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72 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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acerbic (adj)
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having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
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aggrandize (v)
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to increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige
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alchemy (n)
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a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, esp base metals into gold
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amenable (adj)
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agreeable; responsive to suggestion
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anachronism (n)
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something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
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astringent (adj)
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having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe; something with a tightening effect on tissue
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contiguous (adj)
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sharing a border; touching; adjacent
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convention (n)
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a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
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credulous (adj)
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tending to believe too readily; gullible (n form: credulity)
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cynicism (n)
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an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness (adj form: cynical)
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decorum (n)
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polite or appropriate conduct or behavior (adj form: decorous)
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example
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derision (n)
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scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment (adj form: derisive, v form: deride)
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desiccate (v)
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to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
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dilettante (n)
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one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
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disparage (v)
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to slight or belittle
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divulge (v)
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to disclose something secret
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fawn (v)
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to flatter or praise excessively
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flout (v)
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to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention
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garrulous (adj)
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pointlessly talkative; talking too much
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glib (adj)
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marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
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Many senior administrators are smooth and glib, in the manner of politicians.
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hubris (n)
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overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
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imminent (adj)
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about to happen; impending
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immutable (adj)
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not capable of change
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impetuous (adj)
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hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
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indifferent (adj)
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having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
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inimical (adj)
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damaging; harmful; injurious
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intractable (adj)
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nor really managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
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intrepid (adj)
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steadfast and courageous
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laconic (adj)
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using few words; terse
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maverick (n)
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an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
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mercurial (adj)
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characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
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mollify (v)
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to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
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neophyte (n)
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a recent convert; a beginner; novice
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obfuscate (v)
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to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
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obstinate (adj)
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stubborn; hard-headed; uncompromising
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ostentatious (adj)
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characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
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pervade (v)
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to permeate throughout (adj form: pervasive)
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phlegmatic (adj)
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calm; sluggish; unemotional
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plethora (n)
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an overabundance; a surplus
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pragmatic (adj)
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practical rather than idealistic
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presumptuous (adj)
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overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
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pristine (adj)
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pure; uncorrupted; clean
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probity (n)
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adherence to the highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
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proclivity (n)
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a natural predisposition or inclination
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profligate (adj)
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excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant (n form: profligacy)
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propensity (n)
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a natural inclination or tendency; penchant [a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something
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prosaic (adj)
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dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
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pungent (adj)
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characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
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quixotic (adj)
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foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
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quotidian (adj)
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occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
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rarefy (v)
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to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
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recondite (adj)
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hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
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refulgent (adj)
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radiant; shiny; brilliant
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renege (v)
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to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
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sedulous (adj)
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diligent; persistent; hard-working
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shard (n)
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a piece of broken pottery or glass
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soporific (adj)
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causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
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sparse (adj)
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thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
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spendthrift (n)
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one who spends money wastefully
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subtle (adj)
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not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
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tacit (adj)
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implied; not explicitly stated
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terse (adj)
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brief and concise in wording
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tout (v)
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to publicly praise or promote
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trenchant (adj)
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sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
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unfeigned (adj)
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genuine; not false or hypocritical
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untenable (adj)
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indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
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vacillate (v)
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to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion or another
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variegated (adj)
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multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color
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vexation (n)
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annoyance; irritation (v form: vex)
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vigilant (adj)
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alertly watchful (n form: vigilance)
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vituperate (v)
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to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate
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volatile (adj)
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readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive (n form: volatility)
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