Gre Vocab

Front 1

abash

Back 1

embarrass

Front 2

abdicate

Back 2

renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)

Front 3

abject

Back 3

(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology

Front 4

abjure

Back 4

renounce upon oath

Front 5

abnegation

Back 5

renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation

Front 6

abrogate

Back 6

abolish

Front 7

abscission

Back 7

cutting off; separation

Front 8

abscond

Back 8

depart secretly and hide

Front 9

abstemious

Back 9

sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

Front 10

abstruse

Back 10

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

Front 11

abut

Back 11

border upon; adjoin

Front 12

accede

Back 12

agree

Front 13

acclivity

Back 13

sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity

Front 14

accoutre

Back 14

equip; N. accoutrement

Front 15

acetic

Back 15

vinegary

Front 16

acidulous

Back 16

slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic

Front 17

acrid

Back 17

bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent

Front 18

acrimonious

Back 18

stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior

Front 19

acrophobia

Back 19

fear of heights

Front 20

actuarial

Back 20

calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics

Front 21

acuity

Back 21

sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)

Front 22

acumen

Back 22

mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen

Front 23

addle

Back 23

make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)

Front 24

adjunct

Back 24

something attached to but holding an inferior position

Front 25

adjuration

Back 25

solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly

Front 26

adjutant

Back 26

staff officer assisting the commander; assistant

Front 27

adroit

Back 27

skillful (in using mind or hand)

Front 28

adulterate

Back 28

make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances

Front 29

adventitious

Back 29

accidental; casual; happening by chance

Front 30

advert

Back 30

refer

Front 31

aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)

Back 31

nest of a large bird of prey

Front 32

affront

Back 32

insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally

Front 33

afterlife

Back 33

life after death; later part of one's life

Front 34

agog

Back 34

highly excited; intensely curious

Front 35

agrarian

Back 35

pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform

Front 36

alacrity

Back 36

cheerful promptness without reluctance

Front 37

alimentary

Back 37

supplying nourishment

Front 38

allay

Back 38

calm; pacify

Front 39

alloy

Back 39

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

Front 40

alluvial

Back 40

pertaining to soil deposits left by running water

Front 41

ambience

Back 41

environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature

Front 42

amble

Back 42

walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly

Front 43

ambrosia

Back 43

food of the gods

Front 44

ambulatory

Back 44

able to walk

Front 45

amenable

Back 45

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

Front 46

amicable

Back 46

peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement

Front 47

amity

Back 47

friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations

Front 48

amok(amuck)

Back 48

in a state of rage; Ex. run amok

Front 49

amulet

Back 49

charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck

Front 50

analgesia

Back 50

condition of being unable to feel pain

Front 51

analgesic

Back 51

causing insensitivity to pain; N.

Front 52

ancillary

Back 52

serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.

Front 53

anemia

Back 53

condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic

Front 54

animadversion

Back 54

critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval

Front 55

animus

Back 55

hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition

Front 56

annals

Back 56

records arranged in yearly parts; history

Front 57

anneal

Back 57

reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)

Front 58

annuity

Back 58

yearly allowance

Front 59

anodyne

Back 59

drug that relieves pain or trouble; ┴°┼δ┴ª; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement

Front 60

antecedents

Back 60

preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background

Front 61

antediluvian

Back 61

antiquated; extremely ancient

Front 62

ape

Back 62

imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)

Front 63

aphasia

Back 63

loss of speech due to injury or illness

Front 64

apiarist

Back 64

person who keeps bees

Front 65

apiary

Back 65

a place where bees are kept

Front 66

apiculture

Back 66

bee-keeping

Front 67

aplomb

Back 67

poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence

Front 68

apocryphal

Back 68

(of a story) widely believed but untrue

Front 69

apogee

Back 69

highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee

Front 70

apologist

Back 70

one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia

Front 71

apoplexy

Back 71

stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain

Front 72

apostate

Back 72

one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy

Front 73

apothecary

Back 73

druggist; pharmacist

Front 74

apothegm(apophthegm)

Back 74

pithy, compact saying

Front 75

apparition

Back 75

ghost; phantom

Front 76

apposite

Back 76

appropriate; fitting

Front 77

approbation

Back 77

approval

Front 78

appurtenances

Back 78

subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing

Front 79

apropos

Back 79

with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.

Front 80

aquiline

Back 80

curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose

Front 81

arable

Back 81

fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land

Front 82

arcade

Back 82

a covered passageway usually lined with shops

Front 83

arcane

Back 83

esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener

Front 84

ardor

Back 84

heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent

Front 85

argot

Back 85

slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people

Front 86

aria

Back 86

operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio

Front 87

armada

Back 87

fleet of warships

Front 88

array

Back 88

marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array

Front 89

arrears

Back 89

being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done

Front 90

arroyo

Back 90

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

Front 91

arsenal

Back 91

storage place for military equipment

Front 92

articulate

Back 92

effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints

Front 93

artless

Back 93

without guile; open and honest

Front 94

ascendancy

Back 94

controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant

Front 95

aseptic

Back 95

preventing infection; having a cleansing effect

Front 96

asinine

Back 96

stupid; Ex. asinine remarks

Front 97

askance

Back 97

with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at

Front 98

asperity

Back 98

sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter

Front 99

aspersion

Back 99

slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on

Front 100

aspirant

Back 100

seeker after position or status

Front 101

assay

Back 101

analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)

Front 102

assiduous

Back 102

diligent

Front 103

asteroid

Back 103

small planet

Front 104

astigmatism

Back 104

eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism

Front 105

astringent

Back 105

binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism

Front 106

atavism

Back 106

resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic

Front 107

attrition

Back 107

rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition

Front 108

augury

Back 108

omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)

Front 109

august

Back 109

impressive; majestic

Front 110

aureole

Back 110

sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light

Front 111

auroral

Back 111

pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis

Front 112

auspicious

Back 112

favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices

Front 113

austere

Back 113

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

Front 114

autocratic

Back 114

having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy

Front 115

auxiliary

Back 115

offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant

Front 116

avarice

Back 116

greediness for wealth

Front 117

aver

Back 117

state confidently; declare as true

Front 118

averse

Back 118

reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work

Front 119

aviary

Back 119

enclosure for birds; large cage

Front 120

avocation

Back 120

secondary or minor occupation

Front 121

avuncular

Back 121

of or like an uncle

Front 122

awl

Back 122

pointed tool used for piercing

Front 123

azure

Back 123

sky blue

Front 124

bacchanal

Back 124

noisy party with a lot of drinking

Front 125

Bacchanalia

Back 125

the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus

Front 126

bacchanalian

Back 126

drunken

Front 127

badinage

Back 127

teasing conversation; banter; joking talk

Front 128

baleful

Back 128

evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look

Front 129

balmy

Back 129

soft and mild (of air); fragrant

Front 130

bandy

Back 130

discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with

Front 131

bane

Back 131

posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous

Front 132

bank

Back 132

heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning

Front 133

bar

Back 133

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

Front 134

bard

Back 134

poet

Front 135

barefaced

Back 135

shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie

Front 136

baroque

Back 136

highly ornate

Front 137

barrage

Back 137

barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism

Front 138

bastion

Back 138

stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism

Front 139

bate

Back 139

let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate

Front 140

bauble

Back 140

trinket; cheap jewel; trifle

Front 141

bearing

Back 141

deportment; connection

Front 142

beatific

Back 142

giving or showing bliss; blissful

Front 143

beatitude

Back 143

blessedness; state of great happiness

Front 144

bedizen

Back 144

dress with vulgar finery

Front 145

bedraggle

Back 145

wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled

Front 146

beget

Back 146

father; become the father of; produce; give rise to

Front 147

begrudge

Back 147

envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.

Front 148

beguile

Back 148

deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile

Front 149

beleaguer

Back 149

besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset

Front 150

belie

Back 150

contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.

Front 151

bellicose

Back 151

warlike

Front 152

bemoan

Back 152

lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of

Front 153

bemused

Back 153

confused; lost in thought; preoccupied

Front 154

benison

Back 154

blessing

Front 155

bequeath

Back 155

leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest

Front 156

bereavement

Back 156

state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft

Front 157

beset

Back 157

harass or trouble from all directions; hem in

Front 158

besmirch

Back 158

soil; defile; make dirty

Front 159

betoken

Back 159

signify; indicate; be a sign of

Front 160

betroth

Back 160

become engaged to marry

Front 161

bevy

Back 161

large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets

Front 162

bilious

Back 162

suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated

Front 163

bilk

Back 163

swindle; cheat

Front 164

billowing

Back 164

swelling out in waves; surging

Front 165

bivouac

Back 165

temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.

Front 166

blandishment

Back 166

flattery

Front 167

blight

Back 167

plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy

Front 168

blighted

Back 168

suffering from a disease; destroyed

Front 169

blithe(blithesome)

Back 169

gay; joyous

Front 170

blowhard

Back 170

talkative boaster; braggart

Front 171

bluster

Back 171

blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale

Front 172

bode

Back 172

foreshadow; portend

Front 173

bohemian

Back 173

unconventional (in an artistic way)

Front 174

bombast

Back 174

grandiloquent, pompous speech

Front 175

boon

Back 175

blessing; benefit; something very helpful

Front 176

boor

Back 176

rude, insensitive person

Front 177

bouillon

Back 177

clear beef (or meat) soup

Front 178

bovine

Back 178

cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm

Front 179

bowdlerize

Back 179

expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler

Front 180

brackish

Back 180

somewhat saline

Front 181

brandish

Back 181

wave around (a weapon); flourish

Front 182

brazen

Back 182

insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence

Front 183

bridle

Back 183

harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger

Front 184

brindled

Back 184

tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)

Front 185

brocade

Back 185

rich, figured(patterned) fabric

Front 186

bromide

Back 186

platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement

Front 187

brooch

Back 187

ornamental clasp; pin

Front 188

brood

Back 188

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

Front 189

brook

Back 189

tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream

Front 190

brusque

Back 190

blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice

Front 191

buccaneer

Back 191

pirate

Front 192

bucolic

Back 192

rustic; pastoral

Front 193

buffet

Back 193

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

Front 194

bullion

Back 194

gold and silver in the form of bars

Front 195

bulwark

Back 195

strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends

Front 196

bungle

Back 196

mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior

Front 197

buoyant

Back 197

able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market

Front 198

burlesque

Back 198

give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly

Front 199

burnish

Back 199

make shiny by rubbing; polish

Front 200

buttress

Back 200

support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress

Front 201

cabal

Back 201

small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests

Front 202

cache

Back 202

hiding place; V.

