English Vocab (October 12, 2007)

Front 1

Abjure

Back 1

to renounce, repudiate, or retract, esp. with formal solemnity; recant

Front 2

Accede

Back 2

to give consent, approval, or adherence; agree; assent

Front 3

Antithesis

Back 3

opposition; contrast

Front 4

Bane

Back 4

a person or thing that ruins or spoils

Front 5

Bucolic

Back 5

of, pertaining to, or suggesting an idyllic rural life

Front 6

Calamity

Back 6

a great misfortune or disaster, as a flood or serious injury

Front 7

Cantankerous

Back 7

disagreeable to deal with; contentious; peevish

Front 8

Catharsis

Back 8

the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, esp. through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music

Front 9

Codify

Back 9

to reduce (laws, rules, etc.) to a code : to make a digest of; arrange in a systematic collection

Front 10

Conjecture

Back 10

the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof

Front 11

Cynical

Back 11

like or characteristic of a cynic; distrusting or disparaging the motives of others

Front 12

Debauch

Back 12

to corrupt by sensuality, intemperance, etc.; seduce

Front 13

Decrepit

Back 13

weakened by old age; feeble; infirm

Front 14

Emaciated

Back 14

to make abnormally lean or thin by a gradual wasting away of flesh

Front 15

Fecundity

Back 15

the quality of being fecund; capacity, esp. in female animals, of producing young in great numbers

Front 16

Frivolous

Back 16

self-indulgently carefree; unconcerned about or lacking any serious purpose

Front 17

Genesis

Back 17

an origin, creation, or beginning

Front 18

Haphazard

Back 18

characterized by lack of order or planning, by irregularity, or by randomness; determined by or dependent on chance; aimless

Front 19

Heed

Back 19

to give careful attention to

Front 20

Hoard

Back 20

a supply or accumulation that is hidden or carefully guarded for preservation, future use, etc

Front 21

Husband

Back 21

to manage, esp. with prudent economy

Front 22

Illicit

Back 22

disapproved of or not permitted for moral, legal, or ethical reasons

Front 23

Impeccable

Back 23

faultless; flawless; irreproachable

Front 24

Indubitable

Back 24

that cannot be doubted; patently evident or certain; unquestionable

Front 25

Inevitable

Back 25

unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary

Front 26

Insipid

Back 26

without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid, bland

Front 27

Jovial

Back 27

endowed with or characterized by a hearty, joyous humor or a spirit of good-fellowship

Front 28

Luminary

Back 28

person who has attained eminence in his or her field or is an inspiration to others; a body, object, etc., that gives light

Front 29

Lurid

Back 29

gruesome; horrible; revolting; lighted or shining with an unnatural, fiery glow; wildly or garishly red

Front 30

Malaise

Back 30

a vague or unfocused feeling of mental uneasiness, lethargy, or discomfort

Front 31

Mnemonic

Back 31

assisting or intended to assist the memory

Front 32

Nondescript

Back 32

of no recognized, definite, or particular type or kind

Front 33

Omnipotent

Back 33

almighty or infinite in power, as God

Front 34

Pernicious

Back 34

causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful

Front 35

Petrify

Back 35

to benumb or paralyze with astonishment, horror, or other strong emotion; to convert into stone or a stony substance

Front 36

Pivotal

Back 36

of, pertaining to, or serving as a pivot

Front 37

Pretentious

Back 37

making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious

Front 38

Prevalent

Back 38

widespread; of wide extent or occurrence; in general use or acceptance

Front 39

Prosaic

Back 39

commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative

Front 40

Quintessence

Back 40

the pure and concentrated essence of a substance

Front 41

Rectify

Back 41

to make, put, or set right; remedy; correct

Front 42

Repercussion

Back 42

an effect or result, often indirect or remote, of some event or action

Front 43

Sedentary

Back 43

characterized by or requiring a sitting posture

Front 44

Sluggish

Back 44

slow to act or respond; indisposed to action or exertion; lacking in energy; lazy; indolent

Front 45

Sordid

Back 45

meanly selfish, self-seeking, or mercenary

Front 46

Squander

Back 46

to spend or use (money, time, etc.) extravagantly or wastefully

Front 47

Subliminal

Back 47

existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness

Front 48

Tangible

Back 48

capable of being touched; discernible by the touch; material or substantial

Front 49

Transient

Back 49

not lasting, enduring, or permanent; transitory

Front 50

Unkempt

Back 50

uncared for or neglected; disheveled; messy