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1498 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abasement
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humiliation; degradation
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Abate
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reduce in intensity
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Aberration
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deviation from the normal
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Abeyance
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state of inactivity; disuse
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Abhor
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hate
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Abjure
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renounce; swear to refrain from something
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Abraded
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worn away; eroded [abrade (v); abrasion (n)]
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Abrasion
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1. damage to skin caused by scraping; 2. process of scraping or rubbing [abrade (v)]
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Abrasive
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rough; coarse; harsh
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Abrogate
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cancel; deny; repeal
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Abscission
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cutting; process causing leaves to fall off
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Absolution
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forgiveness; pardon; release
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Abstain
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desist; go without; withdraw
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Abstemious
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self denying; refraining from indulging
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Abstruse
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difficult to understand; obscure
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Abut
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to adjoin
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Abysmal
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very deep; very bad
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Accolade
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tribute; honor; praise
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Accretion
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accumulation of matter; growth produced by adding from the outside
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Acolyte
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disciple; follower or attendant
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Acquiesce
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to agree to; give in to
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Acrid
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sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes)
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Acrophobia
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fear of heights
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Acuity
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sharpness (mental or visual)
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Adamant
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forceful; inflexible
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Admonitory |
scolding [admonition (n)] |
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Adroit
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skilful
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Adulation
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strong admiration; worship
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Adumbrate
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outline; indicate
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Adversity
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hardship
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Advocate
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support
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Aesthetic
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concerning art or beauty
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Affable
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friendly; social; easygoing
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Agog
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amazed; wide-eyed with enthusiasm
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Aisle
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corridor; passageway (esp. between rows of seats)
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Alacrity
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eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness
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Alchemy
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medieval chemistry; attempt to change base metal into gold
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Alibi
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an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene
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Allay
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to lessen
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Alleviate
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make less severe
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Alleviated
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made less severe [alleviation (n); alleviate (v)]
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Allure
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1. attraction (n); 2. to attract (v)
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Aloof
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distant; detached; cold
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Altruism
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putting others first; being self-sacrificing
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Amalgamate
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join; consolidate [amalgamation (n)]
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Amass
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accumulate
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Ambidextrous
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able to use both left and right hands equally well
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Ambiguity
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uncertainty; vagueness
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Ambiguous
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unclear in meaning; can be interpreted in different ways
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Ambivalence
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lack of clarity; wavering; being undecided
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Ambulatory
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able to walk around (used of hospital patients)
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Ameliorate
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make better
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Amelioration
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improvement
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Amiable
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friendly
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Amity
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friendship
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Amorphous
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lacking in shape
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Amortize
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pay off a debt in installments
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Anachronistic
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occurring in the wrong time period [anachronism (n)]
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Analgesic
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medicine to combat pain
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Analogous
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comparable
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Analogue
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1. something similar; 2. output proportional to input (engineering)
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Anarchy
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chaos; lack of government
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Anecdote
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a brief amusing story
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Animosity
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hatred; antagonism
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Annex (n)
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a building which is an addition to an existingbuilding
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Annex (v)
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take possession of; seize; capture
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Anodized
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electroplated; coated with thin layer of metal
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Anomaly
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something which does not fit in a pattern;irregularity
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Antagonism
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hostility; strong opposition
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Antagonistic
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opposed; hostile; aggressive
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Antediluvian
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outdated; prehistoric; very old-fashioned
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Anthology
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a book which is a collection of poems or stories
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Anthropocentrism
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putting man at the center of one's philosophy
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Antipathy
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hatred
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Antiquated
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outdated; old fashioned
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Apathetic
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indifferent; uninterested; lethargic
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Apathy
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lack of interest or emotion
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Aphoristic
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expressed tersely [aphorism (n) = short statement; maxim]
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Apocryphal
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of doubtful origin
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Apostrophe
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1. punctuation mark; 2. appeal to someone notpresent (a figure of speech)
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Appease
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pacify; soothe; calm down; make peace with
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Apposite
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fitting; suitable
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Apprehension
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slight fear; sense of something unfavorable
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Apprehensive
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worried; fearful
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Approbation
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approval [opp. disapprobation]
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Arable
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can be cultivated
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Arbitrary
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random; for no definite reason
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Arbitrator
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mediator; person appointed to judge a dispute[arbitrate (v)]
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Arboreal
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living in trees; concerned with trees
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Arcane
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obscure; known only to a few people
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Archaic
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ancient; outdated; old fashioned
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Archetype
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classic example of
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Archives
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collections of old records; place of storage of old documents
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Arduous
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hard
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Armada
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fleet of ships
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Arresting (a)
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attracting attention; striking
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Arson
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deliberate, criminal starting of fires
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Articulate
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clear; lucid; eloquent
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Artifice
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deception; trickery
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Artisan
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craftsman
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Artless
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without effort; without trickery; simple
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Ascetic
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without luxuries; severely simple
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Asperity
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using harsh or critical tone
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Assay
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1. try; 2. assess purity
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Assiduous
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thorough; diligent
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Assuage
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to calm
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Astute
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perceptive; sharp-witted
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Asylum
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place of refuge or safety
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Atavism
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reappearance of ancestral traits; regression [atavistic (a)]
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Atheist
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person who does not believe in God
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Atonement
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making amends for sin or crime [atone (v)]
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Atrophy
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waste away from lack of use
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Attenuate
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weaken
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Augment
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increase; make bigger
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Augury
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prediction, looking for omens [auger (v)]
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Auspicious
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favorable; promising to turn out well
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Austere
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severely plain
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Avaricious
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greedy for money
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Aver
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affirm
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Aversion
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a dislike of
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Baleful
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evil
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Balk
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hinder and prevent; hesitate over
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Balm
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soothing ointment or anything soothing [balmy (a)]
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Banal
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common; dull
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Banality
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ordinariness; dullness
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Bane
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troublesome influence
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Bard
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poet
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Barrage
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extended gunfire to cover an attack; dam across river; deluge or information etc.
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Bastion
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fortress; stronghold
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Befuddle
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confuse
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Begrudge
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resent
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Beguile
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mislead; lure
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Belabor
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explain in unnecessary detail
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Beleaguer
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besiege; attack
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Belie
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contradict
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Belittle
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to demean
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Bellicose
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war-like; aggressive
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Belligerent
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aggressive; ready to fight
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Bemoan
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complain about
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Benevolent
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kindly
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Benign
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kindly; harmless
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Benignity
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compassion; gentleness; fondness
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Bent (n)
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inclination; aptitude
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Bequeath
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leave something in one's will to be given after one'sdeath
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Berate
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scold; criticize
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Beret
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type of cap
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Bestial
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behaving like a beast; brutal
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Bigot
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narrow-minded, prejudiced person
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Bilk
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cheat; defraud
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Billowing
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swelling; fluttering; waving
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Blandishment
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words used to coax or flatter [blandish (v)]
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Blasphemy
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speech which offends religious sentiments
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Blatant
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obvious
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Blighted
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damaged; destroyed; ruined
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Blithe
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free-spirited; carefree
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Blowhard
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boastful person
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Blunderbuss
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1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2. a clumsy person
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Bolster
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support; prop up
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Bombast
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arrogant, pompous language
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Boor
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ill-mannered person [boorish (a)]
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Boorish
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ill-mannered
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Bourgeois
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middle class
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Boycott
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refuse to have dealings with
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Braggart
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someone who boasts
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Brawny
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muscular
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Brevity
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being brief
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Bristle
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to show irritation
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Broach
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start to discuss; approach
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Brook
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1. small stream; 2. tolerate
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Brusque
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blunt; abrupt
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Bulwark
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fortification; barricade; wall
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Bureaucracy
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officialdom
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Burgeon
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grow; flourish; put forth new shoots
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Burlesque
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1. comic play; 2. lampoon
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Burnish
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polish
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Buttress
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strengthen; support
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Byline
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the line that tells you who wrote an article
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Cacophony
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discordant loud noises
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Cadge
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get by begging
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Cajole
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coax
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Caldron
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huge cooking pot
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Calibrate
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mark an accurate scale on a device
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Callow
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immature
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Candid
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frank; honest
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Candor
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frankness; openness
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Canonical
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orthodox [canon (n) = set of accepted works]
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Cant
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insincere talk
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Cantankerous
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bad-tempered; quarrelsome
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Capacious
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spacious
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Capitulate
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surrender; give in to
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Caprices
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whimsies; fancies
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Cardinal
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1. high ranking church official; 2. major, important
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Caret
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punctuation mark signifying omission
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Caricature
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ridicule (v); cartoon intended to ridicule (n)
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Carping
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constant criticism
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Carrion
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dead flesh; carcasses
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Cartographer
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person who makes maps
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Castigate
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scold strongly
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Cataclysmic
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violently disruptive [cataclysm (n)]
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Catharsis
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purging of pent-up emotions
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Caucus
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type of private political meeting
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Caulk
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treat with substance such as tar to make water- tight
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Caustic
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burning
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Cavalcade
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procession of vehicles
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Celerity
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speed
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Censorious
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disapproving; critical
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Censure
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blame
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Centrifuge
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device to separate substances by spinning them athigh speed
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Centurion
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roman soldier (commander of a company of 100soldiers)
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Cerebral
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intellectual
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Certitude
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certainty
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Chantey
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type of song sung by sailors
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Charlatan
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trickster who claims knowledge he doesn't have
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Chary
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wary of; cautious about; reluctant to give
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Chastises
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punishes
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Chauvinist
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someone excessively patriotic [chauvinism (n)]
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Chicanery
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trickery
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Chimerical
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changeable; unstable
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Choleric
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easily angered
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Chorales
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simple hymns
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Chronic
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long lasting (often used for diseases in which case the opposite is acute)
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Chronicler
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person who records historical information
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Churlishness
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rudeness; ill-mannered behavior
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Circuitous
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indirect
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Circumlocution
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using too many words; long-windedness
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Circumscribe
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limit
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Circumspect
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cautious; considering all sides
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Circumvent
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avoid
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Clairvoyant
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psychic; mystic
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Clamor
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shout; scream
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Clandestine
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secret; covert; stealthy
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Clemency
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mercy
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Cliché
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overused expression; something unoriginal
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Clientele
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customers
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Cloistered
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isolated
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Cloture
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closure; terminating a debate by voting
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Coalesce
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come together; merge
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Coda
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piece of music at the end of a musical work; finale; final part of document
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Coddle
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pamper; fuss over; indulge
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Coerce
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force [coercion (n); coercing (a)]
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Coercion
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force
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Cogent
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lucid; well argued
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Cogitate
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think over something; ponder
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Cognitive
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concerned with thinking or perceiving [cognition (n)]
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Colander
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bowl with holes used to drain vegetables etc.
