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240 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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cognate
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a word related to another word in a different language; having the same source, origin, or ancestor; similar in function
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inflection
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the addition of an affix to a word, or a change in the form of a word's tense; alteration of pitch or tone of voice
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orthography
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the study of the letters and spelling system of a language
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paradigm
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the set of inflected forms of a word; a model that sets forth a way of viewing things
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philology
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the study of the history of a language
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phonology
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the sound system of a language
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rejoinder
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an often witty response to a reply; an answer
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rhetoric
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the study and art of using language effectively and persuasively; speech that is elaborate, pretentious, or insincere
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succinct
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clear and precise; expressed in few words
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syntax
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the arrangement of words to form sentences or phrases in a language
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belie
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to depict falsely; to misinterpret
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clandestine
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kept or done is secret
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disingenuous
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pretending to be unaware or unsophisticated; insincere or calculating; not telling the whole truth
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dissemble
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to disguise or conceal one's feelings or motives behind a false appearance
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forthright
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direct; with complete disclosure and honesty; without evasion
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nefarious
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openly or notoriously wicked; infamous
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perfidious
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disloyal; treacherous
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probity
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complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
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scrupulous
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having strict principles; acting in a strict regard for what is right or proper; conscientious and exact; painstaking
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spurious
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not genuine; lacking authenticity or validity; false
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concomitant
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occurring or existing at the same time; accompanying; following as a result; one that occurs or exists at the same time as another
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eon
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the longest division of geologic time; an indefinitely long period of time; an age
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extant
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sill in existence; not destroyed, lost, or extinct
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hiatus
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a gap or an interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break
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inure
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to accustom to something undesirable
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irrevocable
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impossible to retract; irreversible
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millennium
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a span of 1,000 years; a hoped-for period of joy, serenity, and prosperity
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perpetuity
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time without end; an eternity
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pristine
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typical of the earliest time or condition; original; primitive; unspoiled, untouched by civilization; remaining in a pure state; free from dirt or decay; clean
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transience
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a short life of existence; an impermanence; a state of moving from place to place
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buffoon
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a clown or jester who makes rude jokes; a ridiculous or stupid person
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farce
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a comic play using exaggerated characters and improbable plots; a mockery; an absurd show or pretense
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irony
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a deliberate use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; contrast between what might be expected and what actually occurs
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jocular
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characterized by a joking manner
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lampoon
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a good-natured written piece that pokes fun at something or somebody; a written attact; to satirize or ridicule
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levity
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a lgiht and humorous manner or attitude that is usually inappropriate
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parody
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a comic imitation that exaggerates characteristics in order to poke fun; something so bad as to seem intentional mockery; to ridicule or make mockery of
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raillery
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good-natured teasing or ridicule
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regale
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to delight or give pleasure; to entertain
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satirical
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using sracasm or sharp wit to expose human vice or weakness
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adumbrate
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to describe roughly or vaguely; to give a sketchy outline of; to foreshadow
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arcane
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known or understood only by a few; mysterious
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covert
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concealed or hidden; not openly practiced or shown
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educe
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to draw or bring out; elicit; to assume from evidence or facts; to deduce
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fathom
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to understand or comprehend
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impenetrable
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impossible to pierce, break through, or enter; impossible to understand
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impervious
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incapable of being affected, harmed, or broken into
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limpid
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transparent; clear; calm, untouched, and serene; easily intelligible or understood
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manifest
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clearly apparent or obvious; to show or demonstrate plainly; to reveal; a list of passengers or cargo
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nebulous
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cloudy, misty, or hazy; vague; without defined form or limits
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adjunct
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something or someone attached to another in a dependent or subordinate position; added or connect in a subordinate or temporary position
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amaigamate
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to combine into a unified or an integrated whole; to unite
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compatriot
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a person from one's own country; a colleague
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conclave
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a secret or confidential meeting; a meeting of family members or associates
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contiguous
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sharing an edge or boundary; neighboring; adjacent; connecting in time without a break; uninterrupted
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diffuse
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widely spread or scattered; not concentrated; wordy or unclear; to pour out and cause to spread; to scatter; to soften; to lessen
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diverge
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to extend in different directions from a common point; to branch out; to differ in opinion; to depart from a set course; to deviate
