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672 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abase
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lower; degrade; humiliate
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abeyance
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suspended action
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abject
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wretched; lacking pride
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abjure
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renounce upon oath
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abnegation
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renunciation; self-sacrifice
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abscission
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cutting off; separation
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abstemious
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sparing in eating & drinking; temperate
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abstruse
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obscure; profound; difficult to understand
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abysmal
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bottomless
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accede
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agree
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acclivity
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sharp upslope of a hill
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accolade
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award of merit
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accoutre
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equip
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accretion
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growth; increase
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acetic
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vinegary
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acidulous
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slightly sour; sharp; caustic
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actuarial
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calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
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actuate
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motivate
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acuity
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sharpness
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acumen
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mental keenness
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addendum
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addition; appendix to book
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adjuration
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solemn urging
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adjutant
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staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
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adventitious
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accidental; casual
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advert
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refer (to)
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aegis
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shield; defense
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affidavit
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written statement made under oath
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alacrity
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cheerful promptness; eagerness
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allegory
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story in which characters are used as symbols; fable
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alloy (v.)
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mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate
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alluvial
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pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
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anathema
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solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse
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ancillary
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serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary
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animadversion
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critical remark
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anneal
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reduce brittleness & improve toughness by heating and cooling
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anodyne
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drug that relieves pain; opiate
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anthropoid
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manlike
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anthropomorphic
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having human form or characteristics
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antithesis
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contrast; direct opposite of or to
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aperture
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opening; hole
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aphorism
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pithy maxim or saying
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apiary
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a place where bees are kept
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aplomb
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poise; assurance
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apocryphal
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untrue; made up
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apogee
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highest point
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apothegm
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pithy, compact saying
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apotheosis
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elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
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appellation
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name; title
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apposite
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appropriate; fitting
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apprise
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inform
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approbation
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approval
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appurtenances
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subordinate possessions
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apropos
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with reference to; regarding
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aquiline
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curved, hooked
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arbiter
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person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge
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arboretum
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place where different varieties of trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
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arcade
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a covered passageway, usually lined with shops
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archetype
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prototype; primitive pattern
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argot
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slang
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array (1)
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marshal; draw up in order
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arroyo
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gully
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artless
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without guile; open and honest
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ascendancy
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controlling influence
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ascertain
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find out for certain
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astringent
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binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe
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atavism
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resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback
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attenuate
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make thin; weaken
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attrition
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gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in the workforce without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harrassment
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augury
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omen; prophecy
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aureole
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sun's corona; halo
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auroral
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pertaining to the aurora borealis
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avocation
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secondary or minor occupation
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avow
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declare openly
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avuncular
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like an uncle
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axiom
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self-evident truth requiring no proof
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bacchanalian
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drunken
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badinage
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teasing conversation
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baleful
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deadly; having a malign influence; ominous
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bandy
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discuss lightly or glibly; exchange (words) heatedly
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baroque
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highly ornate
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bate
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let down; restrain
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bedizen
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dress with vulgar finery
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beguile
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mislead or delude; cheat; pass time
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behoove
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be suited to; be incumbent upon
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beleaguer
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besiege or attack; harass
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beneficent
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kindly; doing good
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benison
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blessing
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betoken
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signify; indicate
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bevy
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large group
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bilious
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suffering from indigestion; irritable
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bilk
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swindle; cheat
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blanch
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bleach; whiten
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bland
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soothing or mild; agreeable
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blandishment
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flattery
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blasé
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bored with pleasure or dissipation
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blithe
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gay; joyous
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blowhard
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talkative boaster
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bluff (adj.)
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rough but good-natured
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bohemian
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unconventional (in an artistic way)
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bourgeois
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middle class; selfishly materialistic; dully conventional
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bowdlerize
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expurgate (censor objectionable material)
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brackish
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somewhat saline
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braggadocio
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boasting
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brevity
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conciseness
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brindled
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tawny or grayish with streaks or spots
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brook (v.)
