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1108 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
abate
to lessen in intensity or degree
aberrant
deviating from the norm
abjure
to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant or avoid
abrogate
to abolish or annul by authority; put down
abscission
act of cutting off or removing
abatement
lessening in amount or degree
abscise
to cut off or remove
abscission
a cut
abscond
to depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide
abstain
to refrain from an activity
abstemious
marked by moderation, especially where food and drink are concerned
accolade
an expression of praise or award
accretion
a growth. increase by successive addition, building up
acerbic
having a sour or bitter taste or character
acumen
quick, keen, or accurate knowledge or insight
admonish
to reprove; to express warning or disapproval
adroit
adept, dexterous
adulation
excessive praise or intense adoration
adulterate
to reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients
unadulterated
pure
adumbrate
to foreshadow vaguely, intimate, suggest, or outline sketchily
advocate
to argue for or support a cause
aesthetic
dealing with, appreciative of or responsive to art or the beautiful
aggrandize
to increase in intensity, power, or prestige; to make appear greater
alacrity
eager and enthusiastic willingness
alchemy
a magical or wonderful transformation (originally a medieval science aimed at changing metals into gold and silver and the creation of a remedy that could cure all diseases)
alloy
to comingle; to debase by mixing with something inferior
alloy
a mixture (usually of two metals)
unalloyed
pure
amalgamate
to combine several elements into a whole
ambiguity
uncertainty in meaning
ambivalence
the quality of having opposing ideas or feelings
ameliorate
to make better or more tolerable
amenable
agreeable, responsive to suggestion
anachronism
something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
anathema
a solemn or ecclesiastical (religious) curse; accursed or thoroughly loathed person or thing
anodyne
soothing
anodyne
something that assuages or allays pain, or comforts
anomaly
deviation from the normal order, form or rule, abnormality
antagonize
to irritate or cause hostility
antipathy
aversion, dislike
antipathetic
showing a strong aversion towards something
antithetical
diametrically opposed as in antithesis
antithesis
the opposite of something
apathy
lack of interest or feeling
pathos
feeling
apocryphal
of dubious authenticity or origin; spurious
apogee
farthest or highest point; culmination; zenith
perigee
the lowest or closest point, or the nadir
apostate
one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions; a betrayer of a cause
apotheosis
deification, glorification to godliness; the perfect example
apposite
appropriate, pertinent, relevant, apropos
apprise
give notice to, inform
approbation
an expression of approval or praise
approbate
to approve something officially
appropriate
to take something for ones own use; confiscate
arabesque
complex, ornate design
arcane
mysterious, abstruse, esoteric, knowable only to initiates
arcana
deep secrets
archaic
outdated; associated with an earlier, perhaps more primitive time
arduous
strenuous, taxing, requiring significant effort
arrant
impudent in ever way, being completely such, bare-faced, utter
arrest
to suspend; to engage
arresting
holding one's attention
articulate
to enunciate or pronounce clearly; to express oneself clearly
artless
completely without guile, natural without artificiality
ascetic
one who practices rigid self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
ascetic
austere or stark
asceticism
adherence to a belief
asperity
severity, rigor; roughness harshness; acrimony or irritability
aspersion
an act of defamation or maligning
assiduous
diligent; hard working
assuage
to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify
astringent
having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh, severe
attenuate
to rarefy, weaken or make thinner, lessen
audacious
daring and fearless; recklessly bold
audacity
the quality of being daring and fearless
augury
omen, portent, the reading of omens
augur
to predict
august
majestic, venerable
auspice
protection or support, patronage
auspice
sign or portent
auspicious
favorable, propitious, successful, prosperous
austere
without adornment, bare, severely simple, ascetic
austerity
rigid economy
avarice
greed, especially for wealth
avaricious
greedy
aver
to state as a fact; to confirm or support
axiom
universally recognized principle; a generally accepted or common saying
axiomatic
generally accepted or taken as a given
baleful
sinister, pernicious, ominous
bane
cause of injury; source of harm; source of persistent frustration
baneful
causing harm or ruin; destructive
beatify
to bless, make happy, or ascribe a virtue to; to regard as saintly
beatitude
a state of bliss
beatific
having a blissful appearance
bedizen
to adorn, especially in a cheap, showy manner; festoon, caparison
belie
to give a false impression of, to misrepresent
bellicose
belligerent, pugnacious, warlike
benign
favorable, harmless
bent
leaning, inclination, proclivity, tendency
blandish
to coax with flattery, toady or fawn
blandishment
flattery intended to cajole or coax
blithe
carefree, merry
boisterous
loud, noisy, rough, lacking restraint
bolster
to provide support or reinforcement
bombastic
pompous; grandiloquent
bombast
self-important or pompous writing or speech
boor
a rude or insensitive person; lout; yokel
broach
bring up, announce, begin to talk about
brook
to tolerate, endure, countenance
bucolic
rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
burgeon
to grow rapidly or flourish
burnish
to polish, rub to a shine
byzantine
labyrinthine, complex
cacophony
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
cadge
to sponge, beg, or mooch
cajole
to inveigle, coax, wheedle, sweet-talk
calumniate
to slander, make false accusations
calumny
slander, aspersion
canon
an established set of principles or code of laws; often religious in nature
canonical
following in agreement with accepted traditional standards
capricious
inclined to change one's mine impulsively; erratic and unpredictable
cardinal
of basic importance or consequence, primary
caret
an insertion mark used by editors and proofreaders (^)
carnality
something relating to the body or the flesh
carnal
desires that relate to bodily or sexual appetite
carnage
physical remains
castigation
severe criticism or punishment
catalyst
a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes a change
