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2332 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
pachyderm
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thick-skinned animal
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pacifist
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one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N. pacifism: opposition to war as a means of resolving disputes
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pacify
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soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to
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padre
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chaplain (in the armed forces)
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paean
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song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory
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painstaking
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taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through
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palatable
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agreeable; pleasing to the taste
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palate
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roof of the mouth; sense of the taste
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palatial
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of or suitable for a palace; magnificent
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paleontology
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study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents
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palette
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board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring matters)
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palimpsest
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parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased
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pall
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become boring; grow tiresome
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pallet
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small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet
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palliate
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ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)
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pallid
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pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion
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palm
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conceal in the palm of the hand; palm off: pass off; Ex. palm off some bad oranges onto the lady/the painting as a real Renoir
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palpable
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tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious; Ex. palpable blunder
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palpitate
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throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.
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paltry
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insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash
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pan
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criticize harshly
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panacea
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cure-all; remedy for all diseases
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panache
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flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache;
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pandemic
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widespread; affecting the majority of people; N: pandemic disease; CF. all people
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Pandemonium
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wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF. Paradise Lost
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pander
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cater to (the low desires of others)
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panegyric
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formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.
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pang
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sudden sharp feeling of pain
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panoramic
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denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area
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pantomime
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acting without dialogue; V.
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papyrus
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ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant
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parable
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short simple story teaching a moral
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paradigm
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model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word
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paradox
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something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct
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paragon
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model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue
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parallel
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similar; analogous; corresponding; N: parallel line; person or thing that is parallel (to another); similarity; Ex. know of no parallel to the case; Ex. without parallel; V: be similar to; make parallel; Ex. Your experience parallels mine; CF. unp
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parallelism
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state of being parallel; similarity; analogy
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parameter
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limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the budget
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paramount
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foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal
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paramour
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illicit lover
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paranoia
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psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; N: ADJ: paranoid, paranoiac
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paraphernalia
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equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman's property exclusive of her dowry
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paraphrase
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restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words
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parasite
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animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; CF. para-: beside
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parched
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extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)
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parchment
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writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat
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pare
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cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a knife); trim; Ex. pare apples/expenses
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pariah
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social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah
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parish
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area in the care of a single priest and served by one main church
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parity
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equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate
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parlance
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language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance
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parley
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conference (between opponents); CF. speak
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parochial
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narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes
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parody
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humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.
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paroxysm
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fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst
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parquet
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floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece
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parry
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ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully; N.
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parsimony
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stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious
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partial
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incomplete; favoring one side over another; having a liking for something
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partiality
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state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias; special fondness; preference
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partisan
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one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla
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partition
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divide into parts
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parvenu
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upstart; newly rich person
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pass\'e
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old-fashioned; past the prime
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pass_off
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present falsely; represent falsely to be
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passive
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not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance
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paste
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smooth viscous mixture as of flour(powder made by crushing grain) and water (used as an adhesive); V: cause to adhere by applying paste
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pastiche
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imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists
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pastoral
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rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor
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pastry
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paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)
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patent
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obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.
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pathetic
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causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching
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pathological
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pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease
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pathos
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tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel
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patina
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green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting
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patois
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local or provincial dialect
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patriarch
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father and ruler of a family or tribe
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patrician
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noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian
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patrimony
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property inherited from a father
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patronize
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support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N. patronage; CF. boycott
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paucity
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scarcity; dearth
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pauper
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very poor person
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peccadillo
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slight offense or fault; CF. sin
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pecuniary
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pertaining to money
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pedagogue
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teacher; CF. child leader
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pedagogy
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teaching; art of education
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pedant
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scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities
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pedantic
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bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry
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peddle
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travel about selling (wares); CF. foot
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pedestal
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support or base as for a pillar or statue
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pedestrian
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ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot; Ex. pedestrian prose; N.
