Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
3683 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
|
bastion
|
stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
|
|
|
|
maverick
|
rebel; nonconformist (in a group)
|
|
|
|
paraphernalia
|
equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman's property exclusive of her dowry
|
|
|
|
wake
|
trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before; Ex. hunger followed in the wake of the war
|
|
|
|
draught
|
current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid swallowed at a time
|
|
|
|
betoken
|
signify; indicate; be a sign of
|
|
|
|
waggish
|
humorous; mischievous; tricky
|
|
|
|
bugaboo
|
bugbear; object of baseless terror
|
|
|
|
conscript
|
draftee; person forced into military service; V.
|
|
|
|
punctilious
|
minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful attention payed to every small exact detail
|
|
|
|
imbecility
|
weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N. imbecile: stupid person; fool
|
|
|
|
rebuke
|
scold harshly; criticize severely
|
|
|
|
hardy
|
(of people or animals) sturdy; robust; (of plants) able to stand inclement(stormy) weather
|
|
|
|
penury
|
extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy
|
|
|
|
venal
|
capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal
|
|
|
|
flit
|
fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
|
|
|
|
magnate
|
person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate
|
|
|
|
citadel
|
fortress
|
|
|
|
libidinous
|
lustful
|
|
|
|
mendicant
|
beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
|
|
|
|
voyeur
|
Peeping Tom; person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others
|
|
|
|
docile
|
obedient; easily managed; submissive
|
|
|
|
vitiate
|
spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally
|
|
|
|
cupidity
|
greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
|
|
|
|
rank
|
offensive in odor or flavor
|
|
|
|
quisling
|
traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling
|
|
|
|
squander
|
waste; spend foolishly
|
|
|
|
colloquy
|
informal discussion; conversation
|
|
|
|
desolate
|
make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
|
|
|
|
fumble
|
move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in search of something); mishandle or drop a ball that is in play; bungle; botch; spoil by mishandling; N.
|
|
|
|
isthmus
|
narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land
|
|
|
|
skulduggery(skullduggery)
|
dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
|
|
|
|
odium
|
detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)
|
|
|
|
deserts
|
what someone deserves
|
|
|
|
nugatory
|
worthless; futile
|
|
|
|
rendition
|
rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc
|
|
|
|
incursion
|
temporary invasion; CF. excursion: short journey
|
|
|
|
stigma
|
token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
|
|
|
|
gross
|
total; fragrant; clearly wrong; (of people's behavior) coarse; corpulent; Ex. gross insolence/behavior; V: earn as a total amount; N: 12 dozens
|
|
|
|
hindsight
|
understanding the nature of an event after it has actually happened
|
|
|
|
garish
|
overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
|
|
|
|
euphony
|
sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
|
|
|
|
pithy
|
concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
|
|
|
|
lap
|
take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently; Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person
|
|
|
|
array
|
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
|
|
|
|
redoubtable
|
formidable; causing fear
|
|
|
|
approbation
|
approval
|
|
|
|
fodder
|
coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock; CF. food
|
|
|
|
regale
|
entertain
|
|
|
|
warren
|
tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live
|
|
|
|
entrance
|
put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight
|
|
|
|
temperate
|
moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature; CF. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society
|
|
|
|
disinterested
|
unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
|
|
|
|
amnesty
|
pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
|
|
|
|
stint
|
supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
|
|
|
|
recondite
|
abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
|
|
|
|
consonance
|
harmony; agreement
|
|
|
|
augury
|
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
|
|
|
|
tribulation
|
suffering; ordeal; distress; trial
|
|
|
|
sartorial
|
pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
|
|
|
|
slur
|
slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.
|
|
|
|
quarry
|
person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey
|
|
|
|
funereal
|
sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
|
|
|
|
amphibian
|
able to live both on land and in water; N.
|
|
|
|
ineluctable
|
irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable
|
|
|
|
analgesia
|
condition of being unable to feel pain
|
|
|
|
incontinent
|
lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious
|
|
|
|
stickler
|
perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
|
|
|
|
episodic
|
(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience
|
|
|
|
seasonable
|
occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute
|
|
|
|
astringent
|
binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
|
|
|
|
quotidian
|
daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine
|
|
|
|
sentinel
|
sentry; lookout
|
|
|
|
tout
|
promote or publicize (one's goods or service); praise excessively (as a form of advertisement); CF. advertise
|
|
|
|
soliloquy
|
talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)
|
|
|
|
jocose
|
given to(having a tendency of) joking
|
|
|
|
blasphemy
|
irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
|
|
|
|
consequential
|
self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
|
|
|
|
cogent
|
convincing
|
|
|
|
clemency
|
disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
|
|
|
|
nostrum
|
questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
|
|
|
|
archetype
|
prototype; primitive pattern
|
|
|
|
cohorts
|
group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
|
|
|
|
labile
|
likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability
|
|
|
|
panegyric
|
formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.
|
|
|
|
requisition
|
formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
|
|
|
|
unassuaged
|
unsatisfied; not soothed
|
|
|
|
furrow
|
long shallow trench made by a plow; deep wrinkle in the skin; V.
|
|
|
|
rarefied
|
made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
|
|
|
|
madrigal
|
pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments
|
|
|
|
apparition
|
ghost; phantom
|
|
|
|
scurrilous
|
abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
|
|
|
|
consanguineous(consanguine)
|
having a common ancestor
|
|
|
|
fresco
|
painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)
|
|
|
|
progenitor
|
ancestor
|
|
|
|
odoriferous
|
giving off an odor
|
|
|
|
asperity
|
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
|
|
|
|
salient
|
prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features
|
|
|
|
brook
|
tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream
|
|
|
|
ductile
|
malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
|
|
|
|
subversive
|
tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
|
|
|
|
inkling
|
hint; slight indication
|
|
|
|
ribald
|
marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
|
|
|
|
ordain
|
decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination
|
|
|
|
noisome
|
foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
|
|
|
|
semblance
|
outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.
|
|
|
|
calamity
|
disaster; misery
|
|
|
|
complicity
|
participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
|
|
|
|
tangible
|
able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof
|
|
|
|
supplant
|
take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
|
|
|
|
list
|
tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
|
|
|
|
gaunt
|
lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren
|
|
|
|
pan
|
criticize harshly
|
|
|
|
quintessence
|
purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence
|
|
|
|
scanty
|
meager; insufficient
|
|
|
|
unseemly
|
unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with unseemly haste
|
|
|
|
rebuff
|
reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
|
|
|
|
canny
|
shrewd in money matters; thrifty
|
|
|
|
influx
|
flowing into
|
|
|
|
overwrought
|
nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done
|
|
|
|
patent
|
obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.
|
|
|
|
wane
|
decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.
|
|
|
|
fetter
|
shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or shackle for the foot of a prisoner; CF. foot
|
|
|
|
regeneration
|
spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
|
|
|
|
pedagogy
|
teaching; art of education
|
|
|
|
jubilation
|
rejoicing; great joy
|
|
|
|
mete
|
measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
|
|
|
|
pulmonary
|
pertaining to the lungs
|
|
|
|
rift
|
narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
|
|
|
|
exonerate
|
acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
|
|
|
|
untoward
|
unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter
|
|
|
|
perspicuous
|
(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments
|
|
|
|
prefigure
|
be a sign of; foreshadow
|
|
|
|
denigrate
|
blacken; defame
|
|
|
|
conservatory(conservatoire)
|
school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
|
|
|
|
sober
|
serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
|
|
|
|
malcontent
|
person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person; ADJ: discontented
|
|
|
|
bode
|
foreshadow; portend
|
|
|
|
reparation
|
compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
|
|
|
|
odious
|
arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile
|
|
|
|
maraud
|
move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
|
|
|
|
lucrative
|
profitable; producing wealth
|
|
|
|
vapid
|
lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture
|
|
|
|
clarion
|
shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times
|
|
|
|
propitiate
|
appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
|
|
|
|
fledgling(fledgeling)
|
inexperienced; N: young bird that has acquired wing feathers and is learning to fly; inexperienced person
|
|
|
|
traverse
|
go through or across
|
|
|
|
cherubic
|
angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order
|
|
|
|
transpose
|
reverse the order or position of
|
|
|
|
momentum
|
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force
|
|
|
|
exploit
|
brave and successful act; deed or action, particularly a brave deed; CF. crossing the Atlantic ocean
|
|
|
|
dutiful(duteous)
|
(of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)
|
|
|
|
sibylline
|
prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
|
|
|
|
serrated
|
having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
|
|
|
|
indices
|
signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student's potential; CF. index: something that reveals or indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index
|
|
|
|
wistful
|
sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing
|
|
|
|
disband
|
dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
|
|
|
|
gamely
|
in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game
|
|
|
|
supposititious
|
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
|
|
|
|
spurn
|
reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
|
|
|
|
apprise
|
inform
|
|
|
|
deposition
|
testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
|
|
|
|
aseptic
|
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
|
|
|
|
raconteur
|
story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill
|
|
|
|
dart
|
move or throw suddenly and quickly
|
|
|
|
canard
|
unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
|
|
|
|
toss
|
throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion; flip (a coin) to decide something
|
|
|
|
phalanx
|
formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)
|
|
|
|
bar
|
railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister
|
|
|
|
lineaments
|
features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line
|
|
|
|
oratorio
|
dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata
|
|
|
|
simian
|
monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
|
|
|
|
inter
|
bury; N. interment
|
|
|
|
coroner
|
an officer, as of a county or municipality, whose chief function is to investigate by inquest, as before a jury, any death not clearly resulting from natural causes.
|
None
|
|
|
perspicuity
|
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
|
|
|
|
protean
|
able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
|
|
|
|
conscientious
|
scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
|
|
|
|
nexus
|
connection
|
|
|
|
mercantile
|
concerning trade or merchants
|
|
|
|
recreant
|
disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
|
|
|
|
disport
|
amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
|
|
|
|
proxy
|
authorized agent; authority to act for another
|
|
|
|
leave-taking
|
farewell or departure
|
|
|
|
tender
|
offer formally; extend; Ex. tender one's resignation/the exact fare; N: formal offer; money; Ex. legal tender; ADJ: young and vulnerable; sensitive to the touch; sore; soft; delicate; Ex. child of tender years; Ex. tender wound
|
|
|
|
brunt
|
main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument
|
|
|
|
junta
|
group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)
|
|
|
|
dossier
|
file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
|
|
|
|
bluster
|
blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale
|
|
|
|
capacious
|
spacious
|
|
|
|
aria
|
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
|
|
|
|
posterity
|
descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; CF. posterior, anterior
|
|
|
|
bohemian
|
unconventional (in an artistic way)
|
|
|
|
ignoble
|
unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed
|
|
|
|
career
|
rush wildly; go at full speed
|
|
|
|
evocative
|
tending to call up (emotions, memories)
|
|
|
|
titter
|
nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
|
|
|
|
glut
|
overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply
|
|
|
|
devious
|
roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
|
|
|
|
imperturbable
|
unshakably calm; placid
|
|
|
|
husbandry
|
frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman
|
|
|
|
ingrate
|
ungrateful person (not expressing thanks)
|
|
|
|
comport
|
bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
|
|
|
|
reprobation
|
severe disapproval; CF. approbation
|
|
|
|
arch-
|
chief; first; Ex. archbishop
|
|
|
|
incendiary
|
arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb
|
|
|
|
helm
|
steering wheel of a ship; position of control
|
|
|
|
pretext
|
excuse
|
|
|
|
solvent
|
able to pay all depths; N. solvency
|
|
|
|
valor
|
bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave
|
|
|
|
foreboding
|
premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V. forebode: be a warning of (something unpleasant)
|
|
|
|
retain
|
keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor
|
|
|
|
truism
|
self-evident truth
|
|
|
|
absolve
|
pardon (an offense)
|
|
|
|
centrifugal
|
radiating; departing from the center
|
|
|
|
alms
|
money or goods given to the poor
|
|
|
|
shrew
|
scolding woman; very small mouselike animal
|
|
|
|
franchise
|
right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory
|
|
|
|
decadence
|
decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
|
|
|
|
ejaculation
|
exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate
|
|
|
|
vintner
|
wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine
|
|
|
|
detain
|
keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
|
|
|
|
odorous
|
having an odor
|
|
|
|
physiognomy
|
face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
|
|
|
|
behoove(behove)
|
be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.
|
|
|
|
rumble
|
make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder or stomach)
|
|
|
|
sojourn
|
temporary stay; V: stay for a time
|
|
|
|
myopic
|
nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia
|
|
|
|
tortuous
|
winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain road
|
|
|
|
murmur
|
low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
|
|
|
|
fret
|
be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful
|
|
|
|
gaffe
|
social blunder
|
|
|
|
divest
|
strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)
|
|
|
|
beatitude
|
blessedness; state of great happiness
|
|
|
|
sinecure
|
well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
|
|
|
|
squat
|
short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
|
|
|
|
unintimating
|
unfrightening
|
|
|
|
discomfit
|
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
|
|
|
|
tarry
|
linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle
|
|
|
|
apotheosis
|
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
|
|
|
|
pinnace
|
small boat
|
|
|
|
maudlin
|
effusively sentimental
|
|
|
|
aspersion
|
slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
|
|
|
|
render
|
give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully
|
|
|
|
galley
|
low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
|
|
|
|
curb
|
chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain
|
|
|
|
buffet
|
strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set
|
|
|
|
seemly
|
(of behavior) proper; appropriate
|
|
|
|
decrepitude
|
state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
|
|
|
|
protuberance
|
protrusion; swelling; bulge
|
|
|
|
condign
|
adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
|
|
|
|
pundit
|
authority on a subject; expert; learned person
|
|
|
|
brawny
|
muscular; having well-developed muscles
|
|
|
|
fanciful
|
whimsical; visionary; imaginary; produced by imagination; Ex. fanciful scheme
|
|
|
|
factious
|
inclined to form factions; causing dissension
|
|
|
|
chassis
|
framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
|
|
|
|
inopportune
|
untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly chosen
|
|
|
|
vendetta
|
blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams
|
|
|
|
undertaker
|
funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials
|
|
|
|
aquiline
|
curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
|
|
|
|
lofty
|
very high
|
|
|
|
mordant
|
biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit
|
|
|
|
bombast
|
grandiloquent, pompous speech
|
|
|
|
homily
|
sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic
|
|
|
|
rankle
|
irritate; fester; annoy
|
|
|
|
indeterminate
|
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
|
|
|
|
enumerate
|
list; mention one by one
|
|
|
|
congenial
|
pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
|
|
|
|
privation
|
lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF. deprive
|
|
|
|
quirk
|
sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate
|
|
|
|
stratagem
|
deceptive scheme; clever trick
|
|
|
|
inundate
|
flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work
|
|
|
|
jetsam
|
things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)
|
|
|
|
dauntless
|
bold; fearless
|
|
|
|
lien
|
legal claim or right on a property
|
|
|
|
expound
|
explain
|
|
|
|
mangy
|
shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance
|
|
|
|
abate
|
subside or moderate
|
|
|
|
heresy
|
opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion; ADJ. heretical; CF. heretic
|
|
|
|
high-flown
|
highly pretentious or inflated
|
|
|
|
whorl
|
ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers
|
|
|
|
petulant
|
touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
|
|
|
|
invalid
|
one incapacitated(disabled) by a chronic illness; ADJ: incapacitated by illness; not valid; null; V: allow to leave (a military force) because of ill-health
|
|
|
|
lechery
|
gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
|
|
|
|
entomology
|
study of insects
|
|
|
|
molt(moult)
|
periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)
|
|
|
|
expatiate
|
talk at length; speak or write in detail
|
|
|
|
tribute
|
tax levied by a ruler; payment made by one nation to another in acknowledgment of submission; mark of respect (such as praise or gift); Ex. pay tribute to
|
|
|
|
askance
|
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
|
|
|
|
prate
|
talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
|
|
|
|
cardinal
|
chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order
|
|
|
|
valediction
|
saying farewell; expression of leave-taking
|
|
|
|
homeostasis
|
tendency of a system or organism to maintain relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF. homeo-: constant; Ex. homeotherm
|
|
|
|
palimpsest
|
parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased
|
|
|
|
vaporize
|
turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)
|
|
|
|
lackadaisical
|
lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
|
|
|
|
rectitude
|
moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
|
|
|
|
vainglorious
|
boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity
|
|
|
|
filing
|
particle removed by a file
|
|
|
|
inveigh
|
denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh against the evils of drink
|
|
|
|
pathetic
|
causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching
|
|
|
|
supererogatory
|
superfluous; more than needed or demanded
|
|
|
|
orgy
|
wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping
|
|
|
|
feral
|
(of an animal) not domestic; wild
|
|
|
|
incandescent
|
strikingly bright; shining with intense heat; emitting visible light when heated; Ex. incandescent light bulb; CF. candle
|
|
|
|
forebears(forbears)
|
ancestors
|
|
|
|
disenfranchise
|
disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
|
|
|
|
slink
|
move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)
|
|
|
|
besmirch
|
soil; defile; make dirty
|
|
|
|
brood
|
sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time
|
|
|
|
beholden
|
obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
|
|
|
|
flay
|
strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly
|
|
|
|
sophomoric
|
immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
|
|
|
|
exculpate
|
clear from blame or guilt
|
|
|
|
perturb
|
disturb greatly
|
|
|
|
variegated
|
(esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored
|
|
|
|
insolvent
|
bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency
|
|
|
|
parley
|
conference (between opponents); CF. speak
|
|
|
|
compendium
|
brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious
|
|
|
|
benison
|
blessing
|
|
|
|
don
|
put on; OP. doff
|
|
|
|
chaffing
|
bantering; joking
|
|
|
|
magistrate
|
official with power to administer the law
|
|
|
|
supplicant
|
one who supplicates; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
scrappy
|
quarrelsome
|
|
|
|
vagrant
|
wandering from place to place; roving; stray; moving in a random fashion; Ex. vagrant thoughts; N. vagrancy
|
|
|
|
falter
|
hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or move unsteadily through weakness; N.
|
|
|
|
florid
|
ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose
|
|
|
|
philatelist
|
stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
|
|
|
|
grotesque
|
fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or amusement)
|
|
|
|
inane
|
silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity
|
|
|
|
orientation
|
act of finding oneself in society; orienting
|
|
|
|
crabbed
|
sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
|
|
|
|
unprepossessing
|
unattractive
|
|
|
|
acuity
|
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
|
|
|
|
integrate
|
make whole; combine; make into one unit
|
|
|
|
dispatch
|
speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
|
|
|
|
spry
|
(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
|
|
|
|
sycophant
|
servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic
|
|
|
|
sedate
|
composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative
|
|
|
|
abet
|
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
|
|
|
|
monograph
|
scholarly article
|
|
|
|
preternatural
|
beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces
|
|
|
|
despoil
|
plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
|
|
|
|
dapper
|
neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
|
|
|
|
sullen
|
silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
|
|
|
|
anathema
|
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
|
|
|
|
dismantle
|
take apart; disassemble
|
|
|
|
imperative
|
absolutely necessary; that must be done; critically important; expressing command; Ex. It is imperative that; N: something that must be done
|
|
|
|
disclaim
|
disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
|
|
|
|
indoctrinate
|
cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism
|
|
|
|
indigence
|
poverty
|
|
|
|
interstice
|
narrow space between things
|
|
|
|
abode
|
dwelling place; home
|
|
|
|
avuncular
|
of or like an uncle
|
|
|
|
welt
|
raised mark from a beating or whipping
|
|
|
|
flotsam
|
drifting wreckage
|
|
|
|
putative
|
supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child
|
|
|
|
gerrymander
|
change voting district lines in order to favor a political party; N. CF. Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander
|
|
|
|
implicate
|
incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be involved (in a crime); Ex. implicate someone in the crime
|
|
|
|
oblivion
|
obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness
|
|
|
|
incompatible
|
inharmonious; N. incompatibility
|
|
|
|
assent
|
agree; accept; N. assessment
|
|
|
|
seminal
|
related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field
|
|
|
|
histrionic
|
theatrical; excessively dramatic or emotional; affected; of actors or acting; N. histrionics: histrionic behavior
|
|
|
|
stockade
|
wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
|
|
|
|
stem
|
stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
|
|
|
|
vagary
|
capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander
|
|
|
|
inculcate
|
teach (ideas or principles); instill
|
|
|
|
countermand
|
cancel; revoke (an order)
|
|
|
|
insularity
|
narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula
|
|
|
|
discriminating
|
able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
|
|
|
|
vouchsafe
|
grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
|
|
|
|
abeyance
|
suspended action
|
|
|
|
sate
|
satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
|
|
|
|
asymmetric
|
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
|
|
|
|
rote
|
repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
|
|
|
|
immolate
|
offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)
|
|
|
|
malignant
|
tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor
|
|
|
|
dysentery
|
inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract
|
|
|
|
fray
|
brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have loose threads developing; cause to become worn out (a person's temper or nerves); CF. rub
|
|
|
|
agglomeration
|
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
|
|
|
|
phylum
|
major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division
|
|
|
|
hiatus
|
gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break
|
|
|
|
irrevocable
|
unalterable; irreversible; impossible to revoke
|
|
|
|
contrivance
|
something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme
|
|
|
|
apostate
|
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
|
|
|
|
ratify
|
approve formally; confirm; verify
|
|
|
|
loft
|
room or space under the roof; attic
|
|
|
|
defray
|
provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
|
|
|
|
discerning
|
mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
|
|
|
|
chagrin
|
annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)
|
|
|
|
magisterial
|
authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner
|
|
|
|
warp
|
twist out of shape; N.
|
|
|
|
phenomena
|
observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength
|
|
|
|
plaudit
|
praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud
|
|
|
|
litter
|
waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter
|
|
|
|
advent
|
arrival
|
|
|
|
tenacious
|
holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
|
|
|
|
touchstone
|
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion; standard
|
|
|
|
resound
|
(of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter
|
|
|
|
glean
|
gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty
|
|
|
|
swell
|
long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.
|
|
|
|
fell
|
cruel; (of a disease) deadly
|
|
|
|
decry
|
express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
|
|
|
|
bait
|
harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
|
|
|
|
ruminant
|
animal that ruminates; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
collusion
|
conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude
|
|
|
|
depravity
|
extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
|
|
|
|
quorum
|
minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
|
|
|
|
pendulous
|
hanging; suspended
|
|
|
|
pith
|
core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
|
|
|
|
nominal
|
in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint
|
|
|
|
etymology
|
study of word parts; study of the origins of words
|
|
|
|
reprise
|
musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises
|
|
|
|
fracas
|
brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number of people take part; melee
|
|
|
|
embitter
|
make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.
|
|
|
|
determinate
|
having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
|
|
|
|
alimentary
|
supplying nourishment
|
|
|
|
forlorn
|
sad and lonely; wretched; desolate
|
|
|
|
certitude
|
certainty
|
|
|
|
nether
|
lower; Ex. nether garments/regions
|
|
|
|
comity
|
courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
|
|
|
|
bout
|
match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu
|
|
|
|
fell
|
cut or knock down (a tree or a person); bring down (with a missile)
|
|
|
|
barefaced
|
shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
|
|
|
|
subsume
|
include (as a member of a group); encompass
|
|
|
|
conversant
|
familiar with; having knowledge of
|
|
|
|
brooch
|
ornamental clasp; pin
|
|
|
|
gossamer
|
sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb
|
|
|
|
husband
|
use sparingly; conserve; save; Ex. husband one's energy; CF. house holder
|
|
|
|
ovoid
|
egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate
|
|
|
|
desecrate
|
profane; violate the sanctity of
|
|
|
|
ineffable
|
unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy
|
|
|
|
extenuate
|
weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of (bad behavior)
|
|
|
|
secrete
|
conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism; CF. secretive
|
|
|
|
meteoric
|
like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor
|
|
|
|
vertex
|
summit; highest point; PL. vertices
|
|
|
|
tatter
|
torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes) old and torn; (of a person) dressed in old torn clothes
|
|
|
|
recidivism
|
habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
|
|
|
|
pandemic
|
widespread; affecting the majority of people; N: pandemic disease; CF. all people
|
|
|
|
prodigious
|
enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory
|
|
|
|
glib
|
fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick
|
|
|
|
effusion
|
pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing
|
|
|
|
imprecation
|
curse; swearword
|
|
|
|
hibernal
|
wintry; wintery; of or like winter
|
|
|
|
unsullied
|
untarnished; CF. sully
|
|
|
|
sow
|
plant or scatter seed
|
|
|
|
requite
|
make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal
|
|
|
|
expunge
|
cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase
|
|
|
|
notch
|
V-shaped cut in a surface; V.
|
|
|
|
obstinate
|
stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy
|
|
|
|
hinterlands
|
back country; inner part of a country; OP. foreland
|
|
|
|
satyr
|
half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus (resembling a goat), portrayed as wanton(unrestrained) and cunning; lecher; CF. faun; CF. goat: lecherous man
|
|
|
|
throttle
|
strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N: valve that regulates the flow; CF. throat ?
|
|
|
|
faction
|
party; clique (within a large group); dissension
|
|
|
|
pinion
|
restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing
|
|
|
|
filch
|
steal (things of small value)
|
|
|
|
sportive
|
playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike
|
|
|
|
galleon
|
large three-masted sailing ship
|
|
|
|
dissemble
|
disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
|
|
|
|
missive
|
letter; written statement; CF. sent
|
|
|
|
temporize
|
gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself
|
|
|
|
valedictory
|
pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp. at graduation exercises)
|
|
|
|
tithe
|
tax of one-tenth (contributed to a church); V: pay a tithe
|
|
|
|
lexicographer
|
compiler of a dictionary; CF. lexicography: work of compiling a dictionary
|
|
|
|
plumage
|
feathers of a bird;
|
|
|
|
endue
|
provide with some quality; endow
|
|
|
|
parsimony
|
stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious
|
|
|
|
gouge
|
tear out; cut out (as if with a gouge); Ex. gouge his eyes out; N: chisel for cutting out hollow areas in wood
|
|
|
|
homely
|
not good-looking; unattractive
|
|
|
|
gallows
|
framework from which a noose is suspended (used for execution by hanging)
|
|
|
|
gnarled
|
twisted
|
|
|
|
beeline
|
direct quick route
|
|
|
|
lackluster
|
lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull
|
|
|
|
flag
|
droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ. flagging; CF. unflagging
|
|
|
|
scurvy
|
contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C
|
|
|
|
unwitting
|
not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex. She was their unwitting accomplice; Ex. unwitting insult; CF. wit: know
|
|
|
|
patois
|
local or provincial dialect
|
|
|
|
exact
|
demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction
|
|
|
|
emaciated
|
thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)
|
|
|
|
guileless
|
without deceit
|
|
|
|
centaur
|
mythical figure, half man and half horse
|
|
|
|
discursive
|
(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)
|
|
|
|
dappled
|
spotted
|
|
|
|
lancet
|
small surgical tool for making incisions
|
|
|
|
comestible
|
something fit to be eaten
|
|
|
|
interdict
|
prohibit; forbid; N.