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tolerate; endure
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bucolic
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rustic; pastoral
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bugaboo
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bugbear; object of baseless terror
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burgeon
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grow forth; send out buds
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burlesque
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give an imitation that ridicules
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burnish
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make shiny by rubbing; polish
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cabal
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small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
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callow
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youthful; immature; inexperienced
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calorific
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heat-producing
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calumny
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malicious misrepresentation; slander
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canard
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unfounded rumor; exaggerated report
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canker
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any ulcerous sore; any evil
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canon
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collection or authoritative list of books (eg by an author, or accepted as scripture); rule or standard set by ecclesiastical authority
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cant
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insincere expressions of piety; jargon of thieves
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cantata
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story set to music, to be sung by a chorus
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canto
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division of a long poem
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capacious
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spacious
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capillary
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having a very fine bore
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captious
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faultfinding
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carapace
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shell covering the back (of a turtle, crab, etc)
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carillon
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a set of bells capable of being played
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cavalcade
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procession; parade
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cavil
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make frivolous objections
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celerity
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speed; rapidity
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censorious
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critical
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centrifugal
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radiating; departing from the center
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centripetal
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tending toward the center
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cerebration
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thought
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chaffing
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bantering; joking
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chary
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cautious; sparing or restrained about giving
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chase (2)
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ornament a metal surface by indenting
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chassis
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framework and working parts of an automobile
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chimerical
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fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; imaginative
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choleric
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hot-tempered
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churlish
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boorish; rude
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ciliated
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having minute hairs
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cipher (1)
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nonentity; worthless person or thing
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circumscribe
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limit; confine
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clangor
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loud, resounding noise
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clarion
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shrill, trumpetlike sound
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codicil
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supplement to the body of a will
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coeval
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living at the same time as; contemporary
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coda
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concluding section of a musical or literary composition
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cognate
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related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature
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collate
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examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order
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collation
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a light meal
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colloquy
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informal discussion
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comity
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courtesy; civility
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commensurate
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equal in extent
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compendium
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brief, comprehensive summary
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complaisant
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trying to please; obliging
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compunction
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remorse
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concatenate
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link as in a chain (v.)
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conclave
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private meeting
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concomitant
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that which accompanies
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condign
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adequate; deservedly severe
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condole
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express sympathetic sorrow
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conjecture
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surmise; guess
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connoisseur
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person competent to act as a judge of art, etc; a lover of an art
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continence
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self-restraint; sexual chastity
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cornice
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projecting molding on building (usually above columns)
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consign
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deliver officially; entrust; set apart
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construe
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explain; interpret
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controvert
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oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict
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contumacious
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disobedient; resisting authority
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coquette
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flirt
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coterie
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group that meets socially; select circle
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countenance (v.)
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approve; tolerate
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countenance (n.)
