Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
437 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
accolade
|
highest merit of honor
|
|
|
agglomerization
|
collection; heap
|
|
|
agog
|
highly excited; intensely curious
|
|
|
baneful
|
destructive; causing ruin or death
|
|
|
bicameral
|
two-chambered, as a legislative body
|
|
|
boorish
|
rude; insensitive
|
|
|
bode
|
foreshadow; portend
|
|
|
cadence
|
rhythmic rise and fall (of word or sounds), beat
|
|
|
chagrin
|
vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride); disappointment
|
|
|
caulk
|
to make watertight (by plugging seams)
|
|
|
catechism
|
book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answer
|
|
|
colloquy
|
informal discussion
|
|
|
comestible
|
something fit to be eaten
|
|
|
condign
|
appropriate; deserved (almost always, in the sense of deservedly severe, as in condign punishment)
|
|
|
contagion
|
infection
|
|
|
consonance
|
harmony; agreement
|
|
|
consummate
|
wholly without flaw; supremely skilled; complete and utter
|
|
|
cower
|
shrink quivering, as from fear
|
|
|
crypt
|
secret rece or vault usually used for burial
|
|
|
dearth
|
scarcity
|
|
|
declivity
|
downward slope
|
|
|
decrepitude
|
state of collapse caused by illness or old age
|
|
|
demagogue
|
person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader
|
|
|
denigrate
|
blacken
|
|
|
delirium
|
mental disorder marked by confusion
|
|
|
depredation
|
plundering
|
|
|
dilettante
|
aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler
|
|
|
diorama
|
life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history
|
|
|
discordant
|
not harmonious; conflicting
|
|
|
disgorge
|
surrender something; eject; vomit
|
|
|
disparage
|
belittle
|
|
|
disputatious
|
argumentative; fond of arguing
|
|
|
dossier
|
file of documents on a subject
|
|
|
dulcet
|
sweet sounding
|
|
|
emaciated
|
thin and wasted
|
|
|
duress
|
forcible restraint, especially unlawfully
|
|
|
effeminate
|
having womanly traits
|
|
|
encomiastic
|
praising; eulogistic
|
|
|
enervate
|
weaken
|
|
|
enigma
|
puzzle; mystery
|
|
|
enthrall
|
capture; enslave
|
|
|
epithet
|
word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing
|
|
|
equipoise
|
balance; balancing force; equilibrium
|
|
|
espouse
|
adopt; support
|
|
|
ethereal
|
light; heavenly; unusually refined.
|
|
|
exiguous
|
small; minute
|
|
|
expatiate
|
talk at length
|
|
|
expostulation
|
protest; remonstrance
|
|
|
exult
|
rejoice
|
|
|
factotum
|
handyman; person who does all kinds of work
|
|
|
fatuous
|
brainless; insane; foolish, yet smug
|
|
|
fawning
|
trying to please by behaving obsequiously, flattering, or cringing
|
|
|
fecundity
|
fertility; fruitfulness
|
|
|
felicitous
|
apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
|
|
|
fester
|
rankle; produce irritation or resentment
|
|
|
filibuster
|
block legislation by making long speeches
|
|
|
florid
|
ruddy; reddish; flowery
|
|
|
fodder
|
coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.