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Collage
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picture made from fragments of other pictures
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Collate
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arrange in order
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Colloquial
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local and informal (used of language)
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Collusion
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plotting and planning
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Comeliness
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beauty; prettiness [comely (a)]
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Commandeer
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take possession of
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Commensurate
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equal in significance
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Commingle
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mix
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Complacent
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self-satisfied; smug
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Complaisance
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flexibility; willingness to please [complaisant (a)]
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Compliant
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easy to control; submissive
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Compromised
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1. damaged or put in doubt (esp. of reputation); 2. reached an agreement by giving up part of a claim
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Concatenate
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link together
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Concatenation
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linking into chains
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Conciliate
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to bring together; end a dispute
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Concise
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stated in few words
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Condescend
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talk down to
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Condescension
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talking down to someone [condescending (a)]
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Condone
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tacitly support; overlook
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Condoning
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overlooking; disregarding; ignoring
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Conflagration
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big fire
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Confound
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confuse
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Congeal
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to solidify
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Congenital
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present from birth
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Congruent
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matching [congruency (n)]
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Conniving
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cunning; scheming [connive (v)]
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Connoisseur
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person with refined taste and good judgment
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Conscript
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1. person enlisted compulsorily into the armed forces; 2. (v) to enlist compulsorily
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Consecrate
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dedicate
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Consensus
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general agreement
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Conspicuous
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easily seen; prominent
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Consternation
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worry and concern
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Consummate
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complete; total; supremely good
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Contemporary
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living or happening at the same time
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Contentious
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causing argument [contention (n); contend (v)]
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Contiguous
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adjacent; touching; abutting [contiguity (n)]
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Contrite
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sorry
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Contrition
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sorrow and repentance
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Contumacious
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stubborn
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Contusion
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a bruise
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Conundrum
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a puzzle
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Conventional
|
usual; customary; common
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Cornucopia
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symbol (horn filled with fruit etc.) denoting naturalabundance
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Corpulent
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fat
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Corroborate
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give supporting evidence [corroboration (n)]
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Corrugated
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highly folded
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Coterie
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clique; small group with common interests
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Counterfeit
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fake; false
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Covert
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hidden; undercover
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Cower
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recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from
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Credible
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believable
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Creditable
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praiseworthy
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Credulous
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gullible; ready to believe anything
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Crepuscular
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active at dawn and dusk
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Cringe
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recoil; flinch; shy away
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Cryptic
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puzzling; enigmatic
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Culpability
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guilt [culpable = blameworthy]
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Cumbersome
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bulky; difficult to carry [encumber = to burden]
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Curmudgeon
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grumpy person
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Curtail
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cut short
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Cynical
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believing that people act only out of selfish motives
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Daguerreotype
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forerunner of the photograph
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Dally
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waste time; flirt
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Damp
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(used of vibration) reduce in extent
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Dawdler
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slow person who falls behind others [dawdle (v)]
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Debacle
|
disaster
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Debilitating
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weakening [debilitate (v)]
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Debility
|
weakness; incapacity
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Debunking
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exposing false claims or myths
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Decathlon
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an athletic competition with ten events
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Decimated
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kill or destroy a large part of (originally one tenth)
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Decorum
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dignified, correct behavior [decorous (a)]
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Decoy
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lure; trap; trick
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Deference
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respect
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Deferential
|
showing respect [deference (n); defer (v)]
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Defoliate
|
cause leaves to fall off
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Defunct
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no longer in existence
|
|
|
Degradation
|
deprivation; poverty; debasement
|
|
|
Deign
|
condescend
|
|
|
Deleterious
|
harmful
|
|
|
Deliberate
|
to think over deeply
|
|
|
Deliberate
|
1. slow (a); 2. to think over (v); 3. on purpose (a)
|
|
|
Delineation
|
demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining
|
|
|
Demagogue
|
mob leader (who appeals to base instincts) [demagogy/demagoguery (n)]
|
|
|
Demur
|
hesitate; refuse
|
|
|
Demur
|
object; hesitate to accept
|
|
|
Denigrate
|
decry; criticize; belittle
|
|
|
Denounce
|
condemn; speak out against
|
|
|
Deplete
|
use up; lessen
|
|
|
Deplore
|
regret
|
|
|
Depravity
|
moral corruption
|
|
|
Deprecate
|
criticize; denounce
|
|
|
Deride
|
ridicule; make fun of; mock
|
|
|
Derision
|
mockery [deride (v)]
|
|
|
Derogatory
|
uncomplimentary
|
|
|
Descry
|
to see (esp. at a distance); catch sight of
|
|
|
Desecrate
|
to damage or pollute a holy place
|
|
|
Desecration
|
spoiling something holy
|
|
|
Desist
|
stop; discontinue; cease
|
|
|
Despondent
|
having no hope; miserable
|
|
|
Destitution
|
hardship; poverty; misery
|
|
|
Desultory
|
aimless; inconsistent in effort
|
|
|
Deter
|
put off; prevent
|
|
|
Deteriorate
|
worsen; decline
|
|
|
Detrimental
|
harmful
|
|
|
Devoured
|
greedily eaten/consumed
|
|
|
Dexterity
|
skill, esp. with hands [dexterous (a)]
|
|
|
Dexterous
|
skilful with hands
|
|
|
Diaphanous
|
transparent; thin and delicate
|
|
|
Diatribe
|
tirade; violent denunciation; stream of criticism
|
|
|
Dichotomy
|
a division into two parts
|
|
|
Didactic
|
intended to teach; instructive
|
|
|
Diffident
|
lacking confidence
|
|
|
Digress
|
wander off the subject
|
|
|
Dike
|
dam; embankment
|
|
|
Dilatory
|
slow; falling behind with one's work
|
|
|
Dilemma
|
puzzling situation
|
|
|
Dilettante
|
person who dabbles in a subject without seriousstudy
|
|
|
Dilettantism
|
dabbling esp. in the arts [dilettante (n) = person who dabbles]
|
|
|
Diligent
|
hard-working
|
|
|
Diorama
|
model of a scene
|
|
|
Dirge
|
mournful song
|
|
|
Disabuse
|
make someone aware of an error in thinking
|
|
|
Disapprobation
|
disapproval
|
|
|
Disarm
|
1. take away weapons; 2. win over to one’s side [disarming (a)]
|
|
|
Discern
|
to distinguish one thing from another
|
|
|
Discernment
|
judgment; perceptiveness
|
|
|
Discord
|
disagreement
|
|
|
Discordancy
|
cacophony; harshness; jarring
|
|
|
Discountenance
|
disallow
|
|
|
Discrepancy
|
something which does not match up; inconsistency
|
|
|
Discrete
|
separate; discontinuous (not to be confused withdiscreet - prudent; diplomatic]
|
|
|
Discriminate
|
to make a clear distinction; see the difference
|
|
|
Discursiveness
|
long windedness; indirectness
|
|
|
Disdain
|
contempt; strong dislike
|
|
|
Disingenuous
|
crafty
|
|
|
Disinter
|
dig up [opposite inter = bury]
|
|
|
Disinterested
|
unbiased
|
|
|
Disparage
|
criticize; belittle
|
|
|
Disparity
|
an inequality
|
|
|
Dispassionate
|
neutral; objective
|
|
|
Dispatch
|
1. send (v); 2. speed; celerity (n)
|
|
|
Dissemble
|
avoid the truth
|
|
|
Disseminating
|
circulating; broadcasting; spreading (information)
|
|
|
Dissident
|
person who disagrees [dissidence (n)]
|
|
|
Dissonance
|
discord; disagreement
|
|
|
Diurnal
|
active in daytime
|
|
|
Divert
|
1. entertain; 2. distract; 3. cause a detour
|
|
|
Divest
|
remove; take off
|
|
|
Docile
|
gentle and easily lead
|
|
|
Doff
|
take off (esp. of a hat)
|
|
|
Dogmatic
|
having stubbornly held opinions
|
|
|
Dolt
|
stupid person
|
|
|
Don
|
put on (esp. of clothes)
|
|
|
Dormancy
|
state of inactivity
|
|
|
Dotard
|
foolish old man
|
|
|
Dote
|
be excessively fond of [doting (a)]
|
|
|
Drabness
|
dullness
|
|
|
Drawl
|
speak slowly with words running together
|
|
|
Drivel
|
nonsense
|
|
|
Droll
|
dryly amusing
|
|
|
Drone
|
1. monotonous noise (n); 2. to speak with noemotion (v); 3.male bee
|
|
|
Dross
|
something worthless; impurities left after refining
|
|
|
Dubious
|
doubtful
|
|
|
Dupe
|
to fool someone
|
|
|
Duplicity
|
cunning; deception; double dealing
|
|
|
Dynamic
|
lively; vibrant; energetic
|
|
|
Ebullient
|
very lively; cheerful; jovial; happy
|
|
|
Eccentric
|
unusual; quirky; odd
|
|
|
Eclectic
|
taking things from different sources
|
|
|
Eddy
|
circular current
|
|
|
Edifice
|
building; structure; construction
|
|
|
Efface
|
wipe out; remove all trace of
|
|
|
Efficacy
|
effectiveness
|
|
|
Effigy
|
a model of a person
|
|
|
Effrontery
|
daring; audacity (has a negative connotation)
|
|
|
Effusive
|
gushing; demonstrative
|
|
|
Egalitarianism
|
belief in equality
|
|
|
Egregious
|
outstandingly, obviously bad
|
|
|
Egress
|
exit
|
|
|
Elaborate
|
1. complex and detailed (a); 2. to expand on (v)
|
|
|
Elegy
|
poem concerned with death; praise of a deadperson
|
|
|
Ellipsis
|
omission of essential words
|
|
|
Eloquent
|
fluent and persuasive in speech
|
|
|
Elucidate
|
make clear
|
|
|
Elusive
|
hard to pin down
|
|
|
Emaciated
|
very thin; withered
|
|
|
Emancipate
|
set free
|
|
|
Embezzle
|
defraud; steal
|
|
|
Emboss
|
decorate with a raised design
|
|
|
Embroil
|
involve in hostility or argument
|
|
|
Emerge
|
come out; appear
|
|
|
Emollient
|
softening (a); something which softens (n)
|
|
|
Empirical
|
found by experiment or practice
|
|
|
Emulate
|
to imitate something admired
|
|
|
Encomium
|
praise
|
|
|
Endorse
|
give support or approval to
|
|
|
Endow
|
give gift; provide with money etc.
