Maginot Line fortifications as an impregnable bulward against a German invasion.
invigorate (v.)
give vigor to; fill with life and energy; strengthen; enliven

If you feel enervated by the heat, try a swin in the cool ocean. It will invigorate you.
robust (adj.)
strong and healthy; vigorous; sturdy; sound

The lifeguard was in excellent physical condition. I had never seen anyone more robust.
tenacious (adj.)
holding fast or tending to hold fast; unyielding; stubborn; strong

After the dog got the ball, I tried to dislodge it from her tenacious jaws, but I couldn't.
vehement (adj.)
showing strong feeling; forceful; violent; furious

Your protest was too mild. If it had been more vehement, the supervisor might have paid attention to it.
vigor (n.)
active strenght or force; energy

The robust young pticher performed with extraordinary vigor for seven innings, but weakened in the eighth and was removed from the game.
default (n.)
failure to do something required; negledt; negligence; failure to meet a financial obligation

The Royals must be on the playing field by 4pm or they will lose the game by default.
default (v.)
fail to pay or appear when due

The fiance company took away Mr. Lee's car when he defaulted on his loan.
heedless (adj.)
not taking heed; inattentive; careless; thoughtless; unmindful; reckless

If you drive in a blizzard, heedless of the weather bureau's warnings, you could crash and burn.
ignore (v.)
refuse to take notice of; disregard; overlook

Justin was given a ticket for ignoring a stop sign.
inadvertent (adj.)
(used to describe bludners, mistakes, etc., rather than people) heedless; thoughtless; careless

Unfortunately, I made an inadvertent remark in Irma's presence about her losing the election.
neglect (v.)
give little or not attention to; leave undone; disregard

Most members of the cast neglected their studies during rehersals, but after the performance they caught up quickly.
neglect (n.)
lack of proper care or attention; disregard; negligence

For leaving his post, the guard was charged with neglect of duty.
remiss (adj.)
negligent; careless; lax

The owner of the stolen car was remiss in having left the keys in the vehicle.
sloven (n.)
untidy person

Cleanup is easy at our lunh table if ther are no slovens.
slovenly (adj.)
negligent of neatness or order in one's dress, habits, work, etc.; slipshod; sloppy
\
You would not expect anyone so neat in personal appearance to be slovenly in housekeeping.
discreet (adj.)
showing good judgement in speech and action; wisely cautious

You were discreet not to say anything about our plans when Harry was here. He can't keep a secret.
heed (v.)
take notice of; give careful attention to; mind

I dind't heed the warning that the pavements were icy. That's why I slipped.
meticulous (adj.)
extremely or excessively careful about small details; fussy

Before siging a contract, read it carefully, including the fine print. This is one case whare it pays to be meticulous.
scrupulous (adj.)
having painstaking regard for what is right; conscientious; honest; strict; precise

My instructor refused to be a judge because two of her former students are contestants. She is very scrupulous.
scrutinize (v.)
examine closely; inspect

The gatekeeper scrutinized Harvey's pass before letting him in, but he just glanced at mine.
solicitude (n.)
anxious or excessive care; concern; anxiety

My sister's solicitude over getting into college ended when she received word that she had been accepted.
vigilance (n.)
alert watchfulness to discover and avoid danger; alertness; caution; watchfulness

The security guard who apprehended the thief was paraised for vigilance.
wary (adj.)
on one's guard against danger, deception, etc.; cautious; vigilant

General Braddock might not have been defeated if he had been wary of an ambush.
abroad (adv.)
in or to a foreign land or lands

After living abroad for a year, Benjamin returned to his home in Denmark.
commute (v.)
travel back and forth daily, as from a home in the suburbs to a job in the city.

I commute to Nashville every day.
commuter (n.)
person who commutes

Many a commuter spends as much as three hours a day in getting to and from work.
denizen (n.)
inhabitant; dweller; resident; occupant

On their safari, the tourists photographed lions, leopards, and other ferocious denizens of the jungle.
domicile (n.)
house; home; dwelling; residence; abode

Soon after they moved, the Coopers invited us to visit them at their new domicile.
inmate (n.)
person confined in an institution, prison, hospital, etc.

When the warden took charge, the prison had fewe tha 100 inmates.
migrate (v.)
1. move from one place to settle in another

Because they were persecuted in England, the Puritans migrated to Holland.

2. move from one place to another with the change of season

Geese migrate from the norht to the south in the winter.
native (n.)
person born in a particular place

His entire family are native s of New Jersey except the grandparents, who were born in England.
native (adj.)
born or originating in a particular place

Tobacco and tomatoes are native American plants that were introduced into Europe by explorers returning from the New World.
nomad (n.)
member of a tribe that has no fixed sbode but wanders from place to place, wanderer
nomadic (adj.)
roaming from place to place; wandering roving

Mobile homes appeal to people with nomadic inclinations.
sojourn (n.)
temporary stay

On her trip home, Geraldine wll stop in St. Louis for a two-day sojourn with relatives.