Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
313 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
abate
|
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
|
|
|
aberrant
|
abnormal or deviant
|
|
|
abeyance
|
suspended action
|
|
|
abstemious
|
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
|
|
|
abstain
|
to choose not to do something
|
|
|
abyss
|
an extremely deep hole
|
|
|
admonish
|
warn; reprove
|
|
|
adulterate
|
to make impure
|
|
|
advocate
|
to speak in favor of
|
|
|
aesthetic
|
concerning the appreciation of beauty
|
|
|
aggregate
|
gather; accumulate
|
|
|
aggrandize
|
to increase in power, influence, or reputation
|
|
|
alacrity
|
cheerful promptness; eagerness
|
|
|
amalgamate
|
to combine; to mix together
|
|
|
ambiguous
|
doubtful or uncertain
|
|
|
ameliorate
|
to make better; improve
|
|
|
anachronism
|
something out of place in time
|
|
|
analogous
|
similar or alike in some way
|
|
|
anarchy
|
no governing body; state of disorder
|
|
|
anomaly
|
deviation from what is normal
|
|
|
antagonize
|
to annoy or provoke to anger
|
|
|
antipathy
|
extreme dislike
|
|
|
apathy
|
lack of interest or emotion
|
|
|
appease
|
pacify; relieve
|
|
|
apprise
|
inform
|
|
|
approbation
|
approval
|
|
|
appropriate
|
acquire; take possession of
|
|
|
arbitrate
|
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
|
|
|
ardor
|
intense and passionate feeling
|
|
|
arduous
|
hard; strenuous
|
|
|
articulate
|
able to speak clearly and expressively
|
|
|
artless
|
without guile; open and honest
|
|
|
ascetic
|
practicing self-denial; austere
|
|
|
assiduous
|
diligent
|
|
|
assuage
|
to make something unpleasant less severe; alleviate
|
|
|
attenuate
|
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
|
|
|
audacious
|
fearless and daring
|
|
|
austere
|
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
|
|
|
aver
|
to state confidently
|
|
|
banal
|
predictable, cliched, boring
|
|
|
belie
|
contradict; give a false impression
|
|
|
beneficent
|
kindly; doing good
|
|
|
bolster
|
to support; reinforce; prop up
|
|
|
bombastic
|
pompous in speech and manner
|
|
|
burnish
|
make shiny by rubbing; polish
|
|
|
buttress
|
support;prop up
|
|
|
boorish
|
rude; insensitive
|
|
|
burgeon
|
grow forth; send out buds
|
|
|
cacophony
|
harsh, jarring noise
|
|
|
candid
|
impartial and honest speech
|
|
|
capricious
|
changing one's mind quickly and often
|
|
|
castigate
|
to punish or criticize harshly
|
|
|
catalyst
|
something that brings about a change in something else
|
|
|
coagulate
|
thicken; congeal; clot
|
|
|
coda
|
concluding section of a musical or literary composition
|
|
|
caustic
|
biting in wit
|
|
|
chicanery
|
deception by means of craft or guile
|
|
|
cogent
|
convincing and well-reasoned
|
|
|
confound
|
confuse; puzzle
|
|
|
convoluted
|
intricate and complicated
|
|
|
commensurate
|
equal in extent
|
|
|
compendium
|
brief, comprehensive summary
|
|
|
condone
|
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
|
|
|
conundrum
|
riddle; difficult problem
|
|
|
conciliatory
|
reconciling; soothing
|
|
|
contention
|
claim; thesis
|
|
|
contentious
|
quarrelsome
|
|
|
contrite
|
penitent; remorseful
|
|
|
corroborate
|
to provide supporting evidence
|
|
|
craven
|
cowardly
|
|
|
credulous
|
too trusting; gullible
|
|
|
crescendo
|
steadily increasing in volume or force
|
|
|
daunt
|
intimidate; frighten
|
|
|
deference
|
respect; courtesy
|
|
|
delineate
|
portray; depict; sketch
|
|
|
denigrate