Front 203

callow

Back 203

youthful; immature; inexperienced

Front 204

calorific

Back 204

heat-producing; N. calorie

Front 205

calumny

Back 205

malicious misrepresentation; slander

Front 206

cameo

Back 206

shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film

Front 207

CANAILLE

Back 207

a mob, a pack, the lowest class of people, the rabble

Front 208

canard

Back 208

unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report

Front 209

canker

Back 209

any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer

Front 210

cant

Back 210

insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people

Front 211

cantankerous

Back 211

ill-humored; irritable

Front 212

cantata

Back 212

story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)

Front 213

canter

Back 213

slow gallop; V. CF. trot

Front 214

canto

Back 214

division of a long poem

Front 215

canvass

Back 215

determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.

Front 216

capacious

Back 216

spacious

Front 217

capillary

Back 217

having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity

Front 218

capitulate

Back 218

surrender; give up all resistance

Front 219

captious

Back 219

faultfinding; too critical

Front 220

carafe

Back 220

glass water bottle; decanter

Front 221

carapace

Back 221

shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)

Front 222

carat(karat)

Back 222

unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold

Front 223

cardinal

Back 223

chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order

Front 224

careen

Back 224

lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger

Front 225

career

Back 225

rush wildly; go at full speed

Front 226

carillon

Back 226

a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played

Front 227

carousal

Back 227

drunken revel; V. carouse

Front 228

carping

Back 228

petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble

Front 229

carrion

Back 229

rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture

Front 230

castigation

Back 230

punishment; severe criticism or disapproval

Front 231

cataclysm

Back 231

deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change

Front 232

catalyst

Back 232

agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis

Front 233

cataract

Back 233

great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)

Front 234

catcall

Back 234

shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.

Front 235

catechism

Back 235

book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize

Front 236

catharsis

Back 236

purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art

Front 237

caucus

Back 237

private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston

Front 238

cauterize

Back 238

burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection

Front 239

cavalcade

Back 239

procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry

Front 240

cavil

Back 240

quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily

Front 241

cede

Back 241

yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession

Front 242

celerity

Back 242

speed; rapidity

Front 243

censor

Back 243

(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.

Front 244

censorious

Back 244

severely critical

Front 245

centripetal

Back 245

tending toward the center

Front 246

centurion

Back 246

Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)

Front 247

cerebration

Back 247

thought; working of the brain

Front 248

cession

Back 248

yielding to another; ceding

Front 249

chaff

Back 249

worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff

Front 250

chalice

Back 250

goblet; consecrated cup

Front 251

chary

Back 251

cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold

Front 252

chase

Back 252

ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch

Front 253

chasten

Back 253

discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate

Front 254

chisel

Back 254

swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting

Front 255

choleric

Back 255

hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera

Front 256

churlish

Back 256

boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo

Front 257

ciliated

Back 257

having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash

Front 258

cipher

Back 258

nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.

Front 259

circlet

Back 259

small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)

Front 260

circuit

Back 260

closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place

Front 261

cistern

Back 261

reservoir or water tank

Front 262

citadel

Back 262

fortress

Front 263

clamber

Back 263

climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble

Front 264

clangor

Back 264

loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging

Front 265

clap

Back 265

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

Front 266

clapper

Back 266

striker (tongue) of a bell

Front 267

clime

Back 267

climate

Front 268

clipper

Back 268

sailing vessel built for great speed

Front 269

cloister

Back 269

monastery or convent

Front 270

clot

Back 270

half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.

Front 271

clout

Back 271

great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist

Front 272

cloying

Back 272

distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess

Front 273

coagulate

Back 273

congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant

Front 274

coda

Back 274

concluding section of a musical or literary composition

Front 275

coddle

Back 275

treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs

Front 276

codicil

Back 276

supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will

Front 277

codify

Back 277

arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs

Front 278

coeval

Back 278

living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age

Front 279

cog

Back 279

tooth projecting from a wheel

Front 280

cognate

Back 280

having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.

Front 281

collate

Back 281

examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)

Front 282

collateral

Back 282

security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters

Front 283

collation

Back 283

a light meal; collating

Front 284

collected

Back 284

composed; calm; self-possessed

Front 285

colloquy

Back 285

informal discussion; conversation

Front 286

collusion

Back 286

conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude

Front 287

comely

Back 287

attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance

Front 288

comestible

Back 288

something fit to be eaten

Front 289

comity

Back 289

courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations

Front 290

commensurate

Back 290

equal in extent; of the same size

Front 291

commodious

Back 291

spacious and comfortable

Front 292

compendium

Back 292

brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious

Front 293

complaisant

Back 293

trying to please; obliging; willing to please others

Front 294

comport

Back 294

bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment

Front 295

compunction

Back 295

remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt

Front 296

concave

Back 296

hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex

Front 297

conclave

Back 297

private secret meeting

Front 298

concomitant

Back 298

that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else

Front 299

concordat

Back 299

formal agreement

Front 300

condign

Back 300

adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved

Front 301

condole

Back 301

express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow

Front 302

conflagration

Back 302

great fire

Front 303

confluence

Back 303

flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together

Front 304

congenital

Back 304

existing at birth

Front 305

conifer

Back 305

pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen

Front 306

conjugal

Back 306

pertaining to marriage

Front 307

connivance

Back 307

pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire

Front 308

connubial

Back 308

pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state

Front 309

consanguineous(consanguine)

Back 309

having a common ancestor

Front 310

consanguinity

Back 310

kinship; relationship by birth

Front 311

conscript

Back 311

draftee; person forced into military service; V.

Front 312

consort

Back 312

associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)

Front 313

consummate

Back 313

complete; V.

Front 314

contagion

Back 314

infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air

Front 315

continence

Back 315

self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent

Front 316

contrite

Back 316

penitent; repentant; N. contrition

Front 317

controvert

Back 317

oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy

Front 318

contumacious

Back 318

stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)

Front 319

conversant

Back 319

familiar with; having knowledge of

Front 320

conveyance

Back 320

vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance

Front 321

convivial

Back 321

pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial

Front 322

convoke

Back 322

call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation

Front 323

coquette

Back 323

flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.

Front 324

cordon

Back 324

extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; (╛ε▒·┐í╝¡ ░▄╡σ╢√ ╣╪└╕╖╬ ░╔─í┤┬) └σ╜─ ╕«║╗; V.

Front 325

cornice

Back 325

projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars); ├│╕╢ └σ╜─

Front 326

cornucopia

Back 326

horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty

Front 327

corpuscle

Back 327

red or white cell in the blood

Front 328

coterie

Back 328

group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests

Front 329

countenance

Back 329

approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance

Front 330

covey

Back 330

a group of quail

Front 331

cow

Back 331

terrorize; intimidate

Front 332

coy

Back 332

shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer╕ª ╣▐╛╥└╗ ╢º

Front 333

cozen

Back 333

cheat; hoodwink; swindle

Front 334

crabbed

Back 334

sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting

Front 335

craven

Back 335

cowardly

Front 336

credo

Back 336

creed

Front 337

credulity

Back 337

belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet'e; ADJ. credulous

Front 338

crestfallen

Back 338

dejected; dispirited

Front 339

crone

Back 339

hag; ugly old woman

Front 340

crypt

Back 340

secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)

Front 341

cull

Back 341

pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.

Front 342

culvert

Back 342

artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road

Front 343

cupidity

Back 343

greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid

Front 344

curb

Back 344

chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain

Front 345

curmudgeon

Back 345

churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person

Front 346

cynosure

Back 346

object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor

Front 347

dais

Back 347

raised platform for speakers or other important people

Front 348

dank

Back 348

damp; unpleasantly wet

Front 349

dappled

Back 349

spotted

Front 350

dawdle

Back 350

loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing

Front 351

deadpan

Back 351

wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face

Front 352

debar

Back 352

bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services

Front 353

debonair

Back 353

(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition

Front 354

debutante

Back 354

young woman making formal entrance into society

Front 355

decant

Back 355

pour off gently (wine or liquid)

Front 356

declivity

Back 356

downward slope

Front 357

décolleté

Back 357

(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)

Front 358

decorous

Back 358

proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)

Front 359

decry

Back 359

express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films

Front 360

defalcate

Back 360

embezzle

Front 361

defect

Back 361

shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)

Front 362

defoliate

Back 362

destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant

Front 363

defray

Back 363

provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay

Front 364

defrock

Back 364

strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock

Front 365

deign

Back 365

condescend; stoop

Front 366

deleterious

Back 366

harmful

Front 367

delineate

Back 367

portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation

Front 368

delta

Back 368

flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river

Front 369

delusive

Back 369

deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises

Front 370

demagogue

Back 370

person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery

Front 371

demotic

Back 371

of or pertaining to the people

Front 372

demur

Back 372

object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday

Front 373

demure

Back 373

(of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure

Front 374

denizen

Back 374

(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor

Front 375

deposition

Back 375

testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning

Front 376

depredation

Back 376

plundering; destruction

Front 377

derelict

Back 377

negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person

Front 378

dereliction

Back 378

neglect of duty; abandonment

Front 379

descry

Back 379

catch sight of (something distant)

Front 380

deserts

Back 380

what someone deserves

Front 381

desperado

Back 381

reckless, desperate outlaw

Front 382

despoil

Back 382

plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village

Front 383

desultory

Back 383

aimless; haphazard; digressing at random

Front 384

detraction

Back 384

slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor

Front 385

devolve

Back 385

deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to

Front 386

diadem

Back 386

crown

Front 387

dialectical

Back 387

relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments

Front 388

diaphanous

Back 388

sheer; transparent

Front 389

dictum

Back 389

authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)

Front 390

die

Back 390

metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice

Front 391

diffidence

Back 391

shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident

Front 392

dilatory

Back 392

delaying; tending to delay

Front 393

dilettante

Back 393

aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight

Front 394

din

Back 394

continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition

Front 395

dinghy

Back 395

small boat (often ship's boat)

Front 396

dint

Back 396

means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work

Front 397

disapprobation

Back 397

disapproval; condemnation

Front 398

disavowal

Back 398

denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim

Front 399

disclaim

Back 399

disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer

Front 400

discomfit

Back 400

frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb

Front 401

discompose

Back 401

disturb the composure of; confuse

Front 402

disconsolate

Back 402

hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)

Front 403

discursive

Back 403

(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)

Front 404

disenfranchise

Back 404

disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise

Front 405

disgorge

Back 405

surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge

Front 406

disinclination

Back 406

unwillingness

Front 407

disinter

Back 407

dig up; unearth; OP. inter

Front 408

disjunction

Back 408

act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive

Front 409

dispatch

Back 409

speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill

Front 410

dispense

Back 410

distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule

Front 411

dispirited

Back 411

lacking in spirit

Front 412

disport

Back 412

amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert

Front 413

disputatious

Back 413

argumentative; fond of argument

Front 414

disquietude

Back 414

uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious

Front 415

disquisition

Back 415

formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report

Front 416

dissemble

Back 416

disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend

Front 417

dissimulate

Back 417

pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble

Front 418

distill

Back 418

refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew

Front 419

distrait

Back 419

absentminded; distracted

Front 420

diurnal

Back 420

daily; occurring during the daytime

Front 421

doctrinaire

Back 421

unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties

Front 422

doddering

Back 422

shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder

Front 423

doff

Back 423

take off; OP. don

Front 424

doldrums

Back 424

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

Front 425

dolorous

Back 425

sorrowful; N. dolor

Front 426

dolt

Back 426

slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull

Front 427

dormer

Back 427

window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room

Front 428

dossier

Back 428

file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back

Front 429

dote

Back 429

be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline

Front 430

dour

Back 430

sullen; gloomy; stubborn

Front 431

dowdy

Back 431

untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman

Front 432

dowse

Back 432

use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals

Front 433

draconian

Back 433

extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician

Front 434

draught

Back 434

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

Front 435

drivel

Back 435

nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense

Front 436

droll

Back 436

queer and amusing

Front 437

dross

Back 437

waste matter; worthless impurities

Front 438

ductile

Back 438

malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled

Front 439

dynamo

Back 439

generator for producing electricity; energetic person

Front 440

dys-

Back 440

abnormal; impaired

Front 441

dysentery

Back 441

inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract

Front 442

dyspeptic

Back 442

suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food

Front 443

ebullient

Back 443

showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling

Front 444

ecclesiastic

Back 444

ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman

Front 445

ecliptic

Back 445

path of the sun and the planets

Front 446

eddy

Back 446

swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.

