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137 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
rescind
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v. to abrogate; annul; revoke; repeal.
2. to invalidate (an act, measure, etc.) by a later action or a higher authority. |
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restive
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adj. restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control
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reticent
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adj. reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence
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retinue
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n. a body of retainers in attendance upon an important personage; suite.
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retiring
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adj. modest; shy; withdrawing from contact with others
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retrench
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v. to cut down, reduce, or diminish; curtail (expenses).
2. to cut off or remove. 3. Military. to protect by a retrenchment. |
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retrograde (v)
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v. go backwards; degenerate
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reverie
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n. daydream; musing
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revile
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v. attack with abusive language; vilify
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rhetoric
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n art of effective communication; insincere or grandiloquent speech
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ribald
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adj. /ˈrɪbəld; spelling pron. ˈraɪbəld/ vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous.
n. a ribald person. |
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riddle (v)
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v. pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout
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rider
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n. amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
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rife
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adj. of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; in widespread existence, activity, or use: Crime is rife in the slum areas of our cities.
2. current in speech or report: Rumors are rife that the government is in financial difficulty. 3. abundant, plentiful, or numerous. 4. abounding (usually fol. by with). |
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rococo
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adj. ornate; highly decorated
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roil
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v. make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
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roseate
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adj. /ˈroʊziɪt, -ˌeɪt/ tinged with rose; rosy: a roseate dawn.; bright or promising: a roseate future.; incautiously optimistic: a roseate forecast for holiday sales.
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rostrum
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n. platform for speech-making; pulpit
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rotundity
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n. roundness; sonorousness of speech
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rout
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v. stampede; drive out
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rue
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v. 1. to feel sorrow over; repent of; regret bitterly: to rue the loss of opportunities.; to wish that (something) had never been done, taken place, etc.: I rue the day he was born.
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runic
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adj. mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; (of ornamental knots, figures, etc.) of an interlaced form seen on ancient monuments, metalwork, etc., of the northern European peoples.
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rusticate
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v. /ˈrʌstɪˌkeɪt/ banish to the country; dwell in the country; to go to the country
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sacrosanct
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adj. most sacred; inviolable; above or beyond criticism, change, or interference
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sagacious
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adj. /səˈgeɪʃəs/ having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd: a sagacious lawyer.
2. Obsolete. keen of scent. |
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salacious
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adj. lustful or lecherous; (of writings, pictures, etc.) obscene; grossly indecent.
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salient
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adj. prominent or conspicuous: salient traits.
2. projecting or pointing outward: a salient angle. 3. leaping or jumping: a salient animal. |
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sallow
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adj. /ˈsæloʊ/ yellowish; sickly in color
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salubrious
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adj. healthful
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salutary
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adj. /ˈsælyəˌtɛri/ favorable to or promoting health; healthful.; promoting or conducive to some beneficial purpose; wholesome.
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sanctimonious
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adj. displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness
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sanguinary
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adj. /ˈsæŋgwəˌnɛri/ bloody; ready or eager to shed blood; bloodthirsty.; composed of or marked with blood.
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sardonic
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adj. characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering: a sardonic grin.
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sartorial
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adj. of or pertaining to tailors or their trade: sartorial workmanship.
2. of or pertaining to clothing or style or manner of dress: sartorial splendor. |
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saturnine
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adj. /ˈsætərˌnaɪn/ sluggish in temperament; gloomy; taciturn.; suffering from lead poisoning, as a person.; due to absorption of lead, as bodily disorders.
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scabbard
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n. case for a sword; sheath
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scad
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n. a great quantity
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scintilla
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n. a minute particle; spark; trace: not a scintilla of remorse.
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scruple (v)
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v. fret about; hesitate, for ethical reasons
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scurrilous
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adj. /ˈskɜrələs, ˈskʌr-/ grossly or obscenely abusive: a scurrilous attack on the mayor.
2. characterized by or using low buffoonery; coarsely jocular or derisive: a scurrilous jest. |
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scurvy (adj)
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adj. contemptible; despicable; mean: a scurvy trick.
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scuttle
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v. to abandon, withdraw from, or cause to be abandoned or destroyed (as plans, hopes, rumors, etc.).; to sink (a vessel) deliberately by opening seacocks or making openings in the bottom.
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seamy
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adj. sordid; unwholesome
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secrete
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v. to place out of sight; hide; conceal: squirrels secreting nuts in a hollow tree trunk.
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sedition
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n. incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government.
2. any action, esp. in speech or writing, promoting such discontent or rebellion. 3. Archaic. rebellious disorder. |
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sedulous
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adj. diligent in application or attention; persevering; assiduous.
2. persistently or carefully maintained: sedulous flattery. |
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seminal
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adj. pertaining to, containing, or consisting of semen.
