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150 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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attenuate
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to make or become thin
to lessen the amount, force, or value of |
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behemoth
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something or someone of enormous size or power
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disinter
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to remove from a grave or tomb; to dig up
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impinge
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to go beyond desirable or established limits; to encroach
to come into contact with, especially forcefully |
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multifarious
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having many forms; varied, versatile
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oxymoron
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a combination of words that seem to be contradictory
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plenitude
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an ample amount; an abundance
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postulate
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to assume as a fact based on the best available evidence
something assumed to be self-evident; a fundamental principle |
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prevail
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to prove superior in power or strength
to remain in effect or use; to be current or widespread |
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putrefy
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to become rotten or decayed, giving off a foul odor
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salubrious
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beneficial to health or well-being
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succulent
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fresh and juicy
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tundra
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flat, treeless plains fo the arctic regions
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unequivocal
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leaving no room for misunderstanding; unambiguous
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vicissitudes
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fluctuations in conditions; changes of fortune
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amity
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peaceful relations; friendship
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animadversion
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a critical or hostile comment
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antithetical
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being in direct and outspoken opposition
the direct contrast of one thing with another; the exact opposite |
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bellicose
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inclined to quarrel; combative; warlike
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bucolic
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of or relating to country life; rustic; pastoral
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craven
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utterly lacking courage; willing to give up or capitulate
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exalt
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to raise in rank, wealth, or honr; to praise highly; glorify
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impugn
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to attack as false; to call into question
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introspective
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inclined to look inward and examine one's thoughts and feelings
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metier
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work or activity for which one is particularly suited
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penurious
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marked by extreme poverty
stingy; lacking gnerosity |
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privation
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an instance or condition of extreme hardship; a lack of comfort
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sobriquet
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a nicknmame
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tantamount
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equivalent to; the same as
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throes
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conditions of painful or difficult change, struggle, or turmoil
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altruism
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the putting of other's well-being ahead of one's own; unselfishness
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concurrent
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taking place at the same time; simultaneous
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context
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the circumstances in which something exists or occurs
the surroundings of a word or phrase in a spoken or written passage |
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crass
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lacking delicacy or sensitivity; gross
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cuisine
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style of cooking
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debase
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to lower the quality, character, or status of; to devalue
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enjoin
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to direct or command
to forbid or prohibit |
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extemporaneous
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composed of or performed on the spur of the moment, with little or no planning
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genesis
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an origin, creation, or beginning
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libation
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a liquid, usually wine, especially when poured as an offering or drunk as part of a ceremony
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malaise
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a vague feeling of uneasiness or unwellness
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platitude
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a thought or remark that is dull or trite
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reconcile
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to reestablish an amicable relationship
to bring to quiet submission to bring into harmony or agreement |
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sunder
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to break or face apart; to sever
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travail
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activity that is arduous and burdensome; toil
suffering or anguish |
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abeyance
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a state of (usually temporary) inactivity or suspension
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buttress
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a projecting structure that supports a wall or building
anything that supports or protects to support or strengthen |
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commensurate
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corresponding in size, degree, or amount; proportionate; of equal value
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dilatory
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slow to act or respond; delaying; tardy
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ecumenical
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universal; inclusive, especially concerning religious matters
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facade
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the front or face of a building
a superficial appearance; an illusion |
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gargoyle
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a grotesque stone figure used as a decorative feature on a building or as an ornament; a spout projecting
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moot
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to debate, suggest, or discuss
deprived of significance; irrelevant |
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pinnacle
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a tall, slender, pointed top; peak
the highest point of achievement |
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requiem
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a funeral mass or service; a musical composition honoring the dead
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sacrosanct
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highly sacred or holy; not to be violated
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sensuous
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coming from or acting on the senses
producing an agreeable effect on the senses |
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tenet
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a principle or belief held to be true, especially by members of an organization
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transcend
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to go above the limits of; to exceed or surpass
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venue
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the scene or locale of any action or event; the place of an alleged crime
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arbiter
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one whose decisions are accepted as final; a judge
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conclave
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a private meeting or secret assembly
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concomitant
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accompanying; occuping or existing at the same time
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coterie
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an intimate or exclusive group; a clique
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demur
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to rasie objections; to withhold one's approval or agreement
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entice
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to lead or persuade by arousing desire or hope; allure
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flaunt
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to parade or display conspicuously or boldly
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genteel
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polite, elegant, stylish; sometimes overly so
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graphic
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evoking a sharp mental mental picture; vivid
concerning the pictoral arts, as drawing, painting, etc. |
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inimical
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expressing hostility or unfriendly intent
having adverse or harmful effects |
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inordinate
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beyond what is ordinary or reasonable in amount or scope; excessive
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ludicrous
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provoking or describing laughter because of absurdity; ridiculous
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oligarchy
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government by a small, elite group
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redoubtable
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worthy of respect; formidable
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repugnant
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highly distasteful; offensive; repulsive