Front 447

edifice

Back 447

building (of imposing size)

Front 448

edify

Back 448

instruct; correct morally

Front 449

efface

Back 449

rub out; remove the surface of

Front 450

effervescence

Back 450

inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce

Front 451

effete

Back 451

having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted

Front 452

effluvium

Back 452

noxious(harmful) smell

Front 453

effrontery

Back 453

rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek

Front 454

effulgent

Back 454

shining brightly; brilliant

Front 455

egregious

Back 455

notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking

Front 456

egress

Back 456

exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress

Front 457

ellipsis

Back 457

omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses

Front 458

elliptical

Back 458

elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out

Front 459

elysian

Back 459

relating to paradise; blissful

Front 460

Elysium

Back 460

place or condition of bliss

Front 461

embargo

Back 461

ban on commerce or other activity

Front 462

embed(imbed)

Back 462

enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass

Front 463

embitter

Back 463

make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.

Front 464

emblazon

Back 464

ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment

Front 465

emend

Back 465

correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement

Front 466

emetic

Back 466

substance causing vomiting; ADJ.

Front 467

emollient

Back 467

soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.

Front 468

emolument

Back 468

salary; payment for an office; compensation

Front 469

encipher

Back 469

encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher

Front 470

enclave

Back 470

territory enclosed within an alien land

Front 471

encumber

Back 471

burden; N. encumbrance

Front 472

endearment

Back 472

fond word or act; expression of affection

Front 473

endemic

Back 473

prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic

Front 474

endue

Back 474

provide with some quality; endow

Front 475

enervate

Back 475

weaken; take away energy from

Front 476

enfranchise

Back 476

admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise

Front 477

engender

Back 477

cause; produce; give rise to

Front 478

enjoin

Back 478

command; order; forbid

Front 479

enmity

Back 479

ill will; hatred; hostility

Front 480

enormity

Back 480

hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous

Front 481

ensconce

Back 481

settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)

Front 482

enthrall

Back 482

capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of (as if magic); hold spellbound

Front 483

entourage

Back 483

group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround

Front 484

environ

Back 484

enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city)

Front 485

epaulet(epaulette)

Back 485

ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)

Front 486

Epicurean

Back 486

believing that pleasure is good and suffering is bad and should be avoided; N.

Front 487

episodic

Back 487

(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience

Front 488

epithet

Back 488

word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)

Front 489

epitome

Back 489

perfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody

Front 490

equable

Back 490

tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform

Front 491

equine

Back 491

resembling a horse; Ex. equine face

Front 492

equinox

Back 492

period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial

Front 493

erudite

Back 493

(of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition

Front 494

eschew

Back 494

avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks

Front 495

ethnology

Back 495

study of humankind; study of the different races of human beings; CF. anthropology

Front 496

ethos

Back 496

underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos

Front 497

evanescent

Back 497

fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce

Front 498

evince

Back 498

show clearly

Front 499

ewe

Back 499

female sheep

Front 500

exact

Back 500

demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction

Front 501

exceptionable

Back 501

objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable

Front 502

exchequer

Back 502

treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer

Front 503

excoriate

Back 503

scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off

Front 504

exculpate

Back 504

clear from blame or guilt

Front 505

execrable

Back 505

very bad; detestable

Front 506

execrate

Back 506

curse; express abhorrence for; detest

Front 507

exhume

Back 507

dig out of the ground; remove from a grave

Front 508

exigency

Back 508

urgent situation; ADJ. exigent

Front 509

exiguous

Back 509

small in amount; minute

Front 510

expansive

Back 510

(of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size

Front 511

expatiate

Back 511

talk at length; speak or write in detail

Front 512

expeditious

Back 512

done with speed; quick; N. expedition

Front 513

expostulation

Back 513

protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate

Front 514

expunge

Back 514

cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase

Front 515

expurgate

Back 515

clean; remove offensive parts of a book

Front 516

extant

Back 516

(of something written or painted) still in existence

Front 517

extenuate

Back 517

weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of (bad behavior)

Front 518

extradition

Back 518

surrender of prisoner by one state to another; Ex. extradition treaty; V. extradite

Front 519

extrude

Back 519

force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die

Front 520

exult

Back 520

rejoice

Front 521

facet

Back 521

small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side

Front 522

facetious

Back 522

joking (often inappropriately); unserious; humorous

Front 523

faction

Back 523

party; clique (within a large group); dissension

Front 524

factious

Back 524

inclined to form factions; causing dissension

Front 525

factitious

Back 525

artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears

Front 526

factotum

Back 526

handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything

Front 527

fallow

Back 527

(of land) plowed but not sowed (to improve the quality); uncultivated

Front 528

fancier

Back 528

breeder or dealer of animals; one who has a special interest, as for raising specific plant or animal

Front 529

fastidious

Back 529

difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky

Front 530

fatalism

Back 530

belief that events are determined by forces or fates beyond one's control; ADJ. fatalistic; CF. fatal: causing death

Front 531

fatuous

Back 531

smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity, fatuousness

Front 532

fauna

Back 532

animals of a period or region; CF. flora

Front 533

faze

Back 533

disconcert; dismay; embarrass

Front 534

febrile

Back 534

feverish

Front 535

fecundity

Back 535

fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young

Front 536

feint

Back 536

trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw away defensive action; V.

Front 537

felicitous

Back 537

(of a word or remark) apt; suitably expressed; well chosen

Front 538

felicity

Back 538

happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous

Front 539

fell

Back 539

cruel; (of a disease) deadly

Front 540

feral

Back 540

(of an animal) not domestic; wild

Front 541

ferment

Back 541

agitation; commotion(noisy and excited activity); unrest (of a political kind); V. produce by fermentation; undergo fermentation; cause (a state of trouble)

Front 542

fermentation

Back 542

chemical reaction that splits complex organic compounds; unrest; agitation

Front 543

ferret

Back 543

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

Front 544

fervid

Back 544

ardent; zealous; hot

Front 545

fete (fête)

Back 545

honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a feast; N. (outdoor) festival or feast; CF. feast

Front 546

fetid(foetid)

Back 546

malodorous; foul

Front 547

fetish(fetich)

Back 547

object believed to have spiritual powers; object of excessive attention or reverence; CF. fetishism

Front 548

fetter

Back 548

shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or shackle for the foot of a prisoner; CF. foot

Front 549

fiat

Back 549

command; arbitrary order; Ex. presidential fiat; CF. let it be done

Front 550

filch

Back 550

steal (things of small value)

Front 551

filial

Back 551

pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter; Ex. filial respect

Front 552

filigree

Back 552

delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork

Front 553

finery

Back 553

beautiful clothes for a special occasion

Front 554

firebrand

Back 554

piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker; person who stirs up trouble

Front 555

flag

Back 555

droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ. flagging; CF. unflagging

Front 556

flail

Back 556

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

Front 557

flay

Back 557

strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly

Front 558

fleece

Back 558

wool coat of a sheep; V: shear the fleece from; rob by a trick; swindle; plunder

Front 559

flit

Back 559

fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower

Front 560

floe

Back 560

flat mass of floating ice

Front 561

florescence

Back 561

condition or period of flowering

Front 562

florid

Back 562

ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose

Front 563

flotsam

Back 563

drifting wreckage

Front 564

fluster

Back 564

confuse; make nervous and confused; N.

Front 565

fluted

Back 565

having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column

Front 566

flutter

Back 566

(of a bird with large wings) wave (the wings) lightly, rapidly, and irregularly; vibrate rapidly or erratically; fly by waving quickly; flitter; N.

Front 567

fodder

Back 567

coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock; CF. food

Front 568

foible

Back 568

small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble

Front 569

foil

Back 569

contrast; one that by contrast enhances the distinctive characteristics of another

Front 570

foist

Back 570

insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion; palm off; pass off as genuine or worthy; CF. fist

Front 571

foment

Back 571

stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or unpleasant)

Front 572

foolhardy

Back 572

rash; reckless; foolishly daring

Front 573

foppish

Back 573

vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance

Front 574

forbearance

Back 574

patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from (in a generous and forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear to send him to prison

Front 575

ford

Back 575

place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.

Front 576

forensic

Back 576

suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in legal proceedings and the tracking of criminals; Ex. forensic science/medicine

Front 577

forswear

Back 577

renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure

Front 578

fortuitous

Back 578

accidental; by chance; N. fortuity

Front 579

foster

Back 579

rear; bring up (for a certain period only); encourage; promote the development of (feelings or ideas); Ex. help foster friendly relations; ADJ: giving parental care although not related by blood; Ex. foster parents

Front 580

fracas

Back 580

brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number of people take part; melee

Front 581

fractious

Back 581

unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex. fractious horse

Front 582

franchise

Back 582

right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory

Front 583

fray

Back 583

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

Front 584

freebooter

Back 584

pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich

Front 585

fresco

Back 585

painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)

Front 586

frieze

Back 586

ornamental horizontal band on a wall

Front 587

frock

Back 587

long loose garment (worn by monks)

Front 588

frond

Back 588

fern leaf; palm or banana leaf

Front 589

fructify

Back 589

bear fruit; produce fruit

Front 590

fuddle

Back 590

make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused

Front 591

fugitive

Back 591

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

Front 592

fulgurant

Back 592

resembling lightning

Front 593

fulminate

Back 593

thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation

Front 594

fulsome

Back 594

disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome praise/expressions of admire

Front 595

functionary

Back 595

official (who performs a particular function)

Front 596

funereal

Back 596

sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral

Front 597

furrow

Back 597

long shallow trench made by a plow; deep wrinkle in the skin; V.