|
|
|
|
isotope
|
varying from of an element
|
|
|
|
gusto
|
eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm
|
|
|
|
acetic
|
vinegary
|
|
|
|
frivolous
|
lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently carefree; unworthy of serious attention; relatively unimportant; trivial
|
|
|
|
insouciant
|
without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent
|
|
|
|
commodious
|
spacious and comfortable
|
|
|
|
prize
|
pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
|
|
|
|
rapture
|
great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
|
|
|
|
grotto
|
small cavern
|
|
|
|
macerate
|
soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper
|
|
|
|
incite
|
arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist; Ex. incite a riot/the crowd to rebellion
|
|
|
|
crass
|
very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
|
|
|
|
yore
|
time long past; Ex. in the days of yore
|
|
|
|
calorific
|
heat-producing; N. calorie
|
|
|
|
rake
|
immoral or dissolute person
|
|
|
|
invective
|
abuse
|
|
|
|
judicious
|
sound on judgment; wise
|
|
|
|
categorical
|
without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
|
|
|
|
captious
|
faultfinding; too critical
|
|
|
|
expropriate
|
take possession of (often for public use and without payment)
|
|
|
|
palm
|
conceal in the palm of the hand; palm off: pass off; Ex. palm off some bad oranges onto the lady/the painting as a real Renoir
|
|
|
|
credo
|
creed
|
|
|
|
malapropism
|
comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop
|
|
|
|
stint
|
set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings
|
|
|
|
advert
|
refer
|
|
|
|
comely
|
attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
|
|
|
|
bereaved
|
deprived of (someone beloved through death)
|
|
|
|
mountebank
|
charlatan; boastful pretender
|
|
|
|
parchment
|
writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat
|
|
|
|
vilify
|
slander; speak evil of; N. vilification
|
|
|
|
apposite
|
appropriate; fitting
|
|
|
|
hem
|
surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.
|
|
|
|
gall
|
annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse); exasperation
|
|
|
|
mortician
|
undertaker; CF. death
|
|
|
|
legerdemain
|
sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
|
|
|
|
demur
|
object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
|
|
|
|
manumit
|
emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
|
|
|
|
condole
|
express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow
|
|
|
|
disparage
|
belittle
|
|
|
|
sphinx-like
|
enigmatic; mysterious
|
|
|
|
base
|
contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron
|
|
|
|
extant
|
(of something written or painted) still in existence
|
|
|
|
sprightly
|
lively
|
|
|
|
procurement
|
obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another
|
|
|
|
pedant
|
scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities
|
|
|
|
hamper
|
obstruct; prevent the free movement of; N: ½Ä•áÇ°À̳ª ÀǺ¹ µîÀ» ´ã´Â ¹Ù±¸´Ï
|
|
|
|
champion
|
support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)
|
|
|
|
orthography
|
correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics
|
|
|
|
rustic
|
pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person
|
|
|
|
taper
|
very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward one end
|
|
|
|
sadistic
|
inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty
|
|
|
|
malady
|
illness
|
|
|
|
lance
|
pierce with a lance; cut into; N: spearlike weapon
|
|
|
|
wage
|
begin and continue (a war)
|
|
|
|
primogeniture
|
seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)
|
|
|
|
enmity
|
ill will; hatred; hostility
|
|
|
|
demagogue
|
person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
|
|
|
|
depredation
|
plundering; destruction
|
|
|
|
headstrong
|
willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to have one's own way; CF. no 'excessive'
|
|
|
|
pellucid
|
transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand
|
|
|
|
cathartic
|
purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
knell
|
tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.
|
|
|
|
welter
|
confusion; turmoil; confused mass; bewildering jumble; Ex. welter of data
|
|
|
|
deleterious
|
harmful
|
|
|
|
insuperable
|
insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties
|
|
|
|
corpus
|
collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse
|
|
|
|
gloss
|
brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression; V.
|
|
|
|
commandeer
|
take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes
|
|
|
|
rig
|
arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a ship) with rigging; ADJ. rigging: ropes that hold up a ship's sails
|
|
|
|
disbar
|
make (a lawyer) leave the bar or the legal profession
|
|
|
|
fitful
|
spasmodic; intermittent; irregular
|
|
|
|
altercation
|
noisy quarrel
|
|
|
|
apropos
|
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
|
|
|
|
checkered(chequered)
|
marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares
|
|
|
|
insinuate
|
hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex. insinuate himself into the boss's favor; CF. ingratiate
|
|
|
|
dys-
|
abnormal; impaired
|
|
|
|
cornice
|
projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars); ó¸ Àå½Ä
|
|
|
|
temper
|
moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) as by alternate heating and cooling
|
|
|
|
infernal
|
pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of fiery heat or destruction
|
|
|
|
polyglot
|
speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.
|
|
|
|
bent
|
determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination
|
|
|
|
vindictive
|
disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak
|
|
|
|
perfunctory
|
done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss
|
|
|
|
bawdy
|
indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
|
|
|
|
palliate
|
ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)
|
|
|
|
equitable
|
fair; impartial; OP. inequitable
|
|
|
|
frisk
|
move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful
|
|
|
|
purse
|
pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
|
|
|
|
engender
|
cause; produce; give rise to
|
|
|
|
din
|
continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
|
|
|
|
belie
|
contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.
|
|
|
|
venison
|
meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork, ham, bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton; CF. lamb: lamb
|
|
|
|
tumid
|
(of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous
|
|
|
|
scapegoat
|
someone who bears the blame for others; whipping boy; CF. escape+goat
|
|
|
|
tensile
|
capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. tensile rubber
|
|
|
|
tutelary
|
protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex. tutelary deities
|
|
|
|
odyssey
|
long, eventful, adventurous journey
|
|
|
|
gale
|
windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughters, tears); Ex. gale of laughter
|
|
|
|
barb
|
sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark
|
|
|
|
billow
|
large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows
|
|
|
|
verisimilar
|
having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible
|
|
|
|
disconsolate
|
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
|
|
|
|
ruminate
|
chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically); mull over(ponder)
|
|
|
|
epigram
|
witty thought or saying, usually short
|
|
|
|
mealymouthed
|
indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive
|
|
|
|
monastic
|
related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns
|
|
|
|
unfaltering
|
steadfast; firm; not changing
|
|
|
|
canto
|
division of a long poem
|
|
|
|
elliptical
|
elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out
|
|
|
|
tractable
|
docile; easily managed; (of something) easily changed or molded; N. tractability
|
|
|
|
tantamount
|
equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount
|
|
|
|
superfluous
|
excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity
|
|
|
|
unassuming
|
modest; Ex. the champion's unassuming manner
|
|
|
|
inalienable
|
not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex. inalienable rights
|
|
|
|
trough
|
long narrow container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.); long narrow depression as between waves
|
|
|
|
onslaught
|
vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected onslaught of the enemy
|
|
|
|
expostulation
|
protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate
|
|
|
|
temerity
|
boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day's work
|
|
|
|
misanthrope
|
one who hates mankind; misanthropist
|
|
|
|
gall
|
bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; ´ãÁó(bile); CF. gall bladder
|
|
|
|
obloquy
|
slander; disgrace; infamy
|
|
|
|
transpire
|
(of a fact) become known; be revealed; happen; give off (watery waste matter) through pores
|
|
|
|
circuit
|
closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place
|
|
|
|
vogue
|
popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.
|
|
|
|
purveyor
|
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide
|
|
|
|
incorporeal
|
without a material body; insubstantial
|
|
|
|
chimerical
|
fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
|
|
|
|
megalomania
|
mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance
|
|
|
|
insubordination
|
disobedience; rebelliousness; ADJ. insubordinate
|
|
|
|
granary
|
storehouse for grain
|
|
|
|
moratorium
|
legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses
|
|
|
|
natty
|
neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser
|
|
|
|
uxorious
|
excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife; CF. uxor: wife
|
|
|
|
reproach
|
blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval or disappointment; N. ADJ. reproachful
|
|
|
|
onus
|
burden; responsibility
|
|
|
|
beguile
|
deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
|
|
|
|
battalion
|
army unit made up of four or more companies
|
|
|
|
academic
|
related to a school; not practical or directly useful
|
|
|
|
perfidious
|
treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
|
|
|
|
superannuated
|
retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
|
|
|
|
wag
|
shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog wagged its tail; N: humorous person; wit
|
|
|
|
bemused
|
confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
|
|
|
|
wreak
|
inflict; Ex. wreak one's vengeance on
|
|
|
|
swathe
|
swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages
|
|
|
|
infringe
|
violate (a law); encroach (the right of another person)
|
|
|
|
premeditate
|
plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
|
|
|
|
pen
|
fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
|
|
|
|
spangle
|
small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
|
|
|
|
avantgarde
|
group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
|
|
|
|
speck
|
small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye
|
|
|
|
unctuous
|
oily; bland; insincerely suave
|
|
|
|
effete
|
having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted
|
|
|
|
epaulet(epaulette)
|
ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)
|
|
|
|
clipper
|
sailing vessel built for great speed
|
|
|
|
oculist
|
physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes
|
|
|
|
rabble
|
mob; noisy crowd
|
|
|
|
habituate
|
accustom or familiarize; addict
|
|
|
|
broil
|
cook by direct heat; N.
|
|
|
|
ingratiate
|
become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss
|
|
|
|
equanimity
|
calmness of temperament; composure
|
|
|
|
apoplexy
|
stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
|
|
|
|
appreciate
|
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
|
|
|
|
intransigence
|
refusal of any compromise; stubbornness; ADJ. intransigent: uncompromising
|
|
|
|
credulity
|
belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous
|
|
|
|
minatory
|
menacing; threatening
|
|
|
|
insurrection
|
rebellion; uprising
|
|
|
|
evanescent
|
fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce
|
|
|
|
refectory
|
dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)
|
|
|
|
plane
|
carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
|
|
|
|
flagrant
|
conspicuously wicked, bad, or offensive; blatant; outrageous
|
|
|
|
impale
|
pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear
|
|
|
|
precocious
|
advanced in development; N. precocity
|
|
|
|
seethe
|
be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.
|
|
|
|
avid
|
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
|
|
|
|
aureole
|
sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
|
|
|
|
cog
|
tooth projecting from a wheel
|
|
|
|
apprehensive
|
fearful; discerning
|
|
|
|
actuate
|
motivate; activate; cause to act
|
|
|
|
larder
|
pantry; place where food is kept
|
|
|
|
cleft
|
N: split
|
|
|
|
rider
|
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
|
|
|
|
coquette
|
flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
|
|
|
|
extrapolation
|
projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from known information
|
|
|
|
vagabond
|
wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp
|
|
|
|
check
|
stop motion; curb or restrain
|
|
|
|
sophisticated
|
worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
|
|
|
|
solstice
|
point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
|
|
|
|
amalgamate
|
(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
|
|
|
|
auspicious
|
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
|
|
|
|
foolhardy
|
rash; reckless; foolishly daring
|
|
|
|
title
|
name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation as of rank or office (such as Lord or General); right or claim to possession; championship; Ex. title as head of the family; Ex. title to the estate
|
|
|
|
hirsute
|
hairy; having a lot of hair
|
|
|
|
militia
|
army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers
|
|
|
|
sheaf
|
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
|
|
|
|
rusticate
|
banish to the country; dwell in the country
|
|
|
|
ardor
|
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
|
|
|
|
sonic
|
of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic
|
|
|
|
leaven
|
add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens
|
|
|
|
suborn
|
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
|
|
|
|
pare
|
cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a knife); trim; Ex. pare apples/expenses
|
|
|
|
misdemeanor
|
minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing
|
|
|
|
tendentious
|
promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend: move in a certain direction
|
|
|
|
throes
|
violent anguish
|
|
|
|
nova
|
star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness
|
|
|
|
apolitical
|
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
|
|
|
|
expletive
|
meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word
|
|
|
|
lampoon
|
ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution
|
|
|
|
forte
|
strong point or special talent in a person's character
|
|
|
|
callus
|
area of thick hard skin
|
|
|
|
defoliate
|
destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
|
|
|
|
credence
|
belief
|
|
|
|
flip
|
send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking with a light quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip over
|
|
|
|
prognosis
|
forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
|
|
|
|
flounder
|
struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter (as in water, mud, snow, etc.); proceed in confusion
|
|
|
|
skiff
|
small light sailboat or rowboat
|
|
|
|
demoniac(demoniacal)
|
fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
|
|
|
|
sequester
|
isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life
|
|
|
|
transgression
|
violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond (a limit); violate; do wrong
|
|
|
|
buccaneer
|
pirate
|
|
|
|
inscrutable
|
difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious
|
|
|
|
skittish
|
inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
|
|
|
|
precept
|
practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept
|
|
|
|
contumacious
|
stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
|
|
|
|
solace
|
comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble
|
|
|
|
contravene
|
contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention
|
|
|
|
daunt
|
intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
|
|
|
|
apogee
|
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
|
|
|
|
temperament
|
characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess; ADJ. temperamental: of temperament; having frequent changes of temper; Ex. temperamental dislike of sports; Ex. temperamental actress
|
|
|
|
misadventure
|
mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
|
|
|
|
flick
|
light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light quick blow; strike with a light quick blow (as from a whip); Ex. flick the switch
|
|
|
|
plenitude
|
abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty
|
|
|
|
preposterous
|
absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
|
|
|
|
unfetter
|
liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter
|
|
|
|
incarnation
|
act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex. previous incarnation/reincarnation
|
|
|
|
erudite
|
(of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition
|
|
|
|
ostensible
|
apparent; appearing as such; professed(pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible purpose of the expedition
|
|
|
|
perennial
|
something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring
|
|
|
|
imperil
|
put in danger
|
|
|
|
uncanny
|
strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack
|
|
|
|
sonnet
|
14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
|
|
|
|
bestow
|
confer
|
|
|
|
fatuous
|
smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity, fatuousness
|
|
|
|
unguent
|
ointment
|
|
|
|
ruddy
|
reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking
|
|
|
|
rig
|
fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; Ex. rig the election
|
|
|
|
consort
|
associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)
|
|
|
|
deluge
|
flood; rush; V.
|
|
|
|
defection
|
desertion
|
|
|
|
headlong
|
hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.
|
|
|
|
handsome
|
large in quantity; generous; Ex. handsome reward
|
|
|
|
inordinate
|
beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive; Ex. inordinate demands
|
|
|
|
macabre
|
gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
|
|
|
|
belabor
|
harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically
|
|
|
|
quiescent
|
dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence
|
|
|
|
complacency
|
self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
|
|
|
|
abase
|
lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
|
|
|
|
appellation
|
name; title
|
|
|
|
awry
|
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
|
|
|
|
bluff
|
pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured
|
|
|
|
dire
|
warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
|
|
|
|
sextant
|
navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)
|
|
|
|
seamy
|
sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life
|
|
|
|
constituency
|
voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)
|
|
|
|
hindmost
|
furthest behind; farthest to the rear
|
|
|
|
bog
|
soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud
|
|
|
|
recluse
|
hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
|
|
|
|
impropriety
|
improperness; unsuitableness
|
|
|
|
ravine
|
narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon
|
|
|
|
vigilant
|
watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to spot danger; N. vigilance
|
|
|
|
recast
|
reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again
|
|
|
|
encipher
|
encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher
|
|
|
|
complaisant
|
trying to please; obliging; willing to please others
|
|
|
|
import
|
significance; importance; meaning
|
|
|
|
scale
|
climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones
|
|
|
|
precipitous
|
steep; overhasty; precipitate
|
|
|
|
torpor
|
lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; ADJ. torpid: lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of an animal) dormant; hibernating
|
|
|
|
drone
|
talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
|
|
|
|
impertinent
|
insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence
|
|
|
|
enjoin
|
command; order; forbid
|
|
|
|
exhort
|
urge (by strong argument or advice); Ex. The general exhorted his men to fight bravely; N. exhortation
|
|
|
|
rout
|
put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat
|
|
|
|
tundra
|
rolling treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America
|
|
|
|
imprudent
|
lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious
|
|
|
|
impel
|
drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action
|
|
|
|
scrupulous
|
conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker
|
|
|
|
castigation
|
punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
|
|
|
|
incarnate
|
endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody
|
|
|
|
homespun
|
domestic; made at home; spun or woven at home; simple and ordinary; Ex. homespun philosophy
|
|
|
|
abscission
|
cutting off; separation
|
|
|
|
excise
|
cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good produced and used inside a country; N. excision
|
|
|
|
impuissance
|
powerlessness; feebleness
|
|
|
|
unequivocal
|
plain; clear; obvious
|
|
|
|
profligate
|
wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy
|
|
|
|
myriad
|
very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand
|
|
|
|
unfledged
|
immature; not having the feathers necessary to fly; CF. fledgling
|
|
|
|
pecuniary
|
pertaining to money
|
|
|
|
founder
|
fail completely; sink; CF. flounder
|
|
|
|
sacrosanct
|
invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable
|
|
|
|
disgorge
|
surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
|
|
|
|
emend
|
correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement
|
|
|
|
cipher
|
nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
|
|
|
|
bristling
|
rising like bristles; showing irritation
|
|
|
|
cadence
|
rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
|
|
|
|
gratis
|
free; without charge; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
liquidate
|
settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate; kill or abolish
|
|
|
|
conjecture
|
surmise; guess; V.
|
|
|
|
dingy
|
(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
|
|
|
|
malingerer
|
one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work
|
|
|
|
quietude
|
tranquillity; calmness
|
|
|
|
anodyne
|
drug that relieves pain or trouble; ÁøÅëÁ¦; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
|
|
|
|
comeuppance
|
deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke
|
|
|
|
largess
|
generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)
|
|
|
|
pall
|
become boring; grow tiresome
|
|
|
|
voluptuous
|
sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex. voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary: voluptuous person
|
|
|
|
philistine
|
narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
|
|
|
|
assail
|
assault
|
|
|
|
indelible
|
not able to be erased
|
|
|
|
bigotry
|
stubborn intolerance
|
|
|
|
seine
|
seine net; net for catching fish
|
|
|
|
hale
|
healthy
|
|
|
|
regent
|
a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
|
|
|
|
ingenue
|
ing\'enue; young innocent girl
|
|
|
|
lugubrious
|
mournful; sorrowful
|
|
|
|
remit
|
transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
|
|
|
|
obsequy
|
funeral ceremony
|
|
|
|
rabid
|
of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
|
|
|
|
inveigle
|
deceive; lead astray by deception; wheedle(cajole); Ex. inveigle her into joining the club; CF. interest dishonestly
|
|
|
|
talisman
|
charm; object believed to give supernatural powers to or protect its bearer
|
|
|
|
tempestuous
|
stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest: violent storm
|
|
|
|
ballast
|
heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
|
|
|
|
gentility
|
those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel
|
|
|
|
retentive
|
holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory
|
|
|
|
overweening
|
arrogant; presumptuous
|
|
|
|
extort
|
wring from; get money by threats, etc.; obtain by force or threats; CF. extortionate: exorbitant
|
|
|
|
encompass
|
surround; include; Ex. His activities encompass publishing and computers.
|
|
|
|
surmise
|
guess; N.
|
|
|
|
reaper
|
one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop
|
|
|
|
lull
|
moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex. a lull in the rain; V: cause to become less active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false sense of security; CF. lullaby
|
|
|
|
politic
|
prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
|
|
|
|
specious
|
seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
|
|
|
|
postulate
|
self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)
|
|
|
|
mellifluous
|
(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune
|
|
|
|
leonine
|
like a lion
|
|
|
|
assimilate
|
absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
|
|
|
|
dally
|
trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
|
|
|
|
queer
|
strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal
|
|
|
|
promulgate
|
announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication
|
|
|
|
lateral
|
of or coming from the side
|
|
|
|
gambol
|
romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
|
|
|
|
waffle
|
speak equivocally about an issue; N.
|
|
|
|
melee
|
fight
|
|
|
|
harrowing
|
agonizing; distressing; traumatic; V. harrow: break up and level (soil) with a harrow; inflict great distress on; agonize; N: farming machine to break up the earth
|
|
|
|
supercilious
|
haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium
|
|
|
|
concentric
|
having a common center
|
|
|
|
concession
|
an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire
|
|
|
|
incarcerate
|
imprison
|
|
|
|
plaintive
|
expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
|
|
|
|
rivulet
|
small stream; CF. rill < rivulet < river
|
|
|
|
equinox
|
period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial
|
|
|
|
impugn
|
dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight
|
|
|
|
yen
|
strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel
|
|
|
|
retrench
|
cut down; cut down expenses; economize
|
|
|
|
babble
|
chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
|
|
|
|
necromancy
|
black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis
|
|
|
|
chasm
|
abyss; very deep crack
|
|
|
|
immure
|
imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall
|
|
|
|
rhapsodize
|
speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery
|
|
|
|
stupor
|
state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
|
|
|
|
parquet
|
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece
|
|
|
|
inimical
|
(of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy
|
|
|
|
consonant
|
harmonious; in agreement; N.
|
|
|
|
gauche
|
clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth
|
|
|
|
repine
|
fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
|
|
|
|
integral
|
complete; necessary for completeness; Ex. integral part
|
|
|
|
ursine
|
bearlike; pertaining to a bear
|
|
|
|
miasma
|
swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence
|
|
|
|
slapdash
|
hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)
|
|
|
|
intractable
|
unruly; difficult to manage; Ex. intractable problem/child
|
|
|
|
tonsure
|
shaving of the head especially by person entering religious orders; V.
|
|
|
|
gestate
|
evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth
|
|
|
|
visceral
|
felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate
|
|
|
|
fit
|
sudden outburst of an illness or feeling; convulsion caused by epilepsy
|
|
|
|
factitious
|
artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears
|
|
|
|
dank
|
damp; unpleasantly wet
|
|
|
|
brevity
|
conciseness; shortness of duration
|
|
|
|
whimsy
|
whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely; Ex. story full of whimsy
|
|
|
|
extemporaneous
|
not planned; impromptu; extempore
|
|
|
|
ferment
|
agitation; commotion(noisy and excited activity); unrest (of a political kind); V. produce by fermentation; undergo fermentation; cause (a state of trouble)
|
|
|
|
apothegm(apophthegm)
|
pithy, compact saying
|
|
|
|
transport
|
strong emotion; rapture; Ex. in a transport/transports of; V: move to strong emotion; enrapture
|
|
|
|
irreverence
|
lack of proper respect or reverence; ADJ. irreverent
|
|
|
|
trifling
|
trivial; unimportant
|
|
|
|
chronicle
|
report; record (in chronological order)
|
|
|
|
regal
|
royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
|
|
|
|
glower
|
scowl; glare; look or stare angrily
|
|
|
|
prefatory
|
introductory; of a preface
|
|
|
|
carrion
|
rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
|
|
|
|
disinter
|
dig up; unearth; OP. inter
|
|
|
|
defrock
|
strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
|
|
|
|
craft
|
skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning
|
|
|
|
staid
|
serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
|
|
|
|
solicitor
|
lawyer in the lower court of law
|
|
|
|
mange
|
skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair
|
|
|
|
camp
|
group sharing a common cause or opinion
|
|
|
|
obviate
|
make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need
|
|
|
|
conifer
|
pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen
|
|
|
|
dehydrate
|
remove water from; dry out
|
|
|
|
cauterize
|
burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
|
|
|
|
suture
|
stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound
|
|
|
|
prelate
|
church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)
|
|
|
|
defect
|
shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
|
|
|
|
sectarian
|
of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member of a sect; narrow-minded person
|
|
|
|
forsake
|
desert; abandon; renounce
|
|
|
|
inerrancy
|
infallibility
|
|
|
|
die
|
metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
|
|
|
|
thrash
|
beat with a whip or flail; defeat utterly; talk about thoroughly in order to find the answer; move wildly or violently; Ex. The fishes thrashed about in the net.
|
|
|
|
geriatrics
|
medical treatment and care of old age
|
|
|
|
discretion
|
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
|
|
|
|
dictum
|
authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
|
|
|
|
animus
|
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
|
|
|
|
reprobate
|
morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?
|
|
|
|
prosaic
|
lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; CF. prose
|
|
|
|
anthropoid
|
manlike; resembling a human being; N.
|
|
|
|
pauper
|
very poor person
|
|
|
|
fallow
|
(of land) plowed but not sowed (to improve the quality); uncultivated
|
|
|
|
entreat
|
plead; ask earnestly
|
|
|
|
disconcert
|
confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
|
|
|
|
ingenuous
|
naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid
|
|
|
|
illusive
|
deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive
|
|
|
|
orient
|
get one's bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate
|
|
|
|
raiment
|
clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.
|
|
|
|
pucker
|
gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
|
|
|
|
curmudgeon
|
churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person
|
|
|
|
coup
|
highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills
|
|
|
|
impudence
|
impertinence; insolence
|
|
|
|
quaff
|
drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); ²Ü²©²Ü²© ¸½Ã´Ù; CF. sip
|
|
|
|
notoriety
|
disrepute; ill fame
|
|
|
|
centripetal
|
tending toward the center
|
|
|
|
malefactor
|
evildoer; criminal
|
|
|
|
Occident
|
the West
|
|
|
|
pallid
|
pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion
|
|
|
|
dignitary
|
person of high rank or position
|
|
|
|
languish
|
lose animation or strength
|
|
|
|
legacy
|
gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor
|
|
|
|
suffuse
|
spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.
|
|
|
|
hireling
|
one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously); one who works solely for compensation; Ex. hireling politician
|
|
|
|
palatial
|
of or suitable for a palace; magnificent
|
|
|
|
execrate
|
curse; express abhorrence for; detest
|
|
|
|
sanguinary
|
bloody; with much bloodshed
|
|
|
|
dolt
|
slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
|
|
|
|
sacrilegious
|
desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration, misuse, or theft of something sacred
|
|
|
|
menace
|
threat; V: threaten
|
|
|
|
dilapidated
|
falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
|
|
|
|
cataract
|
great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
|
|
|
|
usury
|
lending money at illegal high rates of interest
|
|
|
|
impute
|
attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation
|
|
|
|
lace
|
cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges (as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace
|
|
|
|
prophylactic
|
used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic; condom; N. prophylaxis: prevention of disease
|
|
|
|
paroxysm
|
fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst
|
|
|
|
transmute
|
transform; change; convert to something different
|
|
|
|
foppish
|
vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance
|
|
|
|
cumbersome
|
heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
|
|
|
|
volley
|
simultaneous discharge of a number of shots; V.
|
|
|
|
silt
|
sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
|
|
|
|
catcall
|
shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
|
|
|
|
sleeper
|
one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable
|
|
|
|
replete
|
fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
|
|
|
|
rakish
|
jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
|
|
|
|
muddle
|
confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion
|
|
|
|
varnish
|
paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film; glossy coating produced by using this substance; Ex. nail varnish; V.
|
|
|
|
chortle
|
chuckle with delight; N.