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face
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coy
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shy; modest; coquettish
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cozen
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cheat; hoodwink; swindle
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craven
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cowardly
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cupidity
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greed
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cynosure
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object of general attention
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debauch
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corrupt; seduce from virtue
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declivity
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downward slope
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décolleté
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having a low-cut neckline
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demagogue
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person who appeals to peoples' prejudice; false leader
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demotic
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pertaining to the people
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denouement
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outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work
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derivative
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unoriginal; obtained from another source
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depredation
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plundering
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desolate
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unpopulated; joyless
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devolve
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deputize; pass to others
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diadem
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crown
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dialectical
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relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal
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diaphanous
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sheer; transparent
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dictum
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authoritative and weighty statement; saying; maxim
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diffidence
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shyness
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disapprobation
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disapproval; condemnation
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disclaim
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disown; renounce claim to
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discomfit
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put to rout; defeat; disconcert
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disconsolate
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sad
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discursive
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digressing; rambling
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disport
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amuse
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disputatious
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argumentative; fond of arguing
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disquisition
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a formal systematic inquiry; an explanation of the results of a formal inquiry
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dissimulate
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pretend; conceal by feigning
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dissemble
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disguise; pretend
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distend
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expand; swell out
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distrait
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absentminded
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divest
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strip; deprive
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doctrinaire
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unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding
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dormer
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window projecting from roof
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disinterested
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unprejudiced
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doggerel
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poor verse
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dotage
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senility
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dross
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waste matter
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ductile
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malleable; flexible; pliable
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dyspeptic
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suffering from indigestion
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ebullient
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showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm
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edify
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instruct; correct morally
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efface
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rub out
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effete
