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555 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abase
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v. lower; degrade; humiliate
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abash
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v. embarrass
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abate
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v. subside or moderate
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abbreviate
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v. shorten
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abdicate
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v. renounce; give up
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aberrant
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adj. abnormal or deviant
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aberration
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n. abnormality; departure from the norm; mental irregularity or disorder
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abet
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v. assist
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abeyance
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n. suspended action
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abhor
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v. detest; hate
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abject
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adj. wretched; lacking pride
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abjure
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v. renounce upon oath; disavow
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ablution
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n. washing
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abnegation
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n renunciation; self-sacrifice
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abolish
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v. cancel; put an end to
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abominable
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adj. detestable; extremely unpleasant
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abominate
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v. loathe; hate
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aboriginal
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adj., n. being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native
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abortive
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adj. unsuccessful; fruitless
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abrasive
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adj. rubbing away; tending to grind down
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abridge
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v. condense or shorten
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abrogate
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v. abolish
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abscission
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n. removal by cutting off, as in surgery; separation
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abscond
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v. depart secretly and hide
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absolute
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adj. complete; totally unlimited; certain
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absolve
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v. pardon (an offense)
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abstain
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v. refrain; withhold from participation
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abstemious
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adj. sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
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abstinence
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n. restraint from eating or drinking
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abstract
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adj. theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
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abstruse
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adj. obscure; profound; difficult to understand.
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abusive
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adj. coarsely insulting; physically harmful
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abut
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v. border upon; adjoin
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abyss
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n. enormous chasm; vast, bottomless pit
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academic
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adj. related to a school; not practical or directly useful
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accede
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v. agree
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accelerate
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v. move faster
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accessible
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adj. easy to approach; obtainable
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accessory
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n. additional object
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acclaim
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v. applaud; announce with great approval
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acclimate
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v. adjust to climate or environment; adapt.
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acclivity
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n. sharp upslope of a hill
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accolade
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n. award of merit
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accommodate
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v. oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt
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accomplice
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n. partner in a crime
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accord
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n. agreement
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accost
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v. approach and speak first to a person
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accoutre
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v. equip
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accretion
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n. growth; increase
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accrue
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v. come about by addition
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acerbic
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adj. bitter or sour in nature; sharp and cutting
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acerbity
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n. bitterness of speech and temper
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acetic
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adj. vinegary
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acidulous
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adj. slightly sour; sharp; caustic
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acknowledge
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v. recognize; admit
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acme
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n. peak, pinnacle; highest point
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acoustics
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n. science of sound; quality of that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
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acquiesce
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v. assent; agree passively
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acquittal
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n. deliverance from a charge
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acrid
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adj. sharp; bitterly pungent
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acrimonious
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adj. bitter in words or manner
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acrophobia
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n. fear of heights
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actuarial
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adj. calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
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actuate
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v. motivate
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acuity
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n. sharpness
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acumen
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n. mental keenness
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acute
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adj. quickly perceptive; keen; brief and severe
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adage
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n. wise saying; proverb
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adamant
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adj. hard; inflexible
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adapt
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v. alter; modify
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addendum
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n. addition; appendix to book
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addiction
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n. compulsive, habitual need
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addle
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v. muddle, drive crazy; become rotten
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address
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v. direct a speech to; deal with or discuss
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adept
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adj. expert at
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adhere
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v. stick fast
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adherent
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n. supporter; follower
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adjacent
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adj. adjoining; neighboring; close by
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adjunct
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n something (generally nonessential or interior) added on or attached
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adjuration
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n. solemn urging
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adjutant
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n. staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
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admonish
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v. warn; reprove
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adorn
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v. decorate
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adroit
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adj. skillful
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adroit
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adj. skillful
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adulation
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n. flattery; admiration.
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adulterate
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v. make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances.
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advent
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n. arrival.
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adventitious
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adj. accidental; casual.
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adversary
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n. opponent; enemy.
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adverse
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adj. unfavorable; hostile.
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adversity
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n. poverty; misfortune.
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advert
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v. refer (to).
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advocacy
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n. support; active pleading on behalf of someone or somethin.
