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270 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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cabal
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small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
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cache
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hiding place; V.
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cajole
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persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
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calamity
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disaster; misery
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callous
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hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
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callow
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youthful; immature; inexperienced
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callus
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area of thick hard skin
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calorific
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heat-producing; N. calorie
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calumny
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malicious misrepresentation; slander
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camp
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group sharing a common cause or opinion
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canard
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unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
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canny
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shrewd in money matters; thrifty
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cant
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insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people
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cantankerous
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ill-humored; irritable
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cantata
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story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)
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canter
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slow gallop; V. CF. trot
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canto
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division of a long poem
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canvass
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determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.
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capacious
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spacious
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capillary
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having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
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capitulate
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surrender; give up all resistance
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caprice
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whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause
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capricious
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unpredictable; fickle
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captious
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faultfinding; too critical
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carapace
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shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)
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cardinal
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chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order
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careen
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lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
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career
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rush wildly; go at full speed
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caricature
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distortion; burlesque
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carillon
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a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played
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carnal
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fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
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carousal
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drunken revel; V. carouse
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carping
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petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble
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carrion
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rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
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cartographer
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map-maker
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castigation
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punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
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catechism
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book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize
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categorical
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without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
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catharsis
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purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art
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cathartic
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purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
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catholic
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(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes
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caulk(calk)
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make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
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caustic
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burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless
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cauterize
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burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
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cavalcade
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procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry
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cavil
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quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
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cede
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yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession
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celerity
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speed; rapidity
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censorious
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severely critical
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censure
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blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval
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centigrade
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denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)
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centrifugal
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radiating; departing from the center
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centrifuge
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machine that separates substances by whirling them
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centripetal
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tending toward the center
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centurion
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Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)
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cerebration
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thought; working of the brain
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certitude
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certainty
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cession
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yielding to another; ceding
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chafe
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warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
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chaff
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worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff
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chaffing
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bantering; joking
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chagrin
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annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)
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chalice
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goblet; consecrated cup
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chaplain
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clergyman attached to a chapel
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char
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make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion
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charlatan
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quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)
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chary
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cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold
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chase
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ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch
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chasm
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abyss; very deep crack
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chassis
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framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
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chaste
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morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere
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chasten
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discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
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chastise
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punish as by beating; criticize severely
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chauvinist
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blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin
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check
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stop motion; curb or restrain
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checkered(chequered)
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marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares
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chicanery
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trickery; deception
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chide
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scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
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chimerical
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fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
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chisel
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swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting
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choice
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delicate; of very fine quality
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choleric
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hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera
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chore
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daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task
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chortle
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chuckle with delight; N.
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chorus
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phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
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churlish
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boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
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ciliated
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having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
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cipher
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nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
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circlet
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small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)
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circuitous
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roundabout
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circumlocution
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indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)
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circumscribe
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limit; confine; draw a line around
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circumspect
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prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
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circumvent
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outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around
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cistern
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reservoir or water tank
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citadel
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fortress
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clamber
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climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
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clamor
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loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous
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clandestine
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secret
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clangor
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loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
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clapper
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striker (tongue) of a bell
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clarion
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shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times
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clavicle
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collarbone
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cleave
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split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven
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cleft
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N: split
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clemency
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disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
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climactic
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relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
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clime
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climate
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clip
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cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener
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clipper
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sailing vessel built for great speed
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cloister
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monastery or convent
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cloying
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distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess
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coalesce
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combine; fuse; N. coalescence
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coax
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persuade by flattery
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coda
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concluding section of a musical or literary composition
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coddle
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treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs
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codicil
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supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
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codify
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arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs
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coeval
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living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age
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cogent
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convincing
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cogitate
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think over; ponder
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cognate
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having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
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cognizance
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knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware
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cohere
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stick together
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collate
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examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)
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collateral
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security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters
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collation
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a light meal; collating
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collected
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composed; calm; self-possessed
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colloquial
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pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression
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colloquy
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informal discussion; conversation
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collusion
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conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude
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comatose
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in a coma; extremely sleepy
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comeback
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retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
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comely
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attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
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comestible
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something fit to be eaten
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comeuppance