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parity
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equality in amount, status, or value; functional equivalence
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synergy
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the interaction of cooperation of agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects
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transcend
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to pass beyond the limits of; to be greater than; to surpass; to exist above and independent of
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axiomatic
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self-evident; based on a universally accepted principle or rule
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definitive
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precisely described, defined, or characterized; explicit; conclusive; decisive; authoritative
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dialectic
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the practice of arriving at the truth by the exchange of opposing logical arguments
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empirical
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relying on or derived from observation or experiment
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presuppose
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to believe or assume in advance; to presume; to take for granted; to require or involve
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retionalize
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to devise slf-satisfying but incorrect reasons for behavior; to make rational or to interpret from a logical, reasonable standpoint
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rebutal
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opposing evidence or arguments or the presentation of those arguments; a refutation
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repudiate
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to reject the truth, the authority, or the validity of
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tenuous
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having little strenght or substance; flimsy
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verifiable
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able to be proved true by presentation of evidence or testimony
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bedlam
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a place or situation of noisy uproar and confusion
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bowdlerize
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to censor prudshly; to modify or abridge
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chauvinism
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a prejudiced belief in the superiority of one's own gender, group, or kind; fanatical patriotism
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draconian
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exceedingly harsh; very severe
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martinet
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a rigid military disciplinarian; one who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules
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maudlin
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effusively or tearfully sentimental; overly emotional
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mesmerize
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to spellbind; to enthrall; to hypnotize
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silhouette
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a drawing consisting of the outline of something; an outline that appears dark against a light background; to outline
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stentorian
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extremely loud
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titanic
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having enormous size, strength, power, or influence
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exalt
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to raise in rank, character, or status; to elevate; to glorify; to praise; to honor
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exhort
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to urge by strong argument, advice, or appeal
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garrulous
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excessive and often trivial talk; wordy and rambling
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gist
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the central idea; the essence
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histrionic
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excessively dramatic or emotional; affected
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laconic
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marked by the use of few words; terse or concise
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peremptory
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putting an end to all debate or action; not allowing contradiction or refusal; offensively self-assured; dictatorial
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polemic
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a controversial argument; relating to a controversy or argument
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vivacious
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full of animation and spirit; lively
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vociferous
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marked by noisy, forceful, or intense outcries
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atrophy
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to waste away; to wither or deteriorate
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debilitate
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to sap the strenght or the energy of; to weaken
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livid
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discolored; pale or ashen; furious with anger
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moribund
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about to die; on the verge of becoming obsolete or outdated
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noxious
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poisonous or harmful to living things; injurious to health; corrupting; harmful to the mind or morals
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pestilence
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a usually fatal epidemic disease
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prostrate
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to reduce to extreme weakness; to overcome; to lie flat or at full length
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salubrious
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conducive or favorable to health or well-being
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scourge
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a cause of great harm, affliction, or devastation; to ravage; to afflict with severe suffering
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unscathed
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not harmed; uninjured
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audacious
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fearlessly daring; bold; not held back by what others consider acceptable
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contumacy
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a scornful resistance to authority; a stubborn rebelliousness
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dour
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marked by sternness, harshness, or ill temper; sternly unyielding or stubborn
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eclat
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brilliance in performance and achievement; conspicuous success
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indefatigable
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tireless; incapable of wearing out or becoming fatigued
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irresolute
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undecided or uncertain about what to do; wavering
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obdurate
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hardhearted; stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing; not giving in to persuasion
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obsequious
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excessively eager to serve, obey, or win to favor of another; fawning
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pertinacity
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the quality of holding firmly or stubbornly to a purpose or belief; stubbornness
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stoic
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seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain; determined not to complain or feeling
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austere
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severe or stern in personality or appearance; somberand grave; bare
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avarice
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greed; an extreme desire for wealth
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florid
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flushed with rosy color; very ornate; flowery
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insatiable
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not capable of being fully satisfied
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inundate
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to flood or cover over with water; to overwhelm
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myriad
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referring to a large but undetermined number; made up of many diverse elements; a huge number
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parsimony
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displaying extreme stinginess or cheapness
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prodigal
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carelessly or wastefully extravagant; lavish; giving or given in abundance