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advocate
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v. urge; plead for
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aegis
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n. shield; defense.
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aerie
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n. nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk).
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aesthetic
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adj. artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful.
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affable
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adj. easily approachable; warmly friendly.
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affected
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adj. artificial; pretended; assumed in order to impress.
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affidavit
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n. written statement made under oath.
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affiliation
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n. joining; associating with.
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affinity
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n. kinship
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affirmation
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n. positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath.
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affix
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v. attach or add on; fasten.
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affliction
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n. state of distress; cause of suffering
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affluence
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n. abundance; wealth
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affront
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n. insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect.
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agape
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adj. openmouthed.
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agenda
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n. items of business at a meeting.
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agglomeration
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n. collection; heap
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aggrandize
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v. increase or intensify; raise in power, wealth, rank or honor.
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aggregate
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v. gather; accumulate.
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aggressor
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n. attacker.
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aghast
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adj. horrified; dumbfounded
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agility
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n. nimbleness
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agitate
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v. stir up; disturb
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agnostic
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n. one who is skeptical of the existence of a god or any ultimate reality
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agog
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adj. highly excited; intensely curious
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agrarian
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adj. pertaining to land or its cultivation
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alacrity
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n. cheerful promptness; eagerness.
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alchemy
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n. medieval form of speculative thought that aimed to transform base metals (lead or copper) into silver or gold and to discover a means of prolonging life.
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alcove
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n. nook; recess.
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alias
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n. an assumed name.
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alienate
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v. make hostile; separate
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alimentary
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adj. supplying nourishment.
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alimony
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n payments made to an ex-spouse after divorce.
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allay
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v. calm; pacify
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allege
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v. state without proof.
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allegiance
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n. loyality
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allegory
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n. story in which characters are used as symbols; fable.
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alleviate
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v. relieve
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alliteration
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n. repetition of beginning sound in poetry.
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allocate
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v. assign.
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alloy (noun usage)
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n. a mixture as of metals.
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alloy (verb usage)
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v. mix; make less pure; lesson or moderate
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allude
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v. refer indirectly
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allure
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v. entice; attract
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allusion
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n. indirect reference.
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alluvial
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adj. pertaining to soil deposits left by running water.
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aloof
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adj. apart; reserved.
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aloft
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adv. upward
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altercation
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n. noisy quarrel; heated dispute.
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altruistic
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adj. unselfishly generous; concerned for others.
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amalgamate
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v. combine; unite in one body.
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amass
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v. collect
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amazon
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n. female warrior.
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ambidextrous
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adj. capble of using either hand with equal ease.
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ambience
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n. environment; atmosphere
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ambiguous
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adj. unclear or doubtful in meaning.
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ambivalence
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n. the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes.
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amble
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n. moving at an easy pace.
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ambrosia
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n. food of the gods.
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ambulatory
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adj. able to walk; not bedridden.
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ameliorate
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v. improve.
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amenable
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adj. readily managed or willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally.
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amend
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v. correct; change, generally for the better.
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amenities
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n. convenient features; courtesies
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amiable
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adj. agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly.
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amicable
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adj. politely friendly; not quarrelsome.
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amiss
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adj. wrong; faulty.
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amity
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n. friendship
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amnesia
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n. loss of memory.
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amnesty
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n. pardon
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amoral
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adj. nonmoral
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amorous
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adj. moved by sexual love; loving.
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amorphous
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adj. formless; lacking shape or definition
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ample
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adj. abundant
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amplify
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v. boraden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger.
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amputate
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v. cut off part of body; prune.
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amok (also amuck)
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adv. in a state of rage
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amulet
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n. charm; talisman
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anachronism
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n. something or someone misplaced in time.
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analgesic
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adj. causing insensitivity to pain
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analogous
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adj. comparable
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analogy
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n. similarity; parallelism
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anarchist
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n. person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
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anarchy
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n. absence of governing body; state of disorder.
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anathema
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n. solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse.
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ancestry
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n. family descent
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anchor
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v. secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place.
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ancillary
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adj. serving as an aid or accessory; auxillary.
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anecdote
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n. short account of an amusing or interesting event
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anemia
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n. condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles.