2. Botany. of or pertaining to seed. 3. having possibilities of future development. 4. highly original and influencing the development of future events: a seminal artist; seminal ideas. |
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sententious
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adj. /sɛnˈtɛnʃəs/ abounding in pithy aphorisms or maxims: a sententious book; given to excessive moralizing; self-righteous.
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sere
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adj. /sɪər/ parched; dry; withered
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sheaf
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n. bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
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shrew
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n. scolding woman
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shunt
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v. divert; turn aside; sidetrack
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shyster
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n. a lawyer who uses unprofessional or questionable methods.
2. a person who gets along by petty, sharp practices. |
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sibylline
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adj. /ˈsɪbəˌlin, -ˌlaɪn, -lɪn/ of, resembling, or characteristic of a sibyl; prophetic; oracular.
2. mysterious; cryptic. |
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sinecure
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n. well-paid position with little responsibility
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skinflint
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n. stingy person; miser
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skulduggery
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n. dishonorable proceedings; mean dishonesty or trickery: bribery, graft, and other such skulduggery.
2. an instance of dishonest or deceitful behavior; trick. |
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skulk
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v. move furtively and secretely
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slag
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n. residue from smelting metal; dross; waste material
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slake
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v. /sleɪk/ to allay (thirst, desire, wrath, etc.) by satisfying.; to cool or refresh: He slaked his lips with ice.; to make less active, vigorous, intense, etc.: His calm manner slaked their enthusiasm.
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slapdash
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adj. haphazard; careless; sloppy; offhand: a slapdash answer.
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sleazy
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adj. contemptibly low, mean, or disreputable: sleazy politics.
2. squalid; sordid; filthy; dilapidated: a sleazy hotel. 3. thin or poor in texture, as a fabric; cheap; flimsy: a sleazy dress; a sleazy excuse. |
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sleight
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n. skill; dexterity.
2. an artifice; stratagem. 3. cunning; craft. |
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slew
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n. large quantity or number
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slight (n)
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n. insult to one's dignity; snub
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slipshod
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adj. untidy or slovenly; shabby
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sluggard
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n. lazy person
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sluice
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n. /slus/ artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water
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smattering
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n. a slight, superficial, or introductory knowledge of something: a smattering of Latin.
adj. slight or superficial. |
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smelt
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v. melt or blend ores, changing their chemical composition
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solecism
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n. /ˈsɒləˌsɪzəm, ˈsoʊlə-/ a nonstandard or ungrammatical usage, as unflammable and they was.
2. a breach of good manners or etiquette. 3. any error, impropriety, or inconsistency. |
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solemnity
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n. seriousness; gravity; Often, solemnities. a solemn observance, ceremonial proceeding, or special formality: the solemnities of Easter.
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solicitous
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adj. anxious or concerned (usually fol. by about, for, etc., or a clause): solicitous about a person's health.
2. anxiously desirous: solicitous of the esteem of others. 3. eager (usually fol. by an infinitive): He was always solicitous to please. |
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soliloquy
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n. an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of or oblivious to any hearers present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts): Hamlet's soliloquy begins with “To be or not to be.”
2. the act of talking while or as if alone. |
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soluble
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adj. capable of being dissolved or liquefied: a soluble powder.; capable of being solved or explained: a soluble problem.
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solvent (adj)
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adj. able to pay all debts
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somnolent
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adj. half asleep; sleepy; drowsy.; tending to cause sleep.
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sophist
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n. /ˈsɒfɪst/ teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning
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sophistry
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n. /ˈsɒfəstri/ a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning.
2. a false argument; sophism. |
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soporific
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adj. /ˌsɒpəˈrɪfɪk, ˌsoʊpə-/ sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness
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spangle
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n. small metallic piece sewn on clothing as an ornament
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spasmodic
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adj. pertaining to or of the nature of a spasm; characterized by spasms.
2. resembling a spasm or spasms; sudden but brief; sporadic: spasmodic efforts at reform. 3. given to or characterized by bursts of excitement. |
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spate
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n. sudden flood; a sudden, almost overwhelming, outpouring: a spate of angry words.
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specious
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adj. seemingly reasonable, but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
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spendthrift
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n. a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; prodigal.
adj. wastefully extravagant; prodigal. |
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spoonerism
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n. he transposition of initial or other sounds of words, usually by accident, as in a blushing crow for a crushing blow.
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sportive
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adj. playful
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spruce
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adj. trim in dress or appearance; neat; smart; dapper.
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spurious
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adj. false; counterfeit; forged; illogical
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staid
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adj. /steɪd/ of settled or sedate character; not flighty or capricious.; fixed, settled, or permanent.
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stalwart
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adj.strongly and stoutly built; sturdy and robust.