|
|
|
foible
|
weakness; slight fault
|
|
|
forestall
|
prevent by taking action in advance
|
|
|
fracas
|
brawl, melee
|
|
|
fraught
|
filled or charged with; causing emotional distress
|
|
|
froward
|
stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient
|
|
|
fulsome
|
disgustingly excessive
|
|
|
galvanize
|
stimulate by shock; stir up; revitalize
|
|
|
gambit
|
opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed
|
|
|
gentility
|
those of gentle birth; refinement
|
|
|
gnarled
|
twisted
|
|
|
gossamer
|
sheer; like cobwebs
|
|
|
grandiose
|
pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously exaggerated; impressive
|
|
|
grievance
|
cause of complaint
|
|
|
gustatory
|
affecting the sense of taste
|
|
|
halcyon
|
calm; peaceful
|
|
|
heedless
|
not noticing; disregarding
|
|
|
heresy
|
opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion
|
|
|
hortatory
|
encouraging; exhortive
|
|
|
husbandry
|
frugality; thrift; agriculture
|
|
|
imbecility
|
weakness of mind
|
|
|
immure
|
imprison; shut up in confinement
|
|
|
impecunious
|
without money
|
|
|
impiety
|
irreverence; lack of respect for God
|
|
|
impugn
|
dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); challenge; gainsay
|
|
|
incognito
|
with identity concealed; using an assumed name
|
|
|
incrustation
|
hard coating or crust
|
|
|
indelible
|
not able to be erased
|
|
|
inebriated
|
habitually intoxicated; drunk
|
|
|
infirmity
|
weakness
|
|
|
insurrection
|
rebellion; uprising
|
|
|
irremediable
|
incurable; uncorrectable
|
|
|
jingoist
|
extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist
|
|
|
labile
|
likely to change; unstable
|
|
|
languor
|
lassitude; depression
|
|
|
lilliputian
|
extremely small
|
|
|
litany
|
supplicatory prayer
|
|
|
madrigal
|
pastoral song
|
|
|
malodorous
|
foul-smelling
|
|
|
meander
|
wind or turn in its course
|
|
|
menial
|
suitable for servants; lowly; mean
|
|
|
mirth
|
merriment; laughter
|
|
|
miscreant
|
wretch; villain
|
|
|
mnemonic
|
pertaining to memory
|
|
|
mollycoddle
|
pamper; indulge excessively
|
|
|
mulct
|
defraud a person of something
|
|
|
mutilate
|
maim
|
|
|
narcissist
|
conceited person
|
|
|
nefarious
|
very wicked
|
|
|
noxious
|
harmful
|
|
|
obelisk
|
tall column tapering and ending in a pyramid
|
|
|
obsequious
|
slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic
|
|
|
ogle
|
look at amorously; makes eyes at
|
|
|
ostensible
|
apparent; professed; pretended
|
|
|
overwrought
|
extremely agitated; hysterical
|
|
|
panacea
|
cure-all; remedy for all diseases
|
|
|
pantomime
|
acting without dialogue
|
|
|
parlance
|
language; idiom
|
|
|
peccadillo
|
slight offense
|
|
|
pejorative
|
negative in connotation; having a belittling effect
|
|
|
perverse
|
stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and unacceptable
|
|
|
pernicious
|
very destructive
|
|
|
plaudit
|
enthusiastic approval; round of applause
|
|
|
pittance
|
a small allowance or wage
|
|
|
pontifical
|
pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious
|
|
|
posthumous
|
after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death)
|
|
|
precocious
|
advanced in development
|
|
|
prehensile
|
capable of grasping or holding
|
|
|
profane
|
violate; desecrate; treat unworthily
|
|
|
prolixity
|
tedious wordiness; verbosity
|
|
|
propinquity
|
nearness; kinship
|
|
|
protuberance
|
protrusion; bulge
|
|
|
provenance
|
origin or source of something
|
|
|
pulsate
|
throb
|
|
|
quibble
|
minor objection or complaint
|
|
|
rampart
|
defensive mound of earth
|
|
|
recidivism
|
habitual return to crime
|
|
|
recondite
|
abstruse; profound; secret
|
|
|
renege