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anesthetic
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n. substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness
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anguish
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n. acute pain; extreme suffering.
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angular
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adj. sharp-cornered; stiff in manner.
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animadversion
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n. critical remark.
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animated
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adj. lively; spirited.
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animosity
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n. active enmity.
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animus
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n. hostile feeling or intent
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annals
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n. records; history.
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anneal
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v. reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling.
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annex
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v. attach; take possesion of
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annihilate
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v. destroy
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annotate
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v. comment; make explanatory notes.
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annuity
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n. yearly allowance
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annul
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v. make void
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anodyne
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n. drug that relieves pain; opiate.
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anoint
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v. consecrate
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anomalous
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adj. abnormal; irregular.
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anomaly
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n. iregularity
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anonymity
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n. state of being nameless; anonymousness.
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antagonism
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n. hostility; active resistance
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antecede
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v. precede.
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antecedents
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n. preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; ancestors of early background
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antediluvian
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adj. antiquated; extremely ancient.
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anthem
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n. song of praise or patriotism
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anthology
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n. book of literary selections by various authors.
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anthropoid
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adj. manlike.
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anthropologist
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n. student of the history and science of humankind
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anthropomorphic
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adj.. having human form or characterstics
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antic
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adj. extravagantly odd
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anticlimax
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n. letdown in thought or emotion
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antidote
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n. remedy to counteract a poison or disease
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antipathy
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n. aversion; dislike
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antiquated
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adj. obsolete; outdated
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antispetic
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n. substance that prevents infection
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antithesis
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n. contrast; direct opposite of or to.
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anvil
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n. iron block used in hammering out metals
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apathy
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n. lack of caring; indifference
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ape
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v. imitate or mimic
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aperture.
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n. opening; hole
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apex
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n. tip; summit; climax
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aphasia
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n. loss of speech due to injury or illness
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aphorism
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n. pithy maxim or saying.
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apiary
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n. a place where bees are kept
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aplomb
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n. poise; assurance
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apocalyptic
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adj. prophetic; pertaining to revelations.
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apocryphal
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adj. spurious; not authentic; invented rather than true.
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apogee
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n. highest point.
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apolitical
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adj. having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
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apologist
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n. one who writes in defense of a cause or institution.
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apostate
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n. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs
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apothecary
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n. durggist
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apothegm
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n. pithy, compact saying
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apotheosis
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n. elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
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appall
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v. dismay; shock
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apparition
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n. ghost; phantom
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appease
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v. pacify or soothe; relieve.
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appellation
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n. name; title
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append
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v. attach
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application
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n. diligent attention
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apposite
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adj. appropriate; fitting
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appraise
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v. estimate value of
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appreciate
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v. be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious
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apprehend
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v. arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive.
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apprehensive
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adj. fearful; discerning
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apprise
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v. inform.
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approbation
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n. approval
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appropriate
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v. acquire; take possesion of for one's own use.
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appurtenances
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n. subordinate possessions.
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apropos
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adj. to the point and timely
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aptitude
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n. fitness; talent
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acquiline
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adj. curved, hooked
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arabesque
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n. style of decoration involving intertwined plants and abstract curves; ballet position with one leg supporting the weight of the body, while the other leg is extended in back.
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arable
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adj. fit for growing crops
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arbiter
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n. person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge
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arbitrary
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adj. unreasonable or capricious; tryannical.
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arbitrate
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v. act as judge
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arboretum
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n. place where different varieties of trees and shurbs are studied and exhibited.
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arcade
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n. a covered passageway, usually lined with shops
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arcane
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adj. secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated.
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archaeology
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n. study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
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archaic
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adj. antiquated
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archetype
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n. prototype; primitive pattern
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archipelago
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n. group of closely located islands
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archives
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n. public records; place where public records are kept
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ardor
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n. heat; passion; zeal
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arduous
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adj. hard; strenuous.
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argot
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n. slang.