catalyze
to bring about change or to speed up change
causality
the relationship between cause and effect
caustic
burning or stinging; causing corrosion
censure
to criticize severely; to officially rebuke
censure
judgment involving condemnation. the act of blaming or condemning
chaos
a condition or confusion or unpredictability
chaotic
describing a state of confusion
chary
wary, cautious, sparing
chasten
to chastise or correct; subdue
chastened
corrected, punished, or humbled
chauvinist
one blindly devoted to a group of which one is a member
chic
stylish and fashionable; sophistication in dress
chicanery
trickery or subterfuge
chimera
an illusion
chimerical
illusory or improbable
choleric
tending toward anger
churlish
boorish, vulgar, loutish; difficult and intractable
churl
someone who is vulgar or difficult
coalesce
to come together; to fuse or unite
coda
concluding section to a musical or literary piece, something that concludes or completes
cogent
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
color
to change as if by dyeing, influence, distort, or gloss over
commensurate
matching, corresponding, or proportionate in degree, size, amount, or other property
complaisance
the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
complaisant
showing willingness to please
complacent
self-satisfied
confound
to cause to be confused; to frustrate
connoisseur
an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert
consequential
pompous; self important
consequential
logically following, important
contemn
to scorn or despise
contentious
argumentative, quarrelsome, causing controversy or disagreement
contiguous
sharing a border; touching; adjacent
contrite
regretful, penitent, seeking forgiveness
contrition
regret or remorse
convention
a generally agreed upon practice or attitude
convoluted
complex or complicated
corrigible
capable of being set right; correctable, reparable
corrigibility
the capacity to be set right
incorrigible
not reformable, uncontrollable
countenance (v)
to approve of or tolerate
countenance (n)
face, composure
cozen
to deceive, beguile, hoodwink
craven
contemptibly fainthearted; pusillanimous, lacking any courage
credulous
tending to believe too readily; gullible
crescendo
a gradual increase in intensity, particularly in music
culpable
deserving blame
culpability
blameworthiness
cynicism
an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
cynic
someone that believes all people are motivated by selfishness
damp
to diminish the intensity or check something, such as a sound or feeling
daunt
to intimidate or dismay
daunting
dismaying or disheartening
dauntless
fearless, intrepid
dearth
smallness in quantity or number; scarcity, lack
debacle
rout, fiasco, complete failure
decorum
politeness or appropriateness of conduct or behavior
deleterious
injurious; harmful
demur
to question or oppose
denigrate
blacken, belittle, sully, defame or disparage
denouement
an outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot
deprecate
to disparage or belittle
depredate
to plunder, pillage, ravage, or destroy; to exploit in a predatory manner
depredations
attacks or ravages
derision
scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment
deride
to express contempt
derivative
unoriginal, obtained from another source
desiccate
to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
desuetude
disuse
desultory
random; thoughtless; marked by a lack of plan or purpose
detraction
slandering, verbal attack, aspersion
diaphanous
transparent, gauzy
diatribe
a harsh denunciation
didactic
intended to teach or instruct
die
a tool used for shaping
diffident
reserved, shy, unassuming; lacking in self-confidence
digress
to stay away from the point, to go off on a tangent
diffidence
lack of confidence
dilate
to become wider or more open
dilate
to speak or write about something at length
dilatory
causing delay, procrastinating
dilettante
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
dilettantish
an effort that is frivolous or superficial
din
loud sustained noise
dirge
a mournful song or poem for the dead
disabuse
to undeceive; to set right
discomfit
to defeat, put down
discordant
conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound
discretion
cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions
disinterested
free from self-interest; unbiased
disparage
to slight or belittle
disparate
fundamentally distinct or dissimilar
disparaging
remarks that express a negative, usually dismissive, opinion of someone or something
dissemble
to disguise or conceal; mislead
dissolution
disintegration; looseness in morals
dissolute
loose in morals
dissonance
lack of harmony; conflict
distrait
distracted; absent minded; especially due to anxiety
divulge
to disclose something secret
doggerel
trivial, poorly constructed verse
dogmatic
authoritatively and or arrogantly assertive of principles, which often cannot be proved; stubbornly opinionated
dogma
a statement of ideas that is considered to be absolutely true
dross
slag, waste or foreign matter, impurity, surface scum
dulcet
melodious, harmonious, mellifluous
dupe
one who is deceived or to deceive
dynamo
generator, forceful, energetic person
ebullience
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feelings
eccentric
departing from norms or conventions
eclectic
composed of elements drawn from various sources
edifying
enlightening; informative
efficacy
the ability to produce an intended result
effrontery
extreme boldness; presumptuousness
effusive
gushing, excessively demonstrative
egress
exit
elegy
a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead; any mournful writing or piece of music
eloquent
well spoken; expressive; articulate
emollient
soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying
empirical
based on observation or experiment
encomium
glowing and enthusiastic praise; panegyric, tribute, eulogy
endemic
characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region or people; restricted to or peculiar to that region; indigenous
enervate
to weaken; to reduce in vitality
enervate
to weaken; to reduce in vitality
engender
to cause, produce, give rise to
enigmatic
mysterious, obscure, difficult to understand
enigma
a mystery or puzzle
ennui
dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy
enormity
excessive wickedness, evilness
ephemeral
brief; fleeting; short-lived
epicure
one devoted to sensual pleasure, particularly in food and drink, gourmand, sybarite
episodic
loosely connected, not flowing logically, occurring at intervals
epithet
disparaging word or phrase
epitome
embodiment; quintessence
