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50 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
crescendo
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increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
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centurion
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Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)
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botch
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mismanage; blow
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diminution
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lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
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veracity
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truthfulness; adherence to the truth
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decant
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pour off gently (wine or liquid)
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touchy
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oversensitive; easily offended; irasible; delicate; needing delicate handling; Ex. touchy situation
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admonish
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warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
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disconcert
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confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
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vampire
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ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
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venture
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risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
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mortician
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undertaker; CF. death
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scruple
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hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience
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curb
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chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain
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animated
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lively; spirited
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tedium
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boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious
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broil
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cook by direct heat; N.
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persist
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continue in existence; last; continue in a course of action in spite of opposition; Ex. persist in/with something; ADJ. persistent
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cumbersome
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heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
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mirage
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unreal reflection; optical illusion
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decorum
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propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
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growl
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low, guttural, menacing sound (as of a dog)
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recurrent
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occurring again and again
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smug
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self-satisfied; complacent
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atone
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make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
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decrepitude
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state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
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disgruntle
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make discontented
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kindle
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start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse
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categorical
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without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
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nurse
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suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone
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aggregate
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sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
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irreparable
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not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible to repair
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hedonist
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one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life; CF. hedonism: practice of living one's life purely for pleasure
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riveting
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holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing
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grapple
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wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and struggle with; Ex. grapple with the burglar
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confidential
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spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary
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alias
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an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
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malleable
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(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable
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browse
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graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
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libertine
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debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou\'e; CF. free
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raiment
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clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.
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impoverish
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make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil
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oath
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solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''
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obstetrician
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physician specializing in delivery(assisting in giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF. midwife
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unsullied
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untarnished; CF. sully
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fortuitous
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accidental; by chance; N. fortuity
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amalgam
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combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
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aseptic
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preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
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morgue
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mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation
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fit
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sudden outburst of an illness or feeling; convulsion caused by epilepsy
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