|
deny; go back on
|
|
|
reparable
|
capable of being repaired
|
|
|
repine
|
fret; complain
|
|
|
rescind
|
cancel
|
|
|
rhapsodize
|
to speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner
|
|
|
rivulet
|
small stream
|
|
|
rusticate
|
banish to the country; dwell in the country
|
|
|
sartorial
|
pertaining to tailors
|
|
|
scintilla
|
shred; least bit
|
|
|
sedition
|
resistance to authority; insubordination
|
|
|
sepulcher
|
tomb
|
|
|
sidereal
|
relating to the stars
|
|
|
sinewy
|
tough; strong and firm
|
|
|
slither
|
slip or slide
|
|
|
solecism
|
construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically
|
|
|
soporific
|
sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness
|
|
|
spoonerism
|
accidental transposition of sounds in successive words
|
|
|
squander
|
waste
|
|
|
stockade
|
wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
|
|
|
subsume
|
include; encompass
|
|
|
suppliant
|
entreating; beseeching
|
|
|
sybarite
|
lover of luxury
|
|
|
teetotalism
|
practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks
|
|
|
temerity
|
boldness; rashness
|
|
|
tenure
|
holding of an office; time during which such an office is held
|
|
|
titillate
|
tickle
|
|
|
torrid
|
passionate; hot or scorching
|
|
|
traduce
|
expose to slander
|
|
|
treatise
|
article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly
|
|
|
tureen
|
deep dish for serving soup
|
|
|
unguent
|
ointment
|
|
|
unrequited
|
not reciprocated
|
|
|
vehement
|
forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor
|
|
|
vestige
|
trace; remains
|
|
|
vintner
|
winemaker; seller of wine
|
|
|
vitiate
|
spoil the effect of; make inoperative
|
|
|
voluble
|
fluent; glib; talkative
|
|
|
whimsical
|
capricious; fanciful
|
|
|
xenophobia
|
fear or hatred of foreigners
|
|
|
abase
|
lower; degrade; humiliate
|
|
|
abjure
|
renounce upon oath; disavow
|
|
|
accost
|
approach and speak first to a person
|
|
|
accretion
|
growth; increase
|
|
|
actuarial
|
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
|
|
|
affront
|
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect
|
|
|
agility
|
nimbleness
|
|
|
alacrity
|
cheerful promptness; eagerness
|
|
|
amalgamate
|
comine; unite in one body
|
|
|
amble
|
moving at an easy pace
|
|
|
amenable
|
readily managed or willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally
|
|
|
amnesty
|
pardon
|
|
|
anathema
|
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse
|
|
|
annals
|
records; history
|
|
|
anodyne
|
drug that relieves pain; opiate
|
|
|
antiquated
|
obsolete; outdated
|
|
|
apothegm
|
pithy, compact saying
|
|
|
apprise
|
inform
|
|
|
appurtenances
|
subordinate possessions
|
|
|
arbitrate
|
act as judge
|
|
|
arsenal
|
storage place for military equipment
|
|
|
asperity
|
sharpness (of temper)
|
|
|
aspersion
|
slanderous remark
|
|
|
astringent
|
binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe
|
|
|
asunder
|
into parts; apart
|
|
|
atrocity
|
brutal deed
|
|
|
augury
|
omen; prophecy
|
|
|
aver
|
assert confidently or declare; as used in law, state formally as a fact
|
|
|
ballast
|
heavy substance used to add stability or weight
|
|
|
baroque
|
highly ornate
|
|
|
behemoth
|
huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
|
|
|
bereavement
|
state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved
|
|
|
bivouac
|
temporary encampment
|
|
|
bludgeon
|
club; hevy-headed weapon
|
|
|
bowdlerize
|
expurgate
|
|
|
brocade
|
rich, figured fabric
|
|
|
callous
|
hardened; unfeeling
|
|
|
candor
|
frankness; open honesty
|
|
|
capacious
|
spacious
|
|
|
carapace
|
shell covering the back ( of a turtle, crab, etc.)