Front 598

furtive

Back 598

stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive glance

Front 599

fusillade

Back 599

simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)

Front 600

gaffe

Back 600

social blunder

Front 601

gainsay

Back 601

deny

Front 602

gait

Back 602

manner of walking or running; speed

Front 603

gale

Back 603

windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughters, tears); Ex. gale of laughter

Front 604

gall

Back 604

annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse); exasperation

Front 605

gall

Back 605

bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; ┤π┴≤(bile); CF. gall bladder

Front 606

galleon

Back 606

large three-masted sailing ship

Front 607

galley

Back 607

low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)

Front 608

gallows

Back 608

framework from which a noose is suspended (used for execution by hanging)

Front 609

galvanic

Back 609

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

Front 610

galvanize

Back 610

stimulate or shock by an electric current; stimulate by shock; shock into action; stir up; coat with rust-resistant zinc by using electricity

Front 611

gambit

Back 611

opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action made to produce a future advantage

Front 612

gambol

Back 612

romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.

Front 613

gangrene

Back 613

decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood supply (usually following injury); ADJ. gangrenous

Front 614

garish

Back 614

overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy

Front 615

garrulous

Back 615

loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity

Front 616

gastronomy

Back 616

art and science of preparing and serving good food; CF. gastronome

Front 617

gauche

Back 617

clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth

Front 618

genuflect

Back 618

bend the knee as in worship

Front 619

genus

Back 619

division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species

Front 620

germane

Back 620

pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; appropriate

Front 621

germinal

Back 621

pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea

Front 622

gerontocracy

Back 622

government ruled by old people

Front 623

gestate

Back 623

evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth

Front 624

gibe

Back 624

mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks

Front 625

gild

Back 625

cover with a thin layer of gold

Front 626

glacial

Back 626

like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg

Front 627

glamour

Back 627

compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous

Front 628

glean

Back 628

gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty

Front 629

glib

Back 629

fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick

Front 630

gloss

Back 630

brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression; V.

Front 631

glower

Back 631

scowl; glare; look or stare angrily

Front 632

glut

Back 632

overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply

Front 633

gnarl

Back 633

protruding knot on a tree; V.

Front 634

gnarled

Back 634

twisted

Front 635

gossamer

Back 635

sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb

Front 636

grandiloquent

Back 636

(of a person or speech) using high sounding or important-sounding language; pompous; bombastic

Front 637

grim

Back 637

causing great fear; unrelenting; determined in spite of fear; Ex. grim smile

Front 638

grisly

Back 638

ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies

Front 639

groom

Back 639

man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush (an animal)

Front 640

grotto

Back 640

small cavern

Front 641

grouse

Back 641

complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump chickenlike game bird

Front 642

gruel

Back 642

thin liquid porridge

Front 643

guffaw

Back 643

boisterous laughter; V.

Front 644

guileless

Back 644

without deceit

Front 645

gustatory

Back 645

affecting or relating to the sense of taste

Front 646

guy

Back 646

cable or chain attached to something that needs to be braced or steadied; CF. guide

Front 647

gyroscope

Back 647

apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.

Front 648

hackles

Back 648

hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone's hackles rise

Front 649

hackneyed

Back 649

commonplace; trite

Front 650

haggard

Back 650

wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the rescued miners

Front 651

halcyon

Back 651

calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days

Front 652

hale

Back 652

healthy

Front 653

hap

Back 653

chance; luck

Front 654

hapless

Back 654

unfortunate; luckless

Front 655

harangue

Back 655

long, passionate, and vehement speech; V.

Front 656

harrowing

Back 656

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

Front 657

harry

Back 657

harass, annoy, torment (by repeated attacks); raid

Front 658

hermetic

Back 658

sealed by fusion so as to be airtight; airtight

Front 659

hermetic

Back 659

concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult

Front 660

herpetologist

Back 660

one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians

Front 661

heterodox

Back 661

(of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional

Front 662

hew

Back 662

cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.

Front 663

hibernal

Back 663

wintry; wintery; of or like winter

Front 664

high-flown

Back 664

highly pretentious or inflated

Front 665

hinterlands

Back 665

back country; inner part of a country; OP. foreland

Front 666

hireling

Back 666

one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously); one who works solely for compensation; Ex. hireling politician

Front 667

hirsute

Back 667

hairy; having a lot of hair

Front 668

hoary

Back 668

white with age

Front 669

homespun

Back 669

domestic; made at home; spun or woven at home; simple and ordinary; Ex. homespun philosophy

Front 670

homily

Back 670

sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic

Front 671

hortatory

Back 671

encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort

Front 672

hovel

Back 672

shack; small wretched house

Front 673

hue_and_cry

Back 673

outcry; loud cry or clamor; strong protest; Ex. hue and cry against the new rule

Front 674

hummock

Back 674

small hill; hillock

Front 675

humus

Back 675

substance or rich soil formed by decaying vegetable matter; CF. soil

Front 676

husband

Back 676

use sparingly; conserve; save; Ex. husband one's energy; CF. house holder

Front 677

husbandry

Back 677

frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman

Front 678

hybrid

Back 678

mongrel; mixed breed; V. hybridize

Front 679

hydrophobia

Back 679

fear of water; rabies

Front 680

ichthyology

Back 680

study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish

Front 681

idiom

Back 681

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

Front 682

idyll(idyl)

Back 682

short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy period of life (in the country); scene from such a time; Ex. idyll of two young lovers

Front 683

idyllic

Back 683

charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene

Front 684

igneous

Back 684

produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks) formed from lava; Ex. igneous meteorite

Front 685

ignominy

Back 685

deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat

Front 686

illicit

Back 686

illegal

Front 687

illimitable

Back 687

infinite; limitless

Front 688

imbroglio

Back 688

complicated situation (as in a play); painful or complex misunderstanding (as in a play); entanglement; confused mass (as of papers); V. embroil

Front 689

immolate

Back 689

offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)

Front 690

immure

Back 690

imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall

Front 691

impassive

Back 691

without feeling; expressionless; imperturbable; stoical; Ex. impassive face

Front 692

impecunious

Back 692

without money

Front 693

impenitent

Back 693

not repentant

Front 694

imperial

Back 694

like an emperor; related to an empire; CF. imperialism

Front 695

imperious

Back 695

domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor

Front 696

impertinent

Back 696

insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence

Front 697

impetuous

Back 697

violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful thought; Ex. impetuous decision

Front 698

impinge

Back 698

infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with; Ex. The effects are impinging on every aspect of our lives.

Front 699

implacable

Back 699

incapable of being pacified; impossible to appease; Ex. implacable enemy

Front 700

implement

Back 700

put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with tools; Ex. implement the plan/suggestion; N: tool or instrument

Front 701

impolitic

Back 701

not wise; not expedient; not politic

Front 702

imponderable

Back 702

weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound

Front 703

importune

Back 703

beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way)

Front 704

imposture

Back 704

assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor

Front 705

imprecate

Back 705

curse; express abhorrence for; detest

Front 706

imprecation

Back 706

curse; swearword

Front 707

impregnate

Back 707

make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate

Front 708

improvident

Back 708

thriftless; not providing for the future

Front 709

impudence

Back 709

impertinence; insolence

Front 710

impugn

Back 710

dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight

Front 711

impuissance

Back 711

powerlessness; feebleness

Front 712

impute

Back 712

attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation

Front 713

inamorata

Back 713

woman whom a man loves

Front 714

incandescent

Back 714

strikingly bright; shining with intense heat; emitting visible light when heated; Ex. incandescent light bulb; CF. candle

Front 715

incantation

Back 715

singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant

Front 716

incarnation

Back 716

act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex. previous incarnation/reincarnation

Front 717

incendiary

Back 717

arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb

Front 718

incipient

Back 718

beginning; in an early stage

Front 719

incommodious

Back 719

not spacious; inconvenient

Front 720

incredulity

Back 720

tendency to disbelief

Front 721

incrustation

Back 721

hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust

Front 722

incubus

Back 722

burden; very worriying problem; mental care; nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus

Front 723

indefatigable

Back 723

tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting tired

Front 724

indelible

Back 724

not able to be erased

Front 725

indemnify

Back 725

make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured

Front 726

indigence

Back 726

poverty

Front 727

indignity

Back 727

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.

Front 728

indissoluble

Back 728

permanent; impossible to dissolve or disintegrate

Front 729

indite

Back 729

write; compose

Front 730

ineluctable

Back 730

irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable

Front 731

ingenue

Back 731

ing'enue; young innocent girl

Front 732

ingenuous

Back 732

naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid

Front 733

ingrate

Back 733

ungrateful person (not expressing thanks)

Front 734

ingratiate

Back 734

become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss

Front 735

inimical

Back 735

(of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy

Front 736

inimitable

Back 736

matchless; not able to be imitated

Front 737

iniquitous

Back 737

wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity

Front 738

inordinate

Back 738

beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive; Ex. inordinate demands

Front 739

insalubrious

Back 739

unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place

Front 740

inscrutable

Back 740

difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious

Front 741

insensate

Back 741

without feeling; lacking sense; foolish

Front 742

insensible

Back 742

unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible

Front 743

insipid

Back 743

lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character

Front 744

insolence

Back 744

impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ. insolent; CF. haughty + rude

Front 745

insouciant

Back 745

without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent

Front 746

insularity

Back 746

narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula

Front 747

insuperable

Back 747

insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties

Front 748

insurrection

Back 748

rebellion; uprising

Front 749

intelligentsia

Back 749

intellectuals; members of the educated elite (often used derogatorily)

Front 750

inter

Back 750

bury; N. interment

Front 751

interloper

Back 751

intruder; one who interferes

Front 752

internecine

Back 752

mutually destructive

Front 753

interpolate

Back 753

insert between

Front 754

interregnum

Back 754

period between two successive reigns or governments

Front 755

interstice

Back 755

narrow space between things

Front 756

intractable

Back 756

unruly; difficult to manage; Ex. intractable problem/child

Front 757

intransigence

Back 757

refusal of any compromise; stubbornness; ADJ. intransigent: uncompromising

Front 758

intrepid

Back 758

fearless

Front 759

inured

Back 759

accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling

Front 760

inveigh

Back 760

denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh against the evils of drink

Front 761

inveigle

Back 761

deceive; lead astray by deception; wheedle(cajole); Ex. inveigle her into joining the club; CF. interest dishonestly

Front 762

inveterate

Back 762

deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old

Front 763

invidious

Back 763

designed to create ill will or envy; tending to rouse ill will or envy; Ex. invidious comparison

Front 764

invocation

Back 764

prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon as a reference or support; act of invoking

Front 765

irascible

Back 765

irritable; easily angered

Front 766

irresolute

Back 766

uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in resolution; indecisive; N. irresolution

Front 767

irreverence

Back 767

lack of proper respect or reverence; ADJ. irreverent

Front 768

isotope

Back 768

varying from of an element

Front 769

isthmus

Back 769

narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land

Front 770

itinerant

Back 770

wandering; traveling from place to place (to perform work); Ex. itinerant preacher

Front 771

jaundice

Back 771

medical condition in which the skin, the white part of the eyes, etc. turn yellow; V: affect with jaundice; affect with prejudice, envy, or hostility; bias

Front 772

jaundiced

Back 772

yellowed; prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful) from long and disappointing experience of human affairs; Ex. with a jaundiced eye

Front 773

jaunty

Back 773

cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree; dapper in appearance; Ex. jaunty person/hat

Front 774

jetsam

Back 774

things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)

Front 775

jettison

Back 775

throw overboard (from a ship or plane)

Front 776

jibe

Back 776

agree; be in harmony with; gibe

Front 777

jocose

Back 777

given to(having a tendency of) joking

Front 778

jocund

Back 778

merry

Front 779

jollity

Back 779

gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay

Front 780

juggernaut

Back 780

irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its path

Front 781

junket

Back 781

trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense

Front 782

junta

Back 782

group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)

Front 783

juridical

Back 783

of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of courts of law; CF. judiciary

Front 784

jurisprudence

Back 784

science of law

Front 785

ken

Back 785

range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken

Front 786

killjoy

Back 786

grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others

Front 787

kismet

Back 787

fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.