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worn out; exhausted; barren
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effluvium
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noxious smell
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effrontery
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shameless boldness
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emend(ation)
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correct(ion), usually a text; improve(ment)
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emolument
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salary; compensation
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encomium/encomiastic
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prais(ing); eulog(istic)
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endue
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provide with some quality; endow
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epaulet
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ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc)
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epicure
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connoisseur of food and drink
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epistemologist
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philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge
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epithet
|
word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing
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equable
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tranquil; steady; uniform
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equanimity
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calmness of temperament; composure
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equipoise
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balance; balancing force; equilibrium
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equivocal
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ambiguous; intentionally misleading
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esoteric
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hard to understand; known only to the chosen few
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ethereal
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light; heavenly; unusually refined
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ethnology
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study of humankind
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euphony
|
sweet sound
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evanescent
|
fleeting; vanishing
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evince
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show clearly
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exceptionable
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objectionable
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execrable
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very bad
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execrate
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curse; express abhorrence for; denounce
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exegesis
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explanation, especially of biblical passages
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exiguous
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small; minute
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expatiate
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talk at length
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expository
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explanatory; serving to explain
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expostulation
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protest; remonstrance
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extrapolation
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projection; conjecture
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factotum
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handyman; person who does all kinds of work
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fatuous
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foolish; inane
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fecundity
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fertility; fruitfulness
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felicitous
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apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
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fiat
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command
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filing
|
particle removed by a file
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flout
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reject; mock
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foil (n.)
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contrast
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forestall
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prevent by taking action in advance
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fructify
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bear fruit
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florid
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ruddy; reddish; flowery
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fulminate
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thunder; explode
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fulsome
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disgustingly excessive
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gainsay
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deny
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gambit
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opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed
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garrulous
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loquacious; wordy; talkative