equanimity
composure, self-possession
equable
level; not able to be easily disturbed
equivocate
to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
errant
traveling, itinerant, peripatetic
inerrant
infallible
erratic
without consistency
erudite
very learned; scholarly
erudition
profound learning or extensive knowledge, learned primarily through books
eschew
to shun or avoid
esoteric
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
essay
to test or try, attempt, experiment
essay
an attempt at something
estimable
worthy, formidable
eulogy
a speech honoring the dead
evanescent
tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing
evince
to show clearly; to indicate
exacerbate
to make worse or more severe
exact
to demand, call for, require, take
excoriate
to censure scathingly, to upbraid
exculpate
to exonerate, or clear of blame
exemplar
typical or standard specimen; paradigm, model
exemplary
worthy of imitation
exhort
to incite, to make urgent appeals
exigent
urgent; pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
exigencies
urgent or pressing situations
exonerate
to remove blame
expatiate
discuss or write about at length; to range freely
expiate
to atone or make amends for
expurgate
to remove obscenity, purify, censor
purge
to cleanse or make pure
extant
existing, not destroyed or loss
extemporaneous
improvised; done without preparation
extirpate
to destroy, exterminate, cut out, pull out by the roots
Facetious
Playful, humorous, not serious
Fallacy
An invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief
Fallow
Untilled; inactive; dormant
Fanatical
Zealous ; single mindedly obsessed with one thing
Fatuous
Silly; inanely foolish
Fawn
To flatter or praise excessively
Feckless
Ineffectual; irresponsible
Felicitious
Apt; suitably expressed, well chosen , apropos, delightful
Felicity
The state of something that causes happiness
Infelicitous
Unfortunate, inappropriate
Fell
A barren or stony hill; an animals hide
Fervent
Greatly emotional or zealous
Fetid
Stinking, having a heavy bad smell
Fetter
To shackle, put in chains, restrain
Unfettered
Free or unhampered
Filibuster
Intentional obstruction, usually using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action
Filigree
An ornamental work, especially of delicate lacelike patterns; resembling such a pattern
Flag
To sag or droop, to become spiritless, to decline
Flip
Sarcastic, impertinent
Florid
Flushed with color,ruddy, ornate
Flout
Demonstrate contempt for
Foment
To stir up, incite , rouse
Forbearance
Patience, willingness to wait
Forbear
To refrain from
Ford
To wade across the shallow part of a river or stream
Forestall
To act in a way to hinder, exclude or prevent an action; to circumvent or thwart
Forswear
To renounce, disallow, repudiate
Fortuitous
Happening by fortunate accident or chance
Fracas
Noisy fight or quarrel; brawl
Fractious
Quarrelsome, rebelious, unruly, cranky
Froward
Intractable, not willing to yield or comply, stubbornly disobedient
Fulminate
To attack loudly or denounce
Furtive
Marked by stealth covert, surreptitious
gainsay
to deny, dispute, contradict, oppose
gambol
to skip about playfully, frolic
garner
to gather and save, store up, acquire
garrulous
pointlessly talkative, talking too much
gauche
crude, awkward, tasteless
germane
relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter
glib
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacing in depth; superficial
gossamer
delicate, insubstantial or tenuous, insincere
grandiloquence
pompous speech or expression
gregarious
social; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
grouse
to complain or grumble
guile
trickery, duplicity, cunning
guileless
free from guile, naive
beguile
to charm
guy
a rope or cord attached to something as a brace or guide
hackneyed
rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage
hack
a writer for hire
halcyon
clam and peaceful, prosperous
hallow
to set apart as holy
harangue
to deliver a loud, pompous speech or tirade
harrow
to distress, create stress or torment
hedonism
devotion to pleasurable pursuits, especially to the pleasures of the senses
hegemony
the consistent dominance or influence of on group, state, or ideology over others
heretical
violating accepted dogma or convention, unorthodox
hermetic
airtight, impervious to outside influence
hermeneutic
explanatory or interpretive
heterodox
unorthodox, heretical, inconoclastic
heterodoxy
anidea that departs from what is accepted
hirsute
harry or shaggy
homily
a sermon or morally instructive lecture, a platitude
homiletics
the art of preaching
homogeneous
the same throughout
hubris
arrogant presumption or pride
hyperbole
an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech
iconoclast
one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions
iconoclastic
attacking cherished beliefs, heretical
idolatrous
given to intense or excessive devotion to something
idolatry
the worship of idols and images or blind devotion to something
idyll
carefree, lighthearted pastoral or romantic episode or experience; a literary or musical piece describing such
idyllic
simple or carefree
ignominious
shameful, dishonorable, ignoble, undignified, disgraceful
imbroglio
difficult or embarrassing situation
imminent
about to happen; impending
immutable
not capable of change
impassive
revealing no emotion or sensibility
impecunious
lacking funds; without money
imperious
commanding, masterful, arrogant, domineering, haughty
imperturbable
marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness
impetuous
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
implacable
not capable of being appeased or significantly changed
importune
to ask incessantly, beg, nag
importunate
persistent in asking
impudent
shamelessly bold; insolent; impertinent
impugn
attack or assail verbally; censure, execrate, deny
impunity
immunity from punishment, penalty, or harm
impute
to attribute to a cause or source, ascribe, assign as a characteristic
inalienable
cannot be transferred
inchoate
in an initial stage, not fully formed
incipient
beginning to come into being or to become apparent
indefatigable
not easily exhaustible, tireless, dogged
indifferent
having no interest or concern, apathetic; showing now bias or prejudice
indolent
lazy, listless, torpid
ineluctable
certain, inevitable
inert
unmoving, lethargic, sluggish, not reactive chemically
ingenuous
artless, frank and candid, lacing in sophistication
disingenuous
lacking in candor, calculating, duplicitous
inherent
ingrained within one's nature, intrinsic, firmly established, essential
inhere
to be innate to something