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repiete
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plentifully supplied; abounding
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voluminous
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having great fullness, size, or number; ample or lengthy in speech or writing
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abscond
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to leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself
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bilk
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to cheat or swindle out of money
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clemency
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mercy; mildness
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contrite
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feeling regret and sorrow for things one has done wrong
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impute
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to attribut the fault or respnsibility to; to relate to a particular cause or source; to assign as a characteristic
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iniquity
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wickedness; immorality; a wicked or an immoral act; a sin
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redress
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to right a wrong; to make up for; a correction
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reprehensible
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deserving of blame or criticism
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restitution
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the act of restoring something to its proper owner or to its original state; the act of compensating for loss, damage, or injury
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vindicate
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to clear of blame, suspicion, or doubt; to justify or prove the worth of something
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adduce
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to cite as an example or a means of proof in an argument
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confound
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to cause to become confused or perplexed; to fail to distinguish; to mix up; to make something bad become even worse
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construe
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to interpret; to explain the meaning of; to translate
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conundrum
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a difficult, unsolvable, or self-contradictory problem a dilemma; a riddle which is answered by a pun
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cryptic
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having hidden meaning; mysterious; using or based on code
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equivocate
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to use language that is evasive or ambiguous; to avoid making an explicit or a straightforward statement
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paradox
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a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true; something exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects
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patent
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obvious; plain; apparent; a grant made by a government that confers upon the creator of an invention
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perspicacity
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an acuteness of perception, observation, or understanding; a sharpness
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rudimentary
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of or relating to basic facts or principles; elementary; in the earliest stages of development
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aberrant
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deviating from the proper or expected course; abnormal
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anomaly
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a departure from the normal or ordinary form, order, or rule
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eccenricity
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the quality of straying from what is conventional or customary
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endemic
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common in or unique to a certain location or population
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incongruous
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lacking in harmony; incompatable; not in agreement; inconsistent
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mundance
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commonplace; ordinary
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outlandish
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strikingly bizarre or unfimiliar
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paragon
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a model of perfection or excellence of a kind; an uparalleled example
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ubiquitous
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being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time
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unwonted
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not habitual or ordinary; unusual
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caustic
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capable of burning, corroding, or dissolving; cruelly cutting and sarcastic
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deleterious
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harmful; injurious
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despoil
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to thoroughly rob and destroy a place; to plunder; to loot
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effectual
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producing or able to produce a desired effect; full adequate; effective
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obviate
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to anticipate and prevent a difficulty; to make unnecessary
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pinnacle
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a tall, pointed formation; the highest, most successful point
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raze
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to level to the ground; to demolish
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stultify
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to make useless or ineffective; to negate
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surmount
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to overcome a difficulty or an obstacle; to be place on top
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wrest
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to obtain through a violent, twisting motion; to obtain by force or great effort
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deplore
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to express strong disapproval of; to condemn; to express grief over; to regret
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disconsolate
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incapable of being comforted; hopelessly dejected or sad
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domineering
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ruling or controlling arrogantly; overbearing; tyrannical
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halcyon
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calm and peaceful; tranquil; prosperous; golden
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lachrymose
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tending to produce tears; tearful; inclined to weep
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mercurial
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quick and changeable in temperment; volatile
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revel
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to take great pleasure or delight in something; to make merry; to celebrate
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sanguine
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of the color of blood; red; ruddy; cheerfully confident and optimistic
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tirade
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a long, angry or violent speech
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vex
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to irk, irritate, annoy, or bother; to bring distress or suffering to; to plague or affect; to puzzle or baffle
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commodious
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spacious and roomy
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finite
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limited; having an ending or a boundary
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gamut
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the complete range or extent of something
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incalculable
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very great; beyong measurement
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iota
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a tiny bit; an extremely small amount
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lofty
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of great height; towering; elevated and noble in character; arrogant; haughty; pompuous
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minuscule
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very small; tiny
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picayune
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of little value or importance; trivial; paltry
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vestige
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a visible trace, evidence, or sign of something that no longer exists
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wane
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to decreae; to diminish in power or size; to near an end