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pediatrician
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physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics
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pedigree
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ancestry; lineage
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peer
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one who has equal standing with another; nobleman; V: look intently; N. peerage; CF. peeress
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peerless
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having no equal; incomparable
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peevish
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bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry
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pejorative
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(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect; Ex. Many women now considers ``housewife'' a pejorative expression, because it patronized them.
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pell-mell
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in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell
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pellucid
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transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand
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pen
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fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
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penance
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self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance for one's sins; CF. penitent
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penchant
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strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars
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pendant(pendent)
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hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
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pending
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not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the decision pending his return
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pendulous
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hanging; suspended
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penetrate
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enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand
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penitent
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repentant; N.
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penology
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study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation
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pensive
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dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over
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penumbra
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partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow
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penury
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extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy
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peon
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landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage
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perceptive
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insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception
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percussion
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striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion
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perdition
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damnation; complete ruin; hell
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peregrination
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journey; V. peregrinate
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peremptory
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demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock
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perennial
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something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring
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perfidious
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treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
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perforate
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pierce; put a hole through
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perfunctory
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done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss
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perigee
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point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee
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perimeter
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outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference
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peripatetic
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walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy
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peripheral
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of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest
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periphery
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outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town
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perjury
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false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath
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permeable
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that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge
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permissive
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allowing much freedom; lenient; Ex. permissive society
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pernicious
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very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia
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peroration
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conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length
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perpetrate
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commit an offense; do (something wrong)
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perpetual
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everlasting
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perpetuate
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make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity
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perquisite(perk)
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any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car
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persevere
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continue steadily in spite of difficulties
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persist
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continue in existence; last; continue in a course of action in spite of opposition; Ex. persist in/with something; ADJ. persistent
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personable
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attractive (in personality or appearance)
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personify
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represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification
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perspicacious
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(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute
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perspicuity
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clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
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perspicuous
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(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments
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pert
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(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat
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pertinacious
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holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent
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pertinent
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suitable; to the point; relevant
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perturb
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disturb greatly
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peruse
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read through with care; N. perusal
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pervasive
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spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells, ideas, feelings) spread throughout; charge; permeate
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perverse
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purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity
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perversion
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corruption; turning from right to wrong
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pervert
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corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex. perverted sexual desire/scientific knowledge; N: person whose sexual behavior is not natural
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pessimism
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belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic
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pestilential(pestilent)
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causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)
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pestle
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tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar
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petrify
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turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze
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petty
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trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded
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petulant
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touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
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phalanx
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formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)
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pharisaical
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pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical
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pharisee
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Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy); hypocritical self-righteous person
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phenomena
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observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength
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philanderer
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faithless lover; flirt
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philanthropist
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lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy
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philatelist
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stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
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Philistine
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narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
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philology
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study of language or words
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phlegmatic
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calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract
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phobia
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morbid fear
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phoenix
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symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes
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phylum
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major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division
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physiognomy
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face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
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physiological
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pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology
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piebald
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of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald
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piecemeal
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one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal
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pied
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piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
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piety
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devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious
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pigment
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coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)
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pilfer
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steal things of small value; filch; snitch
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pillage
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plunder
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pillory
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punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
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pinch
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squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. N: amount that can be held between the thumb and a finger
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pine
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long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline
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pinion
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restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing
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pinnace
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small boat
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pinnacle
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peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
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pious
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devout; religious; N. piety
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piquant
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pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help
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pique
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irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity
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piscatorial
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pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
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pitfall
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hidden danger; concealed trap
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pith
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core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
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pithy
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concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
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pittance
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small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
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pivotal
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of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
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placate
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pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease
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placebo
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harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
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placid
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peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
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plagiarize
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steal another's ideas or writings and pass them off as one's own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap
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plaintive
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expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
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plait
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braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail
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plane
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carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
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plaster
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paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls; V.