inimical
damaging, harmful, injurious, hostile, unfriendly
inimitable
one of a kind, peerless
iniquity
wickedness, gross injustice
innervate
to supply with nerves, energize
innocuous
harmless; causing no damage
inscrutable
incapable of being discovered or understood, mysterious
insensible
unconscious, unresponsive, unaware, unaffected, numb
insipid
without taste or flavor, lacking in spirit, dull
insouciant
unconcerned, carefree, nonchalant
insular
parochial, narrow minded, like an island
interdict
prohibit, forbid, ban halt
interdiction
prohibition against something
iniquity
wickedness, gross injustice
innervate
to supply with nerves, energize
innocuous
harmless; causing no damage
inscrutable
incapable of being discovered or understood, mysterious
insensible
unconscious, unresponsive, unaware, unaffected, numb
insipid
without taste or flavor, lacking in spirit, dull
insouciant
unconcerned, carefree, nonchalant
insular
parochial, narrow minded, like an island
interdict
prohibit, forbid, ban halt
interdiction
prohibition against something
intimate
to imply, suggest or insinuate
intractable
not easily managed or directed, stubborn, obstinate
intransigent
refusing to compromise
intrepid
steadfast, courageous
inundate
to cover or overwhelm, to flood
inured
accustomed to accept something undesirable
inveigh
to attack verbally, denounce, deprecate
inveigle
to obtain by deception or flattery
inveterate
deep rooted, ingrained, habitual
invidious
tending to arouse envy or ill will in others
irascible
easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts
itinerate
to travel from place to place
jejune
vapid, uninteresting, childish, immature; lacking nutrition
jibe
to agree, to be in accord
jocose
given to joking, humorous
jocund
high spirited
jocularity
fun characterized by humor
kinetic
having to do with motion; lively; active
labile
readily open to change, unstable
lachrymose
causing tear, tearful, showing sorrow
laconic
using few words; terse
lassitude
listlessness, languor, weariness
laud
to praise highly
lavish
extravagant
lethargic
characterized by sluggishness
libertine
someone unrestrained by morality or convention or leading a dissolute life
limn
to draw, outline in detail
limpid
transparent, serene, clear and simply in style, untroubled
list
to tilt or lean to one side
loquacious
extremely talkative
lucid
intelligible, sound, clear
lumber
to move heavily and clumsily or with a rumbling sound
luminous
characterized by brightness and the emission of light, enlightened, clear
magnanimity
the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, especially in forgiving
malevolent
having or showing often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred
malinger
to feign illness so as to avoid work
malleable
capable of being shape or formed, easily influenced
martial
associated with war and the armed forces
martinet
a rigid disciplinarian
maunder
to talk or move aimlessly, mutter
maverick
an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
melancholy
tending toward sadness
mellifluous
sweetly flowing; usually used to describe words or sounds
mendacity
the condition of being untruthful, dishonesty
mendacious
false, untruthful
mendicant
a beggar, supplicant
mercurial
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
meretricious
tawdry, pretentious, attractive but false, showy, having to do with prostitution
meticulous
characterized by extreme care and precision, attentive to detail
mettlesome
courageous, high spirited
militate
to have weight or bearing on , to argue (against)
milk
to exploit, to squeeze every last ounce of
minatory
menacing, threatening
mince
pronounce or speak affectedly or too carefully, euphemize, take tiny steps, tiptoe
misanthrope
one who hates humankind
misanthropic
hating humakind
misogynist
one who hates women
mitigate
to make or become less sever or intense, moderate
mollify
to calm or soothe, reduce in emotional intensity
monotony
tedious lack of variety or change
morose
sad, sullen, melancholy
multifaceted
having many aspects
multifarious
varied motley, greatly diversified
mundane
of the world, typical of or concerned with the ordinary
nadir
low point, perigee
nascent
coming into being; in early developmental stages
natty
trimly neat and tidy, dapper
nebulous
vague, cloudy, lacking clearly defined form
neologism
a new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses
neophyte
a recent convert, a beginner, novice
nexus
a connection, tie or link; center or focus
nice
exacting, extremely or even excessively precise, done with delicacy or skill
noisome
offensive, especially to one's sense of smell, fetid
nonplussed
baffled, in a quandary, at a loss for what to say do or think
nostrum
cure-all, placebo, questionable remedy
noxious
harmful, injurious
obdurate
unyielding, hardhearted, inflexible
obeisance
gesture that expresses deference, such as a bow or curtsy
obfuscate
to deliberately obscure, to make confusing
obsequious
exhibiting a fawning attentiveness; subservient
obstinate
stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising
obstreperous
noisy, loudly stubborn, boisterous
obtain
to be established, accepted, or customary, prevail
obtuse
lacking sharpness of intellect, not clear or precise in thought or expression
obviate
to anticipate and make unnecessary
occlude
to obstruct or block
occult
hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension
odious
hateful; arousing strong feelings of dislike
officious
meddlesome, pushy in offering one's services where they are unwanted
onerous
troubling, burdensome
opaque
impermeable by light; dense in mind
opprobrium
disgrace, contempt, scorn
oscillation
the act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm
ossified
changed into bone; made rigidly conventional and unreceptive to change
ostensible
seeming, appearing as such, professed
ostentatious
characterized by or given to pretentiousness
overweening
presumptuously arrogant, overbearing, immoderate
paean
a song or expression of praise and thanksgiving
palliate
to make something appear less serious, gloss over, mitigate
pandemic
widespread; occurring over a large area or affecting an unusually large percentage of the population
panegyric
formal expression of praise
paradigm
something that serves as a model, example, or pattern; the framework of assumptions and understandings shared by a group or discipline that shapes its worldview
paradox
a contradiction; a seemingly self-contradictory statement that seems true nonetheless
paragon
something regarded as a model of excellence or perfection in some way
pariah