Front 788

knave

Back 788

untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery

Front 789

knell

Back 789

tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.

Front 790

knoll

Back 790

little round hill; hillock

Front 791

knotty

Back 791

intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot

Front 792

labile

Back 792

likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability

Front 793

lachrymose

Back 793

producing tears; tearful

Front 794

lancet

Back 794

small surgical tool for making incisions

Front 795

languid

Back 795

lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless

Front 796

languish

Back 796

lose animation or strength

Front 797

languor

Back 797

lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression

Front 798

larceny

Back 798

theft; Ex. petit larceny

Front 799

larder

Back 799

pantry; place where food is kept

Front 800

largess

Back 800

generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)

Front 801

lascivious

Back 801

lustful

Front 802

lassitude

Back 802

languor; weariness; listlessness

Front 803

lavish

Back 803

liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance

Front 804

leery

Back 804

(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious

Front 805

legato

Back 805

(of music) played smoothly

Front 806

legerdemain

Back 806

sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand

Front 807

leonine

Back 807

like a lion

Front 808

levity

Back 808

lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner

Front 809

libel

Back 809

defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character; V. ADJ. libelous

Front 810

libertine

Back 810

debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou'e; CF. free

Front 811

lien

Back 811

legal claim or right on a property

Front 812

ligneous

Back 812

like wood

Front 813

lilliputian

Back 813

extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels

Front 814

limbo

Back 814

region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo

Front 815

limn

Back 815

draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?

Front 816

limpid

Back 816

crystal clear

Front 817

lineaments

Back 817

features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line

Front 818

lionize

Back 818

treat (a person) as a celebrity

Front 819

list

Back 819

tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)

Front 820

litany

Back 820

supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words

Front 821

lithe

Back 821

flexible; supple; CF. limber

Front 822

litotes

Back 822

understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''

Front 823

livid

Back 823

lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely angry

Front 824

loath

Back 824

reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go.

Front 825

lode

Back 825

metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)

Front 826

log

Back 826

record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk; V.

Front 827

loll

Back 827

lounge about

Front 828

loom

Back 828

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

Front 829

lope

Back 829

gallop slowly

Front 830

lot

Back 830

object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land

Front 831

lout

Back 831

clumsy person; ADJ. loutish; CF. from countrysides ?

Front 832

low

Back 832

moo; make the sound of a cow

Front 833

lucre

Back 833

money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre

Front 834

lugubrious

Back 834

mournful; sorrowful

Front 835

lumen

Back 835

unit of light energy (one candle's worth)

Front 836

lurid

Back 836

wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; Ex. lurid details of the murder

Front 837

luxuriant

Back 837

abundant; growing healthily and in large amounts; excessively ornate; rich and splendid; fertile; Ex. luxuriant forests/prose; CF. luxurious, luxuriate

Front 838

macabre

Back 838

gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death

Front 839

mace

Back 839

ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval weapon

Front 840

macerate

Back 840

soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper

Front 841

Machiavellian

Back 841

crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power

Front 842

maculated

Back 842

spotted; stained; CF. immaculate

Front 843

madrigal

Back 843

pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments

Front 844

maelstrom

Back 844

violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream

Front 845

magnanimity

Back 845

generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous

Front 846

magnate

Back 846

person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate

Front 847

magniloquent

Back 847

boastful; pompous

Front 848

maladroit

Back 848

clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling

Front 849

malaise

Back 849

uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)

Front 850

malapropism

Back 850

comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop

Front 851

malediction

Back 851

curse

Front 852

maleficient

Back 852

doing evil; N. maleficience

Front 853

malevolent

Back 853

wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence

Front 854

malfeasance

Back 854

wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)

Front 855

malingerer

Back 855

one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work

Front 856

manacle

Back 856

restrain; handcuff; N.

Front 857

mange

Back 857

skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair

Front 858

mangy

Back 858

shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance

Front 859

mannered

Back 859

affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech

Front 860

mantle

Back 860

loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core

Front 861

manumit

Back 861

emancipate; free from slavery or bondage

Front 862

maraud

Back 862

move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army

Front 863

maroon

Back 863

leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown

Front 864

marred

Back 864

damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure

Front 865

marshal

Back 865

put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official

Front 866

martinet

Back 866

strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet

Front 867

masochist

Back 867

person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism

Front 868

masticate

Back 868

chew

Front 869

matrix

Back 869

point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization

Front 870

maudlin

Back 870

effusively sentimental

Front 871

maul

Back 871

handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer

Front 872

mauve

Back 872

pale purple

Front 873

mawkish

Back 873

mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental

Front 874

mayhem

Back 874

injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim

Front 875

mealymouthed

Back 875

indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive

Front 876

medium

Back 876

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

Front 877

megalomania

Back 877

mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance

Front 878

mellifluous

Back 878

(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune

Front 879

menagerie

Back 879

collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo

Front 880

mendacious

Back 880

lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity

Front 881

mendicant

Back 881

beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar

Front 882

mercantile

Back 882

concerning trade or merchants

Front 883

mercurial

Back 883

capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood

Front 884

meretricious

Back 884

flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute

Front 885

mete

Back 885

measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment

Front 886

mettle

Back 886

courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome

Front 887

miasma

Back 887

swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence

Front 888

militate

Back 888

work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier

Front 889

minatory

Back 889

menacing; threatening

Front 890

mincing

Back 890

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

Front 891

minion

Back 891

servile dependent; obsequious follower

Front 892

mire

Back 892

entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire

Front 893

misadventure

Back 893

mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure

Front 894

mischance

Back 894

ill luck

Front 895

miscreant

Back 895

wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF. believe

Front 896

missive

Back 896

letter; written statement; CF. sent

Front 897

mite

Back 897

very small object or insect-like creature; small coin

Front 898

mnemonic

Back 898

pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid

Front 899

modish

Back 899

fashionable; conforming to the current fashion

Front 900

molecule

Back 900

the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance

Front 901

mollify

Back 901

soothe an angry person

Front 902

mollycoddle

Back 902

pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively

Front 903

molt(moult)

Back 903

periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)

Front 904

mongrel

Back 904

plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.

Front 905

monolithic

Back 905

solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone

Front 906

mordant

Back 906

biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit

Front 907

moribund

Back 907

dying; at the point of death; CF. death

Front 908

morose

Back 908

ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy

Front 909

mortar

Back 909

vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle

Front 910

mote

Back 910

small speck (esp. of dust)

Front 911

motley

Back 911

multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)

Front 912

mottled

Back 912

blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors

Front 913

mountebank

Back 913

charlatan; boastful pretender

Front 914

mulct

Back 914

defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy

Front 915

munificent

Back 915

very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience

Front 916

musky

Back 916

having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer

Front 917

mutinous

Back 917

unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer

Front 918

natation

Back 918

swimming

Front 919

natty

Back 919

neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser

Front 920

nebula

Back 920

diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy

Front 921

necromancy

Back 921

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

Front 922

nefarious

Back 922

very wicked

Front 923

neologism

Back 923

new or newly coined word or phrase

Front 924

neophyte

Back 924

recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant

Front 925

nether

Back 925

lower; Ex. nether garments/regions

Front 926

nettle

Back 926

irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome

Front 927

nexus

Back 927

connection

Front 928

nib

Back 928

beak(bill); pen point

Front 929

nicety

Back 929

precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties

Front 930

noisome

Back 930

foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome

Front 931

nonplus

Back 931

put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more

Front 932

nostrum

Back 932

questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)

Front 933

nova

Back 933

star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness

Front 934

nubile

Back 934

marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial

Front 935

nugatory

Back 935

worthless; futile

Front 936

numismatist

Back 936

person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals

Front 937

nuptial

Back 937

of marriage or the wedding ceremony; N; nuptials; wedding ceremony

Front 938

oath

Back 938

solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''

Front 939

obdurate

Back 939

stubborn; refusing to change one's belief

Front 940

obeisance

Back 940

bow (to show respect and obedience)

Front 941

obelisk

Back 941

tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid

Front 942

obfuscate

Back 942

confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand

Front 943

obloquy

Back 943

slander; disgrace; infamy

Front 944

obsequious

Back 944

slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic

Front 945

obsequy

Back 945

funeral ceremony

Front 946

obstreperous

Back 946

boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable

Front 947

obtrude

Back 947

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

Front 948

obviate

Back 948

make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need

Front 949

occlude

Back 949

shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.

Front 950

odious

Back 950

arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile

Front 951

odium

Back 951

detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)

Front 952

officious

Back 952

meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy

Front 953

oligarchy

Back 953

government by a privileged few

Front 954

onerous

Back 954

burdensome

Front 955

opalescent

Back 955

iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence

Front 956

opprobrium

Back 956

infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous

Front 957

oracular

Back 957

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

Front 958

oratorio

Back 958

dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata

Front 959

ordain

Back 959

decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination

Front 960

ornithologist

Back 960

scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds

Front 961

orthography

Back 961

correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics

Front 962

osseous

Back 962

made of bone; bony

Front 963

ostensible

Back 963

apparent; appearing as such; professed(pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible purpose of the expedition

Front 964

ostentatious

Back 964

showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display

Front 965

outmoded

Back 965

no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned

Front 966

overture

Back 966

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

Front 967

overweening

Back 967

arrogant; presumptuous

Front 968

overwrought

Back 968

nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done

Front 969

ovoid

Back 969

egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate

Front 970

pachyderm

Back 970

thick-skinned animal

Front 971

padre

Back 971

chaplain (in the armed forces)

Front 972

paean

Back 972

song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory

Front 973

palatial

Back 973

of or suitable for a palace; magnificent

Front 974

paleontology

Back 974

study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents

Front 975

palimpsest

Back 975

parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased

Front 976

pall

Back 976

become boring; grow tiresome

Front 977

pallet

Back 977

small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet

Front 978

palliate

Back 978

ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)

Front 979

pallid

Back 979

pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion

Front 980

panache

Back 980

flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache; CF. └▄ ╛╞╖í╖╬ ├╡└╗ ╗⌐│╗┤┬ ╝╪╛╛

Front 981

panoramic

Back 981

denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area

Front 982

paragon

Back 982

model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue

Front 983

paramount

Back 983

foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal

Front 984

paramour

Back 984

illicit lover

Front 985

pariah

Back 985

social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah

Front 986

parity

Back 986

equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate

Front 987

parlance

Back 987

language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance

Front 988

parley

Back 988

conference (between opponents); CF. speak

Front 989

parochial

Back 989

narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes

Front 990

parody

Back 990

humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.