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aria
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n. operatic solo
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arid
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adj. dry; barren
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aristocracy
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n. hereditary nobility; privileged class
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armada
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n. fleet of warships
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aromatic
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adj. fragrant
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arraign
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v. charge in court; indict
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array
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v. marshal; draw up in order
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array
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v. clothe; adorn
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arrears
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n. being in debt
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arrest
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v. stop or check; seize or capture (the attention)
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arrhythmic
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adj. lacking rhythm or regularity
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arrogance
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n. pride; haughtiness
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arroyo
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n. gully
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arsenal
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n. storage place for military equipment.
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artful
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adj. cunning; crafty; sly
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articulate
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adj. effective; distinct.
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artifact
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n. object made by human beings, either handmade or mass-produced.
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artifice
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n. deception; trickery
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artisan
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n. manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed to artist
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artless
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adj. without guile; open and honest
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ascendancy
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n. controlling influence.
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ascertain
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v. find out for certain
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ascetic
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adj. practicing self-denial; austere
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ascribe
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v. refer; attribute; assign
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aseptic
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adj. preventing infection; having a cleansing effect.
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ashen
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adj. ash-colored; deadly pale
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asinine
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adj. stupid
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askance
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adv. with a sideways or indirect look.
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askew
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adv. crookedly; slanted; at an angle
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asperity
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n. sharpness (of temper).
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aspersion
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n. slanderous remark.
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aspirant
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n. seeker after position or status
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aspire
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seek to attain; long for
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assail
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v. assault
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assay
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v. analyze; evaluate
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assert
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v. state strongly or positively; insist on or demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.).
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assessment
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n. estimation; appraisal
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|
assiduous
|
adj. diligent
|
|
|
assimilate
|
v. absorb; cause to become homogenous
|
|
|
assuage
|
v. ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger).
|
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|
assumption
|
n. something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possesion of
|
|
|
assurance
|
n. promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence.
|
|
|
asteroid
|
n. small planet
|
|
|
astigmatism
|
n. eye defect that prevents proper focus
|
|
|
astral
|
adj. relating to the stars
|
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|
astringent
|
adj. binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe.
|
|
|
astronomical
|
adj. enormously large or extensive.
|
|
|
astute
|
adj. wise; shrewd; keen.
|
|
|
asunder
|
adv. into parts; apart
|
|
|
asylum
|
n. place of refuge or shelter; protection.
|
|
|
asymmetric
|
adj. not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
|
|
|
atavism
|
n. resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback
|
|
|
atheist
|
n. one who denies the existence of God
|
|
|
atone
|
v. make amends for; pay for.
|
|
|
atrocity
|
n. brutal deed.
|
|
|
atrophy
|
n. wasting away
|
|
|
attentive
|
adj. alert and watchful; considerate; thoughtful.
|
|
|
attenuate
|
v. make thinner; weaken or lessen (in density, force, degree).
|
|
|
attest
|
v. testify; bear witness
|
|
|
attribute (noun usage)
|
n. essential quality
|
|
|
attribute (verb usage)
|
v. ascribe; explain
|
|
|
attrition
|
n. gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment
|
|
|
atypical
|
adj. not normal
|
|
|
audacious
|
adj. daring; bold.
|
|
|
audit
|
n. examination of accounts
|
|
|
augment
|
v. increase; add to.
|
|
|
augury
|
n. omen; prophecy.
|
|
|
august
|
adj. impressive; majestic
|
|
|
aureole
|
n. sun's corona; halo
|
|
|
auroral
|
adj. pertaining to the aurora borealis
|
|
|
auspicious
|
adj. favoring success.
|
|
|
austere
|
adj. forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented
|
|
|
authenticate
|
v. prove genuine.
|
|
|
authoritarian
|
adj. subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will
|
|
|
authoritative
|
adj. having the weight of authority; peremptory and dictatorial
|
|
|
autocratic
|
adj. having absolute, unchecked power; dictatorial.
|
|
|
automation
|
n. mechanism that imitates actions of humans.
|
|
|
autonomous
|
adj. self-governing.
|
|
|
autopsy
|
n. examination of a dead body; postmortem
|
|
|
avalanche
|
n. great mass of falling snow and ice
|
|
|
avarice
|
n. greediness for wealth
|
|
|
avenge
|
v. take vengeance for something (or on behalf of someone).