an outcast, a rejected and despised person
parody
a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, especially in literature and art, also something so bad as to be potentially mistaken for an intentional mockery
parry
to block, evade or ward off, as a blow
parsimonious
cheap, miserly
partisan
one-sided, committed to a party, biased or prejudiced
paucity
scarcity, a lacking of
peccadillo
a slight offense, literally, a minor sin
pedagogy
the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
pedantic
ostentatious display of learning, excessive attention to minutiae and formal rules, unimaginative
pedestrian
commonplace, trite, unremarkable
penchant
strong inclination, a liking
penurious
penny-pinching, excessively thrifty; ungenerous
penury
extreme poverty, destitution, or lack of resources
peremptory
admitting of no contradiction; putting an end to further debate, haughty, imperious
perennial
recurrent through the year or many years, happening repeatedly
perfidy
intentional beach of faith, treachery
perfunctory
cursory, done without care or interest
peripatetic
itinerant, traveling, nomadic
pernicious
extremely harmful, potentially causing death
personable
pleasing in appearance, attractive
perspicacious
acutely perceptive, having keen discernment
peruse
to examine with great care
pervade
to permeate throughout
petrous
like a rock; hard, stony
petulant
impatient, irritable
philanthropic
humanitarian, benevolent
philistine
a crass individual guided by material rather than intellectual or artistic values
phlegmatic
calm, sluggish, unemotional, stoic
picaresque
involving clever rogues or adventurers
pied
multi-colored, usually in blotches
pillory
to punish, hold up to public scorn
pine
to yearn intensely, to languish, to lose vigor
pious
extremely reverent or devout
piquant
agreeably pungent, spicy, stimulating
pique
resentment, feeling of irritation due to hurt [pride
pique
to annoy or irritate; provoke or arouse
pirate
to use or reproduce illegally
pith
the essential or central part
placate
to appease, to calm by making concessions
plaintive
mournful, melancholy, sorrowful
plangent
pounding, thundering, resounding
plastic
moldable, pliable, not rigid
platitude
a superficial or trite remark, especially one offered as meaningful
plethora
an overabundance, a surplus
pluck
courage, spunk, fortitude
plumb
to measure the depth to examine critically
plumb
exactly vertical
plummet
to plunge or drop straight down
poignant
distressing, pertinent, touching, stimulating, emotional
polemical
controversial, argumentative
pragmatic
practical rather than idealistic
pragmatist
one who is practical
prate
chatter, babble
prattle
to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner
precarious
uncertain, risky, dangerous
precept
rule establishing standards of conduct, a doctrine that is taught
precipitate
acting with excessive haste or impulse
precursor
something that precedes and indicates or announces another
predilection
a disposition in favor of something, preference
preempt
to replace, to supersede, to appropriate
preen
to dress up, primp, groom oneself with elaborate care; in animals, to clean fur or feathers
preemption
prior appropriation of or claim to something
prescience
knowing of events prior to their occurring
presumptuous
overstepping bounds, as of propriety or courtesy; taking liberties
prevaricate
to deliberately avoid the truth; mislead
pristine
pure, uncorrupted, clean
prize
to pry, press or force with a lever
probity
adherence to highest principles; uprightness
proclivity
a natural predisposition or inclination
prodigal
recklessly wasteful, extravagant, profuse, lavish
prodigious
abundant in size, force, or extend; extraordinary
profligate
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
profuse
given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant
prolific
producing large volumes or amounts, productive
proliferate
to grow or increase swiftly and abundantly
prolix
long-winded, verbose
propensity
a natural inclination or tendency, penchant
propinquity
nearness in time or place, affinity of nature, kinship
propitiate
to appease or pacify
propitious
auspicious, favorable
propriety
appropriateness, conformity with standards of acceptable behavior
prosaic
dull, unimaginative
proscribe
to outlaw or prohibit
provident
frugal, looking to the future
providential
happening as if from divine intervention
puerile
childish, immature
pugnacious
contentious, quarrelsome, given to fighting, belligerent
punctilious
precise, paying attention to trivialities, especially in regard to etiquette
pundit
an authority on a subject, one who gives opinions
pungent
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste, penetrating, to the point
pusillanimous
cowardly, craven
putrefy
to rot, decay, and give off a foul odor, become gangrenous
quaff
to drink deeply
quail
to shrink back in fear, lose courage
qualify
to limit
qualms
misgivings, reservations, causes for hesitancy
queries
questions, inquiries, reservations
querulous
prone to complaining or grumbling, quarrelsome
quiescence
stillness, motionlessness, quality of being at rest
quotidian
occurring or recurring daily, commonplace
rail
to complain about bitterly
ramify
to be divided or subdivided, branch out
ramifications
the developments or consequences growing out of something
rancorous
characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
rapacious
voracious, greedy, plundering, subsisting on prey
rapacity
the practice of extorting or exacting by injustice
rarefy
to make or become thin, less dense, refine
rebus
riddle, a representation of words by pictures or symbols that sound like the words
recalcitrant
obstinately defiant of authority or guidance, difficult to manage
recant
retract, especially a previously held belief
recapitulate
to summarize, to repeat concisely
recondite
hidden, concealed, difficult to understand, obscure
reconnoiter
to engage in reconnaissance, make a preliminary inspection of
recumbent
leaning, resting, prone
redolent
fragrant, suggestive or evocative
redoubtable
awe-inspiring, worthy of honor
refulgent
radiant, shiny, brilliant
refute
to disprove, successfully argue against
regale
to delight or entertain, feats
relegate
to forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position
remonstrate
to protest, object
renege
to fail to honor a commitment, go back on a promise
rent
torn, split apart, pierced as by a sound
repine
to feel or express dejection or discontent, long for
repudiate
to refuse to have anything to do with, disown
rescind
to invalidate, repeal, retract
resolute
adamant, steadfast, determined