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germane
|
pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand
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germinal
|
pertaining to a germ; creative
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gerontocracy
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government ruled by old people
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gibe
|
mock
(var. jibe) |
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goad
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urge on
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grandiloquent
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pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language
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guileless
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without deceit
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gull
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trick; hoodwink
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guy
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cable or chain attached to something that needs to be braced or steadied
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gratuitous
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given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for
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hackles
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hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog
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halcyon
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calm; peaceful
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hap
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chance; luck
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harangue
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long, passionate, and vehement speech
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hermetic
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sealed by fusion so as to be airtight
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hibernal
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wintry
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histrionic
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theatrical
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hoary
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white with age
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homeostasis
|
tendency of a system to maintain relative stability
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hortatory
|
encouraging; exhortative
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hubris
|
arrogance; excessive self-conceit
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humus
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substance formed by decaying vegetable matter
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iconoclastic
|
attacking cherised traditions
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ignominy
|
deep disgrace; shame or dishonor
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immolate
|
offer as a sacrifice
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immure
|
imprison; shut up in confinement
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impassive
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without feeling; imperturbable; stoical
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imperious
|
domineering; haughty
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impetuous
|
violent; hasty rash
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imponderable
|
weightless
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importunate
|
urging; demanding
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imprecation
|
curse
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improvident
|
thriftless
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impugn
|
dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); challenge; gainsay
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impuissance
|
powerlessness; feebleness
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inchoate
|
recently begun; rudimentary; elementary
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inclement
|
stormy; unkind
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incompatible
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inharmonious
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incontrovertible
|
indisputable; not open to question
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incorrigible
|
uncorrectable
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incontinent
|
lacking self-restraint; licentious
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incrustation
|
hard coating or crust
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incubus
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burden; mental care; nightmare
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inculcate
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teach
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indemnify
|
make secure against loss; compensate for loss
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indigence
|
poverty
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indite
|
write; compose
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induce
|
persuade; bring about
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inductive
|
pertaining to induction or proceeding from the specific to the general
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ineffable
|
unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech
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ineluctable
|
irresistible; not to be escaped
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inerrancy
|
infallibility
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inexorable
|
relentless; unyielding; implacable
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inimitable
|
matchless; not able to be imitated
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iniquitous
|
wicked; immoral; unrighteous
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insensate
|
without feeling
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insipid