|
|
|
castigation
|
punishment; severe criticism
|
|
|
cauterize
|
burn with hot iron or caustic
|
|
|
certitude
|
certainty
|
|
|
chimerical
|
fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; imaginative
|
|
|
chortle
|
chuckle with delight
|
|
|
circumlocution
|
unnecessarily wordy and indirect speech; evasive language
|
|
|
clemency
|
disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the weather
|
|
|
codify
|
arrange (laws, rules) as a code; classify
|
|
|
cogent
|
convincing
|
|
|
coiffure
|
hairstyle
|
|
|
collate
|
examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order
|
|
|
comity
|
courtesy; civility
|
|
|
commensurate
|
corresponding in extent, degree, amount, etc.;proportionate
|
|
|
commiserate
|
feel or express pity or sympathy for
|
|
|
commodious
|
spacious and comfortable
|
|
|
compunction
|
remorse
|
|
|
concatenate
|
link as in a chain
|
|
|
concoct
|
prepare by combining; make up in concert
|
|
|
conduit
|
aqueduct; passageway for fluids
|
|
|
conglomeration
|
mass of material sticking together
|
|
|
conjugal
|
pertaining to marriage
|
|
|
conscript
|
draftee; person forced into military service
|
|
|
continence
|
self-restraint; sexual chastity
|
|
|
controvert
|
oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict
|
|
|
convivial
|
festive; gay; characterized by joviality
|
|
|
convoke
|
call together
|
|
|
coterie
|
group that meets socially; select circle
|
|
|
credulity
|
belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete
|
|
|
crotchety
|
eccentric; whimsical
|
|
|
culmination
|
attainment of highest point
|
|
|
culpable
|
deserving blame
|
|
|
cupidity
|
greed
|
|
|
dauntless
|
bold
|
|
|
debauch
|
corrupt; seduce from virtue
|
|
|
decadence
|
decay
|
|
|
deciduous
|
falling off, as of leaves
|
|
|
defile
|
pollute; profane
|
|
|
defunct
|
dead; no longer in use or existence
|
|
|
deign
|
condescend; stoop
|
|
|
demotic
|
pertaining to the people
|
|
|
deplore
|
regret
|
|
|
depravity
|
extreme corruption; wickedness
|
|
|
deprecate
|
express disapproval of; protest against; belittle
|
|
|
desecrate
|
profane; violate the sanctity of
|
|
|
desolate
|
rob of joy; lay waste to; forsake
|
|
|
despondent
|
depressed; gloomy
|
|
|
destitute
|
extremely poor
|
|
|
desuetude
|
state of disuse
|
|
|
desultory
|
aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
|
|
|
devolve
|
be transferred to another; delegate to another; gradually worsen
|
|
|
diabolical
|
devilish
|
|
|
didactic
|
teaching; instructional
|
|
|
diffidence
|
shyness
|
|
|
discombobulated
|
confused; discomposed
|
|
|
disconsolate
|
sad
|
|
|
disparate
|
basically different; unrelated
|
|
|
disquietude
|
uneasiness; anxiety
|
|
|
dissent
|
disagree
|
|
|
dissident
|
dissenting; rebellious
|
|
|
dissonance
|
discord; opposite of harmony
|
|
|
distrait
|
inattentive; distracted, often by anxiety
|
|
|
doggerel
|
poor verse
|
|
|
dotage
|
senility
|
|
|
dowdy
|
slovenly; untidy
|
|
|
dyspeptic
|
suffering from indigestion
|
|
|
ebullient
|
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm
|
|
|
edict
|
decree (especially one issued by a sovereign0; official command
|
|
|
effervescence