|
|
|
Endurance
|
staying power; patience; stamina
|
|
|
Enduring
|
lasting
|
|
|
Enervate
|
weaken
|
|
|
Enfranchise
|
give voting rights
|
|
|
Engender
|
cause
|
|
|
Engendering
|
causing; bringing into being [engender (v)]
|
|
|
Enhance
|
improve; make better or clearer
|
|
|
Enigma
|
puzzle; mystery
|
|
|
Enigmatic
|
puzzling [enigma (n)]
|
|
|
Enlist
|
1. sign up for the army; 2. obtain
|
|
|
Ensconce
|
establish firmly in a position
|
|
|
Enshroud
|
cover
|
|
|
Enunciation
|
clear pronunciation; accent; articulation
|
|
|
Envenom
|
to cause bitterness and bad feeling
|
|
|
Epaulet
|
shoulder decoration
|
|
|
Ephemeral
|
short-lived
|
|
|
Epicure
|
someone who appreciates good food and drink
|
|
|
Epigram
|
short, witty saying
|
|
|
Epistemology
|
theory of knowledge
|
|
|
Epistle
|
a letter (form of communication)
|
|
|
Epistolary
|
concerned with letters; through correspondence
|
|
|
Epithet
|
phrase used as a label or to express the essential nature of
|
|
|
Epitomized
|
typified; characterized; personified
|
|
|
Equivocal
|
ambiguous; open to interpretation [equivocate (v), equivocation (n)]
|
|
|
Equivocate
|
speak ambiguously; avoid telling the truth
|
|
|
Equivocation
|
speaking ambiguously [equivocate (v), equivocal(a)]
|
|
|
Err
|
make a mistake
|
|
|
Errant
|
1. wandering; 2. wrong; 3. straying from accepted standards
|
|
|
Erratic
|
wandering; irregular
|
|
|
Erudition
|
learning; scholarly knowledge [erudite (a)]
|
|
|
Eschew
|
shun; avoid
|
|
|
Esoteric
|
obscure and difficult to understand
|
|
|
Esoterica
|
obscure details
|
|
|
Espouse
|
promote; take up; support
|
|
|
Etymology
|
the study of word origins
|
|
|
Eulogy
|
praise
|
|
|
Euphemism
|
a polite phrase to cover something unpleasant
|
|
|
Euphony
|
pleasant sounds
|
|
|
Evacuate
|
vacate; empty; abandon
|
|
|
Evanescent
|
short-lived [evanescence (n)]
|
|
|
Exacerbate
|
make worse
|
|
|
Exacerbated
|
made worse [exacerbate (v); exacerbation (n)]
|
|
|
Exact (v)
|
to demand; extort
|
|
|
Exasperated
|
frustrated; annoyed
|
|
|
Exceptionable
|
very bad (something which we should object to)
|
|
|
Exculpate
|
free someone from blame; pardon; acquit
|
|
|
Execrable
|
very, very bad
|
|
|
Exegesis
|
scholarly explanation or interpretation
|
|
|
Exemplar
|
model type [exemplary (a)]
|
|
|
Exemplary
|
outstandingly good; setting a fine example
|
|
|
Exemplify
|
to serve as a good example
|
|
|
Exhaustive
|
complete and thorough
|
|
|
Exigency
|
urgent matter; pressing need
|
|
|
Exonerates
|
acquits; absolves; removes blame
|
|
|
Exorcism
|
getting free/rid of; eliminating (especially demons)
|
|
|
Expatiate
|
speak or write at great length
|
|
|
Expatriate
|
refugee; emigrant; someone living away from his own country
|
|
|
Expedient
|
convenient; practical
|
|
|
Expedite
|
make faster
|
|
|
Expiate
|
atone; make amends for
|
|
|
Exposition
|
clear explanation
|
|
|
Expostulate
|
offer strong objections; remonstrate
|
|
|
Extant
|
still in existence (opposite of extinct)
|
|
|
Extemporize
|
speak without preparation or rehearsal [extemporaneous (a)]
|
|
|
Extirpate
|
wipe out totally
|
|
|
Extirpation
|
wiping out; complete destruction [extirpate (v)]
|
|
|
Extol
|
praise
|
|
|
Extradite
|
deport from one country back to the home country
|
|
|
Extraneous
|
irrelevant
|
|
|
Extrapolate
|
extend; predict on the basis of known data
|
|
|
Extrinsic
|
irrelevant; on the outside
|
|
|
Fabricated
|
made up; false; manufactured [fabricate (v); fabrication(n)]
|
|
|
Façade
|
1. front elevation of building, 2. false appearance or demeanor
|
|
|
Facetious
|
not intended to be taken seriously
|
|
|
Faddish
|
whimsical; following a fashion
|
|
|
Fallacious
|
false
|
|
|
Fallacy
|
wrong idea [fallacious (a)]
|
|
|
Fallible
|
capable of making mistakes [fallibility (n)]
|
|
|
Fallow
|
uncultivated
|
|
|
Falter
|
hesitate; waver
|
|
|
Falters
|
hesitates
|
|
|
Fanatical
|
obsessive; fixated
|
|
|
Fanaticism
|
passion; excessive devotion
|
|
|
Fastidious
|
overly particular; finicky
|
|
|
Fatuous
|
silly; foolish
|
|
|
Fawn
|
behave in a sycophantic way; grovel [fawning (a)]
|
|
|
Feasible
|
possible and practicable
|
|
|
Feckless
|
feeble; helpless; lacking in initiative
|
|
|
Fecund
|
fertile
|
|
|
Feint
|
pretended attack; a move intended to deceive
|
|
|
Felicitous
|
apt
|
|
|
Ferrous
|
concerned with iron or its compounds
|
|
|
Fervent
|
passionate
|
|
|
Fervid
|
passionate
|
|
|
Fervor
|
passion; enthusiasm
|
|
|
Fickle
|
unpredictable; whimsical; easily swayed
|
|
|
Figurehead
|
symbol of power; nominal leader
|
|
|
Filibuster
|
delaying tactics
|
|
|
Finesse
|
skill
|
|
|
Fitful
|
not continuous; stopping and starting
|
|
|
Flag (v)
|
1. to lose energy; 2. to signal
|
|
|
Flagrant
|
clearly wrong
|
|
|
Flail
|
1. tool used to thresh grain; 2. to thresh (separategrain from chaff); 3. to wave arms about wildly
|
|
|
Flamboyant
|
showy; ornate
|
|
|
Flaunt
|
show off; display in a showy manner
|
|
|
Fledge
|
1. grow feathers; 2. leave nest [fledgling (n) = aninexperienced person or a baby bird]
|
|
|
Flippant
|
making jokes about serious matters
|
|
|
Flout
|
defy; reject
|
|
|
Flustered
|
worked-up; not calm
|
|
|
Fly-by-night
|
unreliable; disreputable
|
|
|
Foible
|
quirk; minor weakness
|
|
|
Foment
|
1. stir up; 2. bathe with hot liquids (medical)
|
|
|
Foolhardy
|
reckless [foolhardiness (n)]
|
|
|
Foppish
|
behaving or dressing like a dandy; excessively concerned with fashion
|
|
|
Forage
|
search for food
|
|
|
Forbearing
|
tolerant [forbear (v); forbearance (n)]
|
|
|
Forensic
|
concerned with argument or debate (esp. for legal evidence)
|
|
|
Foreshadowed
|
indicated a future event [foreshadow (v)]
|
|
|
Fortitude
|
bravery
|
|
|
Fortuitous
|
happening by chance
|
|
|
Fracas
|
fight; disturbance
|
|
|
Fractious
|
irritable; difficult to control
|
|
|
Fraudulent
|
fake; false
|
|
|
Frieze
|
decorative border
|
|
|
Fringe
|
1. decorative border with tassels (n); 2. to form an edge (v)
|
|
|
Frivolous
|
not serious
|
|
|
Froward
|
stubborn; wayward; disobedient
|
|
|
Frugal
|
economical; not wasting anything
|
|
|
Fulminate
|
1. attack loudly in words; denounce thunderously;2. explode noisily
|
|
|
Furrow
|
groove
|
|
|
Furtive
|
hidden and secret
|
|
|
Fusillade
|
long burst of gunfire
|
|
|
Futile
|
useless; hopeless
|
|
|
Gaffe
|
blunder; social mistake
|
|
|
Gainsay
|
contradict
|
|
|
Gall
|
1. bitterness (bad feeling); 2. confidence; 3. abnormal growth on a plant
|
|
|
Galleon
|
ancient type of sailing ship
|
|
|
Gambit
|
opening move; transaction
|
|
|
Gambol
|
frolic; leap; bound
|
|
|
Garble
|
distort; confuse; muddle
|
|
|
Garish
|
gaudy
|
|
|
Garner
|
gather; collect
|
|
|
Garrulous
|
talkative
|
|
|
Gaucherie
|
awkwardness [gauche (a)]
|
|
|
Gaunt
|
emaciated; bony and angular
|
|
|
Gavel
|
judge’s hammer
|
|
|
Genre
|
a category; type
|
|
|
Germane
|
relevant
|
|
|
Germinal
|
just growing; not developed; immature
|
|
|
Gerontocracy
|
government by the aged
|
|
|
Gibbering
|
making meaningless noises
|
|
|
Gist
|
essence; main point
|
|
|
Glacial
|
hostile; unfriendly; cold; icy
|
|
|
Glib
|
slick; superficial esp. in speech
|
|
|
Goad
|
prod; urge
|
|
|
Gossamer
|
delicate; filmy; like gauze
|
|
|
Gouge
|
cut or dig out
|
|
|
Grate (v)
|
1. to annoy; aggravate; vex; 2. shred
|
|
|
Gratis
|
free of charge; without payment
|
|
|
Gratuitous
|
unwarranted
|
|
|
Gravity
|
seriousness
|
|
|
Gregarious
|
extroverted; sociable; outgoing
|
|
|
Gregariousness
|
sociability; liking for crowds [gregarious (a)]
|
|
|
Gritty
|
coarse; granular
|
|
|
Guffaw
|
sudden loud laughter
|
|