Front 991

parquet

Back 991

floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece

Front 992

parry

Back 992

ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully; N. CF. ╕╖┤┬┤┘┤┬ ░││Σ└╠ ╛╞┤╘

Front 993

parsimony

Back 993

stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious

Front 994

parvenu

Back 994

upstart; newly rich person

Front 995

pastiche

Back 995

imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists

Front 996

patent

Back 996

obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.

Front 997

patina

Back 997

green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting

Front 998

patois

Back 998

local or provincial dialect

Front 999

patrician

Back 999

noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian

Front 1000

patrimony

Back 1000

property inherited from a father

Front 1001

pauper

Back 1001

very poor person

Front 1002

peccadillo

Back 1002

slight offense or fault; CF. sin

Front 1003

pecuniary

Back 1003

pertaining to money

Front 1004

pedant

Back 1004

scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities

Front 1005

pedantic

Back 1005

bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry

Front 1006

peddle

Back 1006

travel about selling (wares); CF. foot

Front 1007

pell-mell

Back 1007

in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell

Front 1008

pellucid

Back 1008

transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand

Front 1009

pendant(pendent)

Back 1009

hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)

Front 1010

pendulous

Back 1010

hanging; suspended

Front 1011

penitent

Back 1011

repentant; N.

Front 1012

penology

Back 1012

study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation

Front 1013

penumbra

Back 1013

partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow

Front 1014

penury

Back 1014

extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy

Front 1015

peon

Back 1015

landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage

Front 1016

peregrination

Back 1016

journey; V. peregrinate

Front 1017

peremptory

Back 1017

demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock

Front 1018

perfidious

Back 1018

treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery

Front 1019

perfunctory

Back 1019

done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss

Front 1020

perigee

Back 1020

point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee

Front 1021

peripatetic

Back 1021

walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy

Front 1022

peroration

Back 1022

conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length

Front 1023

perquisite(perk)

Back 1023

any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car

Front 1024

perspicacious

Back 1024

(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute

Front 1025

perspicuity

Back 1025

clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity

Front 1026

perspicuous

Back 1026

(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments

Front 1027

pert

Back 1027

(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat

Front 1028

pertinacious

Back 1028

holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent

Front 1029

pestilential(pestilent)

Back 1029

causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)

Front 1030

pestle

Back 1030

tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar

Front 1031

petulant

Back 1031

touchy; peevish; ill-tempered

Front 1032

phalanx

Back 1032

formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)

Front 1033

pharisaical

Back 1033

pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical

Front 1034

pharisee

Back 1034

Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy); hypocritical self-righteous person

Front 1035

philatelist

Back 1035

stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting

Front 1036

philistine

Back 1036

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

Front 1037

phlegmatic

Back 1037

calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract

Front 1038

phylum

Back 1038

major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division

Front 1039

physiognomy

Back 1039

face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features

Front 1040

piebald

Back 1040

of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald

Front 1041

pied

Back 1041

piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored

Front 1042

pilfer

Back 1042

steal things of small value; filch; snitch

Front 1043

pillory

Back 1043

punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.

Front 1044

pinion

Back 1044

restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing

Front 1045

pinnace

Back 1045

small boat

Front 1046

piquant

Back 1046

pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help

Front 1047

pique

Back 1047

irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity

Front 1048

piscatorial

Back 1048

pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces

Front 1049

pith

Back 1049

core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance

Front 1050

pithy

Back 1050

concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty

Front 1051

plait

Back 1051

braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair or fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail

Front 1052

plaudit

Back 1052

praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud

Front 1053

plebiscite

Back 1053

direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)

Front 1054

plenary

Back 1054

(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power

Front 1055

pluck

Back 1055

courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave

Front 1056

plumb

Back 1056

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

Front 1057

plutocracy

Back 1057

society ruled by the wealthy

Front 1058

politic

Back 1058

prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised

Front 1059

polity

Back 1059

(particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity

Front 1060

polyglot

Back 1060

speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.

Front 1061

ponderous

Back 1061

having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing

Front 1062

pontifical

Back 1062

pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop

Front 1063

pore

Back 1063

study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.

Front 1064

potable

Back 1064

suitable for drinking; drinkable

Front 1065

potentate

Back 1065

monarch; sovereign

Front 1066

poultice

Back 1066

soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body

Front 1067

practicable

Back 1067

feasible

Front 1068

prate

Back 1068

talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly

Front 1069

prattle

Back 1069

talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate

Front 1070

precinct

Back 1070

division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college

Front 1071

precipitant

Back 1071

something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; ─º└ⁿ┴ª; OP. solvent

Front 1072

precipitate

Back 1072

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

Front 1073

precipitous

Back 1073

steep; overhasty; precipitate

Front 1074

précis

Back 1074

abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text

Front 1075

precocious

Back 1075

advanced in development; N. precocity

Front 1076

preen

Back 1076

make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on; CF. prune

Front 1077

prefatory

Back 1077

introductory; of a preface

Front 1078

prehensile

Back 1078

capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails

Front 1079

prelate

Back 1079

church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)

Front 1080

premonitory

Back 1080

serving to warn

Front 1081

prepossessing

Back 1081

attractive; CF. preoccupying ?

Front 1082

prerogative

Back 1082

privilege; unquestionable or exclusive right; CF. ask before

Front 1083

presage

Back 1083

foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen

Front 1084

prescience

Back 1084

ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient

Front 1085

preternatural

Back 1085

beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces

Front 1086

prevail

Back 1086

be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do something

Front 1087

prevaricate

Back 1087

lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)

Front 1088

primogeniture

Back 1088

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)

Front 1089

prize

Back 1089

pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)

Front 1090

probity

Back 1090

uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility

Front 1091

prodigal

Back 1091

wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality

Front 1092

prodigious

Back 1092

enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory

Front 1093

profligate

Back 1093

wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy

Front 1094

progenitor

Back 1094

ancestor

Front 1095

progeny

Back 1095

children; offspring; descendants

Front 1096

prognosticate

Back 1096

predict (according to present indications)

Front 1097

prolixity

Back 1097

tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse

Front 1098

promontory

Back 1098

headland

Front 1099

promulgate

Back 1099

announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication

Front 1100

propinquity

Back 1100

nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship

Front 1101

propitiate

Back 1101

appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory

Front 1102

propitious

Back 1102

favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign

Front 1103

propound

Back 1103

put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory

Front 1104

propriety

Back 1104

fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary

Front 1105

prosaic

Back 1105

lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; CF. prose

Front 1106

proscenium

Back 1106

part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage

Front 1107

proscribe

Back 1107

prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw

Front 1108

proselytize

Back 1108

(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion

Front 1109

prosody

Back 1109

art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse

Front 1110

protean

Back 1110

able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will

Front 1111

protract

Back 1111

prolong; lengthen in time; draw out

Front 1112

protuberance

Back 1112

protrusion; swelling; bulge

Front 1113

provenance

Back 1113

place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come

Front 1114

provender

Back 1114

dry food for livestock; fodder

Front 1115

provident

Back 1115

providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident

Front 1116

provincial

Back 1116

pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated

Front 1117

proviso

Back 1117

stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision

Front 1118

proxy

Back 1118

authorized agent; authority to act for another

Front 1119

prurient

Back 1119

having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire

Front 1120

puerile

Back 1120

childish; immature; CF. puer: boy

Front 1121

pugnacity

Back 1121

combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious: (of people) belligerent; combative in nature

Front 1122

puissant

Back 1122

powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power

Front 1123

pulchritude

Back 1123

beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous

Front 1124

punctilious

Back 1124

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

Front 1125

pundit

Back 1125

authority on a subject; expert; learned person

Front 1126

purchase

Back 1126

secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing

Front 1127

purveyor

Back 1127

furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide

Front 1128

pusillanimous

Back 1128

cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted

Front 1129

putative

Back 1129

supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child

Front 1130

putrescent

Back 1130

becoming putrid; putrefying

Front 1131

quaff

Back 1131

drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); ▓▄▓⌐▓▄▓⌐ ╕╢╜├┤┘; CF. sip

Front 1132

quagmire

Back 1132

bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself

Front 1133

quail

Back 1133

cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart

Front 1134

quarry

Back 1134

dig into (to get stone); N: mine; ├ñ╝«└σ

Front 1135

quarry

Back 1135

person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey

Front 1136

quay

Back 1136

dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)

Front 1137

querulous

Back 1137

given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining

Front 1138

quicksilver

Back 1138

mercury

Front 1139

quietude

Back 1139

tranquillity; calmness

Front 1140

quintessence

Back 1140

purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence

Front 1141

quip

Back 1141

taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.

Front 1142

quisling

Back 1142

traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling

Front 1143

quixotic

Back 1143

idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote

Front 1144

quorum

Back 1144

minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting

Front 1145

rabble

Back 1145

mob; noisy crowd

Front 1146

raconteur

Back 1146

story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill

Front 1147

raiment

Back 1147

clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.

Front 1148

rake

Back 1148

immoral or dissolute person

Front 1149

rake

Back 1149

angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular

Front 1150

rakish

Back 1150

jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.

Front 1151

ramification

Back 1151

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

Front 1152

ramify

Back 1152

branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions

Front 1153

rampart

Back 1153

defensive mound of earth

Front 1154

rankle

Back 1154

irritate; fester; annoy

Front 1155

rapacious

Back 1155

voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds

Front 1156

rare

Back 1156

(of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains

Front 1157

rasp

Back 1157

(of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; rub with something rough; Ex. The cat's tongue rasped my hand.

Front 1158

ravel

Back 1158

fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist

Front 1159

raze

Back 1159

destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground

Front 1160

reactionary

Back 1160

strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical

Front 1161

rebuff

Back 1161

reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.

Front 1162

rebus

Back 1162

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''.