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plasticity
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ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay
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platitude
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trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous
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platonic
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purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
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plaudit
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praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud
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plausible
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conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious
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plebeian
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common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician
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plebiscite
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direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)
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plenary
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(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power
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plenitude
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abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty
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plethora
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excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
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pliable
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flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
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pliant
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flexible; easily influenced
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plight
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difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament
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ploy
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strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management ploy
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pluck
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courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave
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plumage
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feathers of a bird;
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plumb
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exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of
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plumber
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one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(pipes)
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plume
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feather, esp. large or showy one; something that rises into the air (like the shape of a feather); Ex. plume of smoke: 滚几 备抚
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plummet
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fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.
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plump
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pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
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plutocracy
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society ruled by the wealthy
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podiatrist
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doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics
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podium
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pedestal; raised platform
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poignancy
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quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick
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poise
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good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
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polar
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of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex. polar opposites
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polarity
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state of having two opposite qualities
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polarize
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split into opposite extremes or camps
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polemic
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attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy
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polemical(polemic)
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aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply expressing opinions)
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politic
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prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
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polity
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(particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity
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polygamist
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one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
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polyglot
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speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.
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pomposity
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self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt(pompous person); ADJ. pompous: self-important
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ponderous
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having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
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pontifical
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pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop
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pore
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study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.
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porous
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full of pores; like a sieve
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porridge
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soft food made by boiling oatmeal
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portend
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foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning
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portly
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stout; corpulent
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pose
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assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect a particular attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a threat; N.
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poseur
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person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others; person who poses; CF. pose
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posterity
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descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; CF. posterior, anterior
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posthumous
|
after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death); coming or occurring after one's death; Ex. posthumous fame/novel
|
|
postmortem
|
autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem
|
|
postulate
|
self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)
|
|
posture
|
assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose; attitude
|
|
potable
|
suitable for drinking; drinkable
|
|
potent
|
powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
|
|
potentate
|
monarch; sovereign
|
|
potential
|
expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
|
|
potion
|
dose (of liquids); liquid dose
|
|
potpourri
|
heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)
|
|
poultice
|
soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
|
|
pr\'ecis
|
abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text
|
|
practicable
|
feasible
|
|
practical
|
based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man
|
|
pragmatic
|
practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill
|
|
pragmatist
|
practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way of dealing with things
|
|
prance
|
move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
|
|
prank
|
mischievous trick
|
|
prate
|
talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
|
|
prattle
|
talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
|
|
preamble
|
introductory statement
|
|
precarious
|
unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living
|
|
precedent
|
preceding (in time, rank, etc.)
|
|
precept
|
practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept
|
|
precinct
|
division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college
|
|
precipice
|
cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice
|
|
precipitant
|
something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; OP. solvent
|
|
precipitate
|
hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden
|
|
precipitous
|
steep; overhasty; precipitate
|
|
precise
|
exact
|
|
preclude
|
make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
|
|
precocious
|
advanced in development; N. precocity
|
|
precursor
|
forerunner; predecessor
|
|
predator
|
predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others; ADJ. predatory: living by preying on other organisms; plundering; N. predation
|
|
predecessor
|
former occupant of a post
|
|
predetermine
|
determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly
|
|
predicament
|
difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma
|
|
predilection
|
preference; partiality
|
|
predispose
|
give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition
|
|
preeminent
|
outstanding; superior
|
|
preempt
|
prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of; displace; Ex. preempt any attempts; ADJ. preemptive
|
|
preen
|
make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on; CF. prune
|
|
prefatory
|
introductory; of a preface
|
|
prefigure
|
be a sign of; foreshadow
|
|
prehensile
|
capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails
|
|
prelate
|
church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)
|
|
prelude
|
introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner
|
|
premeditate
|
plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
|
|
premise
|
assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based
|
|
premonition
|
forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
|
|
premonitory
|
serving to warn
|
|
preponderance
|
superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V. preponderate: be greater in power, weight, or importance; ADJ. preponderant
|
|
prepossessing
|
attractive; CF. preoccupying ?