|
|
|
aver
|
v. assert confidently or declare; as used in law, state formally as a fact.
|
|
|
averse
|
adj. reluctant; disinclined
|
|
|
aversion
|
n. firm dislike
|
|
|
avert
|
v. prevent; turn away
|
|
|
aviary
|
n. enclosure for birds.
|
|
|
avid
|
adj. greedy; eager for
|
|
|
avocation
|
n. secondary or minor occupation.
|
|
|
avow
|
v. delcare openly
|
|
|
avuncular
|
adj. like an uncle
|
|
|
awe
|
n. solemn wonder
|
|
|
awl
|
n. pointed tool used for piercing
|
|
|
awry
|
adv. distorted; crooked
|
|
|
axiom
|
n. self-evident truth requiring no proof
|
|
|
azure
|
adj. sky blue
|
|
|
babble
|
chatter idly.
|
|
|
bacchanalian
|
adj. drunken
|
|
|
badger
|
v. pester; annoy
|
|
|
badinage
|
n. teasing conversation
|
|
|
baffle
|
v. frustrate; perplex.
|
|
|
bait
|
v. harass; tease
|
|
|
baleful
|
adj. threatening; menacing; sinister; foreshadowing evil
|
|
|
balk
|
v. stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue
|
|
|
balk (verb usage)
|
v. foil
|
|
|
ballast
|
n. heavy substance used to add stability or weight.
|
|
|
balm
|
n. something that relieves pain
|
|
|
balmy
|
adj. mild; fragrant
|
|
|
banal
|
adj. hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality
|
|
|
bandy
|
v. discuss lightly or glibly; exchange (words) heatedly.
|
|
|
bane
|
n. curse; cause of ruin
|
|
|
baneful
|
adj. destructive; causing ruin or death
|
|
|
bantering
|
adj. good-naturedly ridiculing
|
|
|
barb
|
n. sharp projection from fishhook or other object; openly cutting remark
|
|
|
bard
|
n. poet
|
|
|
barefaced
|
adj. shameless; bold; unconcealed.
|
|
|
baroque
|
adj. highly ornate
|
|
|
barrage
|
n. barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion
|
|
|
barrister
|
n. counselor-at-law
|
|
|
barterer
|
n. trader
|
|
|
bask
|
v. luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
|
|
|
bastion
|
n. stronghold; something seen as a source of protection
|
|
|
bate
|
v. let down; restrain
|
|
|
bauble
|
n. trinket; trifle, something of little value
|
|
|
bawdy
|
adj. indecent; obscene.
|
|
|
beatific
|
adj. showing or producing joy; blissful
|
|
|
beatify
|
v. bless or sanctify; proclaim someone dead to be one of the blessed
|
|
|
beatitude
|
n. blessedness; state of bliss
|
|
|
bedizen
|
v. dress with vulgar finery
|
|
|
bedgraggle
|
v. wet thoroughly
|
|
|
beeline
|
n. direct, quick route
|
|
|
befuddle
|
v. confused thoroughly
|
|
|
beget
|
v. father; produce; give rise to
|
|
|
begrudge
|
v. resent
|
|
|
beguile
|
v. mislead or delude; cheat; pass time
|
|
|
behemoth
|
n. huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
|
|
|
beholden
|
adj. obligated; indebted.
|
|
|
behoove
|
v. be necessary or proper for; be incumbent upon
|
|
|
belabor
|
v. explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally.
|
|
|
belated
|
adj. delayed
|
|
|
beleaguer
|
v. besiege or attack; harass
|
|
|
belie
|
v. contradict; give a false impression
|
|
|
belittle
|
v. disparage; deprecate
|
|
|
bellicose
|
adj. warlike; pugnacious; naturally inclined to fight
|
|
|
belligerent
|
adj. quarrelsome
|
|
|
bemoan
|
v. lament; express disapproval of
|
|
|
bemused
|
adj. confused; lost in thought; preoccupied.