|
|
|
|
multiform
|
having many forms
|
|
|
|
flair
|
talent
|
|
|
|
ornithologist
|
scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds
|
|
|
|
bank
|
heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning
|
|
|
|
prosody
|
art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse
|
|
|
|
delusive
|
deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
|
|
|
|
torso
|
trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk
|
|
|
|
derelict
|
negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
|
|
|
|
vociferous
|
clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining)
|
|
|
|
victuals
|
food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food
|
|
|
|
heyday
|
time of greatest success or power; prime
|
|
|
|
impotent
|
weak; ineffective; lacking in physical strength or power
|
|
|
|
tureen
|
deep dish for serving soup
|
|
|
|
hothead
|
person who does things too quickly without thinking; ADJ. hotheaded
|
|
|
|
abut
|
border upon; adjoin
|
|
|
|
descry
|
catch sight of (something distant)
|
|
|
|
abrogate
|
abolish
|
|
|
|
burgeon
|
grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon
|
|
|
|
freebooter
|
pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich
|
|
|
|
sedition
|
conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious
|
|
|
|
groom
|
man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush (an animal)
|
|
|
|
peerless
|
having no equal; incomparable
|
|
|
|
sultry
|
(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous
|
|
|
|
prehensile
|
capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails
|
|
|
|
unction
|
the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction
|
|
|
|
touching
|
causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic; V. touch: cause to feel pity or sympathy; ADJ. touched
|
|
|
|
serpentine
|
winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of the river; N. serpent: snake
|
|
|
|
canvass
|
determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.
|
|
|
|
consecrate
|
dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor
|
|
|
|
provisional
|
tentative; temporary
|
|
|
|
marsupial
|
one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat
|
|
|
|
bilk
|
swindle; cheat
|
|
|
|
harbinger
|
forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
|
|
|
|
ramshackle
|
(of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart
|
|
|
|
postmortem
|
autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem
|
|
|
|
veneer
|
thin surface layer (of good quality wood, glued to a base of inferior material); cover; surface show; fa\c{c}ade; V.
|
|
|
|
capillary
|
having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
|
|
|
|
lot
|
object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land
|
|
|
|
incorrigible
|
uncorrectable
|
|
|
|
fancied
|
imagined; unreal
|
|
|
|
institutionalize
|
make into an institution; put or confine in an institution
|
|
|
|
occlude
|
shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.
|
|
|
|
arboretum
|
place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
|
|
|
|
kindred
|
related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N: relative; kin; kinship
|
|
|
|
maul
|
handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer
|
|
|
|
fructify
|
bear fruit; produce fruit
|
|
|
|
rife
|
(of something bad) widespread; abundant; current
|
|
|
|
niggardly
|
meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person
|
|
|
|
ratiocination
|
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
|
|
|
|
mollycoddle
|
pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively
|
|
|
|
warble
|
(of a bird) sing; babble; N.
|
|
|
|
defalcate
|
embezzle
|
|
|
|
plutocracy
|
society ruled by the wealthy
|
|
|
|
muse
|
ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)
|
|
|
|
jocular
|
said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking
|
|
|
|
appropriate
|
acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
|
|
|
|
corrosive
|
eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
|
|
|
|
paucity
|
scarcity; dearth
|
|
|
|
lionize
|
treat (a person) as a celebrity
|
|
|
|
turbid
|
(of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick
|
|
|
|
ram
|
male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
|
|
|
|
subside
|
sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
|
|
|
|
careen
|
lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
|
|
|
|
pharisaical
|
pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical
|
|
|
|
polemic
|
attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy
|
|
|
|
tipple
|
drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink
|
|
|
|
fetid(foetid)
|
malodorous; foul
|
|
|
|
slipshod
|
slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
|
|
|
|
inimitable
|
matchless; not able to be imitated
|
|
|
|
grandiloquent
|
(of a person or speech) using high sounding or important-sounding language; pompous; bombastic
|
|
|
|
solitude
|
state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary: existing or living alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded; single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of proof
|
|
|
|
begrudge
|
envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.
|
|
|
|
faculty
|
mental or bodily powers; teaching staff
|
|
|
|
importunate
|
urging; always demanding; troublesomely urgent or persistent
|
|
|
|
wily
|
crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem
|
|
|
|
heedless
|
not noticing; disregarding
|
|
|
|
provenance
|
place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come
|
|
|
|
converse
|
opposite; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
invalidate
|
weaken; destroy; make invalid; nullify
|
|
|
|
forensic
|
suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in legal proceedings and the tracking of criminals; Ex. forensic science/medicine
|
|
|
|
culvert
|
artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
|
|
|
|
generic
|
characteristic of an entire class or species; of a genus
|
|
|
|
incense
|
enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned to produce a pleasant odor
|
|
|
|
prattle
|
talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
|
|
|
|
supernumerary
|
person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary number
|
|
|
|
alacrity
|
cheerful promptness without reluctance
|
|
|
|
timbre
|
quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument (which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch)
|
|
|
|
culmination
|
highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
|
|
|
|
figurine
|
small ornamental statuette(very small statue)
|
|
|
|
ravel
|
fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
|
|
|
|
prohibitive
|
so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax
|
|
|
|
obdurate
|
stubborn; refusing to change one's belief
|
|
|
|
pittance
|
small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
|
|
|
|
admonish
|
warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
|
|
|
|
bane
|
posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
|
|
|
|
juridical
|
of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of courts of law; CF. judiciary
|
|
|
|
mace
|
ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval weapon
|
|
|
|
incrustation
|
hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust
|
|
|
|
abject
|
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
|
|
|
|
desperado
|
reckless, desperate outlaw
|
|
|
|
sully
|
defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one's hands in menial labor
|
|
|
|
sonorous
|
resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
|
|
|
|
chalice
|
goblet; consecrated cup
|
|
|
|
blighted
|
suffering from a disease; destroyed
|
|
|
|
lank
|
long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln
|
|
|
|
somnambulist
|
sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
|
|
|
|
flush
|
redden; blush; flow suddenly and abundantly; wash out by a rapid brief flow of water; N: reddish tinge; blush; brief rush; rush of strong feeling; Ex. flush of pride; ADJ: having surfaces in the same plane; even; blushing
|
|
|
|
benediction
|
blessing
|
|
|
|
libretto
|
text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
|
|
|
|
navigable
|
(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered
|
|
|
|
neologism
|
new or newly coined word or phrase
|
|
|
|
codicil
|
supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
|
|
|
|
cordon
|
extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; (¾î±ú¿¡¼ °Üµåû ¹ØÀ¸•Î °ÉÄ¡´Â) Àå½Ä ¸®º»; V.
|
|
|
|
disjunction
|
act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
|
|
|
|
effectuate
|
effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation
|
|
|
|
vex
|
annoy; distress
|
|
|
|
clapper
|
striker (tongue) of a bell
|
|
|
|
d\'ecollet\'e
|
(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
|
|
|
|
ciliated
|
having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
|
|
|
|
precursor
|
forerunner; predecessor
|
|
|
|
repudiate
|
disown; disavow; deny
|
|
|
|
diligence
|
steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
|
|
|
|
limn
|
draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
|
|
|
|
beset
|
harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
|
|
|
|
restitution
|
returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury
|
|
|
|
domineer
|
rule over tyrannically
|
|
|
|
billowing
|
swelling out in waves; surging
|
|
|
|
recount
|
narrate or tell (a story); count over again
|
|
|
|
gesticulation
|
motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures (while speaking)
|
|
|
|
vixen
|
female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew
|
|
|
|
officious
|
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy
|
|
|
|
cow
|
terrorize; intimidate
|
|
|
|
viscid
|
adhesive; gluey
|
|
|
|
infraction
|
violation (of a rule or regulation); breach
|
|
|
|
sunder
|
separate; part; CF. asunder
|
|
|
|
stilted
|
bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
|
|
|
|
defile
|
pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
|
|
|
|
pine
|
long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline
|
|
|
|
revulsion
|
sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture
|
|
|
|
refractory
|
unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse
|
|
|
|
decorum
|
propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
|
|
|
|
paradigm
|
model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word
|
|
|
|
squelch
|
produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash; CF. ÁøÈëÀ» À§¿¡¼ ¹âÀ» §
|
|
|
|
dislodge
|
remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
|
|
|
|
preeminent
|
outstanding; superior
|
|
|
|
lax
|
careless; negligent; not paying enough attention; Ex. lax service
|
|
|
|
pastoral
|
rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor
|
|
|
|
herald
|
messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher
|
|
|
|
hapless
|
unfortunate; luckless
|
|
|
|
wan
|
having a pale or sickly color; pallid
|
|
|
|
curfew
|
regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew
|
|
|
|
slake
|
satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
|
|
|
|
impregnate
|
make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate
|
|
|
|
unobtrusive
|
inconspicuous; not blatant
|
|
|
|
devotee
|
enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
|
|
|
|
veer
|
change in direction; swerve
|
|
|
|
bullion
|
gold and silver in the form of bars
|
|
|
|
somber
|
dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow
|
|
|
|
amble
|
walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
|
|
|
|
impecunious
|
without money
|
|
|
|
spectral
|
ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
|
|
|
|
hovel
|
shack; small wretched house
|
|
|
|
deputize
|
work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away
|
|
|
|
precipice
|
cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice
|
|
|
|
bauble
|
trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
|
|
|
|
sterile
|
incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V. sterilize
|
|
|
|
occult
|
mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare
|
|
|
|
opus
|
work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; CF. opera
|
|
|
|
fringe
|
decorative edge of hanging threads; edge
|
|
|
|
whet
|
sharpen; stimulate; Ex. whet someone's appetite
|
|
|
|
knoll
|
little round hill; hillock
|
|
|
|
graphite
|
black form of carbon used in lead pencils
|
|
|
|
diadem
|
crown
|
|
|
|
peripatetic
|
walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy
|
|
|
|
aloft
|
upward; high up in the air
|
|
|
|
ulcer
|
sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate
|
|
|
|
propound
|
put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory
|
|
|
|
affront
|
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
|
|
|
|
beseech
|
beg; plead with
|
|
|
|
prototype
|
original work used as a model by others
|
|
|
|
aver
|
state confidently; declare as true
|
|
|
|
deprecate
|
express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
|
|
|
|
ramification
|
branching out; subdivision; one branch of a system; one of the results following from an action or decision; Ex. ramifications of a business/the decision
|
|
|
|
bandy
|
discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with
|
|
|
|
disembark
|
debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
|
|
|
|
abash
|
embarrass
|
|
|
|
diaphanous
|
sheer; transparent
|
|
|
|
emollient
|
soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.
|
|
|
|
iota
|
very small quantity
|
|
|
|
quash
|
crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a rebellion/the decision of the low court
|
|
|
|
fleece
|
wool coat of a sheep; V: shear the fleece from; rob by a trick; swindle; plunder
|
|
|
|
spoilsport
|
one who spoils the pleasure of others
|
|
|
|
ellipsis
|
omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses
|
|
|
|
vassal
|
in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord; subordinate or dependent
|
|
|
|
fastidious
|
difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky
|
|
|
|
dogged
|
determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
|
|
|
|
fluster
|
confuse; make nervous and confused; N.
|
|
|
|
desultory
|
aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
|
|
|
|
baleful
|
evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
|
|
|
|
noose
|
loop formed in a rope
|
|
|
|
clamber
|
climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
|
|
|
|
staccato
|
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
|
|
|
|
weather
|
pass safely through (a storm or difficult period); endure the effects of weather or other forces
|
|
|
|
cozen
|
cheat; hoodwink; swindle
|
|
|
|
redress
|
remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for
|
|
|
|
d\'enouement
|
final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
|
|
|
|
decoy
|
lure or bait; V.
|
|
|
|
qualify
|
reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of something stated
|
|
|
|
apiarist
|
person who keeps bees
|
|
|
|
deign
|
condescend; stoop
|
|
|
|
travesty
|
copy or example of something that completely misrepresents the true nature of the real thing; comical parody or imitation; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous; Ex. travesty of justice; OP. paragon
|
|
|
|
scrap
|
small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel
|
|
|
|
bevy
|
large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
|
|
|
|
punitive
|
punishing; Ex. punitive measures
|
|
|
|
vantage
|
position giving an advantage (such as a strategic point); CF. vantagepoint
|
|
|
|
larceny
|
theft; Ex. petit larceny
|
|
|
|
impromptu
|
without previous preparation; off the cuff(end of a sleeve); on the spur of the moment
|
|
|
|
excoriate
|
scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off
|
|
|
|
stricture
|
severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
|
|
|
|
olfactory
|
concerning the sense of smell
|
|
|
|
galvanic
|
of the production of electricity by the action of an acid on a metal; having the effect of an electric shock; Ex. galvanic cell; galvanic effect; CF. Luigi Galvani
|
|
|
|
neophyte
|
recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant
|
|
|
|
conclave
|
private secret meeting
|
|
|
|
distend
|
expand; swell out
|
|
|
|
pell-mell
|
in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell
|
|
|
|
pallet
|
small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet
|
|
|
|
bombastic
|
pompous; using inflated language
|
|
|
|
reprisal
|
retaliation
|
|
|
|
exiguous
|
small in amount; minute
|
|
|
|
wretch
|
miserable person; bad or despicable person; ADJ. wretched: miserable; bad; contemptible; vile
|
|
|
|
internecine
|
mutually destructive
|
|
|
|
sanctuary
|
place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex. The outlaw was granted sanctuary in the church.
|
|
|
|
diva
|
operatic singer; prima donna
|
|
|
|
ambulatory
|
able to walk
|
|
|
|
umbrage
|
resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness
|
|
|
|
timorous
|
fearful; timid; demonstrating fear
|
|
|
|
rousing
|
lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse: waken; arouse from sleep or depression; excite; stir up
|
|
|
|
ogle
|
look at amorously; make eyes at; Ex. old men ogling young girls
|
|
|
|
mottled
|
blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors
|
|
|
|
token
|
outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude
|
|
|
|
mote
|
small speck (esp. of dust)
|
|
|
|
attenuate
|
make thin; weaken
|
|
|
|
earthy
|
unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal
|
|
|
|
nectar
|
drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
|
|
|
|
augment
|
increase; add to
|
|
|
|
frond
|
fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
|
|
|
|
saturnine
|
morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.
|
|
|
|
predilection
|
preference; partiality
|
|
|
|
sybarite
|
lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy
|
|
|
|
bucolic
|
rustic; pastoral
|
|
|
|
anneal
|
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
|
|
|
|
foray
|
raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.
|
|
|
|
spasmodic
|
fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
|
|
|
|
dwindle
|
shrink; reduce gradually
|
|
|
|
equable
|
tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform
|
|
|
|
offhand
|
casual; done without prior thought or preparation
|
|
|
|
reparable
|
capable of being repaired
|
|
|
|
malaise
|
uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)
|
|
|
|
fecundity
|
fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young
|
|
|
|
frieze
|
ornamental horizontal band on a wall
|
|
|
|
canter
|
slow gallop; V. CF. trot
|
|
|
|
reserve
|
self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and uncommunicative
|
|
|
|
collate
|
examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)
|
|
|
|
whittle
|
pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually; trim
|
|
|
|
soporific
|
sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
|
|
|
|
pterodactyl
|
extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger
|
|
|
|
incumbent
|
obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently holding an office; N: person who holds an office
|
|
|
|
decrepit
|
weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
|
|
|
|
malapropos
|
inappropriate; ADV.
|
|
|
|
testator
|
maker of a will; CF. testatrix
|
|
|
|
libertine
|
debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou\'e; CF. free
|
|
|
|
consolidation
|
unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen
|
|
|
|
hull
|
husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship
|
|
|
|
extirpate
|
root up; uproot; destroy completely
|
|
|
|
astronomical
|
enormously large or extensive
|
|
|
|
presage
|
foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen
|
|
|
|
nuptial
|
related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony
|
|
|
|
caucus
|
private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston
|
|
|
|
inveterate
|
deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old
|
|
|
|
besiege
|
surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually
|
|
|
|
relish
|
enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
|
|
|
|
affluence
|
abundance; wealth
|
|
|
|
carnage
|
destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals
|
|
|
|
whelp
|
young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.
|
|
|
|
granulate
|
form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle
|
|
|
|
tessellated
|
mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
|
|
|
|
mutablility
|
ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant
|
|
|
|
retrograde
|
go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
tantrum
|
fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex. The child went into tantrums.
|
|
|
|
abhor
|
detest; hate
|
|
|
|
lassitude
|
languor; weariness; listlessness
|
|
|
|
wean
|
accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the young of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling; give up a cherished activity; cause to gradually leave (an interest or habit); Ex. wean oneself from cigarettes
|
|
|
|
propellant(propellent)
|
substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)
|
|
|
|
sententious
|
pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic
|
|
|
|
elysian
|
relating to paradise; blissful
|
|
|
|
adversity
|
great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
|
|
|
|
hermetic
|
concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult
|
|
|
|
artisan
|
a manually skilled worker
|
|
|
|
annex
|
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
|
|
|
|
refulgent
|
effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon
|
|
|
|
enrapture
|
please intensely; fill with rapture and delight
|
|
|
|
primp
|
groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
|
|
|
|
resort
|
turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
|
|
|
|
beget
|
father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
|
|
|
|
rostrum
|
raised platform for speech-making; pulpit
|
|
|
|
agility
|
nimbleness; ability to move quickly
|
|
|
|
conjugal
|
pertaining to marriage
|
|
|
|
woeful
|
sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably bad; Ex. woeful housing conditions
|
|
|
|
oatmeal
|
crushed oats used for making porridge
|
|
|
|
periphery
|
outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town
|
|
|
|
chivalrous
|
courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry
|
|
|
|
harry
|
harass, annoy, torment (by repeated attacks); raid
|
|
|
|
prologue
|
introduction (to a poem or play)
|
|
|
|
piebald
|
of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald
|
|
|
|
polemical(polemic)
|
aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply expressing opinions)
|
|
|
|
maroon
|
leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
|
|
|
|
talon
|
claw of bird
|
|
|
|
pander
|
cater to (the low desires of others)
|
|
|
|
archives
|
public records; place where public records are kept
|
|
|
|
impious
|
irreverent
|
|
|
|
discompose
|
disturb the composure of; confuse
|
|
|
|
residue
|
remainder; balance
|
|
|
|
febrile
|
feverish
|
|
|
|
ebb
|
(of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide
|
|
|
|
frenetic(phrenetic)
|
frenzied; frantic
|
|
|
|
bacchanalian
|
drunken
|
|
|
|
tantalize
|
tease; excite by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach; torture with disappointment; CF. Tantalus: Greek mythological figure
|
|
|
|
diminution
|
lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
|
|
|
|
solicitous
|
anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
|
|
|
|
contiguous
|
adjacent to; touching upon
|
|
|
|
refrain
|
abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
|
|
|
|
dissolution
|
disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
|
|
|
|
elusive
|
evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes me.
|
|
|
|
aegis
|
shield; protection; defense
|
|
|
|
feline
|
of a member of the cat family; N.
|
|
|
|
downcast
|
disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
|
|
|
|
diatribe
|
bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
|
|
|
|
license
|
official or legal permission; latitude of action or speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or damage; V.
|
|
|
|
didactic
|
(of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
|
|
|
|
infiltrate
|
pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an organization) sneakily; Ex. infiltrate the troops into enemy territory; CF. infiltrator
|
|
|
|
assumption
|
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
|
|
|
|
encomiastic
|
praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy
|
|
|
|
behemoth
|
huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
|
|
|
|
penology
|
study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation
|
|
|
|
meticulous
|
excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous
|
|
|
|
embrace
|
hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet
|
|
|
|
luminary
|
celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object that gives light (as a celestial body)
|
|
|
|
parry
|
ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully; N. CF. ¸•´Â´Ù´Â °³³äÀÌ ¾Æ´Ô
|
|
|
|
desiccate
|
dry up
|
|
|
|
dominant
|
exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive
|
|
|
|
poseur
|
person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others; person who poses; CF. pose
|
|
|
|
oblique
|
indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference
|
|
|
|
reverie
|
daydream; abstracted musing
|
|
|
|
corporeal
|
bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible
|
|
|
|
thresh
|
beat (cereal plants) with a machine or flail to separate the grains from the straw
|
|
|
|
indemnify
|
make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured
|
|
|
|
scavenge
|
hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food; search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who scavenges; animal that feeds on refuse and carrion
|
|
|
|
pulse
|
rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity; V: pulsate
|
|
|
|
egress
|
exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress
|
|
|
|
gradation
|
series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression
|
|
|
|
incredulity
|
tendency to disbelief
|
|
|
|
manifold
|
many in number or kind; numerous; varied
|
|
|
|
renegade
|
deserter; traitor; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
haughtiness
|
pride; arrogance; ADJ. haughty
|
|
|
|
graduate
|
arrange into categories or grades; divide into marked intervals (for use in measurement); Ex. graduated ruler
|
|
|
|
amok(amuck)
|
in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
|
|
|
|
verve
|
enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor
|
|
|
|
maelstrom
|
violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream
|
|
|
|
centrifuge
|
machine that separates substances by whirling them
|
|
|
|
homogeneous
|
of the same kind; uniform in composition throughout
|
|
|
|
edict
|
decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command
|
|
|
|
margin
|
border; room; allowance beyond what is needed; Ex. margin of safety
|
|
|
|
vernal
|
pertaining to spring
|
|
|
|
skulk
|
move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.
|
|
|
|
drip
|
fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
|
|
|
|
rebuttal
|
refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove
|
|
|
|
predetermine
|
determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly
|
|
|
|
paraphrase
|
restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words
|
|
|
|
stoic
|
stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
|
|
|
|
clap
|
strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause
|
|
|
|
wanderlust
|
strong longing to travel
|
|
|
|
pliable
|
flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
|
|
|
|
pedagogue
|
teacher; CF. child leader
|
|
|
|
protagonist
|
|
|
|
|
unmitigated
|
(of something bad) not moderated; unrelieved or immoderate; without qualification; absolute; Ex. unmitigated disaster
|
|
|
|
obelisk
|
tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid
|
|
|
|
blowhard
|
talkative boaster; braggart
|
|
|
|
interpolate
|
insert between
|
|
|
|
anarchy
|
absence of governing body; state of disorder
|
|
|
|
felon
|
person convicted of a grave crime; CF. felony: serious crime
|
|
|
|
braggadocio
|
boasting
|
|
|
|
curator
|
superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)
|
|
|
|
nimble
|
quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
|
|
|
|
perdition
|
damnation; complete ruin; hell
|
|
|
|
cajole
|
persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
|
|
|
|
run-down
|
(of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a person) weak or exhausted
|
|
|
|
swindler
|
cheater
|
|
|
|
nip
|
snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
|
|
|
|
parvenu
|
upstart; newly rich person
|
|
|
|
impolitic
|
not wise; not expedient; not politic
|
|
|
|
remunerative
|
(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble
|
|
|
|
epic
|
long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art (celebrating the feats of a hero); ADJ: (of stories or events) resembling an epic; grand
|
|
|
|
disparity
|
difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
|
|
|
|
dispel
|
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
|
|
|
|
brand
|
trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar.
|
|
|
|
increment
|
increase
|
|
|
|
accost
|
approach and speak first to a person
|
|
|
|
scad
|
a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes
|
|
|
|
abstinence
|
restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
|
|
|
|
slough
|
(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed
|
|
|
|
execute
|
put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution
|
|
|
|
parochial
|
narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes
|
|
|
|
affidavit
|
written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
|
|
|
|
chaplain
|
clergyman attached to a chapel
|
|
|
|
entourage
|
group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround
|
|
|
|
induct
|
place formally in office; install; admit as a member; initiate; N. induction: inducting; process of deriving general principles from particular facts
|
|
|
|
remote
|
distant in manner; aloof
|
|
|
|
doldrums
|
blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums
|
|
|
|
dulcet
|
sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
|
|
|
|
dyslexia
|
word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read
|
|
|
|
malleable
|
(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable
|
|
|
|
eventual
|
happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory
|
|
|
|
imponderable
|
weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound
|
|
|
|
pervert
|
corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex. perverted sexual desire/scientific knowledge; N: person whose sexual behavior is not natural
|
|
|
|
climactic
|
relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
|
|
|
|
superficial
|
of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge
|
|
|
|
argot
|
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
|
|
|
|
genus
|
division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species
|
|
|
|
withdrawn
|
introverted; retiring; remote
|
|
|
|
pore
|
study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.
|
|
|
|
empathy
|
ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc.; identification with and understanding of another's feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy
|
|
|
|
demise
|
death
|
|
|
|
hyperbole
|
exaggeration; overstatement; ADJ. hyperbolic: of hyperbole; of a hyperbola
|
|
|
|
yoke
|
join together; unite; N: crossbar used to joining two draft animals
|
|
|
|
lament
|
grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
|
|
|
|
totem
|
animal, plant, or natural object serving as a symbol of a clan or family; representation of this; Ex. totem pole
|
|
|
|
autopsy
|
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
|
|
|
|
venturesome
|
(of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an action) risky
|
|
|
|
indefatigable
|
tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting tired
|
|
|
|
insensible
|
unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible
|
|
|
|
squabble
|
minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
|
|
|
|
volatile
|
changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile character/situation in the street
|
|
|
|
ewe
|
female sheep
|
|
|
|
covetous
|
avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)
|
|
|
|
meek
|
submissive; patient and long-suffering
|
|
|
|
impetuous
|
violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful thought; Ex. impetuous decision
|
|
|
|
sundry
|
miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items
|
|
|
|
scurry
|
move hastily; hurry; move briskly
|
|
|
|
ineffectual
|
not effective; not having a desired effect; weak
|
|
|
|
potent
|
powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
|
|
|
|
barrage
|
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
|
|
|
|
anchor
|
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
|
|
|
|
graphic
|
pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described
|
|
|
|
cunning
|
clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit
|
|
|
|
subjugate
|
conquer; bring under control
|
|
|
|
turgid
|
swollen; distended (as from liquid)
|
|
|
|
scabbard
|
case for a sword blade; sheath
|
|
|
|
reactionary
|
strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical
|
|
|
|
illimitable
|
infinite; limitless
|
|
|
|
undulating
|
moving with a wavelike motion; V. undulate; CF. und: wave
|
|
|
|
pass_off
|
present falsely; represent falsely to be
|
|
|
|
interloper
|
intruder; one who interferes
|
|
|
|
concord
|
harmony; accord
|
|
|
|
wade
|
walk through a substance, such as water, that impedes movement
|
|
|
|
delusion
|
false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
|
|
|
|
sublime
|
causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
|
|
|
|
convoke
|
call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
|
|
|
|
effective
|
effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph
|
|
|
|
hortatory
|
encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort
|
|
|
|
squalor
|
condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story
|
|
|
|
bivouac
|
temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
|
|
|
|
anguish
|
acute pain; extreme suffering
|
|
|
|
severity
|
harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense
|
|
|
|
omnivorous
|
eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything
|
|
|
|
smear
|
spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing
|
|
|
|
edifice
|
building (of imposing size)
|
|
|
|
hydrophobia
|
fear of water; rabies
|
|
|
|
grouch
|
bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining; V: complain; grumble
|
|
|
|
tedium
|
boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious
|
|
|
|
carcinogenic
|
causing cancer; N. carcinogen
|
|
|
|
adage
|
wise saying; proverb
|
|
|
|
obsidian
|
black volcanic rock
|
|
|
|
pulpit
|
raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
|
|
|
|
luxuriate
|
take pleasure in great comfort
|
|
|
|
skim
|
read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
|
|
|
|
belligerent
|
quarrelsome
|
|
|
|
vise
|
vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device
|
|
|
|
dissipate
|
squander; waste foolishly; scatter
|
|
|
|
cascade
|
small waterfall
|
|
|
|
tart
|
sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex. tart apple/reply
|
|
|
|
miscreant
|
wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF. believe
|
|
|
|
doggerel
|
poor verse
|
|
|
|
atheistic
|
denying the existence of God; N. atheism
|
|
|
|
uninhibited
|
having no inhibitions; free in behavior and feelings
|
|
|
|
frolicsome
|
prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky
|
|
|
|
inexorable
|
relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable price rises
|
|
|
|
surge
|
powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
|
|
|
|
surrogate
|
substitute; person or thing used in place of another; Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
hue_and_cry
|
outcry; loud cry or clamor; strong protest; Ex. hue and cry against the new rule
|
|
|
|
pachyderm
|
thick-skinned animal
|
|
|
|
emetic
|
substance causing vomiting; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
ironic
|
expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner
|
|
|
|
discrete
|
separate; unconnected
|
|
|
|
problematic
|
causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.