|
|
preposterous
|
absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
|
|
prerogative
|
privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
|
|
presage
|
foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen
|
|
prescience
|
ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient
|
|
presentiment
|
premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear
|
|
prestige
|
respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
|
|
presume
|
take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection); N. presumption
|
|
presumptuous
|
going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties
|
|
pretend
|
feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don't pretend to much expertise; N. pretense
|
|
pretension
|
pretentiousness; claim (without foundation); Ex. I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.
|
|
pretentious
|
ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim to be art
|
|
preternatural
|
beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces
|
|
pretext
|
excuse
|
|
prevail
|
be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do something
|
|
prevalent
|
widespread; generally accepted
|
|
prevaricate
|
lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
|
|
prey
|
target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey; victimize; Ex. Cats prey on mice.
|
|
prim
|
proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
|
|
primal
|
first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man's primal innocence
|
|
primary
|
first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first
|
|
primate
|
group of mammals including humans
|
|
prime
|
period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V: make ready; prepare
|
|
primogeniture
|
seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)
|
|
primordial
|
existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
|
|
primp
|
groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
|
|
pristine
|
unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition
|
|
privation
|
lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF. deprive
|
|
privy
|
secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF. private
|
|
prize
|
pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
|
|
probe
|
explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe
|
|
probity
|
uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
|
|
problematic
|
causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.
|
|
proclivity
|
inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)
|
|
procrastinate
|
postpone; delay or put off
|
|
procurement
|
obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another
|
|
prod
|
poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action; N: pointed object used to prod; prodding
|
|
prodigal
|
wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality
|
|
prodigious
|
enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory
|
|
prodigy
|
highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder
|
|
profane
|
violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for; ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things
|
|
profligate
|
wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy
|
|
profound
|
deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity
|
|
profusion
|
great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
|
|
progenitor
|
ancestor
|
|
progeny
|
children; offspring; descendants
|
|
prognosis
|
forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
|
|
prognosticate
|
predict (according to present indications)
|
|
prohibitive
|
so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax
|
|
projectile
|
missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
|
|
proletarian
|
member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)
|
|
proliferate
|
grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation
|
|
prolific
|
producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer
|
|
prolixity
|
tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse
|
|
prologue
|
introduction (to a poem or play)
|
|
prolong
|
lengthen; extend; draw out
|
|
prominent
|
protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent
|
|
promiscuous
|
mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity
|
|
promontory
|
headland
|
|
promote
|
advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or popularize; Ex. Milk promotes health; Ex. promote a match/bill; Ex. promote a new product
|
|
prompt
|
cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an actor); ADJ: done without delay; done at the right time; punctual; on time; N: reminder or cue
|
|
promulgate
|
announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication
|
|
prone
|
inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes; Ex. accident-prone
|
|
prong
|
pointed projecting part
|
|
pronounced
|
distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp
|
|
prop
|
support placed under or against something; V.
|
|
propagate
|
increase in number by producing young; multiply; spread; Ex. Most plants propagate by seed; Ex. newspaper propagating their ideas
|
|
propellant(propellent)
|
substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)
|
|
propensity
|
natural inclination
|
|
prophetic
|
of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet
|
|
prophylactic
|
used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic; condom; N. prophylaxis: prevention of disease
|
|
propinquity
|
nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship
|
|
propitiate
|
appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
|
|
propitious
|
favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign
|
|
proponent
|
supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
|
|
propound
|
put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory
|
|
propriety
|
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary
|
|
propulsive
|
driving forward; N. propulsion
|
|
prosaic
|
lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; CF. prose
|
|
proscenium
|
part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage
|
|
proscribe
|
prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
|
|
proselytize
|
(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion
|
|
prosody
|
art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse
|
|
prosper
|
become successful (esp. financially); thrive; grow well; Ex. children prospering under his care
|
|
prosperity
|
good fortune and financial success; physical well-being
|
|
prosperous
|
successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off
|
|
prostrate
|
stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating illness; ADJ: lying face down; having lost all strength
|
|
prot\'eg\'e
|
person receiving protection and support from a patron
|
|
protagonist
|
leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief character in a play or story
|
|
protean
|
able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
|
|
protocol
|
diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats; first copy of a treaty before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that the queen meet him at the airport.