|
Guile
|
cunning; craftiness
|
|
|
Guileless
|
frank; straightforward; honest
|
|
|
Gullibility
|
unwariness; trustfulness; being easily fooled
|
|
|
Gullible
|
easily fooled
|
|
|
Gustatory
|
concerned with the sense of taste
|
|
|
Hack
|
1. chop roughly; 2. person who writes to earnmoney, 3. hired horse
|
|
|
Hackneyed
|
common and over-used
|
|
|
Halcyon
|
peaceful and happy; calm (esp. of summerweather)
|
|
|
Hallow
|
respect; worship
|
|
|
Hallowed
|
worshipped; consecrated
|
|
|
Hamper
|
hinder; obstruct
|
|
|
Hangar
|
storage area (like garage) for a plane
|
|
|
Hapless
|
unlucky
|
|
|
Harangue
|
noisy, attacking speech
|
|
|
Harbingers
|
indicators; bringers of warnings
|
|
|
Hasten
|
hurry; accelerate; rush
|
|
|
Haughtiness
|
arrogance; pride
|
|
|
Hawser
|
thick rope or cable
|
|
|
Headstrong
|
stubborn; willful
|
|
|
Hedonism
|
self indulgence; pleasure-seeking
|
|
|
Hedonist
|
a pleasure seeker
|
|
|
Heed
|
listen to
|
|
|
Hegemony
|
political domination; complete authority
|
|
|
Heresy
|
against orthodox opinion
|
|
|
Heterodox
|
unorthodox
|
|
|
Hiatus
|
interruption; pause
|
|
|
Hidebound
|
rigid in opinions
|
|
|
Hieroglyphics
|
1. picture writing; 2. writing which is difficult to read or enigmatic
|
|
|
Hinder
|
obstruct
|
|
|
Histrionic
|
theatrical; exaggerated
|
|
|
Hoary
|
old
|
|
|
Homiletics
|
art of preaching and giving sermons
|
|
|
Homogeneity
|
evenness; uniformity
|
|
|
Hone
|
sharpen; increase; whet
|
|
|
Hortatory
|
encouraging; exhorting
|
|
|
Hyperbole
|
grossly exaggerated speech
|
|
|
Hyperbole
|
exaggeration [hyperbolic (a)]
|
|
|
Hypochondriac
|
a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses
|
|
|
Hypocritical
|
insincere
|
|
|
Iconoclast
|
person who opposes orthodoxy
|
|
|
Idiosyncrasy
|
a personal peculiarity; something unique to an individual
|
|
|
Idyll
|
story or incident in peaceful or ideal setting [idyllic (a)]
|
|
|
Ignominious
|
shameful
|
|
|
Ignominy
|
shame [ignominious (a) = shameful]
|
|
|
Illuminate
|
to light up or make clear
|
|
|
Illusory
|
deceptive; false; misleading
|
|
|
Immoderate
|
excessive; extreme
|
|
|
Immutable
|
unchanging; permanent
|
|
|
Impartial
|
unbiased; neutral
|
|
|
Impecunious
|
having no money
|
|
|
Impeding
|
hindering [impede (v); impediment (n)]
|
|
|
Imperative
|
must be obeyed
|
|
|
Imperturbability
|
quality of being calm and not easily disturbed [imperturbable (a)]
|
|
|
Impious
|
wicked; profane
|
|
|
Importune
|
beg; solicit [importunate (a)]
|
|
|
Impoverished
|
destitute; poor
|
|
|
Improbity
|
lack of honesty or integrity
|
|
|
Impromptu
|
unrehearsed; spontaneous
|
|
|
Impropriety
|
inappropriate behavior
|
|
|
Impugn
|
challenge; question someone’s honor etc.
|
|
|
Impugned
|
challenged; called into question
|
|
|
Inadvertent
|
not intentional
|
|
|
Incantation
|
chant; invocation; prayer
|
|
|
Incarceration
|
putting in prison
|
|
|
Incessant
|
without stopping
|
|
|
Inchoate
|
undeveloped; nascent
|
|
|
Incipient
|
just beginning
|
|
|
Incise
|
cut into [incision (n); incisive (a)]
|
|
|
Inclination
|
tendency; a leaning toward
|
|
|
Incoherent
|
not clear
|
|
|
Incongruous
|
not fitting in; out of place
|
|
|
Inconsequential
|
unimportant; insignificant; negligible
|
|
|
Inconspicuous
|
not easily seen; subtle; not noticeable
|
|
|
Incubus
|
encumbrance; nightmarish thing
|
|
|
Incumbents
|
occupiers of a job or position
|
|
|
Indecorous
|
unseemly; inappropriate (of behavior)
|
|
|
Indelible
|
cannot be wiped out
|
|
|
Indicted
|
accused (of crime)
|
|
|
Indifferent
|
1. neutral; 2. not outstanding
|
|
|
Indigence
|
poverty
|
|
|
Indigenous
|
native to a particular area
|
|
|
Indigent
|
poor; needy [indigence (n)]
|
|
|
Indolence
|
laziness
|
|
|
Inductee
|
novice; beginner
|
|
|
Indulgent
|
pampering; satisfying desires
|
|
|
Inebriation
|
drunkenness; intoxication
|
|
|
Ineffable
|
cannot be expressed in words
|
|
|
Inefficacious
|
ineffective
|
|
|
Inept
|
incompetent; unskilled; useless
|
|
|
Inerrancy
|
infallibility; inability to make mistakes [inerrant (a)]
|
|
|
Inertia
|
inactivity; lethargy
|
|
|
Inevitable
|
cannot be avoided
|
|
|
Inexorable
|
relentless
|
|
|
Inexpedient
|
not advisable
|
|
|
Infallible
|
perfect; flawless; cannot make mistakes
|
|
|
Infamous
|
famous for something bad
|
|
|
Infer
|
deduce; conclude
|
|
|
Ingénue
|
naïve, unsophisticated person
|
|
|
Ingrate
|
ungrateful person
|
|
|
Inimical
|
hostile
|
|
|
Iniquitous
|
evil; unjust [iniquity (n)]
|
|
|
Innate
|
inherited; inborn
|
|
|
Innocuous
|
harmless; inoffensive
|
|
|
Innovate
|
create; introduce something new
|
|
|
Inscrutability
|
quality of being difficult to comprehend [inscrutable(a)]
|
|
|
Inscrutable
|
mysterious; impenetrable
|
|
|
Insentient
|
unfeeling
|
|
|
Insipid
|
dull; bland; boring
|
|
|
Instigate
|
to start; provoke
|
|
|
Instigator
|
troublemaker; person who entices others to dosomething
|
|
|
Insurgent
|
a rebel
|
|
|
Intangible
|
cannot be touched; abstract [intangibility (n)]
|
|
|
Intelligible
|
can be understood
|
|
|
Intemperate
|
excessive; immoderate [intemperance (n)]
|
|
|
Interminable
|
never-ending
|
|
|
Intermittent
|
sporadic; irregular
|
|
|
Interregnum
|
interval between reigns or governments
|
|
|
Intractability
|
stubbornness; resistance [intractable (a)]
|
|
|
Intransigence
|
stubbornness
|
|
|
Intransigent
|
stubborn; unyielding
|
|
|
Intrepid
|
brave
|
|
|
Inured
|
hardened; habituated
|
|
|
Inveigle
|
coax; cajole; wheedle; entice
|
|
|
Inveterate
|
habitual
|
|
|
Invidious
|
arousing envy
|
|
|
Inviolable
|
cannot be invaded
|
|
|
Irascible
|
easily angered
|
|
|
Ire
|
anger [irate (a) = very angry]
|
|
|
Irksome
|
annoying; infuriating
|
|
|
Ironclad
|
cannot be altered; firm
|
|
|
Ironic
|
satiric; unexpected
|
|
|
Irrational
|
unreasonable; absurd
|
|
|
Irreproachable
|
cannot be criticized; perfect
|
|
|
Irrevocable
|
cannot be cancelled; unchangeable
|
|
|
Itinerant
|
nomadic; wandering from place to place
|
|
|
Jaded
|
tired; bored; worn out
|
|
|
Jamb
|
door post
|
|
|
Jargon
|
specialized language used by experts
|
|
|
Jaundiced
|
cynical; pessimistic
|
|
|
Jaunt
|
short pleasure trip
|
|
|
Jeopardize
|
put at risk; endanger
|
|
|
Jibe
|
agree with; complement; match up with (in British usage jibe means mock)
|
|
|
Jingoistic
|
extremely patriotic; nationalistic
|
|
|
Jockeying
|
maneuvering; struggling to get ahead of others [jockey (v)]
|
|
|
Jocular
|
in a joking manner
|
|
|
Jollity
|
gaiety; happiness
|
|
|
Jubilant
|
ecstatic; delighted; rejoicing
|
|
|
Judicious
|
correct in judgment; wise
|
|
|
Jurisprudence
|
science or study of law
|
|
|
Juxtapose
|
place next to
|
|
|
Kindle
|
to start a fire
|
|
|
Knotty
|
complex; difficult to solve
|
|
|
Labile
|
changing rapidly; unstable
|
|
|
Labyrinth
|
a maze
|
|
|
Labyrinthine
|
complicated; highly convoluted
|
|
|
Laceration
|
a cut
|
|
|
Lachrymose
|
tearful; sad
|
|
|
Lackluster
|
dull; monotonous; bland
|
|
|
Laconic
|
using few words; brief; to the point
|
|
|
Lacuna
|
gap; missing part [plural = lacunae]
|
|
|
Lambaste
|
attack verbally
|
|
|
Lamentation
|
expression of regret or sorrow
|
|
|
Lampoon
|
ridicule; spoof
|
|
|
Lance
|
spear; spike; javelin
|
|
|
Languid
|
tired; slow
|
|
|
Languish
|
decay; fade away; get weaker
|
|
|
Larceny
|
theft; robbery; stealing
|
|
|
Largess
|
generosity
|
|
|
Lassitude
|
lack of energy; weariness
|
|
|
Latent
|
hidden; real but undeveloped
|
|
|
Laud
|
praise
|
|
|
Lavish
|
on a grand scale; wasteful
|
|
|
Lax
|
careless; not strict
|
|
|
Leaven
|
to make light; modify; cause bread to rise using yeast etc.