2. strong and brave; valiant: a stalwart knight. 3. firm, steadfast, or uncompromising: a stalwart supporter of the U.N. |
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stanch
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v. /stɔntʃ, stæntʃ, stɑntʃ/ to stop the flow of (a liquid, esp. blood).; to stop the flow of blood or other liquid from (a wound, leak, etc.).
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steep (v)
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v. soak; saturate
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stem (v)
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v. check the flow
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stentorian
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adj. extremely loud; very loud or powerful in sound: a stentorian voice.
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stigma
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n. token of disgrace
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stilted
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adj. bombastic; stiffly pompous
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stint (v)
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v. be thrifty; set limits
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stipple
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v. paint or draw with dots
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stock (adj)
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adj. typical; standard; kept regularly in supply
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stockade
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n. wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as a defensive barrier
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stolid
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adj. dull; impassive; not easily stirred or moved mentally; unemotional
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stratagem
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n. clever trick; deceptive scheme; any artifice, ruse, or trick devised or used to attain a goal or to gain an advantage over an adversary or competitor: business stratagems.
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stricture
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n. critical comments; severe and adverse criticism; an abnormal contraction of any passage or duct of the body.; a restriction.
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studied
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adj. unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful
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stultify
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v. /ˈstʌltəˌfaɪ/ cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinder
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stupefy
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v.to put into a state of little or no sensibility; benumb the faculties of; put into a stupor.
2. to stun, as with a narcotic, a shock, or a strong emotion. 3. to overwhelm with amazement; astound; astonish. |
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stygian
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adj. /ˈstɪdʒiən/ of or pertaining to the river Styx or to Hades.
2. dark or gloomy. 3. infernal; hellish. |
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subaltern
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n. /sʌbˈɔltərn/ subordinate
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sublimate
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v. refine; purify; to make nobler or purer: To read about great men sublimates ambition.; Psychology. to divert the energy of (a sexual or other biological impulse) from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.
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subliminal
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adj. below the threshold
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suborn
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v. /səˈbɔrn/
persuade to act unlawfully, especially to commit perjury |
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subsume
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v. to consider or include (an idea, term, proposition, etc.) as part of a more comprehensive one.
2. to bring (a case, instance, etc.) under a rule. 3. to take up into a more inclusive classification. |
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subterfuge
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n. /ˈsʌbtərˌfyudʒ/ pretense; evasion. an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.
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succor
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v. /ˈsʌkər/ aid; assist; comfort
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suffuse
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v. to overspread with or as with a liquid, color, etc.
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sunder
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v. to separate; part; divide; sever.
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sundry
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adj. various; several
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superannuated
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adj. retired or disqualified because of age
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supercilious
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adj. haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression.
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supererogatory
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adj. /ˌsupərəˈrɒgəˌtɔri, -ˌtoʊri/ going beyond the requirements of duty.; superfluous; more than needed or demanded
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supernumerary
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n. /ˌsupərˈnuməˌrɛri, -ˈnyu-/ being in excess of the usual, proper, or prescribed number; additional; extra.; associated with a regular body or staff as an assistant or substitute in case of necessity.
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supine
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adj. /adj. suˈpaɪn; n. ˈsupaɪn/ lying on the back, face or front upward.; inactive, passive, or inert, esp. from indolence or indifference.; (of the hand) having the palm upward.
n. (in English) the simple infinitive of a verb preceded by to. |
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suppliant
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n. /ˈsʌpliənt/ a person who supplicates; petitioner.
adj. supplicating; expressive of supplication, as words, actions, etc. |
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supplicate
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v. petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
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supposititious
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adj. /səˌpɒzɪˈtɪʃəs/ assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
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surfeit
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v. /ˈsɜrfɪt/ satiate; stuff; indulge in excess in anything
n. excess; an excessive amount: a surfeit of speechmaking. 2. excess or overindulgence in eating or drinking. |
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surreptitious
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adj. secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
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swathe
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v. /swɒð, sweɪð/ wrap around; bandage
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swill
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v. drink greedily
n. liquid or partly liquid food for animals, esp. kitchen refuse given to swine; hogwash. 2. kitchen refuse in general; garbage. 3. any liquid mess, waste, or refuse; slop. |
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sybarite
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n. (usually lowercase) a person devoted to luxury and pleasure.
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syllogism
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n. logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
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sylvan
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adj. pertaining to the woods; rustic
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synoptic
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adj. pertaining to or constituting a synopsis; affording or taking a general view of the principal parts of a subject.; (often initial capital letter) taking a common view: used chiefly in reference to the first three Gospels (synoptic Gospels), Matthew, Mark, and Luke, from their similarity in content, order, and statement.
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tacit
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adj. understood; not put into words
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tangential
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adj. peripheral; only slightly connected
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tantamount
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adj. equivalent in effect or value
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