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apathetic
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feeling or showing a lack of interest, concern, or emotion; indifferent; unresponsive
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consecreate
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to declare or distinguish as holy; to make sacred for religious use; to hallow; to dedicate to a service or goal
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credo
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a code, system, or statement of beliefs; a creed
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heinous
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grossly wicked or evil; abominable
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ingrate
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an ungrateful person
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piety
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religious reverence; earnestness in religious matters; devoutness; devotion to parents and family; high-minded
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sacrilegious
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extremely irreverent or disrespectful toward what is considered sacred
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sanctimony
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false righteousness; hypocritical devoutness or high-mondedness
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sanctity
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sacredness; holiness
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timorous
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full of fear or apprehensiveness; timid
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berserk
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destructively or frenetically violent; mentally or emotionally upset; deranged
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jubilee
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a specially celebrated anniversary; a season or an occassion of joyful celebration
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juggernaut
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an overwhelming, advancing force that crushes or seems to crush everything in its path; something that elicits blind and destructive devotion
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kowtow
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to kneel, thouch the head to the ground in an expression of deep respect, worship, or submission; to fawn
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maeistrom
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a violent or turbulent situation; a whirlpool of extraordinary size or violence
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mecca
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a place that is regarded as the center of an activity or interest; a place visited by many people
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nabob
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a wealthy and prominent person
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saga
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a prose epic with many episodes; a long, detailed account
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shibboleth
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a word or pronunciation that distinguishes people of one group or class from those of another; a commonplace saying or idea
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trek
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to make a slow, difficult journey; to journey on foot; a journey that is slow and difficult
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animus
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a feeling of hatred; enmity; ill will; a disposition; an attitude that informs one's actions
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corpulent
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excessively fat; obese
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corpus
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a large collection of writings of a specific type or on a specific subject
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corpuscle
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an unattached body cell
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equanimity
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the quality of being calm and even-tempered; composure
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inanimate
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not alive; not having the qualities associated with life; dull; not energetic
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incorporate
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to include something as part of a larger whole; to embody; to give material or physical form to; to form into a legal corporation
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incorporeal
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lacking physical form and substance; immaterial
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magnanimous
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courageously noble in mind and heart; generous in forgiving; eschewing resentment or revenge
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pusillanimous
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cowardly; lacking courage
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anonymous
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having an unknown or unacknowledged name or authorship
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cognomen
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a surname; a family name; a descriptive nickname
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denomination
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a united group of religious organizations; one of a series of kinds, values, or sizes
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ignominious
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shameful; disgraceful; degrading
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misnomer
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an unsuitable name; a name wrongly applied
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moniker
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a distinctive name or nickname
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nomenclature
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a system of names used in a science or an art
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nominal
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existing in name only; insignificantly small; trifling
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patronymic
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of or relating to the name of one's father
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renown
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fame; widespread honor and acclaim
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append
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to add something to the end of a document
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dispense
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to distribute in parts and portions; to exempt from a duty or obligation
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expendable
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not strictly necessary, not worth keeping or reusing
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impend
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to be about to happen; to threaten to happen
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penchant
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a strong liking; an inclination to be good at something
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pending
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awaiting conclusion; not yet decided or settled; until
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preponderance
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superiority in number, weight, influence, or importance
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propensity
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an inborn tendency or inclination
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recompense
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to pay or award compensation to; a payment in return for something
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suspension
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a temporary stopping of a law or rule; a temporary loss of a privilege or right to do something
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benediction
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a blessing or expression of good wishes
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colloquium
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an informal meeting held in order to exchange views; an academic seminar on a broad field of study
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dictum
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a noteworthy statement; an authoritative, formal pronouncement
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edict
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a formal command; a decree or proclamation issued by an authority and having the force of law
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elocution
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the art or manner of public speaking that emphasizes gesture, vocal production, and delivery
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grandiloquence
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a pompous, self-important manner in speech or expression
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indict
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to charge with or accuse of wrongdoing; to make a formal, legal charge against
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interlocutor
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a participant in a dialogue or conversation
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loquacious
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extremely talkative
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soliloquy
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a dramatic speech in which one talks to oneself; speaking to oneself
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