|
belittle or defame
|
|
|
deride
|
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
|
|
|
decorum
|
appropriateness of behavior/conduct
|
|
|
disingenuous
|
lacking genuine candor; insincere
|
|
|
derivative
|
unoriginal
|
|
|
desiccate
|
to dry out thoroughly
|
|
|
dilettante
|
someone with an amatuerish and superficial interest in a topic
|
|
|
dirge
|
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
|
|
|
dilatory
|
intended to delay
|
|
|
diffuse
|
wordy; rambling
|
|
|
diatribe
|
an abusive, condemnatory speech
|
|
|
desultory
|
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
|
|
|
disabuse
|
to set right; to free from error
|
|
|
discrepancy
|
lack of consistency; difference
|
|
|
discrete
|
separate; unconnected
|
|
|
diffident
|
lacking self-confidence
|
|
|
discordant
|
not harmonious; conflicting
|
|
|
disseminate
|
distribute; sread; scatter (like seeds)
|
|
|
disparate
|
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
|
|
|
dissemble
|
to present a false appearance
|
|
|
disparage
|
belittle
|
|
|
deterrent
|
something that discourages; hindrance
|
|
|
embellish
|
adorn; ornament; enhance-as a story
|
|
|
endemic
|
prevailing among a specific group
|
|
|
elicit
|
draw out by discussion
|
|
|
efficacy
|
effectiveness
|
|
|
effrontery
|
boldness; temerity
|
|
|
dogma
|
a firmly held opinion; often a religious belief
|
|
|
eclectic
|
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
|
|
|
disjointed
|
disconnected
|
|
|
enervate
|
to reduce in strength
|
|
|
dissolution
|
breaking of a union; decay; termination
|
|
|
dissonance
|
a harsh and disagreeable combination (often of sounds)
|
|
|
distend
|
expand; swell out
|
|
|
divest
|
strip; deprive
|
|
|
dogmatic
|
dictatorial in one's opinions
|
|
|
dupe
|
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
|
|
|
ebullient
|
showing excitement
|
|
|
eloquent
|
persuasive and moving, especially in speech
|
|
|
goad
|
urge on
|
|
|
gouge
|
overcharge
|
|
|
grandiloquent
|
pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language
|
|
|
harangue
|
long, passionate, and vehement speech
|
|
|
hyperbole
|
exaggeration
|
|
|
immutable
|
unchangeable
|
|
|
impassive
|
without feeling; imperterbable; stoical
|
|
|
impede
|
hinder; block
|
|
|
implicit
|
understood, but not stated
|
|
|
implode
|
burst inward
|
|
|
inadvertently
|
unintentionally
|
|
|
incongruity
|
lack of harmony; absurdity
|
|
|
inconsequential
|
insignificant; unimportant
|
|
|
indeterminate
|
uncertain; not clearly fixed
|
|
|
indigence
|
poverty
|
|
|
indolent
|
lazy
|
|
|
inert
|
inactive; lacking the power to move
|
|
|
insensible
|
unconscious; unresponsive
|
|
|
insularity
|
narrow-mindedness
|
|
|
intractable
|
unruly; stubborn; unyielding
|
|
|
inured
|
accustomed; hardened
|
|
|
invective
|
abuse
|
|
|
irresolute
|
unceratin how to act; weak
|
|
|
lassitude
|
langour; weariness
|
|
|
latent
|
potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden
|
|
|
levee
|
earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding
|
|
|
levity
|
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity
|
|
|
magnanimity
|
generosity
|
|
|
maverick
|
rebel; noncomformist
|
|
|
mendacious
|
lying; habitually dishonest
|
|
|
morose
|
ill-humored; sullen; melancholy
|
|
|
mundane
|
worldy as opposed to spiritual
|
|
|
negate
|
to cancel out; nullify; deny
|
|
|
neophyte
|
recent convert; beginner
|
|
|
officious
|
meddlesome; excessively pushy
|
|
|
oscillate
|
vibrate pendulumlike; waver
|