|
|
|
Legend
|
1. key to map; 2. myth or story
|
|
|
Legion
|
in large numbers
|
|
|
Lethargic
|
tired; without energy
|
|
|
Levee
|
1. raised bank of a river; 2. morning reception held by a monarch
|
|
|
Levity
|
flippancy; joking about serious matters
|
|
|
Libertarian
|
someone who opposes tyranny
|
|
|
Libertine
|
dissolute person; prodigal
|
|
|
Lien
|
right to sell property held as a security; legal hold on job etc.
|
|
|
Limerick
|
short amusing poem
|
|
|
Limpid
|
transparently clear
|
|
|
Liniment
|
soothing lotion
|
|
|
Lint
|
fluff; soft material used to cover wounds
|
|
|
List (v)
|
1. to lean to one side; 2. to write in order
|
|
|
Lithe
|
flexible; supple
|
|
|
Liturgy
|
form of worship
|
|
|
Livid
|
very angry
|
|
|
Lobbyist
|
person who tries to persuade someone to support a particular cause
|
|
|
Lofty
|
snooty; arrogant; haughty
|
|
|
Loll
|
laze around; hang out (when used of the tongue)
|
|
|
Longevity
|
long life
|
|
|
Lope
|
run with long strides
|
|
|
Loquacious
|
talkative
|
|
|
Lucid
|
clear
|
|
|
Ludicrous
|
ridiculous; silly
|
|
|
Lugubrious
|
sad; gloomy
|
|
|
Lukewarm
|
1. unenthusiastic; 2. neither hot nor cold
|
|
|
Lumber
|
1. walk in an ungainly way; 2. timber (wood)
|
|
|
Luminary
|
eminent person
|
|
|
Lummox
|
clumsy person
|
|
|
Luscious
|
juicy; moist; succulent
|
|
|
Lynch
|
assassinate; kill; illegal hanging
|
|
|
Macerate
|
chop into tiny pieces
|
|
|
Machinations
|
plots and plans
|
|
|
Maculated
|
spotted
|
|
|
Maelstrom
|
whirlpool; storm in the ocean
|
|
|
Magnanimous
|
generous; big-hearted
|
|
|
Magnate
|
powerful businessman
|
|
|
Maladroit
|
clumsy; unskillful
|
|
|
Malady
|
illness
|
|
|
Malapropism
|
use of similar sounding but incorrect word
|
|
|
Malediction
|
a curse
|
|
|
Malefactor
|
a wrong-doer
|
|
|
Malevolent
|
having evil intentions [malevolence (n)]
|
|
|
Malign
|
slander
|
|
|
Malinger
|
deliberately avoid work; shirk
|
|
|
Malingerer
|
person who deliberately tries to avoid work
|
|
|
Malleable
|
flexible; can be shaped
|
|
|
Mallet
|
1. wooden hammer; 2. stick used for polo
|
|
|
Manipulatable
|
influencable; controllable
|
|
|
Manipulative
|
scheming
|
|
|
Mannered
|
stylized; pretentious
|
|
|
Marred
|
damaged; spoiled
|
|
|
Marshal
|
to gather together
|
|
|
Marsupial
|
pouched mammal (like a kangaroo)
|
|
|
Martinet
|
person who believes in strict discipline
|
|
|
Masochist
|
person who intentionally inflicts pain on himself
|
|
|
Matriarchy
|
society governed by women
|
|
|
Maudlin
|
sad; sentimental; inclined to weep
|
|
|
Maverick
|
a loner
|
|
|
Meager
|
in short supply
|
|
|
Meander
|
wander from side to side
|
|
|
Mellow
|
soft; melodious; ripe
|
|
|
Menagerie
|
collection of animals
|
|
|
Mendacious
|
given to lying
|
|
|
Mercenary
|
concerned only with money
|
|
|
Mercurial
|
volatile; changeable
|
|
|
Meretricious
|
falsely attractive; tawdry
|
|
|
Merge
|
come together
|
|
|
Metaphorically
|
symbolically; figuratively
|
|
|
Meticulous
|
very careful; painstaking
|
|
|
Mettle
|
courage; bravery; valor
|
|
|
Mettlesome
|
spirited [mettle (n)]
|
|
|
Milieu
|
environment
|
|
|
Milk
|
to squeeze; obtain by application of pressure
|
|
|
Millinery
|
hats and hat-making
|
|
|
Minatory
|
threatening
|
|
|
Mince
|
1. chop into small pieces; 2. walk with tiny steps, 3.speak in an affected manner
|
|
|
Minion
|
underling; servant
|
|
|
Minutiae
|
small details
|
|
|
Mire
|
swamp; muddy ground
|
|
|
Misanthrope
|
hater of the rest of mankind
|
|
|
Misconstrue
|
put a wrong interpretation on something
|
|
|
Misnomer
|
wrong name
|
|
|
Misogynist
|
hater of women
|
|
|
Misrepresentation
|
deliberately deceiving
|
|
|
Mitigate
|
lessen; make less severe
|
|
|
Mitigation
|
making less severe [mitigate (v)]
|
|
|
Modest
|
1. bashful; unpretentious; 2. not excessive
|
|
|
Modicum
|
small amount
|
|
|
Momentous
|
very important
|
|
|
Monolithic
|
united in purpose; forming a single unit
|
|
|
Monotonous
|
dull; unvarying
|
|
|
Moralistic
|
concerned with morals [moralize (v)]
|
|
|
Moratorium
|
temporary prohibition or halt to activity
|
|
|
Moribund
|
on the point of death
|
|
|
Morose
|
gloomy; bad tempered
|
|
|
Mundane
|
ordinary; worldly
|
|
|
Munificent
|
generous; charitable
|
|
|
Muse
|
1. think; meditate (v); 2. a source of inspiration (n)[in mythology, a goddess who gives inspiration]
|
|
|
Mutinous
|
very rebellious
|
|
|
Myriad
|
in large numbers
|
|
|
Nadir
|
lowest point
|
|
|
Nascent
|
emerging; newly formed
|
|
|
Natty
|
neat; dapper; smart
|
|
|
Navigable
|
suitable for sailing
|
|
|
Nebulous
|
vague
|
|
|
Nefarious
|
wicked; immoral; disreputable
|
|
|
Negate
|
cancel; deny
|
|
|
Negligence
|
carelessness
|
|
|
Neologism
|
newly coined word
|
|
|
Neophyte
|
new convert; tyro
|
|
|
Nettle
|
annoy
|
|
|
Nexus
|
connection
|
|
|
Niggardly
|
miserly; stingy
|
|
|
Noisome
|
disgusting
|
|
|
Nomadic
|
wandering from place to place
|
|
|
Nonchalance
|
an appearance of indifference; calm and composed
|
|
|
Nondescript
|
having no special features; dull and ordinary
|
|
|
Nonentity
|
a person of no importance; not famous
|
|
|
Nonplussed
|
confused
|
|
|
Nostalgia
|
longing for the past
|
|
|
Nostrum
|
remedy
|
|
|
Notoriety
|
infamy; known for wrong doing
|
|
|
Novel
|
new; unusual
|
|
|
Novice
|
a beginner; tyro
|
|
|
Noxious
|
harmful; poisonous; lethal
|
|
|
Nuance
|
something subtle; a fine shade of meaning
|
|
|
Nugatory
|
of minor significance; futile
|
|
|
Nullify
|
to counter; make unimportant
|
|
|
Nuzzle
|
cuddle; snuggle
|
|
|
Obdurate
|
stubborn
|
|
|
Obfuscate
|
deliberately make something difficult to understand
|
|
|
Objective
|
unbiased; not subjective
|
|
|
Obligate
|
compulsory
|
|
|
Oblique
|
indirect; slanting
|
|
|
Obliterate
|
destroy; demolish; eradicate
|
|
|
Oblivious
|
totally unaware
|
|
|
Obscure
|
difficult to understand; partially hidden
|
|
|
Obscured
|
hidden; covered; buried
|
|
|
Obsequious
|
servile; submissive
|
|
|
Obsession
|
a dominating concern
|
|
|
Obsolete
|
no longer valid
|
|
|
Obstreperous
|
noisy and boisterous
|
|
|
Obtuse
|
mentally dull
|
|
|
Obviate
|
avoid; make unnecessary
|
|
|
Occluded
|
obscured; blocked
|
|
|
Odious
|
hateful
|
|
|
Odometer
|
instrument to measure distance covered
|
|
|
Officious
|
domineering; intrusive; meddlesome
|
|
|
Ogle
|
stare at; observe in an obvious manner
|
|
|
Olfactory
|
concerned with the sense of smell
|
|
|
Ominous
|
threatening
|
|
|
Omnipotent
|
all-powerful
|
|
|
Omniscient
|
all-knowing
|
|
|
Onerous
|
burdensome; hard to undertake
|
|
|
Onus
|
burden
|
|
|
Opaque
|
does not let light through
|
|
|
Opprobrious
|
expressing great scorn [opprobrium (n)]
|
|
|
Opulent
|
wealthy; rich; magnificent
|
|
|
Orate
|
speak in a pompous manner
|
|
|
Ordain
|
1. destine; 2. confer holy orders on a priest
|
|
|
Ornate
|
highly decorated
|
|
|
Orthodox
|
conventional
|
|
|
Ossified
|
turned to bone; become rigid [ossification (n)]
|
|
|
Ossify
|
1. turn to bone; 2. become fixed and rigid
|
|
|
Ostentatious
|
showy
|
|
|
Ostracism
|
shunning; social isolation [ostracize (v)]
|
|
|
Oust
|
push out of a position
|
|
|
Overt
|
obvious; not hidden
|
|
|
Overwrought
|
worked up; in an emotional state
|
|
|
Paean
|
praise; tribute (esp. in song)
|
|
|
Palatable
|
good to eat; agreeable
|
|
|
Palisade
|
fence made of posts
|
|
|
Palliative
|
a remedy that improves but doesn't cure
|
|
|
Pallid
|
pale
|
|
|
Palpable
|
easily felt; easily perceived
|
|
|
Palpate
|