|
|
|
benediction
|
n. blessing
|
|
|
benefactor
|
n. gift giver; patron
|
|
|
beneficent
|
adj. kindly; doing good
|
|
|
beneficial
|
adj. helpful; useful
|
|
|
beneficiary
|
n. person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
|
|
|
benevolent
|
adj. generous; charitable
|
|
|
benign
|
adj. kindly; favorable; not malignant.
|
|
|
benison
|
n. blessing
|
|
|
bent
|
adj.; n. determined; natural talent or inclination
|
|
|
bequeath
|
v. leave to someone by means of a will; hand down
|
|
|
berate
|
v. scold strongly.
|
|
|
bereavement
|
n. state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved
|
|
|
bereft
|
adj. deprived of; lacking
|
|
|
berserk
|
adv. frenzied
|
|
|
beseech
|
v. beg; plead with
|
|
|
beset
|
v. harass or trouble; hem in
|
|
|
besiege
|
v. surround with armed forces; harass (with requests).
|
|
|
besmirch
|
v. soil, defile
|
|
|
bestial
|
adj. beastlike; brutal; inhuman
|
|
|
bestow
|
v. confer
|
|
|
betoken
|
v. signify; indicate
|
|
|
betray
|
v. be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly)
|
|
|
betroth
|
v. become engaged to marry
|
|
|
bevy
|
n. large group
|
|
|
bicameral
|
adj. two-chambered, as a legislative body
|
|
|
bicker
|
v. quarrel
|
|
|
biennial
|
ajd. every two years.
|
|
|
bifurcated
|
adj. divided into two branches; forked
|
|
|
bigotry
|
n. stubborn intolerance
|
|
|
bilious
|
adj. suffering form a liver complaint; peevishly ill humored
|
|
|
bilk
|
v. swindle; cheat
|
|
|
billowing
|
adj. swelling out in waves; surging.
|
|
|
bivouac
|
n. temporary encampment
|
|
|
bizarre
|
adj. fantastic; violently contrasting
|
|
|
blanch
|
v. bleach; whiten
|
|
|
bland
|
adj. soothing or mild; agreeable
|
|
|
blandish
|
v. cajole; coax with flattery
|
|
|
blandishment
|
n. flattery
|
|
|
blare
|
n. loud, harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light.
|
|
|
blase'
|
adj. bored with pleasure or dissipation.
|
|
|
blasphemy
|
n. irreverence; sacrilege; cursing
|
|
|
blatant
|
adj. extremely obvious; loudly offensive
|
|
|
bleak
|
adj. cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorable.
|
|
|
blighted
|
adj. suffering from a disease; destroyed.
|
|
|
blithe
|
adj. carefree and unconcerned (perhaps foolishly so); cheerful and gay.
|
|
|
bloated
|
adj. swollen or puffed as with water or air.
|
|
|
blowhard
|
n. talkative boaster.
|
|
|
bludgeon
|
n. club; heavy-headed weapon.
|
|
|
bluff
|
adj. rough but good-natured
|
|
|
bluff (noun usage)
|
n. pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff
|
|
|
blunder
|
n. error
|
|
|
blurt
|
v. utter impulsively
|
|
|
bluster
|
v. threaten emptily; bully.
|
|
|
bode
|
v. foreshadow; portend
|
|
|
bogus
|
adj. counterfiet; not authentic
|
|
|
bohemian
|
adj. unconvential(in an artistic way).
|
|
|
boisterous
|
adj. violent rough; noisy
|
|
|
bolster
|
v. support; reinforce
|
|
|
bolt (noun usage)
|
n. door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric
|
|
|
bolt (verb usage)
|
v. dash or dart off; (fasten (a door); gobble down.
|
|
|
bombardment
|
n. attack (as with missiles).