reticent
quiet, reserved, reluctant to express thoughts and feelingsqreverent
reverent
marked by, feeling, or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect
rhetoric
the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion
rhetorical
used for persuasive effect
risible
hilarious, provoking laughter
rubric
authoritative rule, heading, title, or category
rue
regret, feel remorse
rueful
expressing sorrow
sagacious
having sound judgment, perceptive, wise
salacious
appealing to or causing sexual desire, bawdy
salient
prominent, protruding, conspicuous, highly relevant
salubrious
promoting health or well-being
salutary
remedial, wholesome, causing improvement
sanctimony
self-righteousness, pretended piety
sanction
authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance
sanguine
cheerful, confident, optimistic
sap
to enervate or weaken the vitality of
satiate
to overindulge, satisfy in excess
satire
a literary work that ridicules or criticizes human vice through humor or derision
saturnine
gloomy, dark, sullen, morose
scurvy
contemptible, despicable
sedulous
diligent, persistent, hard-working
seine
a large net hung out and dragged in to catch fish
sere
withered, arid
seminal
like a seed, constituting a source, originative
shard
a piece of broken pottery or glass, any small piece or party
simper
to smirk, to say something with a silly, coy smile
sinecure
position requiring little or no work and usually providing an income
singular
exceptional, unusual, odd
sinuous
winding, curing, moving lithely, devious
slake
to satisfy, quench, lessen the intensity of
sodden
soaked or drenched, unimaginative, dull
solder
to weld, fuse or join, as with a soldering gun
solicitous
concerned and attentive, eager
solvent
able to meet financial obligations
sophistry
fallacious reasoning; plausible but faulty logic
sophomoric
exhibiting immaturity, lack of judgement, pretentious
soporific
causing drowsiness, tending to induce sleep
sordid
characterized by filth, grime, or squalor, foul
sparse
thin, not dense, arranged at widely spaced intervals
specious
seeming true, but actually false, misleadingly attractive
spendthrift
one who spends money wastefully
splenetic
bad-tempered; irritable
sporadic
occurring only occasionally,or in scattered instances
spurious
lacking authenticity or validity, false, counterfeit
squalid
sordid, wretched and dirty as if from neglect
squander
to waste by spending or using irresponsibly
stanch
to stop the flow of a fluid
static
not moving, active or in motion, at rest
steep
to saturate or completely soak
stentorian
extremely loud and powerful
stint
to restrain, be sparing or frugal
stint
a length of time spent in a specific way
stoic
indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain, steadfast
stolid
calm, impassive
striated
striped, grooved, or banded
strut
a structural support used to brace a framework
stupefy
to stun, baffle, or amaze
stymie
to block, thwart
subpoena
a court order requiring appearance and testimony
subtle
not obvious, elusive, difficult to discern, crafty or sly
succinct
brief, concise
sundry
various, miscellaneous, separate
succor
assistance, relief in time of distress
supercilious
disdainful, arrogant, haughty, characterized by haughty scorn
superfluous
exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
supine
inactive, lying on one's back, apathetic, mentally or morally slack
supplant
to take the place of, supersede
suppliant
asking humbly, beseeching
supplicant
beggar, one who prays or begs for something
surfeit
to feed or supply in excess
sycophant
someone who tries to flatter or please for personal gain; parasite
synthesis
the combination of parts to make a whole
table
to remove (as a parliamentary motion) from consideration
taciturn
not talkative, silent
tacit
implied or not directly stated
talisman
something believed to have magic power or bestow good luck
tamp
to plug, to drive in or down by a series of blows
tautology
a repetition, a redundancy, a circular argument
tawdry
cheap, gaudy, showy, tacky, indecent
tenacity
the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued
tenacious
stubborn, refusing to give up or let go or something
tendentious
biased, showing marked tendencies
tender
to offer formally
tenuous
having little substance or strength, flimsy, weak
terse
brief and concise in wording
timorous
timid, fearful, diffident
tirade
a long and extremely critical speed, harsh denunciation
toady
sycophant, flatterer, yes-man
torpid
lethargic, sluggish, dormant
torpor
a state of inactivity or lethargy
torque
a force that causes rotation
torrid
scorching, ardent, passionate, hurried
tortuous
winding, twisting, excessively complicated
tout
to publicly praise or promote
tractable
docile, obedient, easily led
intractable
unruly
transient
fleeting, passing quickly, brief
travesty
mockery, caricature, parody
trenchant
sharply perceptive, keen, penetrating, biting, clear cut
truculent
fierce, scathing, eager to fight
tumid
swollen
tumescence
swelling
turbid
muddy, having sediment stirred up, clouded to the point of being opaque, in a state of turmoil
turgid
swollen, bloated, pompous, excessively ornate
turpitude
depravity, baseness
tyro
novice, beginner in learning
ubiquitous
existing everywhere at the same time, constantly encountered, widespread
umbrage
offense, resentment
undulate
to move in wavelike fashion, fluctuate
unfeigned
genuine, not false or hypocritical
untenable
indefensible, not viable, uninhabitable
untoward
troublesome, unruly, unseemly, adverse
upbraid
to scold, censure, rebuke, chastise
urbane
sophisticated, refined, elegant
usury
charging an exorbitant or illegal rate of interest
vacillate
to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another, sway from one side to the other
variegated
multicolored, characterized by a variety of patches of different color
vaunt
to brag or boast
venal
capable of being bought or bribed, mercenary
venality
the use of position for personal gain
venerate
to revere
veracity
truthfulness, honesty
verisimilitude
appearing true or real
veritable
authentic, real, genuine
vexation
annoyance, irritation
vigilant
alertly watchful
vilify
to defame, characterize harshly
virulent
extremely harmful or poisonous, bitterly hostile or antagonistic
viscous
thick, sticky
vitiate
to reduce the value of, debase, spoil, make ineffective
vituperate
to use harsh condemnatory language, abuse or censure severely
volatile
readily changing to vapor, changeable, fickle, explosive
voracious
having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit, ravenous
waft
a light breeze, a puff