medical term meaning to examine with the hands
|
|
|
Panacea
|
remedy for all ills
|
|
|
Panegyric
|
speech praising someone; laudatory words
|
|
|
Papyrus
|
material used for writing on before paper was invented
|
|
|
Paradigm
|
1. example; 2. model; 3. way of looking at things
|
|
|
Paradox
|
apparently contradictory statement
|
|
|
Paragon
|
a perfect example
|
|
|
Paramount
|
of supreme importance
|
|
|
Paranoia
|
mental state characterized by delusions or excessive fear
|
|
|
Parasite
|
1. scrounger; 2. animal which takes digested food from another
|
|
|
Parched
|
dried up
|
|
|
Parenthesis
|
remarks deviating from the main point [parentheses are round brackets in punctuation]
|
|
|
Pariah
|
an outcast from society
|
|
|
Parity
|
equality
|
|
|
Parochial
|
narrow-minded; concerned only with local matters
|
|
|
Parody
|
a mockery; imitation for ridicule; spoof
|
|
|
Parry
|
ward off; avoid
|
|
|
Parsimonious
|
economical; frugal; thrifty
|
|
|
Parsimony
|
stinginess; frugality; cost-cutting
|
|
|
Partiality
|
bias
|
|
|
Partisan
|
biased; one-sided; committed to one group
|
|
|
Pastiche
|
work (usually artistic) which imitates, or iscomposed of parts taken from varied sources
|
|
|
Pathos
|
evoking sadness or pity
|
|
|
Patron
|
one who give support (usually financial)
|
|
|
Patronize
|
condescend to; behave in an arrogant manner towards
|
|
|
Patronize
|
1. to talk down to; condescend; 2. to be a customer of
|
|
|
Paucity
|
shortage
|
|
|
Peccadillo
|
minor weakness; trivial offence
|
|
|
Pedagogy
|
science of education; teaching
|
|
|
Pedant
|
person who insists on strict adherence to rules ornarrow learning
|
|
|
Pedantic
|
over-insistent on matters of book-learning [pedant(n)]
|
|
|
Pedestrian
|
common; mundane; banal
|
|
|
Peer
|
1. an equal; 2. to stare at; 3. nobleman
|
|
|
Peerless
|
without equal
|
|
|
Pejorative
|
derogatory
|
|
|
Pellucid
|
transparently clear
|
|
|
Penchant
|
inclination; leaning; tendency; predilection
|
|
|
Pensive
|
in a thoughtful mood; thinking deeply
|
|
|
Penury
|
poverty
|
|
|
Perceptive
|
observant
|
|
|
Percipient
|
perceptive; insightful
|
|
|
Perdition
|
damnation
|
|
|
Peremptory
|
in a commanding manner
|
|
|
Perennial
|
long-lasting
|
|
|
Perfidy
|
treachery
|
|
|
Perfunctory
|
superficial; cursory
|
|
|
Peripatetic
|
nomadic; moving from place to place
|
|
|
Peripheral
|
on the edge; not important
|
|
|
Perjury
|
telling lies under oath
|
|
|
Pernicious
|
destructive; harmful
|
|
|
Perpetuated
|
caused to continue
|
|
|
Perpetuity
|
eternity
|
|
|
Persnickety
|
fastidious; fussy
|
|
|
Personable
|
attractive
|
|
|
Personification
|
1. represent something as a person; 2. a concrete example of
|
|
|
Perspicacious
|
insightful; sharp; wise
|
|
|
Perspicacity
|
insight
|
|
|
Pertain
|
be relevant to [pertinent (a)]
|
|
|
Pertinent
|
relevant
|
|
|
Peruse
|
read carefully
|
|
|
Pervasive
|
spreading everywhere
|
|
|
Petrify
|
1. terrify; 2. turn to stone
|
|
|
Petulant
|
sulky; peevish
|
|
|
Phenomenology
|
branch of science concerned with things as theyare perceived; not directly derived from theory
|
|
|
Phenomenon
|
an event or happening (plural: phenomena)
|
|
|
Philanthropy
|
charity; love of mankind
|
|
|
Philistine
|
uncultured person
|
|
|
Phlegmatic
|
calm; imperturbable
|
|
|
Picayune
|
insignificant; of little value
|
|
|
Pied
|
multicolored
|
|
|
Pillage
|
plunder
|
|
|
Pine
|
1. type of evergreen tree; 2. grieve
|
|
|
Pinnacle
|
topmost point
|
|
|
Pious
|
very religious
|
|
|
Pique
|
1. annoyance (n); 2. to stimulate interest; to annoy(v)
|
|
|
Pith
|
center; soft part of stem; essence
|
|
|
Pivotal
|
of central importance
|
|
|
Placate
|
pacify; soothe; calm
|
|
|
Placebo
|
harmless medicine with no effect; dummy medicine
|
|
|
Placid
|
calm; peaceful
|
|
|
Plagiarism
|
taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas
|
|
|
Plaintiff
|
petitioner (in court of law)
|
|
|
Plaintive
|
sad; mournful
|
|
|
Plaque
|
1. surface deposit on teeth or in artery etc.; 2. decorative plate or sign
|
|
|
Platitude
|
unoriginal, obvious saying
|
|
|
Plaudit
|
statement giving strong praise
|
|
|
Plausibility
|
believability [plausible (a)]
|
|
|
Plausible
|
can be believed; reasonable
|
|
|
Plethora
|
an excess
|
|
|
Pliable
|
flexible; not stubborn
|
|
|
Plodding
|
walking slowly and heavily; uninspired
|
|
|
Pluck (n)
|
courage
|
|
|
Plumage
|
feathers of a bird
|
|
|
Plumb
|
measure depth of (v); exact (a. slang)
|
|
|
Plummet
|
fall suddenly and steeply
|
|
|
Podium
|
raised platform
|
|
|
Poignant
|
deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions
|
|
|
Poised
|
calm; collected; self-possessed
|
|
|
Polemical
|
causing debate or argument
|
|
|
Ponderous
|
weighty; slow and heavy
|
|
|
Pontificate
|
speak pompously or dogmatically
|
|
|
Portend
|
foretell
|
|
|
Portent
|
a warning sign; omen
|
|
|
Poseur
|
someone who puts on an act
|
|
|
Posterity
|
future generations
|
|
|
Posthumous
|
after death
|
|
|
Postulate
|
hypothesize; propose
|
|
|
Posture (v)
|
to put on an act
|
|
|
Potable
|
suitable for drinking
|
|
|
Potent
|
powerful; compelling; strong
|
|
|
Pragmatic
|
practical
|
|
|
Pragmatist
|
practical person; one who is concerned with usefulness
|
|
|
Prattle
|
mindless talk
|
|
|
Preamble
|
introductory material
|
|
|
Precarious
|
unstable; risky
|
|
|
Precedent
|
a previous occurrence used as a guide
|
|
|
Precept
|
guiding principle
|
|
|
Precinct
|
district of a city
|
|
|
Precipice
|
steep slope
|
|
|
Precipitate
|
1. hurried (a); 2. insoluble product of a reaction inchemistry (n), 3. to instigate or speed up an action(v)
|
|
|
Precipitous
|
done in a hurry
|
|
|
Preclude
|
prevent or make impossible
|
|
|
Precocious
|
developing early
|
|
|
Predecessor
|
one who came before
|
|
|
Predicament
|
dilemma; difficult situation
|
|
|
Predilection
|
leaning; interest; talent
|
|
|
Preeminent
|
famous; outstanding
|
|
|
Prerogative
|
right or privilege
|
|
|
Presage
|
forewarn of; indicate
|
|
|
Prescience
|
foreknowledge
|
|
|
Prescient
|
having fore-knowledge
|
|
|
Presentiment
|
a feeling that something might happen
|
|
|
Presumptuous
|
assuming too much; arrogant
|
|
|
Pretension
|
assumed attitude of superiority; arrogance
|
|
|
Pretentious
|
pompous; self-important
|
|
|
Preternatural
|
unnatural; abnormal
|
|
|
Prevaricate
|
speak misleadingly and evasively
|
|
|
Primordial
|
present from the beginning of time
|
|
|
Pristine
|
unspoiled
|
|
|
Probity
|
uprightness; honesty
|
|
|
Proclivity
|
tendency towards
|
|
|
Procrastinate
|
delay; put off
|
|
|
Prodigal
|
wasteful; extravagant
|
|
|
Prodigious
|
very large
|
|
|
Profane
|
unholy
|
|
|
Profanity
|
swearing; cursing
|
|
|
Profound
|
having deep meaning
|
|
|
Profundity
|
depth
|
|
|
Prohibitive
|
1. prohibiting; 2. exorbitantly expensive
|
|
|
Proletarian
|
member of the working class
|
|
|
Proliferate
|
grow and spread [proliferation (n)]
|
|
|
Prolific
|
producing a lot
|
|
|
Prolixity
|
wordiness [prolix (a)]
|
|
|
Prominent
|
1. eminent; 2. protruding; 3. obvious
|
|
|
Prone
|
1. vulnerable to; 2. horizontal
|
|
|
Propensity
|
tendency; inclination
|
|
|
Propitiate
|
appease; try to gain favor [propitiation (n)]
|
|
|
Proponents
|
promoters; supporters
|
|
|
Prosaic
|
dull; boring; ordinary
|
|
|
Proscribe
|
forbid
|
|
|
Prosody
|
study of versification
|
|
|
Prostration
|
1. lying face down; 2. be overcome with extreme weakness
|
|
|
Protagonist
|
main character in film, book, play etc.
