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71 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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 o metals, especialing 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/n
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having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh, severe; something with such an effect
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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 geneally agreed-upon practiveor attitude
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credulous - adj
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tending to believe too readily, gullible
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cynicism - n
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an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
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decorum - n
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polite or appropriate conduct or behaviour
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derision - n
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scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment
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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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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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not easily 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 wit 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, hardheaded, 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
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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, a surfiet
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pragmatic - adj
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practical rather that idealistic
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presumptuous - adj
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overstepping due bounds; 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 highest principles, complete and confirmed integrity, uprightness
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proclivity - n
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a natural predisposition or inclination, a tendency
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profligate - adj
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excessively wasteful, recklessly extravagant
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propensity - n
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a natural inclination or tendency, penchant
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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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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, perspicacious
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unfeigned - adj
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genuine, not false or hypothetical
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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 and another, waver
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variegated - adj
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multicolored, characterized by a variety or patches of different color
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vexation - n
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annoyance, irritation
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vigilant - adj
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alertly watchful
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vituperate - v
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to use harsh, condemnatory language, to abuse or censure severely or abusively, berate
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volatile - adj
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readily changing to a vapor; changeable, fickle, explosive
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