|
|
prototype
|
original work used as a model by others
|
|
protract
|
prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
|
|
protrude
|
stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth
|
|
protuberance
|
protrusion; swelling; bulge
|
|
provenance
|
place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come
|
|
provender
|
dry food for livestock; fodder
|
|
proverb
|
adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially
|
|
providence
|
quality of being provident; divine care; god's care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there; ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate
|
|
provident
|
providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
|
|
provincial
|
pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated
|
|
provision
|
act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure; provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement
|
|
provisional
|
tentative; temporary
|
|
proviso
|
stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision
|
|
provocative
|
arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex. provocative in tight jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger; cause (an unpleasant action or feeling); N. provocation
|
|
prowess
|
extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle
|
|
proximity
|
nearness; ADJ. proximate
|
|
proxy
|
authorized agent; authority to act for another
|
|
prude
|
excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety
|
|
prudent
|
cautious; careful; prudential
|
|
prune
|
cut away; trim
|
|
prurient
|
having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire
|
|
pry
|
inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying
|
|
pseudonym
|
pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; ADJ. pseudonymous
|
|
psyche
|
soul; mind
|
|
psychiatrist
|
doctor who treats mental diseases
|
|
psychic
|
of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary mental powers
|
|
psychopathic
|
pertaining to mental dearrangement; N. psychopath: person with an antisocial personality disorder
|
|
psychosis
|
mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic
|
|
psychosomatic
|
of the influence of the mind on the body (esp. with respect to disease)
|
|
pterodactyl
|
extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger
|
|
pucker
|
gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
|
|
pudding
|
hot sweet dish
|
|
puerile
|
childish; immature; CF. puer: boy
|
|
pugilist
|
boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing
|
|
pugnacity
|
combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious: (of people) belligerent; combative in nature
|
|
puissant
|
powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power
|
|
pulchritude
|
beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous
|
|
pulmonary
|
pertaining to the lungs
|
|
pulpit
|
raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
|
|
pulsate
|
throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly
|
|
pulse
|
rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity; V: pulsate
|
|
pulverize
|
crush or grind into very small particles
|
|
pummel
|
pommel; beat or pound with fists
|
|
punctilious
|
minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful attention payed to every small exact detail
|
|
pundit
|
authority on a subject; expert; learned person
|
|
pungent
|
stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic; N. pungency
|
|
punitive
|
punishing; Ex. punitive measures
|
|
puny
|
tiny; weak; insignificant
|
|
purchase
|
secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
|
|
purgatory
|
place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the souls must expiate their sins
|
|
purge
|
remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or defilement); N.
|
|
purport
|
intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which purports to be signed by the general
|
|
purported
|
alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists
|
|
purse
|
pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
|
|
purveyor
|
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide
|
|
pushy
|
disagreeably aggressive
|
|
pusillanimous
|
cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted
|
|
putative
|
supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child
|
|
putrefy
|
make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
|
|
putrescent
|
becoming putrid; putrefying
|
|
putrid
|
decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity
|
|
puzzle
|
baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over a problem in an effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the answer; N.
|
|
pyromaniac
|
person with an insane desire to set things on fire
|
|
oaf
|
stupid awkward person; CF. elf
|
|
oath
|
solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''
|
|
oatmeal
|
crushed oats used for making porridge
|
|
obdurate
|
stubborn; refusing to change one's belief
|
|
obeisance
|
bow (to show respect and obedience)
|
|
obelisk
|
tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid
|
|
obese
|
excessively fat; N. obesity
|
|
obfuscate
|
confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand
|
|
obituary
|
death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.