|
|
|
Protean
|
changeable
|
|
|
Protégé
|
person under protection of, or guided by another
|
|
|
Protocol
|
procedure; code of behavior
|
|
|
Provincial
|
unsophisticated; narrow-minded
|
|
|
Proximate
|
immediate; nearest
|
|
|
Prudence
|
caution; wisdom
|
|
|
Prudent
|
cautious; wise
|
|
|
Prudish
|
narrow-minded; excessively concerned with morals [prudery (n), prude (n)]
|
|
|
Prune
|
1. to trim; 2. a dried plum
|
|
|
Psychosis
|
severe mental disturbance
|
|
|
Puerile
|
childish
|
|
|
Pugnacious
|
aggressive, ready to fight [pugnacity (n)]
|
|
|
Puissance
|
power
|
|
|
Punctilious
|
paying attention to small details
|
|
|
Pundit
|
expert
|
|
|
Purchase
|
1. grip; 2. buy
|
|
|
Purist
|
conservative; one who insists on correct forms of language etc.
|
|
|
Purloin
|
steal
|
|
|
Pusillanimous
|
cowardly
|
|
|
Pyre
|
ceremonial fire
|
|
|
Pyromania
|
compulsion to start fires
|
|
|
Quack
|
charlatan; fake
|
|
|
Quaff
|
drink down quickly
|
|
|
Quagmire
|
marsh; bog
|
|
|
Quaint
|
picturesque
|
|
|
Qualm
|
hesitation or fear
|
|
|
Quandary
|
dilemma; puzzle
|
|
|
Quarantine
|
isolation to prevent the spread of disease
|
|
|
Quarry
|
1. something that is hunted; 2. mine for stone
|
|
|
Quell
|
suppress
|
|
|
Querulous
|
always complaining
|
|
|
Quibble
|
1. (v) to argue about minor matters; to play onwords when finding fault; 2. (n) a minor verbal point in an argument
|
|
|
Quintessential
|
most typical; the perfect example of [quintessence(n)]
|
|
|
Quirk
|
oddity
|
|
|
Quisling
|
traitor
|
|
|
Quixotic
|
impractically idealistic
|
|
|
Quotidian
|
daily; routine
|
|
|
Raconteur
|
person who relates a story
|
|
|
Ramble
|
wander aimlessly
|
|
|
Ramifications
|
branches; subdivisions of a complex system; outcomes
|
|
|
Rancor
|
resentment; animosity; bad feeling
|
|
|
Rant
|
use bombastic language
|
|
|
Rarefy
|
make less dense [rarefaction (n)]
|
|
|
Ratify
|
approve; consent
|
|
|
Raucous
|
rough and unpleasant (of sounds)
|
|
|
Raze
|
destroy; demolish; tear down
|
|
|
Ready
|
(used of wit) quick
|
|
|
Rebus
|
puzzle in which pictures give clues
|
|
|
Rebuttal
|
denial
|
|
|
Recant
|
disclaim; retract statement
|
|
|
Recapitulate
|
summarize
|
|
|
Receptacle
|
container; vessel; holder
|
|
|
Recluse
|
someone who cuts himself off from life
|
|
|
Recondite
|
obscure
|
|
|
Reconnaissance
|
examination or survey conducted in advance [reconnoiter (v)]
|
|
|
Recumbent
|
reclining; lying down
|
|
|
Recuperate
|
get better after illness
|
|
|
Red tape
|
formalities; paperwork; official procedure
|
|
|
Redolent
|
smelling of; giving off odors
|
|
|
Redress
|
put right something that was wrong
|
|
|
Redundant
|
unnecessary; superfluous
|
|
|
Referendum
|
public vote
|
|
|
Refulgent
|
glowing; radiant
|
|
|
Refute
|
disprove
|
|
|
Regale
|
entertain
|
|
|
Rekindle
|
relight; revive
|
|
|
Relegate
|
dismiss to a lower position
|
|
|
Remorse
|
regret; sorrow; contrition
|
|
|
Remuneration
|
payment for work done
|
|
|
Renege
|
go back on promise or retract statement
|
|
|
Renown
|
fame
|
|
|
Rent
|
torn (past participle of the verb to rend)
|
|
|
Repine
|
fret; be discontented
|
|
|
Replete
|
full
|
|
|
Reprehensible
|
shameful; very bad
|
|
|
Reprieve
|
a respite; postponement of a sentence
|
|
|
Reproof
|
scolding; criticism [reprove (v)]
|
|
|
Repudiate
|
shun; eschew
|
|
|
Rescind
|
retract; repeal
|
|
|
Resignation
|
acceptance of fate
|
|
|
Resilience
|
resistance; ability to spring back [resilience (a)]
|
|
|
Resolution
|
determination
|
|
|
Resolve
|
firmness (n)
|
|
|
Resonant
|
echoing
|
|
|
Respite
|
a break; intermission
|
|
|
Resplendent
|
shining; glowing
|
|
|
Restorative
|
a tonic
|
|
|
Resuscitation
|
revival from unconsciousness [resuscitate (v)]
|
|
|
Retention
|
preservation; withholding
|
|
|
Reticent
|
restrained; holding something back;uncommunicative
|
|
|
Retraction
|
withdrawal; cancellation of a statement
|
|
|
Revere
|
worship
|
|
|
Riddled
|
full of (usually full of holes)
|
|
|
Rife
|
common
|
|
|
Rigor
|
thoroughness
|
|
|
Riveting
|
fascinating [to rivet literally means to fix metalplates using metal pins]
|
|
|
Robust
|
strong; healthy; tough
|
|
|
Roster
|
list of names
|
|
|
Rotund
|
round
|
|
|
Rue
|
regret [rueful (a)]
|
|
|
Ruminate
|
think over something; ponder
|
|
|
Runic
|
mysterious; magical
|
|
|
Ruse
|
trick; stratagem
|
|
|
Saccharin
|
falsely sweet
|
|
|
Sacrosanct
|
very holy; inviolable
|
|
|
Sagacious
|
wise
|
|
|
Sage
|
a wise person
|
|
|
Salacious
|
lecherous; erotic
|
|
|
Sallow
|
yellowish
|
|
|
Salubrious
|
health-giving
|
|
|
Salutary
|
something which teaches you a lesson; beneficial
|
|
|
Sanctimonious
|
hypocritically holy
|
|
|
Sanction
|
give approval to
|
|
|
Sanguinary
|
bloodthirsty; bloody
|
|
|
Sanguine
|
optimistic; cheerful
|
|
|
Sap
|
1. liquid inside plants (n); 2. to drain; to undermine(v); 3. a fool (n)
|
|
|
Sardonic
|
mocking
|
|
|
Sate
|
satisfy
|
|
|
Satiate
|
satisfy; fill completely [satiable (a); satiation (n)]
|
|
|
Savant
|
person with knowledge
|
|
|
Savor
|
enjoy
|
|
|
Saw
|
1. tool for cutting; 2. wise saying
|
|
|
Scabbard
|
cover for a sword
|
|
|
Scale
|
to climb
|
|
|
Scapegoat
|
person on whom blame is placed for faults of others
|
|
|
Score (n)
|
written form of music
|
|
|
Scotch (v)
|
to prevent; stop; disable
|
|
|
Scrupulous
|
careful; diligent; painstaking
|
|
|
Scrutinize
|
examine carefully
|
|
|
Scurvy
|
1. disease due to lack of vitamin C; 2.contemptible; rascally
|
|
|
Scuttle
|
sink
|
|
|
Secure (v)
|
1. to fix firmly; 2. to obtain
|
|
|
Sedulity
|
thoroughness; perseverance [sedulous (a)]
|
|
|
Sedulous
|
persevering; eager and thorough
|
|
|
Seemly
|
appropriate (of behavior); decorous
|
|
|
Seine
|
type of fishing net
|
|
|
Seminal
|
essential; formative
|
|
|
Seminary
|
an institution in which priests are trained
|
|
|
Sensuous
|
appealing to the senses
|
|
|
Sentinel
|
guard; sentry
|
|
|
Sequester
|
isolate
|
|
|
Sere
|
withered; old
|
|
|
Serendipity
|
fortunate coincidence; unsought discovery
|
|
|
Serene
|
calm; peaceful
|
|
|
Serrated
|
jagged; saw-like
|
|
|
Serration
|
jagged edge
|
|
|
Servile
|
overly submissive; groveling
|
|
|
Shard
|
fragment of pottery
|
|
|
Shirk
|
avoid (esp. work)
|
|
|
Sibyl
|
prophetess
|
|
|
Sidereal
|
of or related to stars
|
|
|
Sinecure
|
job which pays salary but requiring little effort
|
|
|
Sinewy
|
vigorous; having well-developed muscles [a sinewis a tendon]
|
|
|
Sinistral
|
left-handed (or counterclockwise) [dextral - right handed]
|
|
|
Skeptical
|
doubting; not gullible
|
|
|
Skiff
|
small boat
|
|
|
Skirmish
|
minor battle
|
|
|
Slew
|
glut; excess
|
|
|
Slight
|
1. minor (a); 2. perceived insult (v) and (n)
|
|
|
Sluggard
|
slow-moving; lethargic person
|
|
|
Smelt
|
refine an ore
|
|
|
Smorgasbord
|
a Swedish buffet of cold dishes
|
|
|
Solace
|
comfort for grief
|
|
|
Solicit
|
to ask for; seek
|
|
|
Solicitous
|
kindly; expressing care and concern
|
|
|
Soliloquy
|
solo speech
|
|
|
Somatic
|
concerned with the body
|
|
|
Somnambulist
|
sleepwalker
|
|
|
Soothsayer
|
fortuneteller
|
|
|
Sophomoric
|
juvenile; immature
|
|
|
Soporific
|
inducing sleep
|
|
|
Sparse
|
spare; bare; meager
|
|
|
Specious
|
false
|
|
|
Speckled
|
spotted; freckled; dotted
|
|
|
Sporadic
|
not continuous; intermittent
|
|
|
Spurious
|
false
|
|
|
Squalid
|
dirty and demeaning
|
|
|
Stagnant
|
still; not moving
|
|
|
Staid
|
dull; sober; serious
|
|
|
Stanch
|
to stop
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Stanza
|
section of a poem
|
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Statute
|
law [statutory (a)]
|
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Staunch
|
loyal; faithful; dependable
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Steep (v)
|
to soak in water
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Stereotype
|
fixed image
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Stevedore
|
dockworker
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Stickler
|
one who is strict about rules or details
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Stifle
|
suppress
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Stinting
|
holding back; limiting the supply (of supplies/money etc.) [stint (v)]
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Stipple
|
cover with dots of paint etc.