Front 1163

recalcitrant

Back 1163

disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child

Front 1164

recidivism

Back 1164

habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist

Front 1165

reciprocate

Back 1165

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

Front 1166

recondite

Back 1166

abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret

Front 1167

reconnaissance

Back 1167

survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)

Front 1168

recreant

Back 1168

disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person

Front 1169

recrimination

Back 1169

countercharges; V. recriminate

Front 1170

rectitude

Back 1170

moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment

Front 1171

recumbent

Back 1171

reclining; lying down completely or in part

Front 1172

redolent

Back 1172

odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery

Front 1173

redoubtable

Back 1173

formidable; causing fear

Front 1174

redress

Back 1174

remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for

Front 1175

reduce

Back 1175

diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction

Front 1176

refectory

Back 1176

dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)

Front 1177

refractory

Back 1177

unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse

Front 1178

refulgent

Back 1178

effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon

Front 1179

regale

Back 1179

entertain

Front 1180

regatta

Back 1180

boat or yacht race

Front 1181

regent

Back 1181

a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent

Front 1182

regicide

Back 1182

murder of a king or queen

Front 1183

rejoinder

Back 1183

reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply

Front 1184

remission

Back 1184

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.

Front 1185

remit

Back 1185

transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment

Front 1186

remittance

Back 1186

remitting of money; amount of money remitted

Front 1187

remonstrate

Back 1187

protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest

Front 1188

remunerative

Back 1188

(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble

Front 1189

rent

Back 1189

tear made by rending; rip; split

Front 1190

repast

Back 1190

meal; feast; banquet

Front 1191

repine

Back 1191

fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work

Front 1192

replete

Back 1192

fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors

Front 1193

reprisal

Back 1193

retaliation

Front 1194

reprobate

Back 1194

morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?

Front 1195

reprobation

Back 1195

severe disapproval; CF. approbation

Front 1196

reprove

Back 1196

censure; rebuke; N. reproof

Front 1197

requisition

Back 1197

formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.

Front 1198

requite

Back 1198

make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal

Front 1199

residue

Back 1199

remainder; balance

Front 1200

resolve

Back 1200

decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined decision; N. resolution

Front 1201

resplendent

Back 1201

brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious

Front 1202

restive

Back 1202

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'

Front 1203

retain

Back 1203

keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor

Front 1204

reticent

Back 1204

inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence

Front 1205

retinue

Back 1205

following; attendants

Front 1206

retiring

Back 1206

shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality

Front 1207

retrench

Back 1207

cut down; cut down expenses; economize

Front 1208

revelry

Back 1208

boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration

Front 1209

reverie

Back 1209

daydream; abstracted musing

Front 1210

revile

Back 1210

attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)

Front 1211

rhapsodize

Back 1211

speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery

Front 1212

ribald

Back 1212

marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke

Front 1213

riddle

Back 1213

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)

Front 1214

rider

Back 1214

amendment or clause added to a legislative bill

Front 1215

rife

Back 1215

(of something bad) widespread; abundant; current

Front 1216

rig

Back 1216

arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a ship) with rigging; ADJ. rigging: ropes that hold up a ship's sails

Front 1217

rococo

Back 1217

ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century

Front 1218

roil

Back 1218

make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb

Front 1219

roseate

Back 1219

rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views

Front 1220

rostrum

Back 1220

raised platform for speech-making; pulpit

Front 1221

roué

Back 1221

lecherous man

Front 1222

rubric

Back 1222

title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol

Front 1223

ruddy

Back 1223

reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking

Front 1224

rue

Back 1224

regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. ADJ. rueful

Front 1225

ruminant

Back 1225

animal that ruminates; ADJ.

Front 1226

runic

Back 1226

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

Front 1227

rustic

Back 1227

pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person

Front 1228

rusticate

Back 1228

banish to the country; dwell in the country

Front 1229

sacrosanct

Back 1229

invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable

Front 1230

sadistic

Back 1230

inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty

Front 1231

salacious

Back 1231

lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk

Front 1232

sallow

Back 1232

(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice

Front 1233

salubrious

Back 1233

healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health

Front 1234

salutary

Back 1234

tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health

Front 1235

sanctimonious

Back 1235

displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety

Front 1236

sanguinary

Back 1236

bloody; with much bloodshed

Front 1237

sanguine

Back 1237

optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red

Front 1238

sartorial

Back 1238

pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor

Front 1239

saturnine

Back 1239

morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.

Front 1240

satyr

Back 1240

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

Front 1241

scabbard

Back 1241

case for a sword blade; sheath

Front 1242

scintilla

Back 1242

trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark

Front 1243

scintillate

Back 1243

sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation

Front 1244

scion

Back 1244

detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant

Front 1245

scoff

Back 1245

laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats

Front 1246

scotch

Back 1246

stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF. ╚░╡┐└╗ ┴┘└╠┤┬ └╟╣╠

Front 1247

scourge

Back 1247

lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict

Front 1248

scruple

Back 1248

hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience

Front 1249

scurrilous

Back 1249

abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark

Front 1250

scurvy

Back 1250

contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C

Front 1251

scuttle

Back 1251

sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull

Front 1252

seamy

Back 1252

sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life

Front 1253

secession

Back 1253

withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership

Front 1254

sedate

Back 1254

composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative

Front 1255

sedition

Back 1255

conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious

Front 1256

sedulous

Back 1256

diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity

Front 1257

seemly

Back 1257

(of behavior) proper; appropriate

Front 1258

seethe

Back 1258

be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.

Front 1259

seine

Back 1259

seine net; net for catching fish

Front 1260

seismic

Back 1260

pertaining to earthquakes

Front 1261

seminal

Back 1261

related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field

Front 1262

sensuous

Back 1262

giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin

Front 1263

sententious

Back 1263

pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic

Front 1264

sentinel

Back 1264

sentry; lookout

Front 1265

septic

Back 1265

of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)

Front 1266

sepulcher

Back 1266

tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral

Front 1267

sere

Back 1267

sear; parched; dry

Front 1268

sextant

Back 1268

navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)

Front 1269

Shangri-la

Back 1269

imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost Horizon

Front 1270

sheaf

Back 1270

bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together

Front 1271

shoot

Back 1271

new growth from a plant

Front 1272

shrew

Back 1272

scolding woman; very small mouselike animal

Front 1273

shunt

Back 1273

move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.

Front 1274

shyster

Back 1274

lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner

Front 1275

sibylline

Back 1275

prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)

Front 1276

sidereal

Back 1276

relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day

Front 1277

silt

Back 1277

sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)

Front 1278

simper

Back 1278

smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly

Front 1279

sinecure

Back 1279

well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif

Front 1280

sinewy

Back 1280

(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone

Front 1281

sinuous

Back 1281

twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest

Front 1282

skiff

Back 1282

small light sailboat or rowboat

Front 1283

skimp

Back 1283

provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly

Front 1284

skinflint

Back 1284

miser; stingy person

Front 1285

skittish

Back 1285

inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit

Front 1286

skulduggery(skullduggery)

Back 1286

dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election

Front 1287

skulk

Back 1287

move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.

Front 1288

slag

Back 1288

glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter

Front 1289

slake

Back 1289

satisfy (thirst); quench; sate

Front 1290

slapdash

Back 1290

hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)

Front 1291

sledge

Back 1291

large sled drawn by work animals

Front 1292

sleight

Back 1292

dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks

Front 1293

slink

Back 1293

move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)

Front 1294

slough

Back 1294

(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed

Front 1295

sluice

Back 1295

artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)

Front 1296

smelt

Back 1296

melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition

Front 1297

snivel

Back 1297

complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.

Front 1298

snub

Back 1298

ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she snubbed me; N.

Front 1299

snuffle

Back 1299

sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)

Front 1300

sodden

Back 1300

thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink

Front 1301

sojourn

Back 1301

temporary stay; V: stay for a time

Front 1302

solder

Back 1302

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

Front 1303

solecism

Back 1303

nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette

Front 1304

solicitor

Back 1304

lawyer in the lower court of law

Front 1305

solicitous

Back 1305

anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude

Front 1306

solstice

Back 1306

point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator

Front 1307

soluble

Back 1307

able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved

Front 1308

solvent

Back 1308

able to pay all depths; N. solvency

Front 1309

somatic

Back 1309

pertaining to the body; bodily; physical

Front 1310

somnambulist

Back 1310

sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism

Front 1311

somnolent

Back 1311

half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence

Front 1312

sonnet

Back 1312

14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern

Front 1313

soporific

Back 1313

sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy

Front 1314

sordid

Back 1314

filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story

Front 1315

spangle

Back 1315

small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation

Front 1316

spartan

Back 1316

without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life

Front 1317

spate

Back 1317

sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents

Front 1318

spectral

Back 1318

ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom

Front 1319

spendthrift

Back 1319

someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth

Front 1320

sphinx-like

Back 1320

enigmatic; mysterious

Front 1321

spoilsport

Back 1321

one who spoils the pleasure of others

Front 1322

sportive

Back 1322

playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike

Front 1323

spry

Back 1323

(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble

Front 1324

squat

Back 1324

short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.

Front 1325

stalwart

Back 1325

physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower

Front 1326

stanch

Back 1326

stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound

Front 1327

stem

Back 1327

stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk

Front 1328

stentorian

Back 1328

(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad

Front 1329

stigma

Back 1329

token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful

Front 1330

stilted

Back 1330

bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal

Front 1331

stint

Back 1331

supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint

Front 1332

stint

Back 1332

set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings

Front 1333

stipple

Back 1333

paint or draw with dots or short strokes

Front 1334

stockade

Back 1334

wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier

Front 1335

stolid

Back 1335

dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected

Front 1336

stout

Back 1336

rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter

Front 1337

stratagem

Back 1337

deceptive scheme; clever trick

Front 1338

stratum

Back 1338

layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata

Front 1339

stricture

Back 1339

severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction

Front 1340

strident

Back 1340

loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency

Front 1341

strut

Back 1341

supporting bar; CF. airplane wing└╠│¬ building ╡ε└╗ support

Front 1342

stultify

Back 1342

make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression

Front 1343

stygian

Back 1343

unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead

Front 1344

subaltern

Back 1344

subordinate

Front 1345

sublimate

Back 1345

refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state

Front 1346

sublime

Back 1346

causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter

Front 1347

suborn

Back 1347

persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation

Front 1348

subside

Back 1348

sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate

Front 1349

subversive

Back 1349

tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?

Front 1350

succor

Back 1350

assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.

Front 1351

suffragist

Back 1351

advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage

Front 1352

suffuse

Back 1352

spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.

Front 1353

sullen

Back 1353

silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy

Front 1354

sultry

Back 1354

(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous

Front 1355

sumptuous

Back 1355

grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast

Front 1356

sunder

Back 1356

separate; part; CF. asunder

Front 1357

superannuated

Back 1357

retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete

Front 1358

supercilious

Back 1358

haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium

Front 1359

supererogatory

Back 1359

superfluous; more than needed or demanded

Front 1360

supernumerary

Back 1360

person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary number

Front 1361

supine

Back 1361

lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision

Front 1362

suppliant

Back 1362

entreating; beseeching; N.

