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386 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abase
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lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
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abash
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embarrass
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abate
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subside or moderate
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abbreviate
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shorten
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abdicate
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renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
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aberrant
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abnormal or deviant
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aberration
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deviation from the normal; mental disorder
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abet
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assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
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abeyance
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suspended action
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abhor
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detest; hate
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abide
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dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.
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abject
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(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
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abjure
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renounce upon oath
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ablution
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washing
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abnegation
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renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
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abode
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dwelling place; home
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abolish
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cancel; put an end to
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abominable
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detestable; extremely unpleasant
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abominate
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loathe; hate
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aboriginal
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being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
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abortive
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unsuccessful; fruitless
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abrasive
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rubbing away; tending to grind down
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abridge
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condense or shorten
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abrogate
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abolish
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abscission
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cutting off; separation
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abscond
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depart secretly and hide
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absolute
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complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
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absolve
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pardon (an offense)
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abstain
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refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;
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abstemious
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sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
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abstinence
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restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
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abstract
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theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
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abstruse
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obscure; profound; difficult to understand
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abusive
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coarsely insulting; physically harmful
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abut
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border upon; adjoin
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abysmal
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bottomless
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abyss
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enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
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academic
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related to a school; not practical or directly useful
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accede
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agree
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accelerate
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move faster
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accessible
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easy to approach; obtainable
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accessory
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additional object; useful but not essential thing
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acclaim
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applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise
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acclimate
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adjust to climate or environment; adapt
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acclivity
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sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
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accolade
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award of merit; strong praise and approval
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accommodate
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oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
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accomplice
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partner in crime
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accord
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agreement
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accost
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approach and speak first to a person
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accoutre
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equip; N. accoutrement
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accretion
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growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
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accrue
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come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
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acerbity
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bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
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acetic
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vinegary
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acidulous
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slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
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acknowledge
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recognize; admit
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acme
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peak; pinnacle; highest point
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acne
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skin disease (on the face)
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acoustics
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science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
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acquiesce
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assent; agree passively; comply without protest
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acquittal
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deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
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acrid
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bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
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acrimonious
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stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
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acrophobia
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fear of heights
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actuarial
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calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
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actuary
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someone who advises insurance companies
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actuate
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motivate; activate; cause to act
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acuity
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sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
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acumen
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mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
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acute
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(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
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adage
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wise saying; proverb
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adamant
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hard; inflexible
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adapt
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make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
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addendum
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addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
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addiction
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compulsive habitual need
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addle
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make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
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address
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direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
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adept
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expert at; very skilled
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adhere
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stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
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adherent
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supporter; follower
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adjacent
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adjoining; neighboring; close by
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adjoin
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be next to
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adjourn
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suspend until a later time; move from one place to another
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adjunct
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something attached to but holding an inferior position
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adjuration
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solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
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adjutant
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staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
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admonish
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warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
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adore
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love deeply and respect highly
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adorn
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decorate
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adroit
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skillful (in using mind or hand)
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adulation
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flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
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adulterate
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make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
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Advent
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arrival
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adventitious
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accidental; casual; happening by chance
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adversary
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opponent; enemy
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adverse
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going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
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adversity
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great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
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advert
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refer
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advocacy
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support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
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advocate
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speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
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aegis
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shield; protection; defense
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aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)
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nest of a large bird of prey
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aesthetic
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artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
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affable
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easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
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affected
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artificial; pretended
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affidavit
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written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
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affiliation
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joining; associating with
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affinity
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feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
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affirmation
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positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
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affliction
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state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
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affluence
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abundance; wealth
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affront
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insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
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afterlife
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life after death; later part of one's life
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agape
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openmouthed
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agenda
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items of business at a meeting
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agglomeration
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collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
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aggrandize
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make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
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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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aghast
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filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
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agility
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nimbleness; ability to move quickly
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agitate
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stir up; disturb
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agnostic
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one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
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agog
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highly excited; intensely curious
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agrarian
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pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
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airy
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of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
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alacrity
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cheerful promptness without reluctance
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alchemy
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medieval chemistry
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alcove
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nook; recess
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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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alienate
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make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
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alimentary
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supplying nourishment
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alimony
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payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
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allay
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calm; pacify
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allege
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state without proof
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allegiance
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loyalty
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allegory
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story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable
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alleviate
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relieve (pain)
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alliteration
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repetition of beginning sound in poetry
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allocate
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assign; set apart for a particular purpose
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alloy
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mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
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allude
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refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
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allure
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entice; attract; tempt
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alluvial
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pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
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alms
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money or goods given to the poor
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aloft
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upward; high up in the air
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aloof
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apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
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altercation
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noisy quarrel
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altruistic
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unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
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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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amalgamate
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(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
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amass
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collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
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amazon
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female warrior
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ambidextrous
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capable of using either hand with equal ease
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ambience
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environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
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ambiguous
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unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
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ambivalence
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the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
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amble
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walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
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ambrosia
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food of the gods
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ambulatory
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able to walk
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ambush
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act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.