|
|
objective
|
not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim
|
|
obligatory
|
binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate
|
|
oblique
|
indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference
|
|
obliterate
|
destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village
|
|
oblivion
|
obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness
|
|
oblivious
|
inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful(having the habit of forgetting)
|
|
obloquy
|
slander; disgrace; infamy
|
|
obnoxious
|
offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell
|
|
obscure
|
dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning
|
|
obsequious
|
slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic
|
|
obsequy
|
funeral ceremony
|
|
obsessive
|
related to thinking about something constantly; of an obsession; preoccupying; N. obsession: compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea; compulsive idea; V. obsess: preoccupy the mind of excessively
|
|
obsidian
|
black volcanic rock
|
|
obsolete
|
outmoded; no longer used
|
|
obstetrician
|
physician specializing in delivery(assisting in giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF. midwife
|
|
obstinate
|
stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy
|
|
obstreperous
|
boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable
|
|
obtrude
|
push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; impose (oneself or one's ideas) on others; butt in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B; ADJ. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; CF. unobtrusive
|
|
obtuse
|
blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding
|
|
obviate
|
make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need
|
|
Occident
|
the West
|
|
occlude
|
shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.
|
|
occult
|
mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare
|
|
oculist
|
physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes
|
|
odds
|
chances; probability; disagreement; Ex. The odds are that it will rain. Ex. at odds with
|
|
odious
|
arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile
|
|
odium
|
detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)
|
|
odoriferous
|
giving off an odor
|
|
odorous
|
having an odor
|
|
odyssey
|
long, eventful, adventurous journey
|
|
offensive
|
attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend: violate; hurt the feelings of; N. offense: offending; violating of a moral or social code; crime; attack; Ex. first offense
|
|
offhand
|
casual; done without prior thought or preparation
|
|
officious
|
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy
|
|
ogle
|
look at amorously; make eyes at; Ex. old men ogling young girls
|
|
olfactory
|
concerning the sense of smell
|
|
oligarchy
|
government by a privileged few
|
|
ominous
|
threatening; of an evil omen
|
|
omnipotent
|
all-powerful; having unlimited power
|
|
omnipresent
|
universally present; ubiquitous
|
|
omniscient
|
all-knowing
|
|
omnivorous
|
eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything
|
|
onerous
|
burdensome
|
|
onomatopoeia
|
words formed in imitation of natural sounds
|
|
onslaught
|
vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected onslaught of the enemy
|
|
onus
|
burden; responsibility
|
|
ooze
|
(of a thick liquid) pass or flow slowly; N: mud or thick liquid as at the bottom of a river
|
|
opalescent
|
iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence
|
|
opaque
|
dark; not transparent; N. opacity
|
|
opiate
|
medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium
|
|
opportune
|
timely; well-chosen
|
|
opportunist
|
individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances; N. opportunism
|
|
opprobrium
|
infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous
|
|
optician
|
maker and seller of eyeglasses
|
|
optimist
|
person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism
|
|
optimum
|
most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition
|
|
optional
|
not compulsory; left to one's choice; N. option: act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to choose; something available as a choice; Ex. have no option; Ex. two options
|
|
optometrist
|
one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects
|
|
opulence
|
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant
|
|
opus
|
work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; CF. opera
|
|
oracular
|
of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous; hard to understand; N. oracle: wiser person; prophecy made by an oracle
|
|
orator
|
public speaker
|
|
oratorio
|
dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata
|
|
ordain
|
decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination
|
|
ordeal
|
severe trial or affliction; difficult experience; trial(test of patience or endurance); affliction
|
|
ordinance
|
decree; authoritative order
|
|
ordination
|
ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest
|
|
orgy
|
wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping
|
|
orient
|
get one's bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate
|
|
orientation
|
act of finding oneself in society; orienting
|
|
orifice
|
mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth
|
|
ornate
|
excessively or elaborately decorated
|
|
ornithologist
|
scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds
|
|
orthodox
|
traditional; (of someone) conservative in belief; adhering to an established doctrine
|
|
orthography
|
correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics
|
|
oscillate
|
vibrate pendulumlike; waver
|
|
osseous
|
made of bone; bony
|
|
ossify
|
change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging in one's ideas
|
|
ostensible
|
apparent; appearing as such; professed(pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible purpose of the expedition
|
|
ostentatious
|
showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display
|
|
ostracize
|
banish from a group; exclude from public favor; ban; Ex. His friends ostracized him. N. ostracism
|
|
oust
|
expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting
|
|
outcast
|
one that has been excluded from a society; ADJ.