|
lacking in flavor; dull
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insolvent
|
bankrupt; lacking money to pay
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insouciant
|
indifferent; without concern or care
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insularity
|
narrow-mindedness; isolation
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insuperable
|
insurmountable; unbeatable
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interdict
|
prohibit; forbid
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internecine
|
mutually destructive
|
|
|
interpolate
|
insert between
|
|
|
interregnum
|
period between two reigns
|
|
|
inured
|
accustomed; hardened
|
|
|
invective
|
abuse
|
|
|
inveigh
|
denounce; utter censure or invective
|
|
|
inveigle
|
lead astray; wheedle
|
|
|
inveterate
|
deep-rooted; habitual
|
|
|
invidious
|
designed to create ill-will or envy
|
|
|
inviolable
|
secure from corruption, attack, or violation; unassailable
|
|
|
irascible
|
irritable; easily angered
|
|
|
isthmus
|
narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land
|
|
|
jaundiced
|
prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful); yellow
|
|
|
jibe
|
agree; be in harmony with
|
|
|
jingoist
|
extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist
|
|
|
jocose
|
given to joking
|
|
|
jocund
|
merry
|
|
|
jollity
|
gaiety
|
|
|
junta
|
group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal
|
|
|
knell
|
tolling of a bell, especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc
|
|
|
labile
|
likely to change; unstable
|
|
|
laconic
|
brief and to the point
|
|
|
lambaste
|
beat; thrash verbally or physically
(var. lambast) |
|
|
lambent
|
softly bright or radiant; radiant expression
|
|
|
lancet
|
small surgical tool for making incisions
|
|
|
languor
|
lassitude; depression
|
|
|
lassitude
|
languor; weariness
|
|
|
latent
|
potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden
|
|
|
lechery
|
gross lewdness; lustfulness
|
|
|
legerdemain
|
sleight of hand
|
|
|
levee
|
earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding
|
|
|
libertine
|
debauched person, roué
|
|
|
libidinous
|
lustful
|
|
|
libretto
|
text of an opera
|
|
|
ligneous
|
like wood
|
|
|
limn
|
draw; outline; describe
|
|
|
lineaments
|
features, especially of the face
|
|
|
litany
|
supplicatory prayer
|
|
|
litotes
|
understatement for emphasis; understatement negative as affirmative ("not a bad singer")
|
|
|
livid
|
lead colored; black and blue; ashen; enraged
|
|
|
lode
|
metal-bearing vein
|
|
|
macerate
|
soften by soaking in liquid; waste away
|
|
|
maculated
|
spotted; stained
|
|
|
madrigal
|
pastoral song
|
|
|
maelstrom
|
whirlpool
|
|
|
magnanimity
|
generosity
|
|
|
magniloquent
|
boastful; pompous
|
|
|
malediction
|
curse
|
|
|
malefactor
|
evildoer; criminal
|
|
|
marshal
|
put in order
|
|
|
martinet
|
strict disciplinarian
|
|
|
maudlin
|
effusively sentimental
|
|
|
mauve
|
pale purple
|
|
|
maverick
|
rebel; nonconformist
|
|
|
mawkish
|
mushy & gusy; icky-sticky sentimental; maudlin
|
|
|
mealymouthed
|
indirect in speech; hypocritical; evasive
|
|
|
mendacious
|
lying; habitually dishonest
|
|
|
meretricious
|
flashy; tawdry
|
|
|
miasma
|
swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere, often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence
|
|
|
milieu
|
environment; means of expression
|
|
|
militate
|
work against
|
|
|
minatory
|
menacing; threatening
|
|
|
mincing
|
affectedly dainty
|
|
|
misogamy
|
hatred of marriage
|
|
|
modicum
|
limited quantity
|
|
|
modish
|
fashionable
|
|
|
modulate
|
tone down in intensity; regulate; change from one key to another
|
|
|
mordant
|
biting; sarcastic; stinging
|
|
|
mores
|
conventions; moral standards; customs
|
|
|
moribund
|
dying
|
|
|
motility
|
ability to move spontaneously
|
|
|
mountebank
|
charlatan; boastful pretender
|
|
|
mulct
|
defraud a person of something
|
|
|
multifarious
|
varied; greatly diversified
|
|
|
mundane
|
worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday
|
|
|
neologism
|
new or newly coined word or phrase
|
|
|
neophyte
|
recent convert; beginner
|
|
|
nexus
|
connection
|
|
|
nicety
|
precision; minute distinction
|
|
|
niggle
|
spend too much time on minor points; carp
|
|
|
nihilist
|
one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist
|
|
|
noisome
|
foul-smelling; unwholesome
|
|
|
nostrum
|
questionable medicine
|
|
|
nugatory
|
futile; worthless
|
|
|
numismatist
|
person who collects coins
|
|
|
obeisance
|
bow
|
|
|
oblique
|
indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line)
|
|
|
obluquy
|
slander; disgrace; infamy
|
|
|
obsequious
|
slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic
|
|
|
obsequy
|
funeral ceremony
|
|
|
obstreperous
|
boisterous; noisy
|
|
|
obtrude
|
push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; butt in; stick out or extrude
|
|
|
obtuse
|
blunt; stupid
|
|
|
officious
|
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services
|
|
|
omniscient
|
all-knowing
|
|
|
opalescent
|
iridescent; lustrous
|
|
|
orthography
|
correct spelling
|
|
|
overweening
|
presumptuous; arrogant
|
|
|
paean
|
song of praise or joy
|
|
|
palimpsest
|
parchment used for second time after original writing has been erased
|
|
|
pall
|
grow tiresome
|
|
|
palpable
|
tangible; easily perceptible
|
|
|
panegyric
|
formal praise
|
|
|
parquet
|
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic-like pattern
|
|
|
parsimony
|
stinginess; excessive frugality
|
|
|
pastiche
|
imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing
|
|
|
patois
|
local or provincial dialect
|
|
|
paucity
|
scarcity
|
|
|
pejorative
|
negative in connotation; having a belittling effect
|
|
|
pellucid
|
transparent; limpid; easy to understand
|
|
|
penumbra
|
partial shadow (in an eclipse)
|
|
|
penury
|
severe poverty; stinginess
|
|
|
perdition
|
damnation; complete ruin
|
|
|
peregrination
|
journey
|
|
|
peremptory
|
demanding and leaving no choice
|
|
|
perfidious
|
treacherous; disloyal
|
|
|
perigree
|
point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth
|
|
|
peripatetic
|
walking about; moving
|
|
|
pernicious
|
very destructive
|
|
|
peroration
|
conclusion of an oration
|
|
|
perquisite
|
any gain above stipulated salary