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ameliorate
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improve
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amenable
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obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
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amend
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correct; change ; generally for the better
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amenities
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convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
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amiable
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agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
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amicable
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peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
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amiss
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wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
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amity
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friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
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amnesia
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loss of memory
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amnesty
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pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
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amok(amuck)
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in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
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amoral
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nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
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amorous
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moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
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amorphous
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formless; lacking shape or definition
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amphibian
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able to live both on land and in water; N.
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amphitheater
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oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
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ample
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enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
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amplify
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increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
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amputate
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cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
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amulet
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charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
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anachronism
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an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
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analgesia
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condition of being unable to feel pain
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analgesic
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causing insensitivity to pain; N.
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analogous
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comparable; similar
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analogy
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similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
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anarchist
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person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
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anarchy
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absence of governing body; state of disorder
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anathema
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solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
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ancestry
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family descent; ADJ. ancestral
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anchor
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secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
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ancillary
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serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
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anecdote
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short story of an amusing or interesting event
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anemia
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condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
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anesthetic
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substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
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anguish
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acute pain; extreme suffering
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angular
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sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
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animadversion
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critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
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animated
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lively; spirited
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animosity
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active enmity
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animus
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hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
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annals
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records arranged in yearly parts; history
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anneal
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reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
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annex
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attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
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annihilate
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destroy
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annotate
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comment; make explanatory notes
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annuity
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yearly allowance
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annul
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make void
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anodyne
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drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
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anoint
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consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
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anomalous
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abnormal; irregular
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anomaly
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irregularity
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anonymity
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state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
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antagonism
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hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
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antecede
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precede
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antecedents
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preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
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antediluvian
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antiquated; extremely ancient
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anthem
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song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
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anthology
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book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
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anthropoid
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manlike; resembling a human being; N.