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Stipulate
|
specify [stipulation (n)]
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Stoic
|
known for fortitude; indifferent to pleasure or pain
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Stoke
|
add fuel to; strengthen
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Stolid
|
impassive; dull; indifferent
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Stomach (v)
|
to tolerate
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Stratagem
|
plot; plan; trick
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Strident
|
loud and harsh
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Stringent
|
strict or severe
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Strut
|
1. supporting rod (n); 2. to walk in an arrogant manner; show off (v)
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Strut
|
swagger; show off
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Stupefying
|
astonishing; shocking; stunning into silence
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Stygian
|
very dark
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Subliminal
|
below the threshold of consciousness
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Suborn
|
bribe
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Subpoena
|
summons to court
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Substantiate
|
give supporting evidence
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Subterfuge
|
a trick
|
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Subtle
|
not obvious
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Subversive
|
rebellious; revolutionary
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Succinct
|
concise
|
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|
Suffragist
|
someone who campaigns for voting rights
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Sullied
|
made dirty or impure [opposite unsullied; sully (v)]
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Supercilious
|
proud and haughty
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Superlative
|
extremely good; the best
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Supine
|
lying flat on one’s back
|
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Supplicant
|
person who requests or begs for something [supplicate (v)]
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Surly
|
grumpy; rude
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Surreptitious
|
secret; sneaky; stealthy
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Surreptitiously
|
secretly; furtively; stealthily
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Susceptible
|
vulnerable
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Suspect
|
doubtful
|
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Sybarite
|
lover of luxury
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Sycophant
|
bootlicker; flatterer
|
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Syllogism
|
type of logical reasoning
|
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Symphony
|
type of musical composition
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Synapse
|
junction between two nerve cells
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Syncopation
|
type of musical rhythm with missed beats
|
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Table (v)
|
put down for future discussion
|
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Taciturn
|
quiet; saying little
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Tactile
|
concerned with the sense of touch
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Talisman
|
lucky charm
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Talon
|
long pointed nail or claw
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Tamp
|
to plug; press loose matter down tightly (e.g. pack explosives into a hole)
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Tangent
|
going off the main subject
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Tangible
|
can be touched
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Tardy
|
slow; late; overdue; delayed
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Tare
|
1. weed; 2. allowance made for container when weighing
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Tarnished
|
made dull; spoil (reputation)
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Taunt
|
mock; tease
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Tawdry
|
of little value; gaudy
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Tedium
|
boredom
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Teetotalism
|
total abstinence from alcohol
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Temper
|
to moderate; soften
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Temperate
|
moderate
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Tempers
|
moderates
|
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Tenacious
|
stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose
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Tendentious
|
dogmatic; biased
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Tender
|
to offer
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Tentative
|
not certain
|
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Tenuous
|
flimsy; not solid
|
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Terse
|
concise; to the point
|
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Testiness
|
irritability; irascibility [testy (a)]
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Therapeutic
|
medicinal; curative
|
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Throwback
|
exhibiting primitive, or ancestral, traits
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Thwart
|
prevent; frustrate
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Timorous
|
cowardly; fearful
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Tirade
|
stream of verbal abuse
|
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Titter
|
giggle quietly
|
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Toady
|
sycophant; flatterer
|
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Tome
|
large book
|
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Torpid
|
inactive; lazy; stagnant
|
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Torpor
|
dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity
|
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Torrid
|
hot and steamy
|
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Tortuous
|
indirect; winding
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Totter
|
walk unsteadily
|
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Touting
|
advertising; supporting [tout (v)]
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Toy (v)
|
to play with
|
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Tractable
|
obedient; dutiful; polite
|
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Tranquil
|
peaceful
|
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Transcendental
|
supernatural; going beyond normal experience [transcendent (a)]
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Transcribe
|
copy
|
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Transgress
|
go astray; disobey; commit a sin
|
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Transient
|
short-lived; ephemeral
|
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Traverse
|
to move across
|
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Travesty
|
parody; ridiculous error
|
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Trepidation
|
fear
|
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Trilogy
|
set of three (literary works etc.); tetralogy = set of four
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Trinket
|
something of little value; knick-knack
|
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Trite
|
unoriginal; dull
|
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Trivial
|
unimportant
|
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Truant
|
shirker; someone absent without permission
|
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Truncate
|
cut short
|
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Tumult
|
uproar; noise
|
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Turpitude
|
depravity
|
|
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Tutelary
|
serving as a guardian [tutelage (n)]
|
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Tyro
|
novice; beginner
|
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Ubiquitous
|
found everywhere; omnipresent
|
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Umbrage
|
1. shadow; 2. offence; sense of injury
|
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Unalloyed
|
undiluted; total
|
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Unctuous
|
oily; using excessive flattery
|
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Undercutting
|
offering a lower price; undermining
|
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Undergird
|
support; strengthen
|
|
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Undermine
|
subvert; attempt to overthrow
|
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Undermined
|
damaged; attacked
|
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Underwrite
|
give guarantee, insure
|
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Unequivocal
|
clear; obvious
|
|
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Unfetter
|
set free
|
|
|
Unfrock
|
to remove a priest from his position
|
|
|
Unprecedented
|
never having happened before
|
|
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Unprepossessing
|
unattractive
|
|
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Unscathed
|
unharmed; intact; without a scratch
|
|
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Untoward
|
unexpected
|
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Unwitting
|
not deliberate; unconscious
|
|
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Upbraid
|
scold; tell off; reprimand
|
|
|
Uproarious
|
hilarious; hysterical; very funny
|
|
|
Upshot
|
outcome
|
|
|
Urbane
|
sophisticated; suave
|
|
|
Usurp
|
take someone's position (usually by force)
|
|
|
Usury
|
lending money at high interest rates
|
|
|
Utilitarian
|
useful
|
|
|
Utopian
|
a believer in an ideal world
|
|
|
Vacillate
|
waver; hesitate
|
|
|
Vacuous
|
empty; silly; meaningless
|
|
|
Vagary
|
something unaccountable; freak
|
|
|
Vagrant
|
person wandering without a home
|
|
|
Vapid
|
dull; uninspiring
|
|
|
Variegated
|
multicolored; speckled
|
|
|
Vehemence
|
violence; fervor; forcefulness
|
|
|
Vehement
|
forceful
|
|
|
Venal
|
corrupt; can be bribed
|
|
|
Veneer
|
surface coating
|
|
|
Venerate
|
revere; worship
|
|
|
Veneration
|
worship; respect [venerable (a), venerate (v)]
|
|
|
Venial
|
minor; unimportant
|
|
|
Venturing
|
1. hazarding; risking; putting forward; 2. going somewhere [venturesome means courageous orwilling to take risks]
|
|
|
Veracious
|
true [veracity (n)]
|
|
|
Veracity
|
truthfulness
|
|
|
Verbiage
|
excessive or meaningless wordiness
|
|
|
Verbose
|
talkative; long-winded; rambling
|
|
|
Verbosity
|
using too many words
|
|
|
Verisimilar
|
true to life; giving the appearance of reality
|
|
|
Veritable
|
true; genuine [verity (n)]
|
|
|
Vertigo
|
dizziness
|
|
|
Vestigial
|
not developed
|
|
|
Vicissitude
|
unexpected change in fortune or circumstances
|
|
|
Vignette
|
small sketch
|
|
|
Vilification
|
blackening someone's name
|
|
|
Vindicate
|
prove right; remove blame
|
|
|
Virtuosity
|
skill, expertise [virtuoso (n); virtuosi (n.pl)]
|
|
|
Virtuoso
|
an accomplished musician
|
|
|
Virulent
|
dangerous; harmful
|
|
|
Vital
|
essential; alive; important
|
|
|
Vitiate
|
weaken; sap energy
|
|
|
Vitriolic
|
corrosive; strongly attacking
|
|
|
Vituperate
|
attack bitterly
|
|
|
Vivacity
|
liveliness; animation
|
|
|
Vivify
|
enliven
|
|
|
Vociferous
|
noisy; loud in speech
|
|
|
Volatile
|
dangerously unstable; evaporates easily
|
|
|
Volubility
|
excessive talkativeness [voluble (a)]
|
|
|
Voluble
|
talkative
|
|
|
Voluminous
|
very large; spacious
|
|
|
Voracious
|
ravenous
|
|
|
Vulpine
|
like a fox [compare with bovine (cow-like); porcine(pig-like), etc.]
|
|
|
Waffle
|
talk nonsense
|
|
|
Waft
|
drift smoothly (v); whiff; smell (n)
|
|
|
Wag (n)
|
a witty person
|
|
|
Waive
|
surrender; give up
|
|
|
Wane
|
grow less
|
|
|
Wary
|
hesitant; cautious
|
|
|
Wax
|
to increase; to grow
|
|
|
Waylay
|
accost; stop; approach; hinder
|
|
|
Weighty
|
serious
|
|
|
Whelp
|
young dog
|
|
|
Whet
|
sharpen
|
|
|
Whimsical
|
capricious; changeable
|
|
|
Whittle
|
1. carve with knife; 2. reduce step by step
|
|
|
Willful
|
stubborn
|
|
|
Wily
|
cunning
|
|
|
Wispy
|
flimsy; frail; delicate
|
|
|
Wistful
|
melancholy; pensive; expressing a longing for
|
|
|
Wry
|
1. twisted or bent to one side; 2. dryly humorous
|
|
|
Xenophobe
|
person afraid of foreigners
|
|
|
Zany
|
crazy; wacky
|
|
|
Zeal
|
enthusiasm
|
|
|
Zealot
|
fanatic
|
|
|
Zenith
|
summit
|