|
|
|
|
purgatory
|
place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the souls must expiate their sins
|
|
|
|
insalubrious
|
unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place
|
|
|
|
meddlesome
|
interfering; V. meddle: interfere
|
|
|
|
cadet
|
student at a military school
|
|
|
|
spruce
|
neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.
|
|
|
|
jumble
|
mix in a confused way
|
|
|
|
grimace
|
facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc; V.
|
|
|
|
humble
|
of low rank or position; modest; having a low opinion of oneself and a high opinion of others; unassuming; not proud; V. humiliate: make humble; cause to feel ashamed or to lose the respect of others
|
|
|
|
lurid
|
wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; Ex. lurid details of the murder
|
|
|
|
application
|
diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
|
|
|
|
psychosis
|
mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic
|
|
|
|
hoary
|
white with age
|
|
|
|
vacillate
|
waver (in opinion); fluctuate; sway to and fro; N. vacillation
|
|
|
|
sturdy
|
strong and firm (in the body)
|
|
|
|
emblazon
|
ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment
|
|
|
|
optometrist
|
one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects
|
|
|
|
impetus
|
moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse
|
|
|
|
optional
|
not compulsory; left to one's choice; N. option: act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to choose; something available as a choice; Ex. have no option; Ex. two options
|
|
|
|
nadir
|
lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith
|
|
|
|
low
|
moo; make the sound of a cow
|
|
|
|
pastiche
|
imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists
|
|
|
|
selective
|
|
|
|
|
eddy
|
swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.
|
|
|
|
languid
|
lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless
|
|
|
|
vestige
|
trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion
|
|
|
|
partisan
|
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla
|
|
|
|
implicit
|
understood but not stated; implied; unquestioning and complete; Ex. implicit trust
|
|
|
|
thesis
|
opinion put forward and supported by reasoned arguments
|
|
|
|
symbiosis
|
interdependent relationship (between groups, species) often mutually beneficial; ADJ. symbiotic; CF. together + life
|
|
|
|
sneak
|
move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky
|
|
|
|
minutiae
|
petty or trivial details; CF. minutia
|
|
|
|
pass\'e
|
old-fashioned; past the prime
|
|
|
|
dissent
|
disagree
|
|
|
|
centigrade
|
denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)
|
|
|
|
whit
|
small amount; smallest speck; Ex. not a whit of
|
|
|
|
arroyo
|
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
|
|
|
|
splice
|
join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.
|
|
|
|
makeshift
|
temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
|
|
|
|
monochromatic
|
having only one color
|
|
|
|
irate
|
angry; CF. ire: anger; wrath
|
|
|
|
imposture
|
assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor
|
|
|
|
flux
|
flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux
|
|
|
|
bulwark
|
strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends
|
|
|
|
harping
|
tiresome dwelling on a subject; V. harp: dwell on(think or speak a lot about) tediously
|
|
|
|
profane
|
violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for; ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things
|
|
|
|
mincing
|
affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way, taking little short steps; Ex. The actor minced across the stage; CF. mincemeat; CF. mincer
|
|
|
|
partial
|
incomplete; favoring one side over another; having a liking for something
|
|
|
|
sedentary
|
requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population
|
|
|
|
tan
|
convert (hide) into leather; make brown by exposure to the sun
|
|
|
|
equipoise
|
balance; balancing force; equilibrium
|
|
|
|
recuperate
|
recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses
|
|
|
|
fiat
|
command; arbitrary order; Ex. presidential fiat; CF. let it be done
|
|
|
|
crave
|
desire; want intensely
|
|
|
|
putrid
|
decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity
|
|
|
|
puissant
|
powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power
|
|
|
|
vendor
|
seller
|
|
|
|
infirmity
|
weakness
|
|
|
|
shoot
|
new growth from a plant
|
|
|
|
arcade
|
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
|
|
|
|
propriety
|
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary
|
|
|
|
medium
|
element that is a creature's natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substance through which something else is transmitted
|
|
|
|
deploy
|
spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
|
|
|
|
rectify
|
set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
|
|
|
|
jabber
|
chatter rapidly or unintelligibly
|
|
|
|
petrify
|
turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze
|
|
|
|
condone
|
overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
|
|
|
|
strut
|
pompous walk; V: walk in a self-important manner
|
|
|
|
collaborate
|
work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy
|
|
|
|
rationalize
|
make rational; devise false reasons for (one's behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization
|
|
|
|
sensitization
|
process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become sensitive
|
|
|
|
underlying
|
lying below; fundamental
|
|
|
|
bureaucracy
|
overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic
|
|
|
|
martinet
|
strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet
|
|
|
|
remediable
|
reparable
|
|
|
|
urchin
|
mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin: hedgehog; CF. porcupine: pig with spikes ?; CF. sea urchin
|
|
|
|
squash
|
crush; quash; suppress
|
|
|
|
impassioned
|
(of speech) filled with passion; fervent
|
|
|
|
perpetuate
|
make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity
|
|
|
|
anthropomorphic
|
having human form or characteristics
|
|
|
|
nondescript
|
undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd
|
|
|
|
prognosticate
|
predict (according to present indications)
|
|
|
|
agog
|
highly excited; intensely curious
|
|
|
|
apparent
|
evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
|
|
|
|
bogus
|
counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview
|
|
|
|
miserly
|
stingy; mean
|
|
|
|
vanguard
|
forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard
|
|
|
|
mitigate
|
appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity
|
|
|
|
objective
|
not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim
|
|
|
|
acoustics
|
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
|
|
|
|
savant
|
scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know
|
|
|
|
fraught
|
filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight
|
|
|
|
nonsense
|
speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
|
|
|
|
penance
|
self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance for one's sins; CF. penitent
|
|
|
|
cede
|
yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession
|
|
|
|
unanimity
|
complete agreement; ADJ. unanimous
|
|
|
|
reprimand
|
reprove severely; rebuke; N.
|
|
|
|
expertise
|
specialized knowledge (in a particular field); expert skill
|
|
|
|
amicable
|
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
|
|
|
|
glitter
|
shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex. glittering diamond ring; N: sparkling light; attractiveness; glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on the waves
|
|
|
|
dilatory
|
delaying; tending to delay
|
|
|
|
inept
|
unsuited; inappropriate; lacking skill; incompetent; CF. inapt: (of statements or ideas) inappropriate
|
|
|
|
gorge
|
stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful
|
|
|
|
vent
|
small opening; outlet (as of fumes or a gas); Ex. He gave vent to his anger by kicking the chair.
|
|
|
|
skimp
|
provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly
|
|
|
|
yeoman
|
man or farmer owning small estate; middle-class farmer
|
|
|
|
construe
|
explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
|
|
|
|
implement
|
put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with tools; Ex. implement the plan/suggestion; N: tool or instrument
|
|
|
|
audit
|
examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
|
|
|
|
seedy
|
run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel
|
|
|
|
juggernaut
|
irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its path
|
|
|
|
vertebrate
|
having a backbone or spinal column; N: group of animals having a segmented spinal column
|
|
|
|
epitaph
|
inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a tombstone)
|
|
|
|
mire
|
entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire
|
|
|
|
revoke
|
cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable
|
|
|
|
peruse
|
read through with care; N. perusal
|
|
|
|
indignation
|
anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation; ADJ. indignant
|
|
|
|
niggle
|
spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling
|
|
|
|
slag
|
glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
|
|
|
|
asunder
|
into parts; apart; V. sunder
|
|
|
|
sleazy
|
shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
|
|
|
|
hallucination
|
delusion; false idea; false perception of objects with a compelling sense of their reality; objects so perceived; V. hallucinate; ADJ. hallucinatory
|
|
|
|
impervious
|
impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being affected (in one's opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism
|
|
|
|
jaunt
|
trip; short journey
|
|
|
|
solemnity
|
seriousness; gravity
|
|
|
|
thermal
|
pertaining to heat; producing heat; warm; Ex. thermal bath; N: rising current of warm air
|
|
|
|
scotch
|
stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF. È°µ¿À» ÁÙÀÌ´Â ÀǹÌ
|
|
|
|
cameo
|
shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film
|
|
|
|
unwieldy
|
awkward (to carry or move); cumbersome; unmanageable
|
|
|
|
stygian
|
unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
|
|
|
|
touchy
|
oversensitive; easily offended; irasible; delicate; needing delicate handling; Ex. touchy situation
|
|
|
|
skinflint
|
miser; stingy person
|
|
|
|
insurgent
|
rebellious; N.
|
|
|
|
replica
|
copy
|
|
|
|
suckle
|
give or take milk at the breast or udder
|
|
|
|
frolic
|
play and jump about happily; frisk; Ex. frolicking young lambs
|
|
|
|
expatriate
|
exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish; leave one's country
|
|
|
|
maladroit
|
clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling
|
|
|
|
lumen
|
unit of light energy (one candle's worth)
|
|
|
|
sever
|
separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up (a relationship); N. severance; CF. severance pay: extra pay given an employee upon leaving a position
|
|
|
|
diurnal
|
daily; occurring during the daytime
|
|
|
|
predator
|
predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others; ADJ. predatory: living by preying on other organisms; plundering; N. predation
|
|
|
|
motility
|
ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously
|
|
|
|
litotes
|
understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''
|
|
|
|
renown
|
fame; ADJ. renowned
|
|
|
|
blues
|
state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)
|
|
|
|
concomitant
|
that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else
|
|
|
|
conceit
|
vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)
|
|
|
|
decelerate
|
slow down
|
|
|
|
indigent
|
poor; destitute
|
|
|
|
shrewd
|
clever; astute
|
|
|
|
incredulous
|
withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief
|
|
|
|
tremor
|
trembling; slight quiver (as of the earth or from nervous agitation)
|
|
|
|
concur
|
agree; coincide; happen at the same time
|
|
|
|
smelt
|
melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition
|
|
|
|
hap
|
chance; luck
|
|
|
|
deducible
|
derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
|
|
|
|
demolition
|
destruction; V. demolish
|
|
|
|
aphorism
|
pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
|
|
|
|
motto
|
brief statement used to express a principle
|
|
|
|
confluence
|
flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together
|
|
|
|
bludgeon
|
club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
|
|
|
|
vile
|
despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander
|
|
|
|
glare
|
shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.
|
|
|
|
convert
|
one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief
|
|
|
|
chisel
|
swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting
|
|
|
|
avocation
|
secondary or minor occupation
|
|
|
|
finery
|
beautiful clothes for a special occasion
|
|
|
|
lush
|
(of a plant or grass) growing very well
|
|
|
|
marrow
|
soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood cells
|
|
|
|
vulgar
|
of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth; N. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; CF. vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout
|
|
|
|
emolument
|
salary; payment for an office; compensation
|
|
|
|
abysmal
|
bottomless
|
|
|
|
cavalcade
|
procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry
|
|
|
|
idiosyncrasy
|
individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral peculiarity; eccentricity; attitude, behavior, or opinion peculiar to a person; anything highly individual or eccentric; ADJ. idiosyncratic
|
|
|
|
constitution
|
constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions
|
|
|
|
enterprising
|
full of initiative; showing enterprise
|
|
|
|
invulnerable
|
incapable of injury; impossible to damage or injure
|
|
|
|
prime
|
period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V: make ready; prepare
|
|
|
|
corollary
|
natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
|
|
|
|
brocade
|
rich, figured(patterned) fabric
|
|
|
|
laceration
|
torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin as with broken glass); wound
|
|
|
|
pretentious
|
ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim to be art
|
|
|
|
pharisee
|
Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy); hypocritical self-righteous person
|
|
|
|
chore
|
daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task
|
|
|
|
ethnic
|
relating to races
|
|
|
|
cognate
|
having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
|
|
|
|
stagnant
|
(of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output
|
|
|
|
hide
|
skin of an animal
|
|
|
|
consternation
|
great shock; dismay
|
|
|
|
torrid
|
(of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid love affairs
|
|
|
|
delirium
|
mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
|
|
|
|
wastrel
|
waster; profligate
|
|
|
|
overthrow
|
topple; N.
|
|
|
|
smattering
|
slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German
|
|
|
|
throng
|
crowd (of people or things); V.
|
|
|
|
document
|
provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.
|
|
|
|
mongrel
|
plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
dazzle
|
make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder
|
|
|
|
vouch
|
give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher
|
|
|
|
lopsided
|
heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
|
|
|
|
indigenous
|
native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World
|
|
|
|
rivet
|
metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross
|
|
|
|
overture
|
musical introduction to a long musical piece; first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace
|
|
|
|
solecism
|
nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette
|
|
|
|
jaunty
|
cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree; dapper in appearance; Ex. jaunty person/hat
|
|
|
|
practical
|
based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man
|
|
|
|
factotum
|
handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything
|
|
|
|
parable
|
short simple story teaching a moral
|
|
|
|
voluble
|
fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility
|
|
|
|
castrate
|
remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
|
|
|
|
malevolent
|
wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence
|
|
|
|
camaraderie
|
good-fellowship; CF. comrade
|
|
|
|
implore
|
beg
|
|
|
|
nettle
|
irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
|
|
|
|
blackball
|
vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote
|
|
|
|
ecosystem
|
ecological community together with its environment
|
|
|
|
discredit
|
defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful
|
|
|
|
bilious
|
suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated
|
|
|
|
rococo
|
ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
|
|
|
|
disapprobation
|
disapproval; condemnation
|
|
|
|
shear
|
remove (fleece or hair) by cutting; remove the hair or fleece from; cut with or as if with shears; N: shears; pair of scissors
|
|
|
|
verbiage
|
pompous array of words; too many unnecessary words; wordiness
|
|
|
|
invincible
|
unconquerable
|
|
|
|
truncate
|
cut the top off; shorten
|
|
|
|
allay
|
calm; pacify
|
|
|
|
disdain
|
treat with scorn or contempt
|
|
|
|
surmount
|
overcome
|
|
|
|
shoddy
|
made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick
|
|
|
|
phlegmatic
|
calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract
|
|
|
|
topography
|
physical features of a region (such as the shape and height); CF. topo-: place
|
|
|
|
nurse
|
suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone
|
|
|
|
fractious
|
unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex. fractious horse
|
|
|
|
negligence
|
neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care
|
|
|
|
trappings
|
outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward sign of rank)
|
|
|
|
amoral
|
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
|
|
|
|
ascendancy
|
controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
|
|
|
|
swelter
|
(of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be oppressed by heat
|
|
|
|
exploit
|
make use of, sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation
|
|
|
|
slap
|
hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
|
|
|
|
magnitude
|
greatness (in size or extent); extent
|
|
|
|
slander
|
defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ. slanderous
|
|
|
|
insomnia
|
wakefulness; inability to sleep
|
|
|
|
florescence
|
condition or period of flowering
|
|
|
|
plenary
|
(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power
|
|
|
|
portend
|
foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning
|
|
|
|
vaunted
|
boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt: boast; brag
|
|
|
|
pernicious
|
very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia
|
|
|
|
philanthropist
|
lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy
|
|
|
|
amplify
|
increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
|
|
|
|
perforate
|
pierce; put a hole through
|
|
|
|
latent
|
present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF. potential
|
|
|
|
blemish
|
mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished
|
|
|
|
gibe
|
mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks
|
|
|
|
inebriate
|
make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person
|
|
|
|
tertiary
|
third in order or rank
|
|
|
|
wry
|
(esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing displeasure)
|
|
|
|
dowdy
|
untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
|
|
|
|
aphasia
|
loss of speech due to injury or illness
|
|
|
|
coax
|
persuade by flattery
|
|
|
|
jeopardize
|
endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy: danger
|
|
|
|
congeal
|
freeze; coagulate
|
|
|
|
recite
|
repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation
|
|
|
|
covenant
|
binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise
|
|
|
|
primordial
|
existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
|
|
|
|
dynamo
|
generator for producing electricity; energetic person
|
|
|
|
migratory
|
wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another; move periodically from one region to another
|
|
|
|
promote
|
advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or popularize; Ex. Milk promotes health; Ex. promote a match/bill; Ex. promote a new product
|
|
|
|
clavicle
|
collarbone
|
|
|
|
legato
|
(of music) played smoothly
|
|
|
|
modicum
|
limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate
|
|
|
|
tacit
|
understood (without actually being expressed); not put into words; Ex. tacit agreement
|
|
|
|
nicety
|
precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties
|
|
|
|
mishap
|
unfortunate accident
|
|
|
|
impiety
|
irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety
|
|
|
|
amass
|
collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
|
|
|
|
obfuscate
|
confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand
|
|
|
|
sentient
|
capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience
|
|
|
|
grisly
|
ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies
|
|
|
|
vibrant
|
full of vigor or energy; vibrating
|
|
|
|
atrocity
|
brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
|
|
|
|
sanctimonious
|
displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety
|
|
|
|
underscore
|
underline; emphasize
|
|
|
|
groove
|
long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the movement of something; Ex. groove of the record
|
|
|
|
incur
|
bring upon oneself
|
|
|
|
addle
|
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
|
|
|
|
haggle
|
argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain)
|
|
|
|
pious
|
devout; religious; N. piety
|
|
|
|
lewd
|
lustful
|
|
|
|
imbroglio
|
complicated situation (as in a play); painful or complex misunderstanding (as in a play); entanglement; confused mass (as of papers); V. embroil
|
|
|
|
stentorian
|
(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad
|
|
|
|
overwhelm
|
(of water) cover completely; defeat completely by much greater force; Ex. overwhelmed by grief
|
|
|
|
hypochondriac
|
person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness; ADJ. CF. hypochondria: neurosis that one is or is becoming ill; CF. abdomen
|
|
|
|
confide
|
tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about
|
|
|
|
steep
|
soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
|
|
|
|
fugitive
|
fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large
|
|
|
|
importune
|
beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way)
|
|
|
|
august
|
impressive; majestic
|
|
|
|
oligarchy
|
government by a privileged few
|
|
|
|
ruffian
|
violent scoundrel; bully
|
|
|
|
obligatory
|
binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate
|
|
|
|
disquietude
|
uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
|
|
|
|
adversary
|
opponent; enemy
|
|
|
|
grueling
|
exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race
|
|
|
|
dissection
|
analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
|
|
|
|
vivisection
|
act of dissecting living animals
|
|
|
|
equestrian
|
rider on horseback; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
wax
|
increase gradually (as the moon); grow
|
|
|
|
adventitious
|
accidental; casual; happening by chance
|
|
|
|
sarcasm
|
cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging rebuke; ADJ. sarcastic
|
|
|
|
martyr
|
one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism
|
|
|
|
repast
|
meal; feast; banquet
|
|
|
|
ferret
|
drive or hunt out of hiding; hunt with ferrets; drive out (as from a hiding place); expel; uncover or discover by searching; Ex. ferret out the secret; N. small fierce animal which catches rats and rabbits by going into their holes
|
|
|
|
rue
|
regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. ADJ. rueful
|
|
|
|
abide
|
dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.
|
|
|
|
precarious
|
unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living
|
|
|
|
stun
|
make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
|
|
|
|
expedient
|
suitable (for a particular purpose although not necessarily morally correct); practical; politic(prudent); N: something expedient
|
|
|
|
gyroscope
|
apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.
|
|
|
|
irremediable
|
incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy
|
|
|
|
shaving
|
very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp blade)
|
|
|
|
unbridled
|
violent; uncontrolled; Ex. unbridled rage/greed
|
|
|
|
cogitate
|
think over; ponder
|
|
|
|
proselytize
|
(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion
|
|
|
|
amalgam
|
combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
|
|
|
|
expansive
|
(of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size
|
|
|
|
gait
|
manner of walking or running; speed
|
|
|
|
connoisseur
|
person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art
|
|
|
|
alloy
|
mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
|
|
|
|
wizardry
|
sorcery; magic
|
|
|
|
abrasive
|
rubbing away; tending to grind down
|
|
|
|
swill
|
drink greedily
|
|
|
|
liability
|
drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)
|
|
|
|
precipitant
|
something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; ħÀüÁ¦; OP. solvent
|
|
|
|
chastise
|
punish as by beating; criticize severely
|
|
|
|
effulgent
|
shining brightly; brilliant
|
|
|
|
lode
|
metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)
|
|
|
|
impair
|
injure; hurt; damage
|
|
|
|
Elysium
|
place or condition of bliss
|
|
|
|
adamant
|
hard; inflexible
|
|
|
|
vicar
|
parish priest; representative
|
|
|
|
ken
|
range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken
|
|
|
|
upshot
|
outcome; final result
|
|
|
|
corpuscle
|
red or white cell in the blood
|
|
|
|
plasticity
|
ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay
|
|
|
|
espouse
|
adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N. espousal
|
|
|
|
insubstantial
|
lacking substance; insignificant; frail; immaterial
|
|
|
|
allocate
|
assign; set apart for a particular purpose
|
|
|
|
sylvan
|
pertaining to the woods or the country
|
|
|
|
sluice
|
artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
|
|
|
|
wince
|
move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex. She winced as she touched the cold body.
|
|
|
|
parish
|
area in the care of a single priest and served by one main church
|
|
|
|
itinerary
|
plan of a trip; record of a trip
|
|
|
|
modulate
|
tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G
|
|
|
|
regiment
|
military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society
|
|
|
|
mayhem
|
injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim
|
|
|
|
wrangle
|
quarrel noisily; obtain through arguing; herd cattle; N.
|
|
|
|
declivity
|
downward slope
|
|
|
|
proclivity
|
inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)
|
|
|
|
proscribe
|
prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
|
|
|
|
recumbent
|
reclining; lying down completely or in part
|
|
|
|
draconian
|
extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
|
|
|
|
dispassionate
|
calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
|
|
|
|
withstand
|
stand up against; resist successfully
|
|
|
|
garner
|
gather; store up; amass
|
|
|
|
mediate
|
settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire
|
|
|
|
gibberish
|
nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or writing; babbling
|
|
|
|
resurge
|
rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again
|
|
|
|
refuse
|
anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash
|
|
|
|
dogmatic
|
opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal
|
|
|
|
dispense
|
distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule
|
|
|
|
germinal
|
pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea
|
|
|
|
connotation
|
suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote
|
|
|
|
equivocate
|
use equivocal language to deceive people; lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth; N. equivocation
|
|
|
|
d\'eb\^acle
|
sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
|
|
|
|
beneficiary
|
person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
|
|
|
|
grudging
|
unwilling; reluctant; stingy(giving reluctantly)
|
|
|
|
bromide
|
platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
|
|
|
|
jug
|
pitcher; container for holding liquids
|
|
|
|
apocalyptic
|
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
|
|
|
|
scourge
|
lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict
|
|
|
|
fulsome
|
disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome praise/expressions of admire
|
|
|
|
guy
|
cable or chain attached to something that needs to be braced or steadied; CF. guide
|
|
|
|
jollity
|
gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay
|
|
|
|
subsistence
|
existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
|
|
|
|
shunt
|
move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.
|
|
|
|
grapple
|
wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and struggle with; Ex. grapple with the burglar
|
|
|
|
simplistic
|
oversimplified
|
|
|
|
tenacity
|
firmness; persistence
|
|
|
|
extrovert
|
person interested mostly in external objects and actions
|
|
|
|
pert
|
(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat
|
|
|
|
steadfast
|
steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
|
|
|
|
wispy
|
thin; slight; barely discernible
|
|
|
|
cartographer
|
map-maker
|
|
|
|
perpetrate
|
commit an offense; do (something wrong)
|
|
|
|
divulge
|
reveal
|
|
|
|
disingenuous
|
not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
|
|
|
|
recess
|
pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive
|
|
|
|
cosmic
|
pertaining to the universe; vast
|
|
|
|
gratify
|
please; satisfy; Ex. gratify a desire
|
|
|
|
slack
|
moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V.
|
|
|
|
truculence
|
aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent: aggressive; pugnacious; fierce
|
|
|
|
healthy
|
possessing good health; healthful
|
|
|
|
mash
|
crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl
|
|
|
|
humanitarian
|
one devoted to the promotion of human welfare; CF. humanism
|
|
|
|
idyllic
|
charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene
|
|
|
|
chase
|
ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch
|
|
|
|
recline
|
lie down
|
|
|
|
militate
|
work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier
|
|
|
|
astute
|
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
|
|
|
|
cantankerous
|
ill-humored; irritable
|
|
|
|
berate
|
scold strongly
|
|
|
|
artery
|
blood-vessel; CF. vein
|
|
|
|
mantle
|
loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
|
|
|
|
unassailable
|
not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question
|
|
|
|
gnome
|
dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure hoards
|
|
|
|
limpid
|
crystal clear
|
|
|
|
embed(imbed)
|
enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass
|
|
|
|
lachrymose
|
producing tears; tearful
|
|
|
|
creep
|
move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.
|
|
|
|
confidant(confidante)
|
trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)
|
|
|
|
fissure
|
crevice; crack
|
|
|
|
draw
|
choosing of a lot or card
|
|
|
|
sanction
|
approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance
|
|
|
|
amend
|
correct; change ; generally for the better
|
|
|
|
irony
|
hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean; use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning
|
|
|
|
galvanize
|
stimulate or shock by an electric current; stimulate by shock; shock into action; stir up; coat with rust-resistant zinc by using electricity
|
|
|
|
efface
|
rub out; remove the surface of
|
|
|
|
meander
|
wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly
|
|
|
|
virtual
|
in essence; existing in essence though not in actual form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual ruler/space
|
|
|
|
shimmer
|
shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.