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archives
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public or institutional records, especially historical documents that are preserved; the place where such records are kept
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chattel
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an item of property that can be moved, as distinct from real estate
a human being considered as property |
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commodious
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having plenty of space to move around freely; roomy
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conflagration
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a large, disastrous fire
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limbo
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a place or state of neglect, oblivion, or transition
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lineage
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line of descent; ancestry
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listless
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indifferent, spiritless; showing a lack of motivation or interest
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metropolis
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an important city, especially one regarded as the center of a particulary activity
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perfunctory
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done in a routine way, without care or particular interest
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pristine
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like new; spotless; free of dirt and decay
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ramshackle
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loosely made; appearing ready to collapse; dilapidated
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sequester
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to set apart; to seclude
to seize, especially by legal authority |
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subversive
subvert |
planning to undermine or overthrow an established order
to undermine the mroals, authority, or allegience of |
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terminus
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the final destination or goal or a journey or endeavor; the finishing point
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virulent
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extremely harmful or poisonous; deadly
full of hate; bitter or spiteful |
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autocratic
autocrat autocracy |
exercising sole or complete control; dictatorial
one who exercises total control; a domineering person absolute rule by a single person |
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caustic
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capable of destroying tissue by chemical action; corrosive
very sarcastic; sharp or biting |
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debilitate
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to impair the strength of; to enfeeble
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duplicitous
duplicity |
marked by deception
deceit in speech or actions; deliberate deception |
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emissary
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a representative sent on a special errand
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felicitous
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happily suited to an occasion or situation; appropriate and graceful
marked by happiness or good fortune; pleasant; charming |
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forthright
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direct; straightforward; frank
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impecunious
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being habitually without money; poor
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jaundiced
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of an unhealthy yellow appearance
affected by jealousy, resentment, or hostility |
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mercenary
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seving merely for money or gain; greedy
soldier who fights for whoever pays him |
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notorious
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well known for a particular quality or trait, usually an unfavorable one
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oust
ouster |
to eject from a position or place; to drive out of use
dismissal from a position |
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parsimonious
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excessively sparing or frugal; penurious
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pejorative
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having negative or unpleasant associations; belittling
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precept
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a general principle or rule of action
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bereft
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deprived of or lacking something that is wanted or needed
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criterion
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a standard or rule by which something is judged or criticized
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deride
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to laugh at in scorn or contempt; to ridicule
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effrontery
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a boldness that is offensive because of its lack of tact; audacity
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espouse
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to advocate or embrace, especially a cause or idea
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hypocrisy
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the practice of pretending to believe or value things or ideas that one does not; falseness
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impending
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about to occur; imminent
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incensed
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filled with wrath; enraged
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pertinent
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relating to the matter at hand; relevant
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promulgate
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to proclaim or make known
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redress
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to correct or compensate for a wrong
something that makes up for a wrong |
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regime
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a form of rule or government
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retribution
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something given in repayment, especially punishment; recompense
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substantiate
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to verify or confirm by presenting evidence
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proscribe
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to forbid as harmful; to prohibit
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aegis
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protection; sponsorship
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bauble
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a showy, ornamental object with little practical use; a trinket
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complaisant
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willing to please; agreeable
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consolidate
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to join together; to unite
to strengthen or make firm |
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depredation
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the act of plundering or destroying; also, the loss or damage that results
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epiphany
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a sudden understanding of the meaning, essence, or reality of something
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moratorium
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a waiting period or temporary ban on activity
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pendulous
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hanging loosely or swinging freely
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portend
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to be a sign of; to indicate what will happen
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pragmatic
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concerned with practical solutions rather than abstract theory
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reprieve
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to delay or suspend punishment
a relief or respite, especially when temporary |
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stentorian
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extremely loud or powerful in sound
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tenure
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the condition of holding property, an office, or a position; also the period during which
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unilateral
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done or carried out by one of two or more parties rather than in concert with others
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viable
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capable of living, growing, or developing
capable of success; workable |
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ambidextrous
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able to use both hands with equal skill
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antipathy
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a consistent aversion or dislike
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deleterious
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hurtful; injurious
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excoriate
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to criticize severely; to berate
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extrapolate
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to estimate or infer by projecting from or expanding upon known information
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grisly
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horrible to contemplate or look upon; grim and ghastly
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idiosyncrasy
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a pecular characteristic, habit, or manner that distinguishes a person
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impute
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to assign blame or credit; to attribute or ascribe
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maladroit
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lacking judgement or skill; bungling or clumsy
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negate
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to deny or refute the existence of truth of
to make ineffective or invalid |
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passe
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no longer in fashion; out moded
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pedagogue
pedagogical |
a teacher of children or youth; sometimes one who is dogmatic or overly formal
of or relating to the science or art of teaching |
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preponderance
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the greater part; superiority in size, importance, or strength
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propound
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to put forward for consideration; to propose
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stance
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the way a person stands; the position of a person's feet
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