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deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke
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comity
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courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
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commandeer
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take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes
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commensurate
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equal in extent; of the same size
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commiserate
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feel or express pity or sympathy for
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commodious
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spacious and comfortable
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compendium
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brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious
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compensatory
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making up for; repaying
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complacency
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self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
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complaisant
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trying to please; obliging; willing to please others
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complicity
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participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
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comport
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bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
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composure
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mental calmness
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compulsion
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compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse
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compulsive
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resulting from compulsion
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compunction
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remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
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compute
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reckon; calculate
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concatenate
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link as in a chain
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concede
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admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal
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concentric
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having a common center
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concerted
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mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together
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concession
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an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire
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conciliatory
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reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)
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conclave
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private secret meeting
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concomitant
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that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else
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concord
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harmony; accord
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concordat
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formal agreement
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concur
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agree; coincide; happen at the same time
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concurrent
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happening at the same time; in agreement
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condescend
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(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior
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condign
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adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
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condiments
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seasonings; spices
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condole
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express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow
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condone
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overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
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conduit
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aqueduct; passageway for fluids
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confidant(confidante)
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trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)
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conflagration
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great fire
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confluence
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flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together
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confound
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confuse; puzzle
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congeal
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freeze; coagulate
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congenial
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pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
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congenital
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existing at birth
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conifer
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pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen
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conjecture
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surmise; guess; V.
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conjugal
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pertaining to marriage
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connivance
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pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire
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connubial
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pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
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consanguineous(consanguine)
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having a common ancestor
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consanguinity
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kinship; relationship by birth
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conscientious
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scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
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conscript
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draftee; person forced into military service; V.
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consecrate
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dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor
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consensus
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general agreement; opinion reached by a group
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consequential
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self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
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conservatory(conservatoire)
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school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
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consign
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send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee
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consonance
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harmony; agreement
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consonant
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harmonious; in agreement; N.
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consort
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associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)
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consternation
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great shock; dismay
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construe
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explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
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consummate
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complete; V.
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contagion
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infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air
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contend
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struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly
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contention
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assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
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contentious
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quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
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contest
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dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.
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context
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writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs
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contiguous
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adjacent to; touching upon
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continence
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self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent
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contingent
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dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency
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contortions
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twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist
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contraband
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illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
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contravene
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contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention
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contrite
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penitent; repentant; N. contrition
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contrivance
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something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme
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contrive
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invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention
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contrived
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unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.
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controvert
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oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
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contumacious
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stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
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contusion
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bruise
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conundrum
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riddle; difficult problem
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conversant
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familiar with; having knowledge of
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converse
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opposite; ADJ.
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convert
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one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief
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conveyance
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vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance
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convivial
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pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
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convoke
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call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
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convulsion
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violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive
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copious
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plentiful
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cordon
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extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; V.
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cornice
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projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars);
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corollary
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natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
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corporeal
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bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible
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corpulent
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very fat; N. corpulence
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corpus
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collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse
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corpuscle
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red or white cell in the blood
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corroborate
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confirm; support; strengthen
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corrode
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destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)
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corrosive
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eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
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corrugated
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wrinkled; ridged
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cosmic
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pertaining to the universe; vast
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coterie
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group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
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countenance
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approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance
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countermand
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cancel; revoke (an order)
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counterpart
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thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system
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covenant
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binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise
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covert
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secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
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covetous
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avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)
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cow
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terrorize; intimidate
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cower
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shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
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cozen
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cheat; hoodwink; swindle
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craven
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cowardly
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credence
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belief
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credo
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creed
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credulity
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belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous
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creed
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system of religious or ethical belief
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cremate
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incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium
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crestfallen
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dejected; dispirited
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crochet
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make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet
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crone
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hag; ugly old woman
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cross
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bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
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crossbreed
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hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
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crotchety
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(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
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crux
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essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
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cryptic
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mysterious; hidden; secret
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cull
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pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.
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culmination
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highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
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culpable
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deserving blame; blameworthy
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culprit
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one guilty of a crime
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culvert
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artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
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cupidity
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greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
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curmudgeon
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churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person
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cursory
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casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
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cynosure
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object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
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