|
|
|
perspicacious
|
having insight; penetrating; astute
|
|
|
perspicuity
|
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
|
|
|
perspicuous
|
plainly expressed
|
|
|
petulant
|
touchy; peevish
|
|
|
pharisaical
|
pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical
|
|
|
philology
|
study of language
|
|
|
philistine
|
narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain
|
|
|
phlegmatic
|
calm; not easily disturbed
|
|
|
physiognomy
|
face
|
|
|
pillory
|
punish by placing in a wooden frame; subject to criticism and ridicule
|
|
|
philatelist
|
stamp-collector
|
|
|
piquant
|
pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating
|
|
|
pique (n)
|
irritation; resentment
|
|
|
pique (v)
|
provoke or arouse; annoy
|
|
|
piscatorial
|
pertaining to fishing
|
|
|
pith
|
core or marrow; essence; substance
|
|
|
pithy
|
concise; meaningful; substantial; meaty
|
|
|
plaudit
|
enthusiastic approval; round of applause
|
|
|
platitude
|
trite remark; commonplace statement
|
|
|
plumb (adj)
|
vertical
|
|
|
plutocracy
|
society ruled by the wealthy
|
|
|
polemic
|
controversy; argument in support of point of view
|
|
|
polemical
|
aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious
|
|
|
poseur
|
person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others
|
|
|
postulate (n)
|
self-evident truth
|
|
|
potentate
|
monarch; sovereign
|
|
|
ponderous
|
weighty; unwieldly
|
|
|
prate
|
speak foolishly; boast idly
|
|
|
précis
|
concise summing up of main points
|
|
|
prefatory
|
introductory
|
|
|
presentiment
|
feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear; premonition
|
|
|
primogeniture
|
seniority by birth
|
|
|
privation
|
hardship; want
|
|
|
probity
|
uprightness; incorruptibility
|
|
|
proclivity
|
inclination; natural tendency
|
|
|
defalcation
|
deduction; embezzlement; failure to meet a promise or expectation
|
|
|
prodigious
|
marvelous; enormous
|
|
|
profligate
|
dissipated; wasteful; wildly immoral
|
|
|
profusion
|
overabundance; lavish expenditure; excess
|
|
|
prognosticate
|
predict
|
|
|
prolixity
|
tedious wordiness; verbosity
|
|
|
promontory
|
headland
|
|
|
promulgate
|
proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication
|
|
|
propinquity
|
nearness; kinship
|
|
|
propitiate
|
appease
|
|
|
propound
|
put forth for analysis
|
|
|
prosaic
|
dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factual
|
|
|
proscenium
|
part of stage in front of curtain
|
|
|
prosody
|
the art of versification
|
|
|
protean
|
versatile; able to take on many forms
|
|
|
provenance
|
origin or source of something
|
|
|
provender
|
dry food; fodder
|
|
|
provident
|
displaying foresight; prepared for emergencies
|
|
|
prurient
|
having or causing lustful thoughts and desires
|
|
|
puerile
|
childish
|
|
|
puissant
|
powerful; strong; potent
|
|
|
pulchritude
|
beauty; comeliness
|
|
|
punctilious
|
stressing niceties of conduct or form; minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points
|
|
|
purchase (n)
|
firm grasp or footing
|
|
|
pusillanimous
|
cowardly; fainthearted
|
|
|
expiate
|
make amends for (a sin)
|
|
|
pylon
|
marking post to guide aviators; steel tower supporting cables or telephone lines
|
|
|
queasy
|
easily nauseated; squeamish
|
|
|
querulous
|
fretful; whining
|
|
|
quiescent
|
at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive
|
|
|
quibble (n)
|
minor objection or complaint
|
|
|
quisling
|
traitor who aids invaders
|
|
|
quixotic
|
idealistic but impractical
|
|
|
quizzical
|
teasing; bantering; mocking; curious
|
|
|
quotidian
|
daily; commonplace; customary
|
|
|
raconteur
|
story-teller
|
|
|
raiment
|
clothing
|
|
|
ramification
|
braching out; subdivision
|
|
|
ramify
|
divide into branches or subdivisions
|
|
|
rampart
|
defensive mound of earth
|
|
|
ratiocination
|
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises
|
|
|
reactionary
|
opposing progress; politically ultraconservative
|
|
|
raucous
|
harsh and shrill; disorderly and boisterous
|
|
|
rebus
|
puzzle in which pictures stand for words
|
|
|
recalcitrant
|
obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly
|
|
|
recondite
|
abstruse; profound; secret
|
|
|
recreant
|
coward(ly)
|
|
|
recrimination
|
countercharges
|
|
|
redolent
|
fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor
|
|
|
redoubtable
|
formidable; causing fear
|
|
|
refectory
|
dining hall
|
|
|
refractory
|
stubborn; unmanageable
|
|
|
refulgent
|
brightly shining; gleaming
|
|
|
relegate
|
banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign
|
|
|
remonstrance
|
protest; objection
|
|
|
repine
|
fret; complain
|
|
|
reprobate
|
person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency
|
|
|
reprobation
|
severe disapproval
|
|
|
requite
|
repay; revenge
|
|
|
residue
|
remainder; balance
|
|
|
resilient
|
elastic; having the power of springing back
|
|
|
retinue
|
following; attendants
|
|
|
retrench
|
cut down; economize
|
|
|
retrograde
|
go backwards; degenerate
|
|
|
rife
|
abundant; current
|
|
|
roseate
|
rosy; optimistic
|
|
|
rotundity
|
roundness; sonorousness of speech
|
|
|
roué
|
a man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure
|
|
|
rubric
|
title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol
|
|
|
runic
|
mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet
|
|
|
rusticate
|
banish to or dwell in the country
|
|
|
sacrosanct
|
most sacred; inviolable
|
|
|
salubrious
|
healthful
|
|
|
sanguinary
|
bloody
|
|
|
sanguine
|
cheerful
|
|
|
sardonic
|
disdainful; sarcastic; cynical
|
|
|
sartorial
|
pertaining to tailors
|
|
|
saturnine
|
gloomy
|
|
|
scotch (v)
|
stamp out; thwart; hinder
|
|
|
scruple (v)
|
fret about; hesitate, for ethical reasons
|
|
|
scurrilous
|
obscene; indecent
|
|
|
scurvy (adj)
|
despicable; contemptible
|
|
|
secrete
|
hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism
|
|
|
sedulous
|
diligent
|
|
|
sententious
|
terse; concise; aphoristic
|
|
|
shyster
|
lawyer using questionable methods
|
|
|
sibylline
|
prophetic; oracular
|
|
|
sidereal
|
relating to the stars
|
|
|
sinecure
|
well-paid position with little responsibility
|
|
|
sinuous
|
winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
|
|
|
skittish
|
lively; frisky
|
|
|
skulduggery
|
dishonest behavior
|
|
|
slag
|
residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
|
|
|
smelt
|
melt or blend ores; changing their chemical composition
|
|
|
sleazy
|
flimsy; unsubstantial
|
|
|
solecism
|
construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically
|
|
|
solicitous
|
worried, concerned
|
|
|
solvent (adj)
|
able to pay all debts
|
|
|
sophist
|
teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning
|
|
|
sophistry
|
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning
|
|
|
sophomoric
|
immature; half-baked, like a sophomore
|
|
|
spasmodic
|
fitful; periodic
|
|
|
spoonerism
|
accidental transposition of sounds in successive words
|
|
|
staccato
|
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt, sharp sound
|
|
|
stanch
|
check flow of blood
|
|
|
stentorian
|
extremely loud
|
|
|
stilted
|
bombastic; stiffly pompous
|
|
|
stint (v)
|
be thrifty; set limits
|
|
|
stoke
|
stir up a fire; feed plentifully
|
|
|
stricture
|
critical comments; severe and adverse criticism
|
|
|
strident
|
loud and harsh; insistent
|
|
|
stringent
|
binding; rigid
|
|
|
strut (2)
|
supporting bar
|
|
|
stultify
|
cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinder
|
|
|
stygian
|
gloomy; hellish; deathly
|
|
|
subaltern
|
subordinate
|
|
|
sublimate
|
refine; purify
|
|
|
suborn
|
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury)
|
|
|
subsume
|
include; encompass
|
|
|
superannuated
|
retired or disqualified because of age
|
|
|
supercilious
|
arrogant; condescending; patronizing
|
|
|
supererogatory
|
superfluous; more than needed or demanded
|
|
|
supernumerary
|
person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extra
|
|
|
surfeit
|
satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything
|
|
|
sybarite
|
lover of luxury
|
|
|
sycophant
|
servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man
|
|
|
syllogism
|
logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
|
|
|
taut
|
tight; ready
|
|
|
tautological
|
needlessly repititious
|
|
|
tawdry
|
cheap and gaudy
|
|
|
temerity
|
boldness; rashness
|
|
|
temporal
|
not lasting forever; limited by time; secular
|
|
|
tendentious
|
having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause
|
|
|
tenuous
|
thin; rare; slim
|
|
|
tessellated
|
inlaid; mosaic
|
|
|
testator
|
maker of a will
|
|
|
thrall
|
slave; bondage
|
|
|
timorous
|
fearful; demonstrating fear
|
|
|
tonsure
|
shaving of the head, especially by person entering religious orders
|
|
|
torque
|
twisting force; force producing rotation
|
|
|
touchstone
|
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion
|
|
|
traduce
|
expose to slander
|
|
|
trenchant
|
cutting; keen
|
|
|
troth
|
pledge of good faith especially in betrothal
|
|
|
truculence
|
aggressiveness; ferocity
|
|
|
truncate
|
cut the top off
|
|
|
tumid
|
swollen; pompous; bombastic
|
|
|
turbid
|
muddy; having the sediment disturbed
|
|
|
turpitude
|
depravity
|
|
|
tutelary
|
protective; pertaining to a guardianship
|
|
|
tyro
|
beginner; novice
|
|
|
unction
|
the act of anointing with oil
|
|
|
unctuous
|
oily; bland; insincerely suave
|
|
|
unguent
|
ointment
|
|
|
unprepossessing
|
unattractive
|
|
|
unwonted
|
unaccustomed
|
|
|
uxorious
|
excessively devoted to one's wife
|
|
|
vainglorious
|
boastful; excessively conceited
|
|
|
valedictory
|
pertaining to farewell
|
|
|
venal
|
capable of being bribed
|
|
|
vendetta
|
blood feud
|
|
|
ventral
|
abdominal
|
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veracious
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truthful
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verbiage
|
pompous array of words
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verdigris
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green coating on copper that has been exposed to the weather
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verisimilar
|
probably or likely; having the appearance of truth
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verisimilitude
|
appearance of truth; likelihood
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vernal
|
pertaining to spring
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verve
|
enthusiasm; liveliness
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viand
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food
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vicarious
|
acting as a substitute; done by a deputy
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vicissitude
|
change of fortune
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vignette
|
picture
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viscid
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adhesive; gluey
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viscous
|
sticky; gluey
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vitiate
|
spoil the effect of; make inoperative
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vitreous
|
pertaining to or resembling glass
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vitriolic
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corrosive; sarcastic
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voluble
|
fluent; glib; talkative
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vouchsafe
|
grant condescendingly; guarantee
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vulpine
|
like a fox; crafty
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wangle
|
wiggle out; fake
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wanton
|
unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste
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warranty
|
guarantee; assurance by seller
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wastrel
|
profligate
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welter (n)
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turmoil; bewildering jumble
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wrangle
|
quarrel; obtain through arguing; herd cattle
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yeoman
|
man owning small estate; middle-class farmer
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yokel
|
country bumpkin
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zephyr
|
gentle breeze; west wind
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