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72 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
acerbic (adj.)
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having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
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aggrandize (v.)
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to increase in intensity, power, influence or prestige
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alchemy (n.)
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a medieval science aimed as the transmutation of metals, especially base metals into gold
- an alchemist is one who practices alchemy |
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amenable (adj.)
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agreeable; responsive to suggestions
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anachronism (n.)
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something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
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astringent (adj./n.)
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having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; sever; something with a tightening effect on tissue
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contiguous (adj.)
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sharing a border; touching; adjacent
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convention (n.)
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a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
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credulous (adj.)
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tending to believe too readily; gullible
noun form: credulity |
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cynicism (n.)
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an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
adj form: cynical |
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decorum (n.)
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polite or appropriate conduct or behavior
adj form: decorous |
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derision (n.)
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scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment
adj form: derisive verb form: deride |
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desiccate (v.)
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to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
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dilettante (n.)
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one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
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disparage (v.)
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to slight or belittle
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divulge (v.)
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to disclose something secret
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fawn (v.)
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to flatter or praise excessively
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flout (v.)
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to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention
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garrulous (adj.)
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pointlessly talkative, talking too much
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glib (adj.)
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marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
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hubris (n.)
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overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
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imminent (adj.)
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about to happen; impending
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immutable (adj.)
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not capable of change
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impetuous (adj.)
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hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
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indifferent (adj.)
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having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
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inimical (adj.)
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damaging; harmful; injurious
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intractable (adj.)
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not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
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intrepid (adj.)
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steadfast and courageous
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laconic (adj.)
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using few words; terse
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maverick (n.)
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an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
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mercurial (adj.)
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characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
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mollify (v.)
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to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
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neophyte (n.)
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a recent convert; beginner; novice
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obfuscate (v.)
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to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
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obstinate (adj.)
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stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising
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ostentatious (adj.)
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characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
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pervade (v.)
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to permeate throughout
adj form: pervasive |
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phlegmatic (adj.)
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calm; sluggish; unemotional
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plethora (n.)
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an overabundance; a surplus
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pragmatic (adj.)
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practical rather than idealistic
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presumptuous (adj.)
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overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
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pristine (adj.)
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pure; uncorrupted; clean
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probity (n.)
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adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
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proclivity (n.)
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a natural predisposition or inclination
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profligate (adj.)
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excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
noun form: profligacy |
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propensity (n.)
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a natural inclination or tendency, penchant
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prosaic (adj.)
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dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
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pungent (adj.)
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characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
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quixotic (adj.)
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foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
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quotidian (adj.)
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occurring or recurring daily, commonplace
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rarefy (v.)
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to make or become thin, less dense, to refine
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recondite (adj.)
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hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
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refulgent (adj.)
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radiant; shiny; brilliant
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renege (v.)
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to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
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sedulous (adj.)
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diligent; persistent; hard-working
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shard (n.)
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a piece of broken pottery or glass
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soporific (adj.)
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causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
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sparse (adj.)
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thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
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spendthrift (n.)
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one who spends money wastefully
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subtle (adj.)
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not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
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tacit (adj.)
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implied; not explicitly stated
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terse (adj.)
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brief and concise in wording
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tout (v.)
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to publicly praise or promote
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trenchant (adj.)
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sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
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unfeigned (adj.)
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genuine; not false or hypocritical
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untenable (adj.)
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indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
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vacillate (v.)
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to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another; waver
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variegated (adj.)
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multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color
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vexation (n.)
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annoyance; irritation
noun form: vex |
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vigilant (adj.)
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alertly watchful
noun form: vigilance |
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vituperate (v.)
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to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; berate
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volatile (adj.)
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readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive
noun form: volatility |