Front 1363

supplicant

Back 1363

one who supplicates; ADJ.

Front 1364

supplicate

Back 1364

petition humbly; pray to grant a favor

Front 1365

supposititious

Back 1365

assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical

Front 1366

surfeit

Back 1366

satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food

Front 1367

surreptitious

Back 1367

done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden

Front 1368

swarthy

Back 1368

(of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?

Front 1369

swathe

Back 1369

swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages

Front 1370

sybarite

Back 1370

lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy

Front 1371

sycophant

Back 1371

servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic

Front 1372

syllogism

Back 1372

logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument

Front 1373

synoptic

Back 1373

providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis

Front 1374

tactile

Back 1374

pertaining to the organs or sense of touch

Front 1375

talisman

Back 1375

charm; object believed to give supernatural powers to or protect its bearer

Front 1376

tanner

Back 1376

person who turns animal hides into leather

Front 1377

taper

Back 1377

very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward one end

Front 1378

tarry

Back 1378

linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle

Front 1379

tawdry

Back 1379

cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry

Front 1380

tawny

Back 1380

brownish yellow

Front 1381

teetotalism

Back 1381

practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks; N. teetotaler;; ADJ. teetotal; CF. T + total

Front 1382

temerity

Back 1382

boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day's work

Front 1383

temporize

Back 1383

gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself

Front 1384

tenancy

Back 1384

possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant's occupancy

Front 1385

tendentious

Back 1385

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

Front 1386

tensile

Back 1386

capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. tensile rubber

Front 1387

tenuous

Back 1387

thin; slim; rare

Front 1388

tepid

Back 1388

lukewarm; slightly warm; ╣╠┴÷▒┘╟╤; half-hearted; not eager; Ex. tepid reaction to the new film; Ex. tepid supporter

Front 1389

terminology

Back 1389

terms used in a science or art; study of nomenclature

Front 1390

tessellated

Back 1390

mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern

Front 1391

tether

Back 1391

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

Front 1392

thrall

Back 1392

slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; CF. enthrall

Front 1393

thrash

Back 1393

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.

Front 1394

threadbare

Back 1394

worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor; hackneyed; Ex. threadbare excuses

Front 1395

thresh

Back 1395

beat (cereal plants) with a machine or flail to separate the grains from the straw

Front 1396

tiller

Back 1396

handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer)

Front 1397

timorous

Back 1397

fearful; timid; demonstrating fear

Front 1398

tipple

Back 1398

drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink

Front 1399

tithe

Back 1399

tax of one-tenth (contributed to a church); V: pay a tithe

Front 1400

titter

Back 1400

nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.

Front 1401

titular

Back 1401

of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular head of the company

Front 1402

toady

Back 1402

servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn

Front 1403

tome

Back 1403

large volume; book

Front 1404

tonsure

Back 1404

shaving of the head especially by person entering religious orders; V.

Front 1405

torpor

Back 1405

lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; ADJ. torpid: lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of an animal) dormant; hibernating

Front 1406

torque

Back 1406

twisting force; force producing rotation

Front 1407

torrent

Back 1407

rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.

Front 1408

torrid

Back 1408

(of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid love affairs

Front 1409

tortuous

Back 1409

winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain road

Front 1410

touchstone

Back 1410

stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion; standard

Front 1411

tract

Back 1411

propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political group); expanse of land; region of indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex. digestive tract

Front 1412

tractable

Back 1412

docile; easily managed; (of something) easily changed or molded; N. tractability

Front 1413

traduce

Back 1413

expose to slander

Front 1414

tramp

Back 1414

walk with a heavy step; travel on foot; N: vagrant; one who travels aimlessly about; long walk; sound of heavy walking

Front 1415

transport

Back 1415

strong emotion; rapture; Ex. in a transport/transports of; V: move to strong emotion; enrapture

Front 1416

trappings

Back 1416

outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward sign of rank)

Front 1417

travail

Back 1417

strenuous work; toil; painful labor; labor of childbirth

Front 1418

travesty

Back 1418

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

Front 1419

trenchant

Back 1419

cutting; incisive; keen

Front 1420

tribune

Back 1420

official of ancient Rome elected by the plebians to protect their rights; protector of the people

Front 1421

trident

Back 1421

three-pronged spear

Front 1422

troth

Back 1422

pledge of good faith especially in betrothal; betrothal; Ex. by my troth

Front 1423

trough

Back 1423

long narrow container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.); long narrow depression as between waves

Front 1424

truculence

Back 1424

aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent: aggressive; pugnacious; fierce

Front 1425

tryst

Back 1425

meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet

Front 1426

tumid

Back 1426

(of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous

Front 1427

turbid

Back 1427

(of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick

Front 1428

tureen

Back 1428

deep dish for serving soup

Front 1429

turgid

Back 1429

swollen; distended (as from liquid)

Front 1430

turncoat

Back 1430

traitor

Front 1431

turpitude

Back 1431

depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude

Front 1432

tutelary

Back 1432

protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex. tutelary deities

Front 1433

tyro

Back 1433

beginner; novice

Front 1434

ubiquitous

Back 1434

being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity

Front 1435

unction

Back 1435

the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction

Front 1436

unexceptionable

Back 1436

entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism

Front 1437

unfetter

Back 1437

liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter

Front 1438

unfledged

Back 1438

immature; not having the feathers necessary to fly; CF. fledgling

Front 1439

unfrock

Back 1439

defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority

Front 1440

ungainly

Back 1440

(of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy; (of something) unwieldy; Ex. ungainly dancer/instrument

Front 1441

unguent

Back 1441

ointment

Front 1442

unintimating

Back 1442

unfrightening

Front 1443

unprepossessing

Back 1443

unattractive

Front 1444

unregenerate

Back 1444

making no attempt to change one's bad practices

Front 1445

untoward

Back 1445

unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter

Front 1446

unwonted

Back 1446

unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted punctuality.

Front 1447

upbraid

Back 1447

reprimand; severely scold

Front 1448

urchin

Back 1448

mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin: hedgehog; CF. porcupine: pig with spikes ?; CF. sea urchin

Front 1449

ursine

Back 1449

bearlike; pertaining to a bear

Front 1450

usury

Back 1450

lending money at illegal high rates of interest

Front 1451

uxorious

Back 1451

excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife; CF. uxor: wife

Front 1452

vagary

Back 1452

capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander

Front 1453

vainglorious

Back 1453

boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity

Front 1454

valediction

Back 1454

saying farewell; expression of leave-taking

Front 1455

valedictory

Back 1455

pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp. at graduation exercises)

Front 1456

vassal

Back 1456

in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord; subordinate or dependent

Front 1457

vaunted

Back 1457

boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt: boast; brag

Front 1458

venal

Back 1458

capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal

Front 1459

vendetta

Back 1459

blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams

Front 1460

veneer

Back 1460

thin surface layer (of good quality wood, glued to a base of inferior material); cover; surface show; fac{c}ade; V.

Front 1461

venerate

Back 1461

revere; treat with great respect

Front 1462

venial

Back 1462

(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial

Front 1463

venison

Back 1463

meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork, ham, bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton; CF. lamb: lamb

Front 1464

ventral

Back 1464

abdominal

Front 1465

venturesome

Back 1465

(of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an action) risky

Front 1466

veracious

Back 1466

(of a person) truthful

Front 1467

verdant

Back 1467

green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows

Front 1468

verdigris

Back 1468

green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather

Front 1469

verisimilar

Back 1469

having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible

Front 1470

vernal

Back 1470

pertaining to spring

Front 1471

vertex

Back 1471

summit; highest point; PL. vertices

Front 1472

verve

Back 1472

enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor

Front 1473

vestige

Back 1473

trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion

Front 1474

viand

Back 1474

food; CF. live

Front 1475

vicar

Back 1475

parish priest; representative

Front 1476

vicissitude

Back 1476

change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China

Front 1477

vigil

Back 1477

keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); Ex. all-night vigil

Front 1478

vignette

Back 1478

small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene

Front 1479

vintner

Back 1479

wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine

Front 1480

virile

Back 1480

manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength

Front 1481

visceral

Back 1481

felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate

Front 1482

viscid

Back 1482

adhesive; gluey

Front 1483

vise

Back 1483

vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device

Front 1484

vitiate

Back 1484

spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally

Front 1485

vitreous

Back 1485

of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify

Front 1486

vituperative

Back 1486

abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively

Front 1487

vixen

Back 1487

female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew

Front 1488

vociferous

Back 1488

clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining)

Front 1489

volley

Back 1489

simultaneous discharge of a number of shots; V.

Front 1490

voluble

Back 1490

fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility

Front 1491

vortex

Back 1491

whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged

Front 1492

vulpine

Back 1492

like a fox; crafty

Front 1493

waft

Back 1493

move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window

Front 1494

wag

Back 1494

shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog wagged its tail; N: humorous person; wit

Front 1495

waggish

Back 1495

humorous; mischievous; tricky

Front 1496

waif

Back 1496

homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays

Front 1497

wan

Back 1497

having a pale or sickly color; pallid

Front 1498

wangle

Back 1498

achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.

Front 1499

wanton

Back 1499

unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause

Front 1500

ward

Back 1500

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

Front 1501

warren

Back 1501

tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live

Front 1502

wastrel

Back 1502

waster; profligate

Front 1503

welter

Back 1503

wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in blood); Ex. The victims weltered in their blood.

Front 1504

wheedle

Back 1504

deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her

Front 1505

whelp

Back 1505

young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.

Front 1506

whet

Back 1506

sharpen; stimulate; Ex. whet someone's appetite

Front 1507

whinny

Back 1507

neigh like a horse; CF. neigh: make the sound which horses make

Front 1508

whit

Back 1508

small amount; smallest speck; Ex. not a whit of

Front 1509

whorl

Back 1509

ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers

Front 1510

willowy

Back 1510

flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow

Front 1511

wily

Back 1511

crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem

Front 1512

windfall

Back 1512

fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event

Front 1513

winnow

Back 1513

sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; CF. wind

Front 1514

winsome

Back 1514

charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging

Front 1515

wistful

Back 1515

sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing

Front 1516

wont

Back 1516

(the stated person's) habit or custom; habitual procedure; ADJ. wonted: customary

Front 1517

wrest

Back 1517

obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence; Ex. wrest victory from their grasp

Front 1518

writ

Back 1518

written command issued by a court (telling someone to do or not to do something)

Front 1519

wrongheaded

Back 1519

stubbornly wrong

Front 1520

wry

Back 1520

(esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing displeasure)

Front 1521

yen

Back 1521

strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel

Front 1522

yeoman

Back 1522

man or farmer owning small estate; middle-class farmer

Front 1523

zephyr

Back 1523

gentle breeze; west wind

Front 1524

zest

Back 1524

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