waver
to move to and fro, to sway; to be unsettled in opinion
welter
to writhe, to toss about, to e in turmoil
wend
to go, proceed, walk
whet
to sharpen or stimulate
whimsical
imaginative, unpredictable
zealous
fervent, ardent, impassioned
a-
without
ab/abs
off, away from, apart, down
ac/acr
sharp, bitter
act/ag
to do, to drive, to force, to lead
ad/al
to, toward, near
al/ali/alter
other, another
am
love
amb
to go, to walk
amb/amph
around
amb/amph
both, more than one
anim
life, mind, soul, spirit
ante
before
anthro/andr
man, human
annu/enni
year
anti
against
apo
away
apt/ept
skill, fitness, ability
arch/archi
chief, principal
archy
ruler
art
skill, craft
auc/aug/aux
to increase
auto
self
be
to be, to have a certain quality
bel/bell
war
ben/bon
good
bi
twice, doubly
bri/brev
brief, short
cad/cid
to fall, to happen by chance
cand
to burn
cant/cent/chant
to sing
cap/cip/cept
to take, to get
cap/capit/cip
head, head-long
card/cord/cour
heart
carn
flesh
cast/chast
cut
caust
to burn
ced/ceed/cess
to go, to yield, to stop
centr
center
cern/cert/cret/crim/crit
to separate, to judge, to distinguish, to decide
chron
time
circu
around, on all sides
cis
to cut
cit
to set in motion
cla/clo/clu
shut, close
claim/clam
to shout, cry out
cli
to lean toward
co/col/com/con
with, together
crat/cracy
to govern
cre/cresc/cret
to grow
cred
to believe, to trust
cryp
hidden
cub, cumb
to lie down
culp
blame
cour/cur
running, a course
de
away, off, down, completely, reversal
dem
people
di/dia
apart, through
dic/dict/dit
to say, to tell, to use words
dign
worth
dis/dif
away from, apart, reversal, not
dac/doc
to teach
dog/dox
opinion
dol
suffer, pain
don/dot/dow
to give
dub
doubt
duc/duct
to lead
dur
hard
dys
faulty
epi
upon
equ
equal, even
err
to wander
esce
becoming
eu
good, well
e/ef/ex
out, out of, from, former, completely
extra
outside of, beyond
fab/fam
speak
fac/fic/fig/fait/feit/fy
to do, to make
fer
to bring, to carry, to bear
ferv/ferm
to boil, to bubble, to burn
fid
faith, trust
fin
end
flag/flam
to burn
flect/flex
to bend
flict
to strike
flu/flux
to flow
for
before
fort
chance
fra/frac/frag/fring
to break
fruit/frug
fruit, produce
fund/found
bottom
fus
to pour
fen
birth, creation, race, kind
gn/gno
know
grand
big
grat
pleasing
grav/griev
heavy, serious
greg
herd
grad/gress
to step
her/hes
to stick
hetero
different
hom
same
hyper
over, escessive
hypo
under, beneath, less than
id
one's own
im/in/em/en
in, into
im/in
not, without
infra
beneath
inter
between, among
intra
within
ject
to throw, to throw down
join/junct/jug
to meet, to join
jur
to swear
lect/leg
to select, to choose
lev
lift, light, rise
loc/log/loqu
word, speech
luc/lum/lus
light
lud/lus
to play
lut/lug/luv
to wash
mag/maj/max
big
mal/male
bad, ill, evil, wrong
man
hand
mater, matr
woman, mother
min
small
min
to project, to hang over
mis/mit
to send
misc
mixed
mon/monit
to warn
morph
shape
mort/mor
death
mut
change
nam/nom/noun/nown/nym
rule, order
nat/nas/nai
to be born
nec/nic/noc/nox
harm, death
nom/nym/noun/nown
name
nov, neo, nou
new
nounc, nunc
to announce
ob/oc/of/op
toward, to, against, completely, over
omni
all
pac/peac
peace
pan
all, everywhere
para
next to, beside
pas, pat, path
feeling, suffering, disease
pater/patr
father, support
pau/po/pov/pu
few, little, poor
ped
child, education
ped/pod
foot
pen/pun
to pay, to compensate
pend/pens
to hang, to weight, to pay
per
completely, wrong
peri
around
pet/pit
to go, to seek, to strive
phil
love
phone
sound
plac
to please
ple
to fill
plex/plic/ply
to fold, to twist, to tangle, to bend
pon/pos/pound
to put, to place
port
to carry
post
after
pre
before
prehen/prise
to take, to get, to seize
pro
much, for, a lot
prob
to prove, to test
pug
to fight
punc/pung/poign/point
to point, to prick
que/qui
to seek
qui
quiet
rid/ris
to laugh
rog
to ask
sal/sil/sault/sult
to leap, to jump
sacr/sanct/secr
sacred
sci
to know
scribe/scrip
to write
se
apart
sec/sequ
to follow
sed/sess/sid
to sit, to be still, to plan, to plot
sens/sent
to fell, to be aware
sol
to loosen, to free
spec/spic/spit
to look, to see
sta/sti
to stand, to be in a place
sua
smooth
sub/sup
below
super/sur
above
tac/tic
to be silent
tain/ten/tent/tin
to hold
tend/tens/tent/tenu
to stretch, to thin
theo
god
tom
to cut
tort
to twist
tract
to drag, to pull, to draw
trans
across
us/ut
to use
ven/vent
to come, to move toward
ver
truth
vers/vert
to turn
vi
life
vid/vis
to see
voc/vok
to call
vol
to wish
apartheid
the policy of racial segregation and oppression in the Republic of South Africa
arigato
thank you in Japanese
blitzkreig
a swift, overwhelming attack employing speed and suprise
chai
tea
chi
life force
chutzpah
audacity, gall
ciao
good-bye
coup d'etat
a sudden, violent overthrow of the government
doppelganger
a wraith or ghostlike twin of a living person, an alter ego
entre nous
confidential
fiesta
party
gestalt
shape or form
hakuna matata
no worries
intifada
rebellion, uprising
je ne sais quoi
an attractive, undefinable quality
jihad
holy war, struggle
kamikaze
suicide attacks, particularly those carried out by the Japanese bombers during WWII
kanban
the means b which just in time manufacturing is managed
kudos
praise, accolades
mahatma
a title of respect for a holy or wise man
mensch
a decent human being
ombudsman
one who is appointed to investigate complaints against organizations and public officials
patois
jargon or specialized language
schadenfreude
pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others
shalom
peace, hello
siesta
nap
tapas
appetizers or small servings of food
tschotchke
inexpensive trinket
yoga
a type of physical exercise imported from India
adrenaline
a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, also called epinephrine
anterior
situated near the front of the body
aorta
the main artery of the body, which supplies oxygen rich blood to the heart
artery
tube by which blood is carried from the heart to other parts of the body
atrophy
waste away, particularly because of disuse
axon
a projection of a nerve cell that sends electric stimulation to other nerve cells
bacteria
a group of microscopic, one-celled organisms
calorie
a unit of energy producing potential that is contained in food
capillary
any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arteries and veins
carpal
relating to the bones in the wrist
cartilage
firm, whitish, flexible tissue that often connects bones
cerebrum
the largest part of the brian, responsible for higher mental functions, such as thought, emotion, and memory
congenital
present from birth
cortex
outer layer of a tissue or organ (such as the cerebral cortex)
cpr
