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30 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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arcade
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a covered passageway; usually lined with shops;
The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain. |
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opaque
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dark; not transparent;
The opaque window kept the sunlight out of the room. |
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veneer
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thin layer; cover;
Casual acquaintances were deceived by his veneer of sophistication and failed to recognize his fundamental shallowness. |
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effete
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worn out; exhausted; barren
The literature of the age reflected the effete condition of the writers; no new ideas were forthcoming. |
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gamely
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in a spirited manner; with courage;
Because he had fought gamely against a much superior boxer, the crowd gave him a standing ovation when he left the arena. |
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limpid
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clear
A limpid stream ran through his property. |
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precipice
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cliff; dangerous position;
Suddenly Indiana Jones found himself dangling from the edge of a precipice. |
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circumvent
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outwit; baffle;
In order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign. |
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improvident
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thriftless
He was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to %22save for a rainy day. |
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resilient
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elastic; having the power of springing back;
Highly resilient, steel makes excellent bedsprings. |
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agility
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nimbleness
The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience. |
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commiserate
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feel or express pity or sympathy for
Her friends commiserated with the widow. |
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equilibrium
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balance
After the divorce, he needed some time to regain his equilibrium. |
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onerous
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burdensome
He asked for an assistant because his work load was too onerous. |
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vehement
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impetuous; with marked vigor ;
He spoke with vehement eloquence in defense of his client. |
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eerie
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weird
In that eerie setting, it was easy to believe in ghosts and other supernatural beings. |
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pastiche
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imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing
We cannot even say that her music is a pastiche of this or that composer; it is rather, reminiscent of many musicians. |
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sear
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char or burn; brand;
Accidentally brushing against the hot grill, she seared her hand badly. |
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vivacious
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lively or animated; sprightly;
She had always been vivacious and sparkling. |
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circlet
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small ring; band;
This tiny circlet is very costly because it is set with precious stones. |
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impotent
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weak; ineffective;
Although he wished to break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent in resisisting the craving for a cigarette. |
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requite
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repay; revenge;
The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them. |
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dorsal
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relating to the back of an animal
A shark may be identified by its dorsal fin, which projects above the surface of the ocean. |
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holocaust
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destruction by fire
Citizens of San Francisco remember that the destruction of the city was caused not by the earthquake but by the holocaust that followed. |
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mischance
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ill luck
By mischance, he lost his week's salary. |
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ominous
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threatening
Those clouds are ominous; they suggest that a severe storm is on the way. |
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variegated
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many-colored
Without her glasses, Gretchen saw the fields of tulips as a variegated blur. |
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ecologist
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person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment
The ecologist was concerned that the new dam would upset the natural balance of the creatures living in Glen Canyon. |
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unction
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the act of anointing with oil
The anointing with oil of a person near death is called extreme unction. |
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frantic
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wild
At the time of the collision, many people became frantic with fear. |