|
|
partisan
|
one-sided; prejudiced
|
|
|
pathological
|
related to the study of disease
|
|
|
paucity
|
scarcity
|
|
|
penchant
|
strong inclination; liking
|
|
|
penury
|
severe poverty; stinginess
|
|
|
perennial
|
something long-lasting
|
|
|
pervasive
|
spread throughout
|
|
|
phlegmatic
|
calm; not easily disturbed
|
|
|
piety
|
devoutness; reverence for God
|
|
|
platitude
|
trite remark; commonplace statement
|
|
|
plummet
|
fall sharply
|
|
|
porous
|
full of pores
|
|
|
preamble
|
introductory statment
|
|
|
precarious
|
uncertain; risky
|
|
|
presumptuous
|
overconfident; bold
|
|
|
probity
|
uprightness; incorruptibility
|
|
|
profound
|
deep; complete; not superficial
|
|
|
propensity
|
natural inclination
|
|
|
proscribe
|
ostracize; banish; outlaw
|
|
|
quibble
|
minor objection or complaint
|
|
|
recalcitrant
|
obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority
|
|
|
recant
|
disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement
|
|
|
recluse
|
hermit; loner
|
|
|
recondite
|
difficult to understand; secret
|
|
|
refractory
|
stubborn; unmanageable
|
|
|
refute
|
disprove
|
|
|
relegate
|
banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign
|
|
|
reproach
|
express disapproval or disappointment
|
|
|
reprobate
|
soundrel; person lacking moral principles
|
|
|
rescind
|
cancel
|
|
|
resolution
|
determination
|
|
|
resolve
|
determination; firmness of purpose
|
|
|
reverent
|
respctful; worshipful
|
|
|
sage
|
person celebrated for wisdom
|
|
|
salubrious
|
healthful
|
|
|
sanction
|
approve; ratify
|
|
|
savor
|
enjoy
|
|
|
secrete
|
hide away or cache
|
|
|
shard
|
fragment, generally of pottery
|
|
|
skeptic
|
doubter
|
|
|
solicitous
|
worried; concerned
|
|
|
stint
|
be thrifty; set limits
|
|
|
stipulate
|
make express conditions, specify
|
|
|
stolid
|
dull
|
|
|
striated
|
marked with parallel bands; grooved
|
|
|
strut
|
pompous walk
|
|
|
subpoena
|
writ of summoning a witness to appear
|
|
|
subside
|
settle down; descend; grow quiet
|
|
|
substantiate
|
establish by evidence
|
|
|
supersede
|
cuase to be set aside; replace
|
|
|
supposition
|
hypothesis; surmise
|
|
|
tangential
|
peripheral; only slightly connected
|
|
|
tenuous
|
thin; rare; slim
|
|
|
tortuous
|
winding; full of curves
|
|
|
tractable
|
docile; easily managed
|
|
|
transgression
|
violation of law; sin
|
|
|
truculence
|
aggressiveness; ferocity
|
|
|
viable
|
practical or workable; capable of maintaining life
|
|
|
viscous
|
sticky, gluey
|
|
|
vituperative
|
abusive; scolding
|
|
|
warranted
|
justified; authorized
|
|
|
wary
|
very cautious
|
|
|
welter
|
turmoil; bewildering jumble
|
|
|
whimsical
|
capricious; fanciful
|
|
|
equivocate
|
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead; to conceal the truth
|
|
|
explicit
|
clearly stated or shown
|
|
|
extrapolation
|
projection; conjecture
|
|
|
facetious
|
jokine (often inappropriate); humorous
|
|
|
fallacious
|
false; misleading
|
|
|
fatuous
|
foolish; inane
|
|
|
fawn
|
to grovel
|
|
|
felicitous
|
apt; suitably expressed; well-chosen
|
|
|
fervid
|
intensely emotional; feverish
|
|
|
flag
|
droop; grow feeble
|
|
|
florid
|
excessively decorated or embellished
|
|
|
flout
|
reject; mock
|
|
|
foment
|
to arouse or incite
|
|
|
frugality
|
a tendency to be thrifty or cheap
|
|
|
futile
|
useless; hopeless; ineffectual
|
|
|
gainsay
|
deny
|
|
|
garrulous
|
tending to talk alot; loquacious; wordy
|
|
|
exacerbate
|
to make worse
|
|
|
exigent
|