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anthropologist
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student of the history and science of humankind
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anthropomorphic
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having human form or characteristics
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anticlimax
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letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
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antidote
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remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
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antipathy
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aversion; dislike or opposition
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antiquated
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obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
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antique
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made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare or valuable
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antiquity
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quality of being very old; ancient times;
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antiseptic
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substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
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antithesis
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contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
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antler
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bony growth on the head of a deer
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anvil
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iron block used in hammering out metals
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apathy
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lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
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ape
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imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
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aperture
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opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
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apex
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tip; summit; climax; highest point
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aphasia
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loss of speech due to injury or illness
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aphorism
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pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
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apiarist
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person who keeps bees
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apiary
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a place where bees are kept
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apiculture
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bee-keeping
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aplomb
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poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
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apocalyptic
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prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
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apocryphal
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(of a story) widely believed but untrue
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apogee
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highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
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apolitical
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having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
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apologist
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one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
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apoplexy
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stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
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apostate
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one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
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apothecary
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druggist; pharmacist
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apothegm(apophthegm)
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pithy, compact saying
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apotheosis
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elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
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appall
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dismay; shock deeply
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apparent
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evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
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apparition
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ghost; phantom
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appease
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pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
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appellation
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name; title
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append
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attach
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application
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diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
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apposite
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appropriate; fitting
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appraise
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estimate value of; N. appraisal
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appreciate
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be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
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apprehend
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arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
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apprehensive
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fearful; discerning
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apprise
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inform
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approbation
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approval
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appropriate
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acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
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appurtenances
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subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
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apropos
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with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
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aptitude
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fitness; talent
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aquiline
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curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
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arable
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fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
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arbiter
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person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
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arbitrary
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unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
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arbitrate
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act as judge (at the request of both sides)
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arboreal
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of or living in trees
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arboretum
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place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
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arcade
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a covered passageway usually lined with shops
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arcane
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esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
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arch-
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chief; first; Ex. archbishop
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archaeology
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study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
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archaic
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antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
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archetype
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prototype; primitive pattern
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archipelago
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group of closely located islands
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archives
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public records; place where public records are kept
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ardor
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heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
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arduous
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hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
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argot
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slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
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aria
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operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
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arid
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(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
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aristocracy
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hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
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armada
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fleet of warships
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aromatic
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fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
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arraign
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charge in court; indict
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array
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marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
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arrears
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being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
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arrhythmic
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lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
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arrogance
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pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
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arroyo
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gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
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arsenal
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storage place for military equipment
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artery
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blood-vessel; CF. vein
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artful
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exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
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articulate
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effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
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artifacts
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object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
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artifice
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deception; trickery
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artisan
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a manually skilled worker
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artless
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without guile; open and honest
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ascendancy
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controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
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ascertain
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find out for certain; make certain
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ascetic
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practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
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ascribe
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refer; attribute; assign
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aseptic
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preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
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ashen
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ash-colored; deadly pale
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asinine
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stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
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askance
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with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
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askew
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crookedly; slanted; at an angle
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asperity
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sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
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aspersion
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slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
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aspirant
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seeker after position or status
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aspire
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seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
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assail
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assault
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assay
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analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
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assent
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agree; accept; N. assessment
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assert
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state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
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assiduous
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diligent
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assimilate
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absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
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assuage
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mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
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assumption
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something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
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assurance
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firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assuranc
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asteroid
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small planet
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astigmatism
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eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
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astral
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relating to the stars
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astringent
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binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
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astronomical
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enormously large or extensive
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astute
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wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
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asunder
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into parts; apart; V. sunder
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asylum
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place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
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asymmetric
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not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
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atavism
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resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
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atheistic
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denying the existence of God; N. atheism
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atone
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make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
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atrocity
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brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
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atrophy
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wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
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attentive
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alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
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attenuate
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make thin; weaken
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attest
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testify; bear witness
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attire
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clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
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attribute
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essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
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attrition
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rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
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atypical
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not normal; not typical
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audacious
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daring; bold; N. audacity
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audit
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examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
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augment
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increase; add to
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augury
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omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
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august
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impressive; majestic
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aureole
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sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
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auroral
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pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
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auspicious
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favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
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austere
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forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
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authenticate
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prove genuine
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authoritarian
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subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
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authoritative
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having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
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autocratic
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having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
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automaton
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mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
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autonomous
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self-governing; N. autonomy
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autopsy
|
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
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auxiliary
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offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
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avalanche
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great mass of falling snow and ice
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avantgarde
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group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
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avarice
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greediness for wealth
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avenge
|
take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.
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aver
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state confidently; declare as true
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averse
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reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
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aversion
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firm dislike
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avert
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prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
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aviary
|
enclosure for birds; large cage
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avid
|
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
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avocation
|
secondary or minor occupation
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avow
|
declare openly; N. avowal
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avuncular
|
of or like an uncle
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awe
|
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
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awful
|
terrible; very bad
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awl
|
pointed tool used for piercing
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awry
|
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
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axiom
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self-evident truth requiring no proof
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azure
|
sky blue
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