|
|
|
|
visionary
|
produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical; showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one given to speculative impractical ideas
|
|
|
|
prosper
|
become successful (esp. financially); thrive; grow well; Ex. children prospering under his care
|
|
|
|
plait
|
braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail
|
|
|
|
mercurial
|
capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood
|
|
|
|
historic
|
important in history; Ex. historic battle
|
|
|
|
imminent
|
impending; near at hand
|
|
|
|
wiggle
|
wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions
|
|
|
|
curtail
|
shorten; reduce
|
|
|
|
narcissist
|
conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus
|
|
|
|
pejorative
|
(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect; Ex. Many women now considers ``housewife'' a pejorative expression, because it patronized them.
|
|
|
|
ration
|
fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
|
|
|
|
levity
|
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner
|
|
|
|
quagmire
|
bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself
|
|
|
|
aplomb
|
poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
|
|
|
|
adhere
|
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
|
|
|
|
doff
|
take off; OP. don
|
|
|
|
corrugated
|
wrinkled; ridged
|
|
|
|
esteem
|
respect; value; judge; N.
|
|
|
|
ambiguous
|
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
|
|
|
|
wrest
|
obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence; Ex. wrest victory from their grasp
|
|
|
|
spate
|
sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
|
|
|
|
inanimate
|
lifeless; not animate
|
|
|
|
armada
|
fleet of warships
|
|
|
|
polarize
|
split into opposite extremes or camps
|
|
|
|
rolling
|
(of land) rising and falling in long gentle slopes; happening continuously by stages; Ex. rolling devolution of power to local governments
|
|
|
|
practicable
|
feasible
|
|
|
|
amiable
|
agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
|
|
|
|
roster
|
list (of names)
|
|
|
|
delta
|
flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
|
|
|
|
bereavement
|
state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
|
|
|
|
loll
|
lounge about
|
|
|
|
posthumous
|
after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death); coming or occurring after one's death; Ex. posthumous fame/novel
|
|
|
|
rapt
|
engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
|
|
|
|
gentry
|
people of standing(rank or position); people of good family or high social position; class of people just below nobility
|
|
|
|
idiom
|
expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic
|
|
|
|
recant
|
disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant one's faith/a statement
|
|
|
|
asylum
|
place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
|
|
|
|
virus
|
disease communicator
|
|
|
|
aberrant
|
abnormal or deviant
|
|
|
|
hubris
|
arrogance; excessive self-conceit
|
|
|
|
leniency
|
mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe in judgment or punishment
|
|
|
|
imply
|
suggest a meaning not expressed; signify
|
|
|
|
syllogism
|
logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
|
|
|
|
propensity
|
natural inclination
|
|
|
|
opaque
|
dark; not transparent; N. opacity
|
|
|
|
fetish(fetich)
|
object believed to have spiritual powers; object of excessive attention or reverence; CF. fetishism
|
|
|
|
hummock
|
small hill; hillock
|
|
|
|
venial
|
(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial
|
|
|
|
effrontery
|
rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
|
|
|
|
subtlety
|
perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning
|
|
|
|
strew
|
spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals
|
|
|
|
canine
|
related to dogs; doglike
|
|
|
|
boisterous
|
violent; rough; noisy
|
|
|
|
vituperative
|
abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively
|
|
|
|
compress
|
force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.
|
|
|
|
paste
|
smooth viscous mixture as of flour(powder made by crushing grain) and water (used as an adhesive); V: cause to adhere by applying paste
|
|
|
|
spendthrift
|
someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth
|
|
|
|
mannered
|
affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech
|
|
|
|
marginal
|
of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal effect/writing ability
|
|
|
|
ultimatum
|
last demand; last warning; last statement of conditions that must be met; Ex. They have ignored our ultimatum.
|
|
|
|
lascivious
|
lustful
|
|
|
|
suspend
|
cause to stop for a period; interrupt; hold in abeyance; defer; hang from above; exclude for a period from a position; Ex. suspended state; Ex. suspend judgment; Ex. suspended from the team; N. suspension
|
|
|
|
turncoat
|
traitor
|
|
|
|
pique
|
irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity
|
|
|
|
discrepancy
|
lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
|
|
|
|
comprehensive
|
broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive
|
|
|
|
dilemma
|
situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
|
|
|
|
initiate
|
begin; originate; receive into a group; introduce to a new field or activity; Ex. initiate someone into the mysteries of a secret religion; N: one who has been initiated
|
|
|
|
osseous
|
made of bone; bony
|
|
|
|
distrait
|
absentminded; distracted
|
|
|
|
calligraphy
|
beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
|
|
|
|
halting
|
hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act with uncertainty; falter; hesitate; waver; stop
|
|
|
|
overt
|
open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert
|
|
|
|
upright
|
(sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral
|
|
|
|
pathos
|
tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel
|
|
|
|
probity
|
uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
|
|
|
|
stratified
|
divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
|
|
|
|
embroil
|
throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio
|
|
|
|
exalt
|
raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex. exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation
|
|
|
|
scruple
|
hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience
|
|
|
|
willful
|
wilful; intentional; headstrong
|
|
|
|
sepulcher
|
tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral
|
|
|
|
carping
|
petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble
|
|
|
|
boor
|
rude, insensitive person
|
|
|
|
lucre
|
money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre
|
|
|
|
eerie
|
weird; causing fear because strange
|
|
|
|
archaeology
|
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
|
|
|
|
gamut
|
entire range
|
|
|
|
plumber
|
one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(pipes)
|
|
|
|
address
|
direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
|
|
|
|
stamp
|
step on heavily (so as to crush or extinguish); put an end to; imprint or impress with a mark, design, or seal; shape with a die; characterize; Ex. machine stamping out car bodies; Ex. newspaper stamping him as a liar; N. stamping; implement used to stamp; impression stamped; mark; Ex. Her remarks bear the stamp of truth.
|
|
|
|
inhibit
|
restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent; N. inhibition
|
|
|
|
celerity
|
speed; rapidity
|
|
|
|
detraction
|
slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
|
|
|
|
gruesome
|
grisly; horrible
|
|
|
|
beneficent
|
kindly; doing good
|
|
|
|
knotty
|
intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot
|
|
|
|
prescience
|
ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient
|
|
|
|
vicissitude
|
change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China
|
|
|
|
debauch
|
corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
|
|
|
|
renege
|
break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off the debt
|
|
|
|
trivia
|
trifles; unimportant matters
|
|
|
|
inert
|
inactive; lacking power to move; unable to move or act; Ex. chemically inert; N. inertia: state of being inert; force which keeps a thing in the position or state
|
|
|
|
arduous
|
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
|
|
|
|
browse
|
graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
|
|
|
|
pertinacious
|
holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent
|
|
|
|
patrimony
|
property inherited from a father
|
|
|
|
flail
|
beat with or as if with a flail; move wildly; thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about; N: threshing tool consisting of a stick swinging from the end of a long handle
|
|
|
|
environ
|
enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city)
|
|
|
|
annihilate
|
destroy
|
|
|
|
provision
|
act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure; provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement
|
|
|
|
balmy
|
soft and mild (of air); fragrant
|
|
|
|
remorse
|
deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach
|
|
|
|
fiend
|
evil spirit; devil
|
|
|
|
incoherent
|
unintelligible; muddled; unable to express one's thoughts in an orderly manner; illogical; lacking cohesion; not coherent
|
|
|
|
tyro
|
beginner; novice
|
|
|
|
roil
|
make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
|
|
|
|
idyll(idyl)
|
short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy period of life (in the country); scene from such a time; Ex. idyll of two young lovers
|
|
|
|
repository
|
storehouse
|
|
|
|
churlish
|
boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
|
|
|
|
discriminate
|
distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference
|
|
|
|
repeal
|
revoke; annul
|
|
|
|
sallow
|
(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice
|
|
|
|
havoc
|
widespread damage; disorder; chaos
|
|
|
|
chary
|
cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold
|
|
|
|
turbulence
|
state of violent agitation; ADJ. turbulent: violently agitated or disturbed
|
|
|
|
lithe
|
flexible; supple; CF. limber
|
|
|
|
pushy
|
disagreeably aggressive
|
|
|
|
luxuriant
|
abundant; growing healthily and in large amounts; excessively ornate; rich and splendid; fertile; Ex. luxuriant forests/prose; CF. luxurious, luxuriate
|
|
|
|
trample
|
step heavily with the feet; crush under the feet
|
|
|
|
contrive
|
invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention
|
|
|
|
instigate
|
start; urge; provoke; incite; Ex. instigate a search/quarrel
|
|
|
|
braggart
|
boaster; bragger
|
|
|
|
confine
|
shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement
|
|
|
|
motif
|
theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure
|
|
|
|
willowy
|
flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
|
|
|
|
apologist
|
one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
|
|
|
|
cloying
|
distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess
|
|
|
|
seep
|
pass slowly through small openings; ooze; trickle; N. seepage
|
|
|
|
vicarious
|
experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ
|
|
|
|
finicky
|
too particular; fussy; difficult to please; too concerned with unimportant details or quality; Ex. finicky about her food
|
|
|
|
antithesis
|
contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
|
|
|
|
culpable
|
deserving blame; blameworthy
|
|
|
|
quiver
|
tremble; shake; N.
|
|
|
|
brawn
|
human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
|
|
|
|
chasten
|
discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
|
|
|
|
infer
|
deduce; conclude; N. inference
|
|
|
|
disburse
|
pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse
|
|
|
|
untenable
|
(of a position, esp. in an argument) indefensible; not able to be maintained
|
|
|
|
demotic
|
of or pertaining to the people
|
|
|
|
spat
|
squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
|
|
|
|
persist
|
continue in existence; last; continue in a course of action in spite of opposition; Ex. persist in/with something; ADJ. persistent
|
|
|
|
cacophonous
|
discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds
|
|
|
|
filial
|
pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter; Ex. filial respect
|
|
|
|
arrhythmic
|
lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
|
|
|
|
plaster
|
paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls; V.
|
|
|
|
nebula
|
diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy
|
|
|
|
doddering
|
shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
|
|
|
|
depict
|
portray
|
|
|
|
juxtapose
|
place side by side; CF. next
|
|
|
|
filth
|
dirty matter; ADJ. filthy
|
|
|
|
devise
|
think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
|
|
|
|
brackish
|
somewhat saline
|
|
|
|
pontifical
|
pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop
|
|
|
|
reverent
|
respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect
|
|
|
|
shuffle
|
mix together; jumble; move (something) from one place to another; slide (the feet) along the ground while walking; Ex. shuffle papers from one pile to another; N.
|
|
|
|
dirge
|
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
|
|
|
|
Machiavellian
|
crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power
|
|
|
|
belittle
|
disparage; depreciate
|
|
|
|
patina
|
green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting
|
|
|
|
mischance
|
ill luck
|
|
|
|
effigy
|
dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President
|
|
|
|
nutrient
|
nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment
|
|
|
|
bacchanal
|
noisy party with a lot of drinking
|
|
|
|
virtuoso
|
highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso
|
|
|
|
eccentricity
|
oddity; idiosyncrasy
|
|
|
|
benign
|
kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor
|
|
|
|
wheedle
|
deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her
|
|
|
|
intrinsic
|
essential; inherent; built-in
|
|
|
|
placate
|
pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease
|
|
|
|
menagerie
|
collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo
|
|
|
|
pulsate
|
throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly
|
|
|
|
sere
|
sear; parched; dry
|
|
|
|
throb
|
(of a heart or machine) beat rapidly or violently; N. Ex. hearthrob: heartbeat; sweetheart
|
|
|
|
halfhearted
|
exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm
|
|
|
|
patriarch
|
father and ruler of a family or tribe
|
|
|
|
usage
|
act or manner of using; accepted practice; way in which words are actually used
|
|
|
|
subaltern
|
subordinate
|
|
|
|
hut
|
crude dwelling; shack
|
|
|
|
infest
|
inhabit in numbers large enough to be harmful; Ex. Mice infested the house; Ex. shark-infested waters
|
|
|
|
inevitable
|
unavoidable
|
|
|
|
parity
|
equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate
|
|
|
|
incontrovertible
|
indisputable; impossible to dispute; not open to question; unquestionable
|
|
|
|
tether
|
tie (an animal) with a rope or tether; N: rope or chain to which an animal is tied; limit of one's endurance; Ex. the end of one's tether
|
|
|
|
ebullient
|
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling
|
|
|
|
insidious
|
treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading harmfully in a stealthy manner; Ex. insidious spreading of dry rot
|
|
|
|
nausea
|
feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness
|
|
|
|
alienate
|
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
|
|
|
|
esoteric
|
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica
|
|
|
|
contortions
|
twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist
|
|
|
|
corpulent
|
very fat; N. corpulence
|
|
|
|
clamor
|
loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous
|
|
|
|
amity
|
friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
|
|
|
|
sensuous
|
giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin
|
|
|
|
continence
|
self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent
|
|
|
|
anoint
|
consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
|
|
|
|
dermatologist
|
one who studies the skin and its diseases
|
|
|
|
rational
|
(of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason; logical
|
|
|
|
fete(f\^ete)
|
honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a feast; N. (outdoor) festival or feast; CF. feast
|
|
|
|
vortex
|
whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged
|
|
|
|
mason
|
one who builds or works with stone or brick; N. masonry: work of a mason; stonework or brickwork
|
|
|
|
cadaver
|
corpse; dead human body
|
|
|
|
exotic
|
not native; from another part of the world; strange; intriguingly unusual; Ex. exotic flower/dress
|
|
|
|
exhale
|
breathe out; OP. inhale
|
|
|
|
reverberate
|
echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.
|
|
|
|
rationale
|
fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
|
|
|
|
humus
|
substance or rich soil formed by decaying vegetable matter; CF. soil
|
|
|
|
defer
|
give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
|
|
|
|
carnivorous
|
meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
|
|
|
|
venerate
|
revere; treat with great respect
|
|
|
|
carefree
|
free from worries; having no problems
|
|
|
|
subsidiary
|
serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
|
|
|
|
disaffected
|
disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
|
|
|
|
errant
|
wandering (esp. in search of adventure); straying from proper moral standards; Ex. knight-errant
|
|
|
|
rake
|
angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular
|
|
|
|
assay
|
analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
|
|
|
|
prompt
|
cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an actor); ADJ: done without delay; done at the right time; punctual; on time; N: reminder or cue
|
|
|
|
enclave
|
territory enclosed within an alien land
|
|
|
|
bedraggle
|
wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
|
|
|
|
holocaust
|
destruction by fire; CF. burnt whole; CF. Holocaust
|
|
|
|
mawkish
|
mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental
|
|
|
|
liaison
|
contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups; one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection
|
|
|
|
matriculate
|
enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix
|
|
|
|
tutelage
|
guardianship; training; function of a tutor; instruction
|
|
|
|
adjutant
|
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
|
|
|
|
callow
|
youthful; immature; inexperienced
|
|
|
|
libido
|
psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire
|
|
|
|
persevere
|
continue steadily in spite of difficulties
|
|
|
|
galaxy
|
large isolated system of stars, such as the Milky Way; collection of brilliant personalities
|
|
|
|
wholesome
|
conducive to mental or physical health; healthful
|
|
|
|
heckler
|
person who verbally harasses others; V. heckle: verbally harass as with gibes (by interrupting a speaker or speech)
|
|
|
|
substantive
|
substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
|
|
|
|
frenzied
|
madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement
|
|
|
|
septic
|
of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)
|
|
|
|
mime
|
pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic; pantomime
|
|
|
|
misogamy
|
hatred of marriage
|
|
|
|
blunder
|
error; stupid mistake
|
|
|
|
dais
|
raised platform for speakers or other important people
|
|
|
|
privy
|
secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF. private
|
|
|
|
docket
|
program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket
|
|
|
|
stifle
|
suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
|
|
|
|
patronize
|
support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N. patronage; CF. boycott
|
|
|
|
colloquial
|
pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression
|
|
|
|
fester
|
rankle; produce irritation or resentment; (of a cut or wound) generate pus or rot; Ex. His insult festered in my mind for days.
|
|
|
|
skirmish
|
minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
|
|
|
|
avow
|
declare openly; N. avowal
|
|
|
|
emboss
|
produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design
|
|
|
|
latch
|
fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch
|
|
|
|
interim
|
meantime; Ex. in the interim; ADJ. taking place during an interim; Ex. interim paper
|
|
|
|
fanfare
|
call by bugles or trumpets; showy display; spectacular public display
|
|
|
|
craven
|
cowardly
|
|
|
|
runic
|
mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune: one of the letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic peoples (cut on stone or wood); magic charm
|
|
|
|
arid
|
(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
|
|
|
|
pose
|
assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect a particular attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a threat; N.
|
|
|
|
listless
|
lacking in spirit or energy; languid
|
|
|
|
tautological
|
needlessly repetitious; Ex. ``It was visible to the eye''; N. tautology: needless repetition of the same sense; statement that is always true
|
|
|
|
plumb
|
exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of
|
|
|
|
prune
|
cut away; trim
|
|
|
|
amphitheater
|
oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
|
|
|
|
fulcrum
|
support on which a lever rests or pivots
|
|
|
|
befuddle
|
confuse thoroughly
|
|
|
|
heterodox
|
(of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional
|
|
|
|
germ
|
earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something that may develop into something larger or more important; microbe
|
|
|
|
flamboyant
|
ornate; highly elaborate; richly colored; ostentatious; showy; CF. flame
|
|
|
|
magnanimity
|
generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous
|
|
|
|
atypical
|
not normal; not typical
|
|
|
|
enterprise
|
willingness to take new ventures; initiative; business organization; plan (that is difficult or daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round the world in a small boat
|
|
|
|
incidence
|
rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex. high incidence of infant mortality
|
|
|
|
accord
|
agreement
|
|
|
|
crestfallen
|
dejected; dispirited
|
|
|
|
imbue
|
saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings
|
|
|
|
fleet
|
fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral
|
|
|
|
pertinent
|
suitable; to the point; relevant
|
|
|
|
surpass
|
exceed
|
|
|
|
demographic
|
related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
|
|
|
|
ragamuffin
|
dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes
|
|
|
|
afterlife
|
life after death; later part of one's life
|
|
|
|
parameter
|
limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the budget
|
|
|
|
confidential
|
spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary
|
|
|
|
quarantine
|
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine
|
|
|
|
passive
|
not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance
|
|
|
|
mammoth
|
gigantic; enormous
|
|
|
|
somnolent
|
half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
|
|
|
|
sage
|
person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; ADJ: wise
|
|
|
|
sidetrack
|
switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from a main issue; N. CF. siding: short section of railroad track connected by switches with a main track
|
|
|
|
limbo
|
region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo
|
|
|
|
gregarious
|
sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group
|
|
|
|
slick
|
make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib
|
|
|
|
prerogative
|
privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
|
|
|
|
paragon
|
model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue
|
|
|
|
gadfly
|
animal-biting fly; irritating person
|
|
|
|
illusion
|
misleading vision or visual image; false idea or belief; CF. delusion
|
|
|
|
artifacts
|
object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
|
|
|
|
mirth
|
merriment; laughter
|
|
|
|
nomadic
|
wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place
|
|
|
|
summation
|
act of finding the total; summing-up; summary (esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)
|
|
|
|
knit
|
contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit together in a few weeks.
|
|
|
|
gruel
|
thin liquid porridge
|
|
|
|
alias
|
an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
|
|
|
|
forge
|
counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by heating in a forge and hammering into shape; move with a sudden increase of speed or power; Ex. forged ahead in the last two years; N: furnace where metals are heated
|
|
|
|
crux
|
essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
|
|
|
|
pied
|
piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
|
|
|
|
hysteria
|
excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric: person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack of hysteria
|
|
|
|
condescend
|
(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior
|
|
|
|
surveillance
|
close observation of a person (esp. one under suspicion); watching; guarding
|
|
|
|
balk
|
stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate
|
|
|
|
complement
|
complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
|
|
|
|
indenture
|
bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind by indenture; N: contract binding one party into the service of another for a specified time (as between an apprentice and his master)
|
|
|
|
swagger
|
walk or behave with an over-confident manner
|
|
|
|
ornate
|
excessively or elaborately decorated
|
|
|
|
exertion
|
effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert oneself: make a great effort
|
|
|
|
ethnology
|
study of humankind; study of the different races of human beings; CF. anthropology
|
|
|
|
circumspect
|
prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
|
|
|
|
debut
|
d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society
|
|
|
|
taxonomist
|
specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF. taxonomy: science of classification
|
|
|
|
insipid
|
lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character
|
|
|
|
contentious
|
quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
|
|
|
|
pensive
|
dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over
|
|
|
|
d\'ebris
|
rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
|
|
|
|
presume
|
take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection); N. presumption
|
|
|
|
pivotal
|
of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
|
|
|
|
decant
|
pour off gently (wine or liquid)
|
|
|
|
marked
|
noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man
|
|
|
|
renounce
|
abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one's claim to the property/one's religion; N. renunciation
|
|
|
|
boon
|
blessing; benefit; something very helpful
|
|
|
|
embargo
|
ban on commerce or other activity
|
|
|
|
purported
|
alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists
|
|
|
|
prot\'eg\'e
|
person receiving protection and support from a patron
|
|
|
|
jibe
|
agree; be in harmony with; gibe
|
|
|
|
fatalism
|
belief that events are determined by forces or fates beyond one's control; ADJ. fatalistic; CF. fatal: causing death
|
|
|
|
peroration
|
conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length
|
|
|
|
explicate
|
explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable
|
|
|
|
opulence
|
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant
|
|
|
|
commiserate
|
feel or express pity or sympathy for
|
|
|
|
denotation
|
meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
|
|
|
|
scowl
|
frown angrily; N: angry frown
|
|
|
|
seclusion
|
isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate
|
|
|
|
sprout
|
begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new growth on a plant; shoot
|
|
|
|
insurmountable
|
overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable
|
|
|
|
waif
|
homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
|
|
|
|
irresolute
|
uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in resolution; indecisive; N. irresolution
|
|
|
|
furtive
|
stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive glance
|
|
|
|
yield
|
amount produced; crop; income on investment; profit obtained from an investment; V: produce; give in; surrender
|
|
|
|
precinct
|
division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college
|
|
|
|
flora
|
plants of a region or era
|
|
|
|
garnish
|
decorate; add a garnish to; decorate (food or drink) with small items such as lemon slices; N.
|
|
|
|
congenital
|
existing at birth
|
|
|
|
uniformity
|
sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same all over
|
|
|
|
dereliction
|
neglect of duty; abandonment
|
|
|
|
whinny
|
neigh like a horse; CF. neigh: make the sound which horses make
|
|
|
|
junket
|
trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense
|
|
|
|
inverse
|
opposite
|
|
|
|
thrive
|
prosper; flourish
|
|
|
|
floe
|
flat mass of floating ice
|
|
|
|
enunciate
|
announce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory was first enunciated by him.
|
|
|
|
therapeutic
|
curative; N. therapy
|
|
|
|
nocturnal
|
done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne
|
|
|
|
luscious
|
pleasing to taste or smell; delicious
|
|
|
|
hew
|
cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.
|
|
|
|
repulse
|
reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion
|
|
|
|
deranged
|
insane
|
|
|
|
anachronism
|
an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
|
|
|
|
debar
|
bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services
|
|
|
|
trickster
|
person who cheats people
|
|
|
|
maleficient
|
doing evil; N. maleficience
|
|
|
|
tenant
|
one that pays rent to use property owned by another
|
|
|
|
integrity
|
honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being whole and undivided; completeness
|
|
|
|
doctrinaire
|
unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
|
|
|
|
hermitage
|
home of a hermit
|
|
|
|
gush
|
(of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole; make an excessive display of feeling (without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from the wound.
|
|
|
|
leeway
|
room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline
|
|
|
|
subpoena
|
writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena
|
|
|
|
compilation
|
listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling
|
|
|
|
indubitable
|
unable to be doubted; which cannot be doubted; unquestionable
|
|
|
|
stoke
|
stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
|
|
|
|
predispose
|
give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition
|
|
|
|
ludicrous
|
laughable; ridiculous; trifling
|
|
|
|
impassable
|
not able to be traveled or crossed
|
|
|
|
combustible
|
easily burned; N. CF. combustion
|
|
|
|
court
|
attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite; attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster
|
|
|
|
tyranny
|
oppression; cruel government; ADJ. tyrannical: of a tyrant or tyranny; despotic; V. tyrannize: treat tyrannically; oppress
|
|
|
|
quiver
|
case for arrows
|
|
|
|
consanguinity
|
kinship; relationship by birth
|
|
|
|
potable
|
suitable for drinking; drinkable
|
|
|
|
crone
|
hag; ugly old woman
|
|
|
|
gargantuan
|
huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel
|
|
|
|
seasoned
|
experienced
|
|
|
|
scuttle
|
sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull
|
|
|
|
peregrination
|
journey; V. peregrinate
|
|
|
|
caption
|
title; chapter heading; text under illustration
|
|
|
|
outstrip
|
outrun; surpass; outdo
|
|
|
|
stalwart
|
physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower
|
|
|
|
engaging
|
charming; attractive
|
|
|
|
iconoclastic
|
attacking cherished traditions; N. iconoclast: one who attacks traditional ideas; one who destroys sacred images
|
|
|
|
parched
|
extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)
|
|
|
|
discernible
|
distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
|
|
|
|
decorous
|
proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
|
|
|
|
quail
|
cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart
|
|
|
|
brazen
|
insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence
|
|
|
|
comprehend
|
|
|
|
|
opalescent
|
iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence
|
|
|
|
dilute
|
make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president
|
|
|
|
spawn
|
lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals
|
|
|
|
mentor
|
counselor; teacher
|
|
|
|
leash
|
restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
|
|
|
|
drab
|
dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
|
|
|
|
matrix
|
point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization
|
|
|
|
fervid
|
ardent; zealous; hot
|
|
|
|
pestilential(pestilent)
|
causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)
|
|
|
|
feign
|
pretend
|
|
|
|
podium
|
pedestal; raised platform
|
|
|
|
horoscope
|
diagram of the positions of stars at a given moment (eg. of a person's birth) used by astrologers
|
|
|
|
scion
|
detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant
|
|
|
|
vision
|
eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural
|
|
|
|
restive
|
impatiently restless (induced by external coercion or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; CF. not a general synonym for `restless'
|
|
|
|
bolt
|
door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a
|
|
|
|
screech
|
unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.