urgent; requiring immediate action
|
|
|
exculpate
|
to clear from blame
|
|
|
erratic
|
wandering and unpredictable
|
|
|
erudite
|
learned; scholarly
|
|
|
esoteric
|
known or understood by only a few
|
|
|
estimable
|
admirable
|
|
|
engender
|
to bring about
|
|
|
exonerate
|
to clear of blame
|
|
|
enigma
|
a puzzle; a mystery
|
|
|
euphimism
|
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
|
|
|
enumerate
|
to count, list, or itemize
|
|
|
ephemeral
|
lasting a short time
|
|
|
equanimity
|
calmness of temperament; composure
|
|
|
impetuous
|
quick to act without thinking
|
|
|
implacable
|
unable to be calmed down
|
|
|
inchoate
|
not fully formed; disorganized
|
|
|
ingenuous
|
showing innocence
|
|
|
inimical
|
hostile; unfriendly
|
|
|
innocuous
|
harmless
|
|
|
insipid
|
lacking interest or flavor
|
|
|
intransigent
|
uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
|
|
|
inundate
|
to overwhelm; to cover with water
|
|
|
irascible
|
easily made angry
|
|
|
laconic
|
using few words
|
|
|
lament
|
to express sorrow; grief
|
|
|
laud
|
to give praise; to glorify
|
|
|
lavish
|
to give unsparingly
|
|
|
loquacious
|
talkative
|
|
|
lucid
|
clear and easily understood
|
|
|
malinger
|
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
|
|
|
malleable
|
capable of being shaped
|
|
|
misanthrope
|
a person who dislikes others
|
|
|
mitigate
|
to soften; to lessen
|
|
|
mollify
|
to calm or make less severe
|
|
|
monotony
|
lack of variation
|
|
|
obdurate
|
hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion
|
|
|
obsequious
|
eager to please
|
|
|
obstinate
|
stubborn; unyielding
|
|
|
obviate
|
to prevent; to make unnecessary
|
|
|
occlude
|
to stop up; to prevent the passage of
|
|
|
onerous
|
troublesome
|
|
|
opaque
|
impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light
|
|
|
opprobrium
|
public disgrace
|
|
|
ostentation
|
excessive showiness
|
|
|
paragon
|
model of excellence or perfection
|
|
|
pedant
|
someone who shows off learning
|
|
|
perfidious
|
willing to betray one's trust
|
|
|
perfunctory
|
done in a routine way; indifferent
|
|
|
philanthropy
|
charity
|
|
|
placate
|
to soothe or pacify
|
|
|
pragmatic
|
practical as opposed to ideal
|
|
|
precipitate
|
to throw violently or bring about abruptly
|
|
|
prevaricate
|
to lie or deviate from the truth
|
|
|
pristine
|
fresh and clean
|
|
|
prodigal
|
lavish, wasteful
|
|
|
proliferate
|
to increase in number quickly
|
|
|
propitiate
|
to conciliate; to appease
|
|
|
propriety
|
correct behavior; obedience
|
|
|
prudence
|
wisdom; caution
|
|
|
quiescent
|
motionless
|
|
|
rarefy
|
to make thinner or sparser
|
|
|
repudiate
|
to reject the validity of
|
|
|
reticent
|
silent; reserved
|
|
|
soporific
|
causing sleep or lethargy
|
|
|
specious
|
deceptively attractive
|
|
|
stigma
|
a mark of shame or discredit
|
|
|
stolid
|
unemotional; lacking sensitivity
|
|
|
sublime
|
lofty or grand
|
|
|
tacit
|
done without using words
|
|
|
taciturn
|
silent; not talkative
|
|
|
tirade
|
long, harsh speech or verbal attack
|
|
|
torpor
|
extreme mental and physical sluggishness
|
|
|
transitory
|
temporary, lasting a brief time
|
|
|
vacillate
|
to sway physically; to be indecisive
|
|
|
venerate
|
to respect deeply
|
|
|
veracity
|
filled with truth and accuracy
|
|
|
verbose
|
wordy
|
|
|
vex
|
to annoy
|
|
|
volatile
|
easily aroused or changeable
|
|
|
whimsical
|
acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
|
|
|
zeal
|
passion; excitement
|