|
inner excitement or exuberance; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation
|
|
|
egress
|
exit
|
|
|
eloquence
|
expressiveness; persuasive speech
|
|
|
emend
|
correct, usually a text
|
|
|
emendation
|
correction of errors; improvemtn
|
|
|
emetic
|
substance causing vomiting
|
|
|
encumber
|
burden
|
|
|
endue
|
provide with some quality; endow
|
|
|
enigmatic
|
obscure; puzzling
|
|
|
enormity
|
hugeness (in a bad sense0
|
|
|
ensconce
|
settle comfortably
|
|
|
entree
|
entrance; a way in
|
|
|
environ
|
enclose; surround
|
|
|
epaulet
|
ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)
|
|
|
ephemeral
|
short-lived; fleeting
|
|
|
equanimity
|
calmness of temperament; composure
|
|
|
equine
|
resembling a horse
|
|
|
erroneous
|
mistaken; wrong
|
|
|
erudite
|
learned; scholarly
|
|
|
esoteric
|
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few
|
|
|
eugenic
|
pertaining to the improvement of race
|
|
|
eulogy
|
expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death
|
|
|
euphemism
|
mild expression in place of an unpleasant one
|
|
|
evanescent
|
fleeting; vanishing
|
|
|
excoriate
|
scold with biting harshness; strip the skin off
|
|
|
exegesis
|
explanation, especially of biblical passages
|
|
|
exhume
|
dig out of the ground; remove from the grave
|
|
|
exigency
|
urgent situation; pressing needs or demands; state of requiring immediate attention
|
|
|
exonerate
|
acquit; exculpate
|
|
|
exorbitant
|
excessive
|
|
|
expatriate
|
exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land
|
|
|
expiate
|
make amends for (a sin)
|
|
|
expropriate
|
take possession of
|
|
|
expurgate
|
clean; remove offensive parts of a book
|
|
|
extemporaneous
|
not planned; impromptu
|
|
|
extirpate
|
root up
|
|
|
extradition
|
surrender of prisoner by one state to another
|
|
|
extrude
|
force or push out
|
|
|
facade
|
front (of building); superficial or false appearance
|
|
|
facsimile
|
copy
|
|
|
fastidious
|
difficult to please; squeamish
|
|
|
febrile
|
feverish
|
|
|
feckless
|
feeble and ineffective; careless and irresponsible
|
|
|
felicity
|
happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.)
|
|
|
filigree
|
delicate, lacelike metalwork
|
|
|
flippant
|
lacking proper seriousness
|
|
|
foliage
|
masses of leaves
|
|
|
foment
|
stir up; instigate
|
|
|
fortitude
|
bravery; courage
|
|
|
fortuitous
|
accidental; by chance
|
|
|
fulcrum
|
support on which a lever rests
|
|
|
fulsome
|
disgustingly excessive
|
|
|
funereal
|
sad; solemn
|
|
|
fusillade
|
simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)
|
|
|
gargoyle
|
waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building
|
|
|
garrulous
|
loquacious; wordy; talkative
|
|
|
geniality
|
cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy
|
|
|
gentility
|
those of gentle birth; refinement
|
|
|
genuflect
|
bend the knee as in worship
|
|
|
gestate
|
evolve, as in prenatal growth
|
|
|
glib
|
fluent; facile; slick
|
|
|
glutton
|
someone who eats too much
|
|
|
goad
|
urge on
|
|
|
granary
|
storehouse for grain
|
|
|
grimace
|
a facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc.