|
|
|
bombastic
|
adj. pompous; using inflated language
|
|
|
boon
|
n. blessing; benefit
|
|
|
boorish
|
adj. rude; insensitive
|
|
|
bouillon
|
n. clear beef soup
|
|
|
bountiful
|
adj. abundant; graciously generous
|
|
|
bourgeois
|
adj. middle class; selfishly materialistic; dully conventional
|
|
|
bovine
|
adj. cowlike; placid and dull
|
|
|
bowdlerize
|
v. expurgate, to cleanse of something morally harmful, offensive, or erroneous
|
|
|
boycott
|
v. refrain from buying or using
|
|
|
brackish
|
adj. somewhat saline
|
|
|
braggadocio
|
n. boasting
|
|
|
braggart
|
n. boaster
|
|
|
brandish
|
v. wave around; flourish
|
|
|
bravado
|
n. swagger; assumed air of defiance
|
|
|
brawn
|
n. muscular strength; sturdiness
|
|
|
brazen
|
adj. insolent
|
|
|
breach
|
n. breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap
|
|
|
breadth
|
n. width; extent
|
|
|
brevity
|
n. conciseness
|
|
|
brindled
|
adj. tawny or grayish with streaks or spots.
|
|
|
bristling
|
adj. rising like bristles; showing irritation
|
|
|
brittle
|
adj. easily broken; difficult
|
|
|
broach
|
v. introduce; open up
|
|
|
brocade
|
n. rich, figured frabric
|
|
|
brochure
|
n. pamphlet.
|
|
|
brooch
|
n. ornamental clasp
|
|
|
brook
|
v. tolerate; endure
|
|
|
browbeat
|
v. bully; intimidate
|
|
|
browse
|
v. graze; skim or glance at casually.
|
|
|
brunt
|
n. main impact or shock
|
|
|
brusque
|
adj. blunt; abrupt
|
|
|
buccaneer
|
n. pirate
|
|
|
bucolic
|
adj. rustic; pastoral; of or relating to the countryside : not urban
|
|
|
buffonery
|
n. clowning
|
|
|
bugaboo
|
n. bugbear; object of baseless terror
|
|
|
bullion
|
n. gold and silver in the form of bars
|
|
|
bulwark
|
n. earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends
|
|
|
bungle
|
v. mismanage; blunder
|
|
|
buoyant
|
adj. able to float; cheerful and optimistic
|
|
|
bureaucracy
|
n. overregulated adminstrative system marked by red tape.
|
|
|
burgeon
|
v. grow forth; send out buds
|
|
|
burlesque
|
v. give an imitation that ridicules
|
|
|
burnish
|
v. make shiny by rubbing; polish
|
|
|
buttress
|
v. support; prop up
|
|
|
buxom
|
adj. full-bosomed; plump; jolly
|
|
|
cabal
|
n. small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
|
|
|
cache
|
n. hiding place
|
|
|
cacophonous
|
adj. discordant; inharmonious
|
|
|
cadaver
|
n. corpse
|
|
|
cadaverous
|
adj. like a corpse; pale
|
|
|
cadence
|
n. rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat
|
|
|
cadge
|
v. beg; mooch; panhandle
|
|
|
cajole
|
v. coax; wheedle
|
|
|
calamity
|
n. disaster; misery
|
|
|
calculated
|
adj. deliberately planned; likely
|
|
|
caldron
|
n. large kettle
|
|
|
caliber
|
n. ability; quality
|
|
|
calligraphy
|
n. beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
|
|
|
callous
|
adj. hardened; unfeeling
|
|
|
callow
|
adj. youthful; immature; inexperienced
|
|
|
calorific
|
adj. heat-producing
|
|
|
calumny
|
n. malicious misrepresentation; slander
|
|
|
camaraderie
|
n. good-fellowship
|
|
|
cameo
|
n. shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film
|
|
|
camouflage
|
v. disguise; conceal
|
|
|
canard
|
n. false or unfounded story; fabricated report
|
|
|
candor
|
n. frankness; open honesty
|
|
|
canine
|
adj. related to dogs; doglike
|
|
|
canker
|
n. any ulcerous sore; any evil
|
|
|
canny
|
adj. shrewd; thrifty
|
|
|
canon
|
n. collection or authoritative list of books (e.g., by an author, or accepted as scripture).
|
|
|
canon
|
n. rule of principle, frequently religious
|
|
|
cant
|
n. insincere expression of piety; jargon of thieves
|
|
|
cantankerous
|
adj. ill-humored; irritable
|
|
|
cantata
|
n. story set to music, to be sung by a chorus
|
|
|
canter
|
n. slow gallop
|