|
|
|
|
conveyance
|
vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance
|
|
|
|
ecclesiastic
|
ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman
|
|
|
|
tepid
|
lukewarm; slightly warm; ¹ÌÁö±ÙÇÑ; half-hearted; not eager; Ex. tepid reaction to the new film; Ex. tepid supporter
|
|
|
|
enthrall
|
capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of (as if magic); hold spellbound
|
|
|
|
fathomless
|
too deep to be measured or understood; unfathomable
|
|
|
|
vivacious
|
lively or animated; sprightly
|
|
|
|
disperse
|
scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
|
|
|
|
penchant
|
strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars
|
|
|
|
brindled
|
tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
|
|
|
|
compensatory
|
making up for; repaying
|
|
|
|
emissary
|
agent (sent on a mission to represent another); messenger
|
|
|
|
ensue
|
follow (as a result)
|
|
|
|
outwit
|
outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly
|
|
|
|
brisk
|
quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
|
|
|
|
gild
|
cover with a thin layer of gold
|
|
|
|
assiduous
|
diligent
|
|
|
|
regatta
|
boat or yacht race
|
|
|
|
remonstrate
|
protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest
|
|
|
|
rent
|
tear made by rending; rip; split
|
|
|
|
dissension
|
disagreement of opinions causing strife within a group
|
|
|
|
velocity
|
speed
|
|
|
|
scaffold
|
temporary platform for workers (to work at heights above the ground); bracing framework; platform for execution
|
|
|
|
beleaguer
|
besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
|
|
|
|
browbeat
|
bully; intimidate
|
|
|
|
marshal
|
put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official
|
|
|
|
vulpine
|
like a fox; crafty
|
|
|
|
shirk
|
avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger
|
|
|
|
fermentation
|
chemical reaction that splits complex organic compounds; unrest; agitation
|
|
|
|
deride
|
ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
|
|
|
|
plume
|
|
|
|
|
penumbra
|
partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow
|
|
|
|
provender
|
dry food for livestock; fodder
|
|
|
|
emulate
|
imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)
|
|
|
|
tawdry
|
cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry
|
|
|
|
simper
|
smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
|
|
|
|
omnipotent
|
all-powerful; having unlimited power
|
|
|
|
repose
|
resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single man
|
|
|
|
surly
|
bad-tempered; rude; cross
|
|
|
|
perigee
|
point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee
|
|
|
|
elated
|
filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation
|
|
|
|
sect
|
separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group
|
|
|
|
stolid
|
dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
|
|
|
|
desolate
|
(of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless
|
|
|
|
morgue
|
mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation
|
|
|
|
burnish
|
make shiny by rubbing; polish
|
|
|
|
wisp
|
small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)
|
|
|
|
belated
|
delayed
|
|
|
|
perpetual
|
everlasting
|
|
|
|
calumny
|
malicious misrepresentation; slander
|
|
|
|
obtrude
|
push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; impose (oneself or one's ideas) on others; butt in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B; ADJ. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; CF. unobtrusive
|
|
|
|
compact
|
agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement
|
|
|
|
meretricious
|
flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute
|
|
|
|
polygamist
|
one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
|
|
|
|
painstaking
|
taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through
|
|
|
|
sinewy
|
(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
|
|
|
|
stump
|
base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle
|
|
|
|
bitter
|
|
|
|
|
promontory
|
headland
|
|
|
|
cull
|
pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.
|
|
|
|
induce
|
persuade; lead to do something; bring about; N. inducement
|
|
|
|
petty
|
trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded
|
|
|
|
edify
|
instruct; correct morally
|
|
|
|
teetotalism
|
practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks; N. teetotaler;; ADJ. teetotal; CF. T + total
|
|
|
|
extrude
|
force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die
|
|
|
|
potpourri
|
heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)
|
|
|
|
militant
|
combative; bellicose; N.
|
|
|
|
sporadic
|
occurring irregularly; intermittent
|
|
|
|
chronic
|
long established as a disease
|
|
|
|
crescendo
|
increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
|
|
|
|
adjourn
|
|
|
|
|
gingerly
|
very carefully; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
meter
|
arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual rhythm)
|
|
|
|
pedestrian
|
ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot; Ex. pedestrian prose; N.
|
|
|
|
irretrievable
|
impossible to recover or regain; CF. retrieve
|
|
|
|
disputatious
|
argumentative; fond of argument
|
|
|
|
woe
|
great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering; Ex. financial woes
|
|
|
|
incubus
|
burden; very worriying problem; mental care; nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus
|
|
|
|
facetious
|
joking (often inappropriately); unserious; humorous
|
|
|
|
cryptic
|
mysterious; hidden; secret
|
|
|
|
totter
|
shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall
|
|
|
|
drama
|
prose or verse composition to be performed by actors; play; exciting and unusual situation
|
|
|
|
obsequious
|
slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic
|
|
|
|
mortify
|
humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die
|
|
|
|
anthology
|
book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
|
|
|
|
intrigue
|
make secret plans; plot; arouse the curiosity of; N: secret scheme; plot; secret love affair
|
|
|
|
nourish
|
provide with food necessary for life and growth
|
|
|
|
whine
|
complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as in pain or supplication)
|
|
|
|
cloister
|
monastery or convent
|
|
|
|
invidious
|
designed to create ill will or envy; tending to rouse ill will or envy; Ex. invidious comparison
|
|
|
|
turpitude
|
depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude
|
|
|
|
smolder
|
smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger
|
|
|
|
emasculate
|
weaken; castrate
|
|
|
|
revelry
|
boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration
|
|
|
|
kismet
|
fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.
|
|
|
|
impeach
|
charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a witness's credibility
|
|
|
|
conjure
|
cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.
|
|
|
|
uncouth
|
boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish
|
|
|
|
forswear
|
renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure
|
|
|
|
canker
|
any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
|
|
|
|
sluggard
|
lazy person
|
|
|
|
inarticulate
|
speechless; producing indistinct speech; not articulate; not expressing oneself clearly
|
|
|
|
clown
|
act stupidly; play the fool; N.
|
|
|
|
dross
|
waste matter; worthless impurities
|
|
|
|
intangible
|
not able to be perceived by touch; vague
|
|
|
|
fraudulent
|
cheating; deceitful; Ex. fraudulent means; N. fraud: deception; swindle
|
|
|
|
scintilla
|
trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark
|
|
|
|
contingent
|
dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency
|
|
|
|
linguistic
|
pertaining to language
|
|
|
|
exchequer
|
treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer
|
|
|
|
chip
|
lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp
|
|
|
|
variegate
|
change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)
|
|
|
|
nepotism
|
favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
|
|
|
|
finale
|
conclusion; concluding part
|
|
|
|
countenance
|
approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance
|
|
|
|
ascetic
|
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
|
|
|
|
tenancy
|
possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant's occupancy
|
|
|
|
vain
|
full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity
|
|
|
|
evenhanded
|
impartial; fair
|
|
|
|
cynosure
|
object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
|
|
|
|
rummage
|
ransack; thoroughly search
|
|
|
|
jocund
|
merry
|
|
|
|
uproarious
|
marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy (esp. with laughter); hilarious; causing loud laughter; extremely funny
|
|
|
|
metropolis
|
large city
|
|
|
|
repertoire
|
list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; CF. repertory
|
|
|
|
pluck
|
courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave
|
|
|
|
ensconce
|
settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)
|
|
|
|
auroral
|
pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
|
|
|
|
vitriolic
|
causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression; CF. glass
|
|
|
|
draft
|
first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript
|
|
|
|
peremptory
|
demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock
|
|
|
|
bate
|
let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate
|
|
|
|
disfigure
|
mar the appearance of; spoil
|
|
|
|
mode
|
prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life
|
|
|
|
resolve
|
determination; resolution; firmness of purpose
|
|
|
|
faze
|
disconcert; dismay; embarrass
|
|
|
|
tryst
|
meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet
|
|
|
|
munificent
|
very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience
|
|
|
|
viper
|
poisonous snake
|
|
|
|
compile
|
assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary
|
|
|
|
aptitude
|
fitness; talent
|
|
|
|
paean
|
song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory
|
|
|
|
spectrum
|
colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts
|
|
|
|
automaton
|
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
|
|
|
|
vent
|
release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly); utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on his family.
|
|
|
|
gambit
|
opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action made to produce a future advantage
|
|
|
|
mute
|
silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V: soften the sound, color, shade of
|
|
|
|
mortar
|
vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle
|
|
|
|
formidable
|
menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question
|
|
|
|
censor
|
(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.
|
|
|
|
recipient
|
receiver
|
|
|
|
gloat
|
express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels.
|
|
|
|
delineate
|
portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
|
|
|
|
advocate
|
speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
|
|
|
|
fancier
|
breeder or dealer of animals; one who has a special interest, as for raising specific plant or animal
|
|
|
|
rejoinder
|
reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
|
|
|
|
equivocal
|
(of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally misleading; (of behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal
|
|
|
|
context
|
writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs
|
|
|
|
ominous
|
threatening; of an evil omen
|
|
|
|
purchase
|
secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
|
|
|
|
slur
|
pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble
|
|
|
|
impartial
|
not biased; fair; N. impartiality
|
|
|
|
peccadillo
|
slight offense or fault; CF. sin
|
|
|
|
abridge
|
condense or shorten
|
|
|
|
incubate
|
hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for development; be holding in one's body an infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:disease
|
|
|
|
debonair
|
(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
|
|
|
|
lope
|
gallop slowly
|
|
|
|
quarry
|
dig into (to get stone); N: mine; ä¼®Àå
|
|
|
|
genuflect
|
bend the knee as in worship
|
|
|
|
ploy
|
strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management ploy
|
|
|
|
facsimile
|
copy
|
|
|
|
reputed
|
supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute: consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem
|
|
|
|
gory
|
bloody; N. gore: blood (from a wound)
|
|
|
|
accoutre
|
equip; N. accoutrement
|
|
|
|
drone
|
idle person who lives on other people's work; male bee
|
|
|
|
azure
|
sky blue
|
|
|
|
repercussion
|
rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion
|
|
|
|
intoxicate
|
make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated by all the money he might win
|
|
|
|
attribute
|
essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
|
|
|
|
recalcitrant
|
disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
|
|
|
|
nebulous
|
vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal
|
|
|
|
remiss
|
negligent; careless about a duty
|
|
|
|
lunatic
|
insane; Ex. lunatic asylum
|
|
|
|
tinge
|
give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N: slight degree of a color or quality; Ex. tinged with grey/jealousy
|
|
|
|
rubric
|
title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol
|
|
|
|
taut
|
tight; strained; tense; ready; OP. slack
|
|
|
|
plummet
|
fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.
|
|
|
|
kindle
|
start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse
|
|
|
|
volition
|
act of using one's will; act of making a conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition.
|
|
|
|
capricious
|
unpredictable; fickle
|
|
|
|
delve
|
dig; search deeply; investigate
|
|
|
|
harbor
|
give protection (by giving food and shelter); provide a refuge for; hide; keep in mind (thoughts or feelings); Ex. harbor a grudge/criminal; N: place of shelter; refuge
|
|
|
|
abstruse
|
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
|
|
|
|
illusory
|
illusive; deceptive; not real
|
|
|
|
rapport
|
close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony
|
|
|
|
antecedents
|
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
|
|
|
|
vie
|
contend; compete
|
|
|
|
murky
|
dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom
|
|
|
|
whim
|
sudden capricious idea; fancy
|
|
|
|
accessory
|
additional object; useful but not essential thing
|
|
|
|
indifferent
|
unmoved or unconcerned by; having no interest in; mediocre; neither good nor bad
|
|
|
|
slavish
|
of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original
|
|
|
|
foresight
|
ability to foresee future happenings; prudence in providing for the future
|
|
|
|
collation
|
a light meal; collating
|
|
|
|
venerable
|
deserving high respect; commanding respect; CF. command: deserve and get
|
|
|
|
balm
|
something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
|
|
|
|
spoonerism
|
accidental transposition of sounds in successive words; Ex. ``Let me sew you to your sheet'' for ``Let me show you to your seat''; CF. William Spooner
|
|
|
|
toll
|
sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals; N: sound of a bell; fixed tax or charge
|
|
|
|
pathological
|
pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease
|
|
|
|
forbearance
|
patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from (in a generous and forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear to send him to prison
|
|
|
|
impede
|
hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block
|
|
|
|
quench
|
assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish; put out; suppress
|
|
|
|
optimum
|
most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition
|
|
|
|
tumult
|
commotion of a great crowd; riot; noise; uproar; ADJ. tumultuous: noisy and disorderly
|
|
|
|
bristle
|
short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
|
|
|
|
extricate
|
free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle
|
|
|
|
coin
|
make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented
|
|
|
|
brusque
|
blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice
|
|
|
|
outlandish
|
bizzare; peculiar; unconventional
|
|
|
|
wizened
|
shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady
|
|
|
|
incessant
|
uninterrupted; unceasing
|
|
|
|
noncommittal
|
neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided
|
|
|
|
distill
|
refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew
|
|
|
|
refraction
|
bending of a ray of light
|
|
|
|
qualified
|
limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify
|
|
|
|
awe
|
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
|
|
|
|
waft
|
move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window
|
|
|
|
degradation
|
humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
|
|
|
|
consistency
|
absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous
|
|
|
|
bid
|
command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom
|
|
|
|
debase
|
degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
|
|
|
|
mausoleum
|
monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos
|
|
|
|
preclude
|
make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
|
|
|
|
impending
|
nearing; approaching; about to happen
|
|
|
|
abdicate
|
renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
|
|
|
|
motley
|
multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)
|
|
|
|
profusion
|
great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
|
|
|
|
bedizen
|
dress with vulgar finery
|
|
|
|
witless
|
lacking intelligence or wit; foolish; idiotic
|
|
|
|
query
|
inquiry; question; V.
|
|
|
|
bemoan
|
lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of
|
|
|
|
affable
|
easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
|
|
|
|
shudder
|
shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
|
|
|
|
relevant
|
having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
|
|
|
|
ramify
|
branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions
|
|
|
|
monolithic
|
solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone
|
|
|
|
boorish
|
rude; insensitive
|
|
|
|
precipitate
|
hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden
|
|
|
|
bask
|
luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
|
|
|
|
trident
|
three-pronged spear
|
|
|
|
smirk
|
conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone else's misfortune); V.
|
|
|
|
monotheism
|
belief in one God
|
|
|
|
interjection
|
exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch''
|
|
|
|
succor
|
assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
|
|
|
|
merit
|
deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
|
|
|
|
chicanery
|
trickery; deception
|
|
|
|
oblivious
|
inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful(having the habit of forgetting)
|
|
|
|
unison
|
unity of pitch (in musical performance); complete accord; Ex. The choir sang in unison.
|
|
|
|
nurture
|
nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing
|
|
|
|
genesis
|
beginning; origin
|
|
|
|
fictitious
|
imaginary; non-existent; purposely invented to deceive; untrue; Ex. fictitious name/boyfriend; CF. fictional
|
|
|
|
manifest
|
evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly
|
|
|
|
pragmatist
|
practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way of dealing with things
|
|
|
|
requiem
|
mass for the dead; dirge
|
|
|
|
annals
|
records arranged in yearly parts; history
|
|
|
|
snuffle
|
sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)
|
|
|
|
laity
|
laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy
|
|
|
|
filibuster
|
block legislation or prevent action in a lawmaking body by making very slow long speeches; N; freebooter
|
|
|
|
comprise
|
include; consist of
|
|
|
|
tenuous
|
thin; slim; rare
|
|
|
|
clandestine
|
secret
|
|
|
|
tightwad
|
miser; excessively frugal person
|
|
|
|
knave
|
untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery
|
|
|
|
debutante
|
young woman making formal entrance into society
|
|
|
|
escapade
|
prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that disobeys rules
|
|
|
|
archipelago
|
group of closely located islands
|
|
|
|
incommodious
|
not spacious; inconvenient
|
|
|
|
tiller
|
handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer)
|
|
|
|
transient
|
staying for a short time; momentary; temporary; N: one that is transient
|
|
|
|
concatenate
|
link as in a chain
|
|
|
|
missile
|
object to be thrown or projected
|
|
|
|
genteel
|
well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance of refinement; Ex. genteel poverty
|
|
|
|
pedantic
|
bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry
|
|
|
|
pending
|
not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the decision pending his return
|
|
|
|
blotch
|
spot; blot; CF. blot+botch
|
|
|
|
distort
|
twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion
|
|
|
|
carapace
|
shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)
|
|
|
|
append
|
attach
|
|
|
|
grievance
|
cause of complaint; complaint
|
|
|
|
start
|
move suddenly or involuntarily; Ex. start at the sight of a snake
|
|
|
|
voracious
|
ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader
|
|
|
|
proponent
|
supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
|
|
|
|
conglomeration
|
mass of material sticking together
|
|
|
|
proximity
|
nearness; ADJ. proximate
|
|
|
|
verge
|
border; edge, rim, or margin; Ex. on the verge of: very near to; V: border on
|
|
|
|
exquisite
|
delicate; very finely made; extremely beautiful; Ex. exquisite piece of jewelry
|
|
|
|
purge
|
remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or defilement); N.
|
|
|
|
yokel
|
rustic; country bumpkin; Ã̳ð
|
|
|
|
humid
|
damp; N. humidity
|
|
|
|
hackles
|
hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone's hackles rise
|
|
|
|
courier
|
messenger
|
|
|
|
regicide
|
murder of a king or queen
|
|
|
|
gouge
|
overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex. gouge the public; CF. usury
|
|
|
|
embody
|
give a bodily form to; incorporate; include
|
|
|
|
brochure
|
pamphlet
|
|
|
|
badinage
|
teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
|
|
|
|
grouse
|
complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump chickenlike game bird
|
|
|
|
trepidation
|
fear; nervous apprehension
|
|
|
|
trenchant
|
cutting; incisive; keen
|
|
|
|
ordinance
|
decree; authoritative order
|
|
|
|
oversee
|
watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight: unintentional failure to notice or do something; supervision
|
|
|
|
miniature
|
small model; small painting; ADJ: small
|
|
|
|
vivid
|
(of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking lifelike mental images; Ex. vivid red hair/description
|
|
|
|
snicker
|
half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
|
|
|
|
hibernate
|
sleep throughout the winter; N. hibernation
|
|
|
|
wrongheaded
|
stubbornly wrong
|
|
|
|
rend
|
split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow
|
|
|
|
enervate
|
weaken; take away energy from
|
|
|
|
convulsion
|
violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive
|
|
|
|
gloss_over
|
explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults
|
|
|
|
proviso
|
stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision
|
|
|
|
definitive
|
most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
|
|
|
|
perimeter
|
outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference
|
|
|
|
angular
|
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
|
|
|
|
ambush
|
act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.
|
|
|
|
shyster
|
lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner
|
|
|
|
denizen
|
(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
|
|
|
|
preponderance
|
superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V. preponderate: be greater in power, weight, or importance; ADJ. preponderant
|
|
|
|
laggard
|
slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler
|
|
|
|
dint
|
means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
|
|
|
|
pedigree
|
line of ancestors; ancestry; lineage; ADJ. (of an animal) descended from of a chosen family; Ex. pedigree dog; CF. crane's foot
|
|
|
|
impunity
|
freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish
|
|
|
|
levy
|
impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect (a tax); Ex. levy a tax on tobacco
|
|
|
|
compatible
|
harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together
|
|
|
|
efficacy
|
power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual
|
|
|
|
collected
|
composed; calm; self-possessed
|
|
|
|
dupe
|
someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
|
|
|
|
mettle
|
courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome
|
|
|
|
salutary
|
tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health
|
|
|
|
remnant
|
remainder
|
|
|
|
burlesque
|
give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly
|
|
|
|
aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)
|
nest of a large bird of prey
|
|
|
|
enormity
|
hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous
|
|
|
|
salubrious
|
healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health
|
|
|
|
vitreous
|
of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify
|
|
|
|
premonitory
|
serving to warn
|
|
|
|
elevation
|
elevated position; altitude; height; flat upright side of a building; angle made by pointing a gun; Ex. The elevation of her style is much admired; Ex. front elevation of the house
|
|
|
|
gorge
|
narrow canyon; steep rocky cleft; ravine (made by a stream which runs through it)
|
|
|
|
contempt
|
scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible
|
|
|
|
cache
|
hiding place; V.
|
|
|
|
sophistry
|
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism
|
|
|
|
penitent
|
repentant; N.
|
|
|
|
vignette
|
small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene
|
|
|
|
extol
|
praise very highly; glorify
|
|
|
|
slew
|
large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left
|
|
|
|
expenditure
|
payment or expense; expending; something expended; output; Ex. receipt for the expenditure; Ex. expenditure of all the energy
|
|
|
|
piety
|
devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious
|
|
|
|
delude
|
deceive
|
|
|
|
poultice
|
soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
|
|
|
|
cynical
|
skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness
|
|
|
|
inebriated
|
habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety
|
|
|
|
psyche
|
soul; mind
|
|
|
|
eschew
|
avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks
|
|
|
|
irrepressible
|
unable to be restrained or held back; impossible to hold back
|
|
|
|
exorbitant
|
(of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable bounds
|
|
|
|
innate
|
inborn
|
|
|
|
receptive
|
quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal
|
|
|
|
assuage
|
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
|
|
|
|
inasmuch_as
|
since; owing to the fact that
|
|
|
|
expos\'e
|
public revelation of something discreditable
|
|
|
|
pr\'ecis
|
abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text
|
|
|
|
abominate
|
loathe; hate
|
|
|
|
underhand(underhanded)
|
done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)
|
|
|
|
atavism
|
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
|
|
|
|
seminary
|
school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women
|
|
|
|
personable
|
attractive (in personality or appearance)
|
|
|
|
muggy
|
(of weather) warm and damp
|
|
|
|
stink
|
stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
|
|
|
|
duress
|
forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
|
|
|
|
peevish
|
bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry
|
|
|
|
swerve
|
deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course; Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the right.
|
|
|
|
indentation
|
notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth
|
|
|
|
quandary
|
dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a quandary about whether to go.
|
|
|
|
coiffure
|
hairstyle
|
|
|
|
demure
|
(of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
|
|
|
|
sanguine
|
optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red
|
|
|
|
bombardment
|
attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard
|
|
|
|
flaccid
|
flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles
|
|
|
|
unearthly
|
not earthly; supernatural; weird; ghostly
|
|
|
|
fiasco
|
total failure; CF. bottle
|
|
|
|
threat
|
sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of rain; V: express a threat; give warning of (something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain.
|
|
|
|
deplore
|
regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition
|
|
|
|
retribution
|
deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for offenses; compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back
|
|
|
|
titillate
|
tickle; excite pleasantly; Ex. not to titillate the audience but to enlighten it
|
|
|
|
manifestation
|
outward demonstration; manifesting; indication of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation of his pronounced musical bent
|
|
|
|
irrefutable
|
indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable
|
|
|
|
clangor
|
loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
|
|
|
|
random
|
without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random
|
|
|
|
reverend
|
deserving reverence; N: priest
|
|
|
|
engaged
|
employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict
|
|
|
|
repartee
|
quick clever reply
|
|
|
|
enfranchise
|
admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise
|
|
|
|
suppliant
|
entreating; beseeching; N.
|
|
|
|
rampant
|
growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed
|
|
|
|
compute
|
reckon; calculate
|
|
|
|
fusillade
|
simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)
|
|
|
|
defiance
|
refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
|
|
|
|
disabuse
|
correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
|
|
|
|
wrath
|
anger; fury
|
|
|
|
transcendental
|
going beyond common thought or ideas; impossible to understand by practical experiences or practices; known only by studying thoughts or intuition; OP. empirical; CF. transcendentalism
|
|
|
|
multifarious
|
varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities
|
|
|
|
resourceful
|
clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource, resourcefulness
|
|
|
|
omniscient
|
all-knowing
|
|
|
|
callous
|
hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
|
|
|
|
seduce
|
lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive
|
|
|
|
retroactive
|
taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax); (of a law) having effect on the past as well as the future
|
|
|
|
chancellor
|
legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor
|
|
|
|
blatant
|
extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
|
|
|
|
buxom
|
full-bosomed; plump; jolly
|
|
|
|
servile
|
slavish; cringing; N. servility
|
|
|
|
centurion
|
Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)
|
|
|
|
linger
|
loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going; continue or persist; be slow to disappear; Ex. The smell lingered for days.
|
|
|
|
coda
|
concluding section of a musical or literary composition
|
|
|
|
bolster
|
support; reinforce
|
|
|
|
premise
|
assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based
|
|
|
|
striated
|
marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
|
|
|
|
rejuvenate
|
make young again
|
|
|
|
apiculture
|
bee-keeping
|
|
|
|
promiscuous
|
mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity
|
|
|
|
warranted
|
justified; authorized
|
|
|
|
evasive
|
not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading; V. evade: avoid (a duty or responsibility) or escape from by deceit
|
|
|
|
nib
|
beak(bill); pen point
|
|
|
|
tanner
|
person who turns animal hides into leather
|
|
|
|
clairvoyant
|
having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
|
|
|
|
redundant
|
superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively wordy; repetitious
|
|
|
|
dubious
|
questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
|
|
|
|
elicit
|
draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone)
|
|
|
|
authenticate
|
prove genuine
|
|
|
|
arbitrary
|
unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
|
|
|
|
unwonted
|
unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted punctuality.
|
|
|
|
ulterior
|
intentionally hidden; beyond what is evident; situated beyond; unstated and often questionable; Ex. ulterior motive
|
|
|
|
marital
|
pertaining to marriage
|
|
|
|
choice
|
delicate; of very fine quality
|
|
|
|
caldron(cauldron)
|
large kettle
|
|
|
|
entrepreneur
|
businessperson (who assumes the risk of a business venture); contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial
|
|
|
|
tranquillity
|
calmness; peace
|
|
|
|
impermeable
|
impervious; not permitting passage through its substance; impossible to permeate
|
|
|
|
sly
|
clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's intentions
|
|
|
|
strident
|
loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
|
|
|
|
catastrophe
|
calamity ; disaster
|
|
|
|
wanton
|
unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause
|
|
|
|
arbitrate
|
act as judge (at the request of both sides)
|
|
|
|
maculated
|
spotted; stained; CF. immaculate
|
|
|
|
gleam
|
brief flash of light; glow; V.
|
|
|
|
pudding
|
hot sweet dish
|
|
|
|
ascribe
|
refer; attribute; assign
|
|
|
|
antiquity
|
|
|
|
|
implacable
|
incapable of being pacified; impossible to appease; Ex. implacable enemy
|
|
|
|
ingenious
|
marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N. ingenuity
|
|
|
|
outgoing
|
sociable; eager to mix socially with others
|
|
|
|
glossy
|
smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on a surface; superficially attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners
|
|
|
|
vulnerable
|
susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability
|
|
|
|
puerile
|
childish; immature; CF. puer: boy
|
|
|
|
pliant
|
flexible; easily influenced
|
|
|
|
machinations
|
evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate
|
|
|
|
colossal
|
huge
|
|
|
|
insensate
|
without feeling; lacking sense; foolish
|
|
|
|
lumber
|
move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered through the woods; N: timber
|
|
|
|
ostentatious
|
showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display
|
|
|
|
guise
|
outward appearance; costume; Ex. in a new guise
|
|
|
|
whiff
|
puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); short-lasting smell; hint; Ex. whiff of perfume/scandal
|
|
|
|
appease
|
pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
|
|
|
|
hieroglyphic
|
picture writing; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
frigid
|
intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone
|
|
|
|
manacle
|
restrain; handcuff; N.