|
|
|
grouse
|
complain; fuss
|
|
|
guileless
|
without deceit
|
|
|
hackneyed
|
commonplace; trite
|
|
|
haggard
|
wasted away; gaunt
|
|
|
haggle
|
argue about prices
|
|
|
hale
|
healthy
|
|
|
halting
|
hesitant; faltering
|
|
|
harangue
|
long, passionate, and vehement speech
|
|
|
haughtiness
|
pride; arrogance
|
|
|
hegemony
|
dominance, especially of one nation over others
|
|
|
hermetic
|
obscure and mysterious; occult
|
|
|
heterodox
|
unorthodox; unconventional
|
|
|
hiatus
|
gap; pause
|
|
|
hibernal
|
wintry
|
|
|
hilarity
|
boisterous mirth
|
|
|
hirsute
|
hiary
|
|
|
humdrum
|
dull; monotonous
|
|
|
igneous
|
produced by fire; volcanic
|
|
|
ignoble
|
unworthy; not noble
|
|
|
ignominy
|
deep disgrace; shame or dishonor
|
|
|
illusory
|
deceptive; not real
|
|
|
immolate
|
offer as a sacrifice
|
|
|
impalpable
|
imperceptible; intangible
|
|
|
impediment
|
hindrance; stumbling-block
|
|
|
impenitent
|
not repentant
|
|
|
impertinent
|
insolent; sad
|
|
|
imperturbable
|
calm; placid
|
|
|
impervious
|
impenetrable
|
|
|
impetuous
|
violent; hasty; rash
|
|
|
impetus
|
moving force; incentive; stimulus
|
|
|
impinge
|
infringe; touch; collide with
|
|
|
impious
|
irreverent
|
|
|
impolitic
|
not wise
|
|
|
imponderable
|
weightless
|
|
|
importunate
|
urging; demanding
|
|
|
imprecation
|
curse
|
|
|
impromptu
|
without previous preparation; off the cuff; on the spur of the moment
|
|
|
implicit
|
understood but not stated
|
|
|
implacable
|
incapable of being pacified
|
|
|
implicate
|
incriminate; show to be involved
|
|
|
impel
|
drive or force onward
|
|
|
imprudent
|
lacking caution; injudicious
|
|
|
impunity
|
freedom from punishment or harm
|
|
|
inane
|
silly; senseless
|
|
|
incapacitate
|
disable
|
|
|
incendiary
|
arsonist
|
|
|
incense
|
enrage; infuriate
|
|
|
inception
|
start; beginning
|
|
|
incessant
|
uninterrupted, unceasing
|
|
|
inchoate
|
recently begun; rudimentary; elementary
|
|
|
incipient
|
beginning; in an early stage
|
|
|
inclement
|
stormy; unkind
|
|
|
incommodious
|
not spacious; inconvenient
|
|
|
incongruity
|
lack of harmony; absurdity
|
|
|
incontinent
|
lacking self-restraint; licentious
|
|
|
incontrovertible
|
indisputable; not open to question
|
|
|
incorporeal
|
lacking a material body; insubstantial
|
|
|
incorrigible
|
uncorrectable
|
|
|
incredulity
|
tendency to disbelief
|
|
|
incubus
|
burden; mental care; nightmare
|
|
|
inculcate
|
teach
|
|
|
incumbent
|
obligatory; currently holding an office
|
|
|
incur
|
bring upon oneself
|
|
|
incursion
|
temporary invasion
|
|
|
indefatigable
|
tireless
|
|
|
indemnify
|
make secure against los; compensate for loss
|
|
|
indenture
|
bind as servant or apprentice to master
|
|
|
indict
|
charge
|
|
|
indigence
|
poverty
|
|
|
indigent
|
poor; destitute
|
|
|
indolent
|
lazy
|
|
|
indomitable
|
unconquerable; unyielding
|
|
|
indubitable
|
unable to be doubted; unquestionable
|
|
|
ineffable
|
unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech
|
|
|
ineluctable
|
irresistible; not to be escaped
|
|
|
inerrancy
|
infallibility
|
|
|
inexorable
|
relentless; unyielding; implacable
|
|
|
infidel
|
unbeliever
|
|
|
ingratiate
|
become popular with
|
|
|
inimical
|
unfriendly; hostile; harmful; detrimental
|
|
|
inimitable
|
matchless; not able to be imitated
|
|
|
iniquitous
|
wicked; immoral; unrighteous
|
|
|
innuendo
|
hint; insinuation
|
|
|
insalubrious
|
unwholesome; not healthful
|
|
|
inscrutable
|
impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious
|
|
|
insensate
|
without feeling
|
|
|
insidious
|
treacherous; stealthy; sly
|
|
|
insipid
|
lacking in flavor; dull
|
|
|
insolvent
|
bankrupt; lacking money to pay
|
|
|
insouciant
|
indifferent; without concern or care
|
|
|
insularity
|
narrow-mindedness; isolation
|