abbreviation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation; the practice of reviving someone who has no pulse or breath
dendrite
a projection of a nerve cell that receives electric stimulation from other nerve cells
distal
farther from the body or point of attachment
dorsal
on the upper side of an animal, plant, or organ
ekg
abbreviation for electrocardiogram; a record or display of a person's heartbeat
endorphins
any of a group of hormones that occur naturally in the brain and have pain relieving qualities
genetic
relating to or caused by heredity; that which is passed along through our genes
hormone
a substance that regulates the growth or functioning of a bodily organ or tissue
insulin
a hormone naturally secreted by the pancreas that regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats
keratin
a fibrous protein forming the main structural constituent of hair, feathers, hoofs, claws, horns, etc
ketosis
an abnormal increase of ketones in the body; a stage of metabolism in which the liver switches to fasting mode
lateral
one one side of a body or organ, farthest from the median plane or core of the body (opposite of medial)
ligament
a tough connecting tissue that holds bones or organs in place
medial
near the median plane or center of a body or organ
melanin
a dark brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye in people and animals
metabolism
the processes by which new material is assimilated and fuel is provided for vital activities in the body
mri
abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging; medical imaging used to produce images of the internal organs
pituitary
the major endocrine gland, which controls growth and development and the functioning of the other endocrine glands
posterior
situated near the back of the body
proximal
nearer the body or point of attachment
synapse
a space between an axon of one nerve cell and a dendrite of another nerve cell, through which electric stimulation is passed
tendon
a tough connecting tissue that holds muscles to bones
thyroid
a large gland in the neck that secretes hormones affecting the rate of metabolism
vein
tube by which the blood is carried from other parts of the body back to the heart
ventral
on the underside of an animal, plant, or organ
virus
a microscopic parasite that reproduces by invading and controlling host cells
visceral
relating to the internal organs in the main body cavity, especially the stomach
allusion
the act of referring to something, often a literary text, without mentioning it directly
catch-22
a situation that is characterized by absurdity, or impossible to get out of because of conflicting conditions
dramatic irony
the condition in which the reader's understanding of a character's situation is more accurate than the character's own understanding of his or her situation; also called situational
faustian
done without regard for future consequences
gargantuan
huge
hyperbole
an extreme exaggeration for dramatic effect
lilliputian
trivial or small
machiavellian
characterized by deceit, cunning, and bad faith
metaphor
figure of speech likening two dissimilar things
oedipal
relating to the curse of Oedipus, or the complex named after him by Freud
orwellian
relating to or similar to works of George Orwell, particularly with respect to a vision of a totalitarian future
paradox
a literally false statement that only has meaning if interpreted figuratively
personification
the attribution of human qualities to something that is not human
pygmalion
a character, particularly a an, who creates a person to fit his liking
quixotic
idealistic to the point of being impractical
sadism
the tendency to derive pleasure from the pain of others
sapphic
relating to lesbianism
satire
a form of writing, usually involving irony, which makes fun of people or events in order to bring about social or political change
shylock
moneylender who charges exorbitant rates of interest
simile
figure of speech using like or as to draw a comparison
siren song
an enchanting appeal, specially if it is deceptive and will lead to a bad result
stygian
very dark
svengali
a person who controls or manipulates another for malicious intent
Uncle Tom
a pejorative name for a member of a low status group who is very subservient
verbal irony
the use of words to express something other than their literal intent
agnosticism
the idea that nothing can be definitely known about a given area, particularly about the existence of God
atheism
the idea the God does not exist
behaviorism
the theory that animal and therefore human behavior is due entirely to responses by stimuli
birth order theory
the theory that children born in a certain order in the same household experience different environments and therefore develop different tendencies in their personalities
categorical imperative
the idea that if one is acting in a consistent manner, one must act in a way that he or she would want everyone else to act as well
collective memory
a hypothetical unconscious memory shared by all of humanity
deism
the idea that God created the universe and then left mankind to operate by its own free will
determinism
the idea that every event, physical and mental, has a specific cause
egoism
the idea that everyone should act to maximize his or her own welfare
epicureanism
a materialistic belief that pleasure should be maximized and pain minimized
game theory
the analysis of conflicts to find optimal strategies
gestalt theory
the idea that phenomena should be treated holistically rather than individually
hermeneutics
the study of interpretation
idealism
the idea that holds that reality is, at least in part, dependent on the mind
nihilism
literally, nothingism, the belief that all knowledge is impossibly
ockhams razor
the idea that one should adopt the simplest hypothesis
phrenology
the theory that observations of the skull were sufficient to determine the individual's personality and mental capacity
positivism
a movement that involves approaching the natural world in a scientific fashion and classifying it accordingly
pragmatism
a theory that assesses theories and concepts based on their effect son experiences and practices
relativism
the idea that anything exists or is defined relative to anything else
social darwinism
the idea that the theory of natural selection can be applied to human society
solipsism
the idea that nothing exists beyond oneself and one's immediate experiences
stoicism
a way of thinking that divides philosophy into the three branches of logic, physics, and ethics
theism
the idea that God is the creator and supreme authority of the universe