|
|
|
|
austere
|
forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
|
|
|
|
analogy
|
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
|
|
|
|
energize
|
invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active
|
|
|
|
submissive
|
willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
|
|
|
|
antidote
|
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
|
|
|
|
lookout
|
act of keeping watch; high place commanding a wide view; person who keeps watch
|
|
|
|
prevalent
|
widespread; generally accepted
|
|
|
|
colander
|
utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
|
|
|
|
projectile
|
missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
|
|
|
|
pantomime
|
acting without dialogue; V.
|
|
|
|
welter
|
wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in blood); Ex. The victims weltered in their blood.
|
|
|
|
slovenly
|
untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless
|
|
|
|
matriarch
|
woman who rules a family or larger social group
|
|
|
|
abusive
|
coarsely insulting; physically harmful
|
|
|
|
titanic
|
gigantic; N. titan
|
|
|
|
entice
|
lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract; tempt
|
|
|
|
hypocritical
|
pretending to be virtuous; deceiving; N. hypocrisy: profession of beliefs one does not possess; CF. hypocrite
|
|
|
|
paramour
|
illicit lover
|
|
|
|
reprieve
|
postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of
|
|
|
|
filigree
|
delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork
|
|
|
|
deterrent
|
something that discourages or deters
|
|
|
|
backslide
|
revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
|
|
|
|
metamorphosis
|
change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis
|
|
|
|
caricature
|
distortion; burlesque
|
|
|
|
appurtenances
|
subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
|
|
|
|
animadversion
|
critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
|
|
|
|
coercion
|
use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce
|
|
|
|
quell
|
suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet; Ex. ``Army Quells Rebellion'' in newspaper; CF. kill
|
|
|
|
terminology
|
terms used in a science or art; study of nomenclature
|
|
|
|
hover
|
hang about; (of birds or aircraft) stay in the air in one place; (of people) wait nearby; stay around one place; waver; be in an uncertain state
|
|
|
|
studious
|
given to diligent study
|
|
|
|
antler
|
|
|
|
|
palpable
|
tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious; Ex. palpable blunder
|
|
|
|
palatable
|
agreeable; pleasing to the taste
|
|
|
|
cremate
|
incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium
|
|
|
|
tablet
|
small round piece of medicine; flat piece of stone or metal bearing an inscription; Ex. stone tablet on the wall
|
|
|
|
grunt
|
utter a deep guttural sound (as a pig does); N.
|
|
|
|
supine
|
lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision
|
|
|
|
engulf
|
surround and swallow up
|
|
|
|
annotate
|
comment; make explanatory notes
|
|
|
|
personify
|
represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification
|
|
|
|
muster
|
gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.
|
|
|
|
cohabit
|
live together
|
|
|
|
coddle
|
treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs
|
|
|
|
acclimate
|
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
|
|
|
|
susceptible
|
impressionable; easily influenced; sensitive; having little resistance as to a disease; likely to suffer; receptive to; capable of accepting; Ex. susceptible to persuasion/colds; Ex. The agreement is not susceptible of alteration; N. susceptibility
|
|
|
|
crinkle
|
wrinkle
|
|
|
|
titular
|
of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular head of the company
|
|
|
|
rebus
|
representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. ``R U 18'' is a rebus for ``Are you 18''.
|
|
|
|
rip
|
tear or be torn quickly and violently; Ex. The sail ripped under the force of the wind; N.
|
|
|
|
brim
|
uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat); Ex. The glass was full to the brim; V: be full to the brim
|
|
|
|
aesthetic
|
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
|
|
|
|
schism
|
division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split
|
|
|
|
outfit
|
clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy outfit
|
|
|
|
bookish
|
fond of books and reading
|
|
|
|
cuisine
|
style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
|
|
|
|
moribund
|
dying; at the point of death; CF. death
|
|
|
|
upbraid
|
reprimand; severely scold
|
|
|
|
parody
|
humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.
|
|
|
|
jovial
|
good-natured; merry; cheerful
|
|
|
|
encumber
|
burden; N. encumbrance
|
|
|
|
giddy
|
light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy; causing dizziness; Ex. giddy youth; Ex. giddy climb/height
|
|
|
|
implausible
|
unlikely (to be true); unbelievable; Ex. implausible alibi
|
|
|
|
drudge
|
do drudgery; N: person who drudges
|
|
|
|
suitor
|
man who is courting a woman
|
|
|
|
far-fetched
|
too improbable to be believed; implausible; Ex. far-fetched story
|
|
|
|
intimidate
|
frighten; N. intimidation
|
|
|
|
ventral
|
abdominal
|
|
|
|
utopia
|
ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian
|
|
|
|
hazardous
|
dangerous
|
|
|
|
drastic
|
strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures
|
|
|
|
impinge
|
infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with; Ex. The effects are impinging on every aspect of our lives.
|
|
|
|
misgivings
|
doubts
|
|
|
|
siren
|
apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
|
|
|
|
piecemeal
|
one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal
|
|
|
|
regimen
|
prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer
|
|
|
|
temporal
|
of time; not lasting forever; limited by time; temporary; secular; worldly
|
|
|
|
relegate
|
put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture to the children's room; Ex. relegated to the second division
|
|
|
|
beatific
|
giving or showing bliss; blissful
|
|
|
|
arraign
|
charge in court; indict
|
|
|
|
antagonism
|
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
|
|
|
|
inchoate
|
(of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not explicit; at the beginning of development; rudimentary; elementary; Ex. inchoate mass
|
|
|
|
bridle
|
harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger
|
|
|
|
significant
|
expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant
|
|
|
|
aloof
|
apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
|
|
|
|
stratum
|
layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata
|
|
|
|
lounge
|
stand, sit, or lie in a lazy, relaxed way
|
|
|
|
lineage
|
descent; ancestry
|
|
|
|
pendant(pendent)
|
hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
|
|
|
|
modish
|
fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
|
|
|
|
circumvent
|
outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around
|
|
|
|
livid
|
lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely angry
|
|
|
|
leery
|
(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious
|
|
|
|
veracious
|
(of a person) truthful
|
|
|
|
vigil
|
keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); Ex. all-night vigil
|
|
|
|
parlance
|
language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance
|
|
|
|
litany
|
supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words
|
|
|
|
offensive
|
attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend: violate; hurt the feelings of; N. offense: offending; violating of a moral or social code; crime; attack; Ex. first offense
|
|
|
|
stench
|
strong foul odor; reek; stink
|
|
|
|
incapacitate
|
disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity
|
|
|
|
tramp
|
walk with a heavy step; travel on foot; N: vagrant; one who travels aimlessly about; long walk; sound of heavy walking
|
|
|
|
functionary
|
official (who performs a particular function)
|
|
|
|
rapacious
|
voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds
|
|
|
|
simulate
|
feign; imitate
|
|
|
|
depose
|
dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
|
|
|
|
conduit
|
aqueduct; passageway for fluids
|
|
|
|
flighty
|
(esp. of a woman's behavior) capricious; often changing, esp. from one lover to another; impulsive
|
|
|
|
referendum
|
direct vote by all the people
|
|
|
|
worldly
|
engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual; of the material world
|
|
|
|
contrived
|
unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.
|
|
|
|
ethos
|
underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos
|
|
|
|
disjointed
|
disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin
|
|
|
|
hallowed
|
blessed; consecrated; Ex. hallowed ground; V. hallow: set apart as holy
|
|
|
|
ecologist
|
person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology
|
|
|
|
disclose
|
reveal; N. disclosure
|
|
|
|
weary
|
tired after long work; V.
|
|
|
|
encroachment
|
gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another's possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon
|
|
|
|
spoof
|
parody
|
|
|
|
noxious
|
harmful; CF. obnoxious
|
|
|
|
puzzle
|
baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over a problem in an effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the answer; N.
|
|
|
|
reprove
|
censure; rebuke; N. reproof
|
|
|
|
paleontology
|
study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents
|
|
|
|
stout
|
rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
|
|
|
|
plebiscite
|
direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)
|
|
|
|
circumlocution
|
indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)
|
|
|
|
swarm
|
large group of insects moving in a mass; crowd of people or animals; V: move in a crowd or mass
|
|
|
|
culprit
|
one guilty of a crime
|
|
|
|
generality
|
vague statement; general statement which is not detailed; quality of being general; greater part; most; Ex. generality of people
|
|
|
|
veritable
|
being truly so; real or genuine; actual; not false or imaginary
|
|
|
|
respite
|
time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment; reprieve
|
|
|
|
pragmatic
|
practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill
|
|
|
|
sledge
|
large sled drawn by work animals
|
|
|
|
seasonal
|
of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment
|
|
|
|
lag
|
move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag behind the rest; N.
|
|
|
|
tactful
|
|
|
|
|
unprecedented
|
having no previous example; novel; unparalleled
|
|
|
|
opiate
|
medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium
|
|
|
|
musky
|
having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer
|
|
|
|
malediction
|
curse
|
|
|
|
fritter
|
waste (time or money on unimportant things)
|
|
|
|
brandish
|
wave around (a weapon); flourish
|
|
|
|
pugnacity
|
combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious: (of people) belligerent; combative in nature
|
|
|
|
exasperate
|
vex; annoy or make angry (by testing the patience)
|
|
|
|
germinate
|
cause to sprout; sprout
|
|
|
|
memento
|
token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit
|
|
|
|
reconnaissance
|
survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)
|
|
|
|
oath
|
solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''
|
|
|
|
thwart
|
block or hinder; baffle; frustrate
|
|
|
|
vehement
|
forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence
|
|
|
|
contraband
|
illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
wrench
|
twist; pull; strain; Ex. He wrenched the gun out of her hands.
|
|
|
|
dainty
|
delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress
|
|
|
|
zephyr
|
gentle breeze; west wind
|
|
|
|
waylay
|
ambush; lie in wait for and attack
|
|
|
|
contrite
|
penitent; repentant; N. contrition
|
|
|
|
treasure
|
keep as precious; cherish
|
|
|
|
ford
|
place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.
|
|
|
|
patrician
|
noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian
|
|
|
|
languor
|
lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression
|
|
|
|
foreshadow
|
give an indication beforehand; be a sign of (what is coming); portend; prefigure
|
|
|
|
germane
|
pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; appropriate
|
|
|
|
reprehensible
|
deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame
|
|
|
|
eon(aeon)
|
long period of time; an age; longest division of geologic time containing two or more eras
|
|
|
|
daub
|
smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
|
|
|
|
subordinate
|
occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
|
|
|
|
antediluvian
|
antiquated; extremely ancient
|
|
|
|
stately
|
formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
|
|
|
|
interminable
|
endless
|
|
|
|
proverb
|
adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially
|
|
|
|
venue
|
location; place (of a crime, trial, gathering, etc.); CF. come
|
|
|
|
distinction
|
honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
|
|
|
|
converge
|
approach; tend to meet; come together
|
|
|
|
inconsistency
|
state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness; ADJ. inconsistent: displaying a lack of consistency; erratic; contradictory; incompatible
|
|
|
|
commemorative
|
remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp
|
|
|
|
incorporate
|
introduce something into a larger whole; include; embody; give material form to; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
hone
|
sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a tool
|
|
|
|
amenities
|
convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
|
|
|
|
averse
|
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
|
|
|
|
speechless
|
unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
|
|
|
|
prepossessing
|
attractive; CF. preoccupying ?
|
|
|
|
arrears
|
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
|
|
|
|
providence
|
quality of being provident; divine care; god's care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there; ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate
|
|
|
|
witticism
|
witty saying; wisecrack(clever joking remark)
|
|
|
|
hue
|
color; aspect; Ex. opinions of every hue
|
|
|
|
brawl
|
noisy quarrel
|
|
|
|
misconstrue
|
interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge
|
|
|
|
auxiliary
|
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
|
|
|
|
derogatory
|
expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
|
|
|
|
divine
|
perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
|
|
|
|
impart
|
grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart
|
|
|
|
vertigo
|
severe dizziness; giddiness
|
|
|
|
forerunner
|
predecessor; one that comes before and indicates the approach of another
|
|
|
|
abnegation
|
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
|
|
|
|
breadth
|
width; extent
|
|
|
|
acrophobia
|
fear of heights
|
|
|
|
reminiscent
|
suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence
|
|
|
|
blight
|
plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
|
|
|
|
psychiatrist
|
doctor who treats mental diseases
|
|
|
|
scraps
|
leftover food
|
|
|
|
kinetic
|
producing motion; of motion
|
|
|
|
corroborate
|
confirm; support; strengthen
|
|
|
|
polity
|
(particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity
|
|
|
|
discount
|
disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost
|
|
|
|
oust
|
expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting
|
|
|
|
hereafter
|
life after death
|
|
|
|
putrescent
|
becoming putrid; putrefying
|
|
|
|
institute
|
organization for a special purpose; V: establish
|
|
|
|
kudos
|
honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement
|
|
|
|
feud
|
bitter prolonged quarrel (usually between two peoples or families); V. CF. Romeo and Juliet; CF. feudal, feudalism
|
|
|
|
exceptionable
|
objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable
|
|
|
|
consign
|
send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee
|
|
|
|
parallelism
|
state of being parallel; similarity; analogy
|
|
|
|
disavowal
|
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
|
|
|
|
infidel
|
unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion)
|
|
|
|
bantering
|
joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
|
|
|
|
amorous
|
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
|
|
|
|
haphazard
|
random; by chance; happening in an unplanned manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town
|
|
|
|
reminiscence
|
recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
|
|
|
|
restraint
|
moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
|
|
|
|
dormant
|
sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
|
|
|
|
bump
|
hit or knock against with force; N.
|
|
|
|
despise
|
look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
|
|
|
|
unrequited
|
not requited; not reciprocated; Ex. unrequited love
|
|
|
|
indite
|
write; compose
|
|
|
|
mercenary
|
motivated solely by money or gain; N.
|
|
|
|
ashen
|
ash-colored; deadly pale
|
|
|
|
conventional
|
ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons
|
|
|
|
sobriety
|
moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
|
|
|
|
graduated
|
arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc.)
|
|
|
|
thespian
|
pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress
|
|
|
|
ligneous
|
like wood
|
|
|
|
felicity
|
happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous
|
|
|
|
malfeasance
|
wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)
|
|
|
|
mural
|
wall painting
|
|
|
|
forgo(forego)
|
give up; do without
|
|
|
|
fuddle
|
make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused
|
|
|
|
sustain
|
suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop; maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the trapped miners
|
|
|
|
slacken
|
slow up; loosen; make or become slack
|
|
|
|
presentiment
|
premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear
|
|
|
|
superimpose
|
place over something else
|
|
|
|
supplicate
|
petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
|
|
|
|
potential
|
expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
|
|
|
|
quip
|
taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.
|
|
|
|
dissuade
|
persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
|
|
|
|
hypothetical
|
based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed; N. hypothesis
|
|
|
|
withhold
|
refuse to give; hold back; Ex. withholding tax
|
|
|
|
acute
|
(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
|
|
|
|
paltry
|
insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash
|
|
|
|
travail
|
strenuous work; toil; painful labor; labor of childbirth
|
|
|
|
atone
|
make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
|
|
|
|
requisite
|
necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required; necessary
|
|
|
|
vernacular
|
living language (as compared to the official language); language spoken in a country or region; natural style; Ex. lapse into the vernacular
|
|
|
|
gargoyle
|
waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building
|
|
|
|
unfrock
|
defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority
|
|
|
|
apocryphal
|
(of a story) widely believed but untrue
|
|
|
|
gnarl
|
protruding knot on a tree; V.
|
|
|
|
riddle
|
pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating earth from stone)
|
|
|
|
torrent
|
rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.
|
|
|
|
unscathed
|
unharmed; Ex. escape the accident unscathed
|
|
|
|
anarchist
|
person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
|
|
|
|
strut
|
supporting bar; CF. airplane wingÀ̳ª building µîÀ» support
|
|
|
|
luster
|
shine; gloss (of a polished surface)
|
|
|
|
verisimilitude
|
appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth
|
|
|
|
enliven
|
make lively or spirited; animate
|
|
|
|
vulture
|
carrion-eating birds
|
|
|
|
flowery
|
full of flowers; full of ornate expressions
|
|
|
|
harass
|
annoy by repeated attacks
|
|
|
|
sinister
|
evil; ominous
|
|
|
|
devolve
|
deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
|
|
|
|
heinous
|
atrocious; wicked; hatefully bad; Ex. heinous crime
|
|
|
|
adverse
|
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
|
|
|
|
rigor
|
severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
|
|
|
|
shackle
|
chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.
|
|
|
|
prop
|
support placed under or against something; V.
|
|
|
|
sumptuous
|
grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
|
|
|
|
fulminate
|
thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation
|
|
|
|
prim
|
proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
|
|
|
|
clout
|
great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist
|
|
|
|
sluggish
|
lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell
|
|
|
|
dribble
|
flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
|
|
|
|
prong
|
pointed projecting part
|
|
|
|
sedulous
|
diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity
|
|
|
|
fashion
|
give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay
|
|
|
|
apprehend
|
arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
|
|
|
|
panacea
|
cure-all; remedy for all diseases
|
|
|
|
recurrent
|
occurring again and again
|
|
|
|
plethora
|
excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
|
|
|
|
bloated
|
(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air
|
|
|
|
subsequent
|
following in time or order; later
|
|
|
|
traduce
|
expose to slander
|
|
|
|
prod
|
poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action; N: pointed object used to prod; prodding
|
|
|
|
inequity
|
unfairness; ADJ. inequitable
|
|
|
|
demean
|
disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
|
|
|
|
torque
|
twisting force; force producing rotation
|
|
|
|
wallow
|
roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury
|
|
|
|
foment
|
stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or unpleasant)
|
|
|
|
flashy
|
showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance
|
|
|
|
inamorata
|
woman whom a man loves
|
|
|
|
forum
|
public square of an ancient Roman city; public place for open discussion; court of law
|
|
|
|
blandishment
|
flattery
|
|
|
|
adjunct
|
something attached to but holding an inferior position
|
|
|
|
realm
|
kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility
|
|
|
|
anemia
|
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
|
|
|
|
pinch
|
squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. N: amount that can be held between the thumb and a finger
|
|
|
|
prurient
|
having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire
|
|
|
|
erratic
|
odd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable
|
|
|
|
incinerate
|
burn to ashes
|
|
|
|
adjoin
|
|
|
|
|
tactile
|
pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
|
|
|
|
fluency
|
smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent
|
|
|
|
prolific
|
producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer
|
|
|
|
snivel
|
complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.
|
|
|
|
philanderer
|
faithless lover; flirt
|
|
|
|
laborious
|
demanding much work or care; tedious
|
|
|
|
rancor
|
long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ. rancorous
|
|
|
|
palpitate
|
throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.
|
|
|
|
tread
|
walk; trample; N: grooved face of a tire; horizontal part of a step
|
|
|
|
mat
|
not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
|
|
|
|
dissimulate
|
pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
|
|
|
|
enlist
|
(cause to) join the armed forces; obtain (help, sympathy, or support)
|
|
|
|
rally
|
come or bring together; call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate (after illness or difficulty); N: act of rallying; mass gathering
|
|
|
|
crest
|
top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird
|
|
|
|
cadaverous
|
like a corpse; pale
|
|
|
|
outrage
|
act of extreme violence or viciousness; resentful anger; V: commit an outrage on; produce anger in; ADJ. outrageous: offensive
|
|
|
|
reciprocate
|
do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually; interchange; move backwards and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights
|
|
|
|
mischief
|
behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome
|
|
|
|
mite
|
very small object or insect-like creature; small coin
|
|
|
|
placebo
|
harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
|
|
|
|
impeccable
|
faultless
|
|
|
|
terminal
|
part that forms the end; railroad or bus station; ADJ. forming an end; ending in death; fatal; Ex. terminal cancer
|
|
|
|
figment
|
invention; something invented; imaginary thing; Ex. figment of your imagination
|
|
|
|
refute
|
disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
|
|
|
|
pretend
|
feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don't pretend to much expertise; N. pretense
|
|
|
|
rampart
|
defensive mound of earth
|
|
|
|
wont
|
(the stated person's) habit or custom; habitual procedure; ADJ. wonted: customary
|
|
|
|
animated
|
lively; spirited
|
|
|
|
indomitable
|
unconquerable; unyielding
|
|
|
|
feasible
|
practical; able to be carried out; practicable
|
|
|
|
indignity
|
treatment or situation that causes shame or loss of dignity, respect; offensive or insulting treatment; humiliating or degrading treatment; Ex. I suffered the indignity of having to say that in front of them.
|
|
|
|
contusion
|
bruise
|
|
|
|
dotage
|
senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage
|
|
|
|
wrinkle
|
small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.
|
|
|
|
amazon
|
female warrior
|
|
|
|
ambidextrous
|
capable of using either hand with equal ease
|
|
|
|
malicious
|
hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite
|
|
|
|
disseminate
|
distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
|
|
|
|
grim
|
causing great fear; unrelenting; determined in spite of fear; Ex. grim smile
|
|
|
|
lavish
|
liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance
|
|
|
|
impenitent
|
not repentant
|
|
|
|
obstreperous
|
boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable
|
|
|
|
substantial
|
of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
|
|
|
|
affinity
|
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
|
|
|
|
executive
|
person having administrative authority; one branch of government executing laws; ADJ: relating to executing
|
|
|
|
gullible
|
easily deceived
|
|
|
|
subsidy
|
direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy
|
|
|
|
Shangri-la
|
imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost Horizon
|
|
|
|
recrimination
|
countercharges; V. recriminate
|
|
|
|
procrastinate
|
postpone; delay or put off
|
|
|
|
agitate
|
stir up; disturb
|
|
|
|
disquisition
|
formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
|
|
|
|
contaminate
|
pollute
|
|
|
|
amiss
|
wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
|
|
|
|
potentate
|
monarch; sovereign
|
|
|
|
pristine
|
unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition
|
|
|
|
homage
|
honor; tribute; great respect; Ex. pay/do homage to
|
|
|
|
choleric
|
hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera
|
|
|
|
heed
|
pay attention to; N: close attention
|
|
|
|
extraneous
|
not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external; coming from the outside; Ex. extraneous details/noise/to the subject
|
|
|
|
suffragist
|
advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage
|
|
|
|
finesse
|
delicate skill; V: handle with finesse
|
|
|
|
propagate
|
increase in number by producing young; multiply; spread; Ex. Most plants propagate by seed; Ex. newspaper propagating their ideas
|
|
|
|
foil
|
contrast; one that by contrast enhances the distinctive characteristics of another
|
|
|
|
transcendent
|
exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing; V. transcend: go beyond; exceed; surpass; N. transcendancy
|
|
|
|
hermetic
|
sealed by fusion so as to be airtight; airtight
|
|
|
|
ablution
|
washing
|
|
|
|
dinghy
|
small boat (often ship's boat)
|
|
|
|
propinquity
|
nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship
|
|
|
|
innovation
|
change; something newly introduced; introduction of something new; V. innovate: begin or introduce (something new); be creative; ADJ. innovative
|
|
|
|
writ
|
written command issued by a court (telling someone to do or not to do something)
|
|
|
|
schematic
|
of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation; outline
|
|
|
|
ego
|
one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem
|
|
|
|
score
|
number of points; written form of a musical composition; reason; group of 20; notch or incision; Ex. full/vocal score; Ex. Don't worry on that score; V: mark with lines or notches; Ex. score the paper to make it easy to fold
|
|
|
|
venture
|
risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
|
|
|
|
garbled
|
mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up or distort (a message) to such an extent as to make misleading or unintelligible
|
|
|
|
iniquitous
|
wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity
|
|
|
|
existential
|
pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism
|
|
|
|
catholic
|
(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes
|
|
|
|
lunar
|
pertaining to the moon
|
|
|
|
mirage
|
unreal reflection; optical illusion
|
|
|
|
tawny
|
brownish yellow
|
|
|
|
actuary
|
someone who advises insurance companies
|
|
|
|
predecessor
|
former occupant of a post
|
|
|
|
axiom
|
self-evident truth requiring no proof
|
|
|
|
cessation
|
stoppage
|
|
|
|
raffle
|
lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off a new car
|
|
|
|
indecisive
|
marked by indecision; inconclusive; Ex. indecisive battle
|
|
|
|
euthanasia
|
mercy killing
|
|
|
|
sodden
|
thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
|
|
|
|
precedent
|
preceding (in time, rank, etc.)
|
|
|
|
evince
|
show clearly
|
|
|
|
flourish
|
grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave; brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the sun. N: showy movement or gesture; embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in handwriting)
|
|
|
|
rescind
|
repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)
|
|
|
|
intrepid
|
fearless
|
|
|
|
recourse
|
resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
|
|
|
|
alliteration
|
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
|
|
|
|
straggle
|
stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out in a scattered group; Ex. straggling marathon racer; Ex. straggling branch
|
|
|
|
piquant
|
pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help
|
|
|
|
compunction
|
remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
|
|
|
|
circumscribe
|
limit; confine; draw a line around
|
|
|
|
takeoff
|
burlesque; act of leaving the ground
|
|
|
|
elope
|
run away secretly with the intention of getting married
|
|
|
|
season
|
enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning
|
|
|
|
fancy
|
imagination (of a whimsical or fantastic nature); capricious liking; V: imagine; be fond of; ADJ. decorative; elaborate
|
|
|
|
zany
|
comic; crazy; N: clown; comical person (given to outlandish behavior)
|
|
|
|
overblown
|
inflated; exaggerated
|
|
|
|
artless
|
without guile; open and honest
|
|
|
|
perjury
|
false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath
|
|
|
|
sagacious
|
wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity
|
|
|
|
verity
|
quality of being true; lasting truth or principle; Ex. the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the eternal verities
|
|
|
|
idolatry
|
worship of idols; excessive admiration or devotion; ADJ. idolatrous
|
|
|
|
hedonist
|
one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life; CF. hedonism: practice of living one's life purely for pleasure
|
|
|
|
rile
|
irritate; vex; muddy
|
|
|
|
fortitude
|
bravery; courage; strength of mind
|
|
|
|
piscatorial
|
pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
|
|
|
|
flout
|
reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules
|
|
|
|
introvert
|
one who is introspective or inclined to think more about oneself; ADJ. introverted
|
|
|
|
felicitous
|
(of a word or remark) apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
|
|
|
|
jab
|
poke abruptly with something sharp; punch with short blows
|
|
|
|
panache
|
flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache; CF. ÀÜ ¾Æ•¡•Î õÀ» »©³»´Â ¼Ø¾¾
|
|
|
|
stanch
|
stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
|
|
|
|
testy
|
irritable; impatient and bad-tempered; short-tempered; N. testiness
|
|
|
|
solvent
|
substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of dissolving another substance
|
|
|
|
animosity
|
active enmity
|
|
|
|
cantata
|
story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)
|
|
|
|
mandatory
|
obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
|
|
|
|
perspicacious
|
(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute
|
|
|
|
coma
|
deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow
|
|
|
|
retract
|
withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a statement/an offer/claws; N. retraction; CF. retractile
|
|
|
|
espionage
|
spying
|
|
|
|
coterie
|
group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
|
|
|
|
verdant
|
green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows
|
|
|
|
diffidence
|
shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
|
|
|
|
compulsory
|
obligatory; that must be done
|
|
|
|
halcyon
|
calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days
|
|
|
|
suppress
|
put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm; inhibit the expression of; check; prevent from being published or made public; Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress the magazine/truth
|
|
|
|
sap
|
diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification); Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength.
|
|
|
|
fortuitous
|
accidental; by chance; N. fortuity
|
|
|
|
intervene
|
come between; interfere; Ex. intervened to prevent a fight; N. intervention
|
|
|
|
cant
|
insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people
|
|
|
|
wangle
|
achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
|
|
|
|
phobia
|
morbid fear
|
|
|
|
igneous
|
produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks) formed from lava; Ex. igneous meteorite
|
|
|
|
cerebration
|
thought; working of the brain
|
|
|
|
annuity
|
yearly allowance
|
|
|
|
unexceptionable
|
entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism
|
|
|
|
scuffle
|
struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry; N. CF. scuffling twins ?
|
|
|
|
platitude
|
trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous
|
|
|
|
charm
|
quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch
|
|
|
|
hubbub
|
confused uproar; loud noise; din
|
|
|
|
unconscionable
|
unscrupulous; not guided by conscience; excessive; beyond reason; Ex. unconscionable demand
|
|
|
|
morose
|
ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
|
|
|
|
maneuver(manoeuver)
|
strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end
|
|
|
|
lout
|
clumsy person; ADJ. loutish; CF. from countrysides ?
|
|
|
|
amnesia
|
loss of memory
|
|
|
|
pedestal
|
support or base as for a pillar or statue
|
|
|
|
clime
|
climate
|
|
|
|
martial
|
warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law
|
|
|
|
firebrand
|
piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker; person who stirs up trouble
|
|
|
|
moodiness
|
fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood:
|
|
|
|
figurative
|
not literal but metaphorical; using a figure(impression) of speech
|
|
|
|
peddle
|
travel about selling (wares); CF. foot
|
|
|
|
unceremonious
|
not done politely without due formalities
|
|
|
|
festive
|
joyous; celebratory; relating to a feast or festival
|
|
|
|
typhoon
|
tropical hurricane or cyclone
|
|
|
|
antecede
|
precede
|
|
|
|
apiary
|
a place where bees are kept
|
|
|
|
humdrum
|
dull; monotonous
|
|
|
|
nostalgia
|
homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
|
|
|
|
pomposity
|
self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt(pompous person); ADJ. pompous: self-important
|
|
|
|
exuberance
|
overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness; ADJ. exuberant: high-spirited and lively; growing abundantly and strongly
|
|
|
|
diorama
|
life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
|
|
|
|
communal
|
held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
|
|
|
|
eminent
|
rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position
|
|
|
|
conception
|
beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception
|
|
|
|
roseate
|
rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
|
|
|
|
forthright
|
straightforward; direct; frank
|
|
|
|
degenerate
|
become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
|
|
|
|
incipient
|
beginning; in an early stage
|
|
|
|
smudge
|
dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
|
|
|
|
antiseptic
|
substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
|
|
|
|
virtue
|
goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity
|
|
|
|
exemplary
|
serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary punishment/behavior; N. exemplar: typical example; model
|
|
|
|
indecision
|
irresolution; inability to make up one's mind
|
|
|
|
ponderous
|
having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
|
|
|
|
frugality
|
thrift; economy; ADJ. frugal: practicing economy; costing little; inexpensive
|
|
|
|
posture
|
assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose; attitude
|
|
|
|
comeback
|
retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
|
|
|
|
acclivity
|
sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
|
|
|
|
dummy
|
imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy
|
|
|
|
purport
|
intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which purports to be signed by the general
|
|
|
|
terminus
|
last stop of railroad; end
|
|
|
|
nuance
|
shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction
|
|
|
|
bewitch
|
cast a spell over; captivate completely
|
|
|
|
libel
|
defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character; V. ADJ. libelous
|
|
|
|
incantation
|
singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant
|
|
|
|
acne
|
skin disease (on the face)
|
|
|
|
metrical
|
metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of Homer
|
|
|
|
impregnable
|
invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take
|
|
|
|
inherent
|
firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic
|
|
|
|
fidelity
|
loyalty; accuracy
|
|
|
|
standstill
|
condition of no movement or activity; stop
|
|
|
|
adjuration
|
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
|
|
|
|
habitat
|
natural home of a plant or animal; CF. habitation
|
|
|
|
obeisance
|
bow (to show respect and obedience)
|
|
|
|
carillon
|
a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played
|
|
|
|
sleight
|
dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks
|
|
|
|
actuarial
|
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
|
|
|
|
ramble
|
wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress
|
|
|
|
lustrous
|
shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair
|
|
|
|
substantiate
|
support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
|
|
|
|
resolution
|
determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute: firm or determined in purpose
|
|
|
|
awl
|
pointed tool used for piercing
|
|
|
|
urge
|
drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to take action; impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that prompts action
|
|
|
|
vigilante
|
one who without authority assumes law enforcement powers
|
|
|
|
hatch
|
deck opening; lid covering a deck opening; V: emerge from an egg; produce (young) from an egg
|
|
|
|
irreparable
|
not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible to repair
|
|
|
|
herpetologist
|
one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians
|
|
|
|
saturate
|
soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity
|
|
|
|
medley
|
mixture
|
|
|
|
improvident
|
thriftless; not providing for the future
|
|
|
|
connivance
|
pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire
|
|
|
|
verdigris
|
green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather
|
|
|
|
pusillanimous
|
cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted
|
|
|
|
clique
|
small exclusive group of people
|
|
|
|
congruence
|
correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity
|
|
|
|
dexterous
|
skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
|
|
|
|
beware
|
be cautious (of)
|
|
|
|
relent
|
become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless: unyielding; continuously severe
|
|
|
|
senility
|
old age; feeblemindedness of old age; ADJ. senile: resulting from old age; showing the weakness of body or mind from old age; Ex. senile dementia
|
|
|
|
xenophobia
|
fear or hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe
|
|
|
|
jest
|
playful remark or act; V. act or speak playfully
|
|
|
|
expository
|
explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition
|
|
|
|
catechism
|
book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize
|
|
|
|
overbearing
|
bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate
|
|
|
|
indissoluble
|
permanent; impossible to dissolve or disintegrate
|
|
|
|
rotund
|
(of a person) fat and round
|
|
|
|
contention
|
assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
|
|
|
|
treatise
|
article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly
|
|
|
|
exude
|
flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation
|
|
|
|
creed
|
system of religious or ethical belief
|
|
|
|
scrimmage
|
disorderly fight between two or more people
|
|
|
|
delete
|
erase; strike out
|
|
|
|
mandate
|
order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another country; power to given to a government; region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex. mandated territory
|
|
|
|
astral
|
relating to the stars
|
|
|
|
quicksilver
|
mercury
|
|
|
|
buoyant
|
able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market
|
|
|
|
prostrate
|
stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating illness; ADJ: lying face down; having lost all strength
|
|
|
|
embryonic
|
undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of development
|
|
|
|
exegesis
|
explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages
|
|
|
|
quizzical
|
curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying); questioning; teasing; mocking; bantering; Ex. quizzical glance
|
|
|
|
retrospective
|
looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V. retrospect
|
|
|
|
monetary
|
pertaining to money
|
|
|
|
sidereal
|
relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
|
|
|
|
quibble
|
minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil
|
|
|
|
controvert
|
oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
|
|
|
|
ordination
|
ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest
|
|
|
|
coeval
|
living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age
|
|
|
|
nullify
|
make invalid; make null; invalidate
|
|
|
|
prolixity
|
tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse
|
|
|
|
equity
|
fairness; justice; OP. inequity
|
|
|
|
derivative
|
unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
|
|
|
|
intimate
|
hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship; familiar; private; personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or confidant; CF. intimacy
|
|
|
|
retinue
|
following; attendants
|
|
|
|
dabble
|
work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
|
|
|
|
penetrate
|
enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand
|
|
|
|
swamp
|
wetland; marsh; V: flood; overwhelm; drench in with liquid
|
|
|
|
inquisitive
|
eager for knowledge; unduly curious
|
|
|
|
feint
|
trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw away defensive action; V.
|
|
|
|
portly
|
stout; corpulent
|
|
|
|
irreproachable
|
beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex. irreproachable conduct
|
|
|
|
couple
|
join; unite; OP. uncouple
|
|
|
|
caprice
|
whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause
|
|
|
|
compound
|
combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex. factory compound; CF. complex
|
|
|
|
capsize
|
(of a boat) turn over
|
|
|
|
nonentity
|
person of no importance; nonexistence
|
|
|
|
mulct
|
defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy
|
|
|
|
egregious
|
notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking
|
|
|
|
attentive
|
alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
|
|
|
|
propitious
|
favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign
|
|
|
|
synoptic
|
providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis
|
|
|
|
opprobrium
|
infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous
|
|
|
|
despondent
|
without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
|
|
|
|
derivation
|
deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word
|
|
|
|
concise
|
brief and compact
|
|
|
|
exclaim
|
cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory
|
|
|
|
chuckle
|
laugh quietly
|
|
|
|
ossify
|
change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging in one's ideas
|
|
|
|
tarantula
|
venomous spider
|
|
|
|
chapel
|
small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)
|
|
|
|
molten
|
melted; Ex. molten lava
|
|
|
|
egotistical
|
egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited
|
|
|
|
rave
|
overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as if mad; Ex. raving lunatic
|
|
|
|
usurp
|
seize another's power or rank (without legal authority); supplant; appropriate; N. usurpation; CF. take for one's own use
|
|
|
|
reiterate
|
repeat
|
|
|
|
compliant
|
readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements
|
|
|
|
dote
|
be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
|
|
|
|
obstetrician
|
physician specializing in delivery(assisting in giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF. midwife
|
|
|
|
musty
|
stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist
|
|
|
|
attest
|
testify; bear witness
|
|
|
|
thrifty
|
careful about money; economical; N. thrift
|
|
|
|
finish
|
surface texture; completeness of execution
|
|
|
|
oracular
|
of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous; hard to understand; N. oracle: wiser person; prophecy made by an oracle
|
|
|
|
anomalous
|
abnormal; irregular
|
|
|
|
dowry
|
money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage
|
|
|
|
rebate
|
return of part of a payment; discount; V.
|
|
|
|
conglomerate
|
corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.
|
|
|
|
chant
|
tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant
|
|
|
|
gustatory
|
affecting or relating to the sense of taste
|
|
|
|
droll
|
queer and amusing
|
|
|
|
incentive
|
spur; motive; something which encourages one to greater activity
|
|
|
|
sound
|
in good condition; showing good judgment or good sense; thorough; complete; Ex. sound mind/investment/training
|
|
|
|
secular
|
worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal
|
|
|
|
blue
|
gloomy; depressed
|
|
|
|
expurgate
|
clean; remove offensive parts of a book
|
|
|
|
gratuity
|
tip
|
|
|
|
latitude
|
freedom from narrow limitations
|
|
|
|
equine
|
resembling a horse; Ex. equine face
|
|
|
|
interregnum
|
period between two successive reigns or governments
|
|
|
|
memoir
|
memoirs; autobiography; biography
|
|
|
|
aghast
|
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
|
|
|
|
regime
|
method of system or government
|
|
|
|
bowdlerize
|
expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
|
|
|
|
discombobulated
|
discomposed; confused
|
|
|
|
proscenium
|
part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage
|
|
|
|
dormer
|
window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room
|
|
|
|
panoramic
|
denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area
|
|
|
|
endemic
|
prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic
|
|
|
|
chorus
|
phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
|
|
|
|
except
|
exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality
|
|
|
|
fervor
|
glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
|
|
|
|
urbane
|
suave; refined in manner; elegant
|
|
|
|
cite
|
quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record
|
|
|
|
ignominy
|
deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat
|
|
|
|
inured
|
accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling
|
|
|
|
unearth
|
dig up; discover (facts) by careful searching; Ex. He unearthed some secrets about her; OP. conceal
|
|
|
|
padre
|
chaplain (in the armed forces)
|
|
|
|
predicament
|
difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma
|
|
|
|
torpedo
|
underwater explosive apparatus; V.
|
|
|
|
prestige
|
respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
|
|
|
|
scheme
|
systematic plan; plot; clever dishonest plan; orderly arrangement of elements; Ex. health insurance scheme; Ex. a scheme to escape taxes; Ex. a color scheme; Ex. a story with no scheme; V: contrive a scheme
|
|
|
|
rhapsody
|
excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)
|
|
|
|
entity
|
real being
|
|
|
|
distract
|
take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted
|
|
|
|
anthropologist
|
student of the history and science of humankind
|
|
|
|
cavil
|
quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
|
|
|
|
malodorous
|
foul-smelling
|
|
|
|
tribunal
|
court of justice
|
|
|
|
quay
|
dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
|
|
|
|
milieu
|
social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.
|
|
|
|
reticent
|
inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence
|
|
|
|
inhibited
|
(of a person) unable to express what one really feels
|
|
|
|
dolorous
|
sorrowful; N. dolor
|
|
|
|
remission
|
temporary moderation (of disease symptoms); remitting of a debt or punishment; cancelation of a debt; pardon; Ex. The disease went into remission; Ex. Christians pray for the remission of sins.
|
|
|
|
exorcise
|
drive out evil spirits
|
|
|
|
caulk(calk)
|
make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
|
|
|
|
estimable
|
|
|
|
|
bouillon
|
clear beef (or meat) soup
|
|
|
|
taciturn
|
habitually silent; talking little
|
|
|
|
loath
|
reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go.
|
|
|
|
saccharine
|
cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin
|
|
|
|
indiscriminate
|
choosing at random; confused; not based on careful distinctions
|
|
|
|
impalpable
|
imperceptible(not easily understood); intangible; OP. palpable: tangible; easily perceptible
|
|
|
|
jettison
|
throw overboard (from a ship or plane)
|
|
|
|
futile
|
useless; hopeless; ineffectual
|
|
|
|
altruistic
|
unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
|
|
|
|
viand
|
food; CF. live
|
|
|
|
foible
|
small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble
|
|
|
|
mauve
|
pale purple
|
|
|
|
solder
|
repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts
|
|
|
|
prominent
|
protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent
|
|
|
|
tract
|
propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political group); expanse of land; region of indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex. digestive tract
|
|
|
|
novice
|
beginner
|
|
|
|
mutinous
|
unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer
|
|
|
|
connubial
|
pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
|
|
|
|
crust
|
hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
|
|
|
|
digression
|
wandering away from the subject; V. digress
|
|
|
|
adjacent
|
adjoining; neighboring; close by
|
|
|
|
troth
|
pledge of good faith especially in betrothal; betrothal; Ex. by my troth
|
|
|
|
fervent
|
ardent; zealous; hot
|
|
|
|
log
|
record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk; V.
|
|
|
|
rail
|
complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices
|
|
|
|
incongruity
|
lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous: lacking in harmony; inappropriate
|
|
|
|
comatose
|
in a coma; extremely sleepy
|
|
|
|
outspoken
|
candid; blunt
|
|
|
|
resilient
|
elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from misfortune)
|
|
|
|
grate
|
make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred by rubbing against a rough surface; Ex. grated cheese N: framework of metal bars to hold fuel in a fireplace
|
|
|
|
prevaricate
|
lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
|
|
|
|
natation
|
swimming
|
|
|
|
articulate
|
effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
|
|
|
|
arbiter
|
person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
|
|
|
|
aversion
|
firm dislike
|
|
|
|
preamble
|
introductory statement
|
|
|
|
illuminate
|
brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten; enable to understand; Ex. illuminating remarks
|
|
|
|
ichthyology
|
study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish
|
|
|
|
polar
|
of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex. polar opposites
|
|
|
|
immobility
|
state of being immovable
|
|
|
|
haggard
|
wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the rescued miners
|
|
|
|
unwarranted
|
unjustified; having no justification; groundless; baseless; undeserved
|
|
|
|
proletarian
|
member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)
|
|
|
|
pulchritude
|
beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous
|
|
|
|
embezzlement
|
taking for one's own use in violation of trust; stealing (of money placed in one's care)
|
|
|
|
entree(entr\'ee)
|
entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle
|
|
|
|
toady
|
servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn
|
|
|
|
disparate
|
basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
|
|
|
|
abscond
|
depart secretly and hide
|
|
|
|
mendacious
|
lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity
|
|
|
|
anticlimax
|
letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
|
|
|
|
inquisitor
|
questioner (especially harsh); investigator; person making an inquisition
|
|
|
|
pilfer
|
steal things of small value; filch; snitch
|
|
|
|
effluvium
|
noxious(harmful) smell
|
|
|
|
sardonic
|
scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile
|
|
|
|
amulet
|
charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
|
|
|
|
transcribe
|
copy; write a copy of; N. transcription
|
|
|
|
rant
|
speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.
|
|
|
|
vindicate
|
clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one's client; Ex. vindicate one's claim; CF. vindicator
|
|
|
|
drivel
|
nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
|
|
|
|
unregenerate
|
making no attempt to change one's bad practices
|
|
|
|
haven
|
place of safety; refuge; harbor; Ex. tax haven
|
|
|
|
foist
|
insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion; palm off; pass off as genuine or worthy; CF. fist
|
|
|
|
contagion
|
infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air
|
|
|
|
subterfuge
|
stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
|
|
|
|
windfall
|
fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event
|
|
|
|
stipple
|
paint or draw with dots or short strokes
|
|
|
|
irascible
|
irritable; easily angered
|
|
|
|
trilogy
|
group of three related works (connected by a shared subject but each complete in itself)
|
|
|
|
carousal
|
drunken revel; V. carouse
|
|
|
|
pedigree
|
ancestry; lineage
|
|
|
|
orifice
|
mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth
|
|
|
|
sinuous
|
twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
|
|
|
|
nonplus
|
put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
|
|
|
|
earthly
|
of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason
|
|
|
|
dowse
|
use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals
|
|
|
|
miscellaneous
|
made up of a variety of parts
|
|
|
|
bountiful
|
generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
|
|
|
|
glacial
|
like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg
|
|
|
|
expedite
|
hasten; make go faster
|
|
|
|
expiate
|
make amends for (a sin)
|
|
|
|
ward
|
administrative division of a city; division in a hospital or prison; incompetent person placed under the protection of a guardian; V: guard; ward off: avert
|
|
|
|
flippant
|
lacking proper seriousness; Ex. flippant remarks about death; N. flippancy
|
|
|
|
embellish
|
adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding fictitious details)
|
|
|
|
indolent
|
lazy
|
|
|
|
impersonal
|
not being a person; not showing personal feelings; Ex. impersonal force/manner/organization
|
|
|
|
conformity
|
harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance
|
|
|
|
brink
|
edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon
|
|
|
|
nubile
|
marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
|
|
|
|
criteria
|
standards used in judging; CF. criterion
|
|
|
|
soothsayer
|
one who foretells the future
|
|
|
|
clot
|
half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
|
|
|
|
artifice
|
deception; trickery
|
|
|
|
prowess
|
extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle
|
|
|
|
fruitful
|
producing results; profitable; prolific; producing in abundance
|
|
|
|
adroit
|
skillful (in using mind or hand)
|
|
|
|
agenda
|
items of business at a meeting
|
|
|
|
guile
|
deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning; Ex. persuade her by guile
|
|
|
|
cemetery
|
place for burying the dead
|
|
|
|
bourgeois
|
middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions
|
|
|
|
loathe
|
detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive; Ex. loathsome smell
|
|
|
|
calculated
|
deliberately planned; likely
|
|
|
|
obscure
|
dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning
|
|
|
|
physiological
|
pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology
|
|
|
|
bellicose
|
warlike
|
|
|
|
headfirst
|
moving with the head leading; headlong
|
|
|
|
stipulate
|
state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
|
|
|
|
zest
|
outer skin of an orange used for giving a special taste to food; spice; interest; flavor; spirited enjoyment; Ex. add a certain zest to the affair; Ex. zest for life
|
|
|
|
virile
|
manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength
|
|
|
|
opportune
|
timely; well-chosen
|
|
|
|
benevolent
|
generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
|
|
|
|
perversion
|
corruption; turning from right to wrong
|
|
|
|
protract
|
prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
|
|
|
|
effeminate
|
having womanly traits
|
|
|
|
anvil
|
iron block used in hammering out metals
|
|
|
|
ooze
|
(of a thick liquid) pass or flow slowly; N: mud or thick liquid as at the bottom of a river
|
|
|
|
deciduous
|
falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
|
|
|
|
recital
|
act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)
|
|
|
|
effectual
|
able to produce a desired effect; valid
|
|
|
|
chauvinist
|
blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin
|
|
|
|
swarthy
|
(of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?
|
|
|
|
alluvial
|
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
|
|
|
|
quadruped
|
four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped
|
|
|
|
facet
|
small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side
|
|
|
|
epilogue
|
short speech at conclusion of dramatic work
|
|
|
|
permeable
|
that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge
|
|
|
|
bicameral
|
two-chambered as a legislative body
|
|
|
|
primal
|
first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man's primal innocence
|
|
|
|
kneel
|
go down on one's knee(s)
|
|
|
|
repress
|
hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion
|
|
|
|
celestial
|
heavenly
|
|
|
|
counterpart
|
thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system
|
|
|
|
gratuitous
|
given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done without good reason; Ex. gratuitous comment
|
|
|
|
bulge
|
protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude
|
|
|
|
deference
|
courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
|
|
|
|
cavalier
|
casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
|
|
|
|
stodgy
|
dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
|
|
|
|
ungainly
|
(of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy; (of something) unwieldy; Ex. ungainly dancer/instrument
|
|
|
|
judiciary
|
judicial branch of government
|
|
|
|
loiter
|
hang about/around; stand idly about; linger
|
|
|
|
aggrandize
|
make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
|
|
|
|
elixir
|
cure-all; panacea; something invigorating
|
|
|
|
improvise
|
compose on the spur of the moment
|
|
|
|
mollify
|
soothe an angry person
|
|
|
|
deadpan
|
wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
|
|
|
|
rightful
|
legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
|
|
|
|
naivet\'e(naivety)
|
quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na\"ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous
|
|
|
|
rou\'e
|
lecherous man
|
|
|
|
char
|
make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion
|
|
|
|
recession
|
withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
|
|
|
|
colossus
|
gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance
|
|
|
|
magniloquent
|
boastful; pompous
|
|
|
|
pestle
|
tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar
|
|
|
|
irreconcilable
|
impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able to be resolved
|
|
|
|
ecliptic
|
path of the sun and the planets
|
|
|
|
sherbet
|
flavored dessert ice
|
|
|
|
capitulate
|
surrender; give up all resistance
|
|
|
|
fleck
|
spot; mark with flecks; N: small mark or spot
|
|
|
|
rare
|
(of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains
|
|
|
|
hegemony
|
dominance especially of one nation over others
|
|
|
|
insolence
|
impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ. insolent; CF. haughty + rude
|
|
|
|
infallible
|
unerring; never making mistakes
|
|
|
|
pinnacle
|
peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
|
|
|
|
spatula
|
broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
|
|
|
|
chide
|
scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
|
|
|
|
haunt
|
(of a spirit) visit (a place); come to mind continually; visit (a place) regularly; frequent; Ex. haunted house; Ex. haunted by his last words; N: place much frequented
|
|
|
|
statutory
|
created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
|
|
|
|
carnal
|
fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
|
|
|
|
thrall
|
slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; CF. enthrall
|
|
|
|
gull
|
trick; deceive; hoodwink; N: person who is easily tricked; dupe
|
|
|
|
amenable
|
obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
|
|
|
|
seismic
|
pertaining to earthquakes
|
|
|
|
vagrant
|
homeless wanderer
|
|
|
|
pessimism
|
belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic
|
|
|
|
sublimate
|
refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
|
|
|
|
reputable
|
respectable; having a good reputation
|
|
|
|
salvage
|
rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved
|
|
|
|
repel
|
drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion
|
|
|
|
disengage
|
uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage
|
|
|
|
exacting
|
extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety
|
|
|
|
endearment
|
fond word or act; expression of affection
|
|
|
|
cabal
|
small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
|
|
|
|
jaded
|
tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued; surfeited; worn out; wearied; Ex. jaded appetite
|
|
|
|
glow
|
shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals); show redness and heat (in the face) after hard work or because of strong feelings; N: light produced by a heated body; brilliance of a color
|
|
|
|
abominable
|
detestable; extremely unpleasant
|
|
|
|
feature
|
distinctive part of the faces (as the eyes or mouth); features: overall appearance of the face; prominent or distinctive quality; prominent article; film; V: make prominent
|
|
|
|
percussion
|
striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion
|
|
|
|
engage
|
attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle
|
|
|
|
winnow
|
sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; CF. wind
|
|
|
|
abortive
|
unsuccessful; fruitless
|
|
|
|
rotunda
|
circular building or hall covered with a dome
|
|
|
|
revile
|
attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)
|
|
|
|
blanch
|
bleach; whiten; make white or pale
|
|
|
|
breach
|
breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.
|
|
|
|
hurtle
|
crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling runaway train
|
|
|
|
circlet
|
small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)
|
|
|
|
sensual
|
devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous; Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips
|
|
|
|
credential
|
evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.
|
|
|
|
culinary
|
relating to cooking or kitchen
|
|
|
|
ultimate
|
final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental; Ex. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.
|
|
|
|
supposition
|
assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
|
|
|
|
tenure
|
holding of an office or real estate; time during which such an office is held
|
|
|
|
impoverish
|
make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil
|
|
|
|
perquisite(perk)
|
any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car
|
|
|
|
pillory
|
punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
|
|
|
|
propulsive
|
driving forward; N. propulsion
|
|
|
|
accretion
|
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
|
|
|
|
provident
|
providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
|
|
|
|
elegy
|
poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac
|
|
|
|
ancillary
|
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
|
|
|
|
redolent
|
odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
|
|
|
|
buttress
|
support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress
|
|
|
|
dyspeptic
|
suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food
|
|
|
|
tentative
|
not fully worked out or developed; provisional; experimental; uncertain; hesitant; not definite or positive; Ex. tentative agreement/reply
|
|
|
|
acumen
|
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
|
|
|
|
dissident
|
dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.
|
|
|
|
domicile
|
home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
|
|
|
|
loom
|
appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct, or distorted form); Ex. The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly. N: apparatus for making thread into cloth
|
|
|
|
resplendent
|
brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious
|
|
|
|
monogram
|
design composed of one or more initials of a name; V.
|
|
|
|
visage
|
face; appearance
|
|
|
|
threadbare
|
worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor; hackneyed; Ex. threadbare excuses
|
|
|
|
kernel
|
central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)
|
|
|
|
incisive
|
(appreciatively) cutting; sharp; Ex. incisive remarks; V. incise: make a cut into
|
|