|
|
outfit
|
clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy outfit
|
|
outgoing
|
sociable; eager to mix socially with others
|
|
outlandish
|
bizzare; peculiar; unconventional
|
|
outlaw
|
fugitive from the law (excluded from legal protection); V: declare (someone) to be an outlaw; deprive of the protection of the law; declare illegal; Ex. Drinking has been outlawed.
|
|
outlook
|
point of view; view from a particular place; expectation for the future; prospect; Ex. outlook on life; Ex. pleasing outlook; Ex. weather outlook
|
|
outmoded
|
no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned
|
|
outrage
|
act of extreme violence or viciousness; resentful anger; V: commit an outrage on; produce anger in; ADJ. outrageous: offensive
|
|
outskirts
|
fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston
|
|
outspoken
|
candid; blunt
|
|
outstrip
|
outrun; surpass; outdo
|
|
outwit
|
outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly
|
|
ovation
|
enthusiastic applause
|
|
overbearing
|
bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate
|
|
overblown
|
inflated; exaggerated
|
|
oversee
|
watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight: unintentional failure to notice or do something; supervision
|
|
overt
|
open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert
|
|
overthrow
|
topple; N.
|
|
overture
|
musical introduction to a long musical piece; first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace
|
|
overturn
|
turn over; capsize; topple
|
|
overweening
|
arrogant; presumptuous
|
|
overwhelm
|
(of water) cover completely; defeat completely by much greater force; Ex. overwhelmed by grief
|
|
overwrought
|
nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done
|
|
ovoid
|
egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate
|
|
jab
|
poke abruptly with something sharp; punch with short blows
|
|
jabber
|
chatter rapidly or unintelligibly
|
|
jaded
|
tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued; surfeited; worn out; wearied; Ex. jaded appetite
|
|
jargon
|
language used by special group; technical terminology; gibberish; nonsensical or incoherent talk
|
|
jaundice
|
medical condition in which the skin, the white part of the eyes, etc. turn yellow; V: affect with jaundice; affect with prejudice, envy, or hostility; bias
|
|
jaundiced
|
yellowed; prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful) from long and disappointing experience of human affairs; Ex. with a jaundiced eye
|
|
jaunt
|
trip; short journey
|
|
jaunty
|
cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree; dapper in appearance; Ex. jaunty person/hat
|
|
jeopardize
|
endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy: danger
|
|
jest
|
playful remark or act; V. act or speak playfully
|
|
jetsam
|
things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)
|
|
jettison
|
throw overboard (from a ship or plane)
|
|
jibe
|
agree; be in harmony with; gibe
|
|
jingoist
|
extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism
|
|
jocose
|
given to(having a tendency of) joking
|
|
jocular
|
said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking
|
|
jocund
|
merry
|
|
jollity
|
gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay
|
|
jostle
|
shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly; Ex. jostled by the crowds
|
|
jovial
|
good-natured; merry; cheerful
|
|
jubilation
|
rejoicing; great joy
|
|
judiciary
|
judicial branch of government
|
|
judicious
|
sound on judgment; wise
|
|
jug
|
pitcher; container for holding liquids
|
|
juggernaut
|
irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its path
|
|
jumble
|
mix in a confused way
|
|
juncture
|
crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining
|
|
junket
|
trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense
|
|
junta
|
group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)
|
|
juridical
|
of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of courts of law; CF. judiciary
|
|
jurisdiction
|
right and power to apply the law; authority
|
|
jurisprudence
|
science of law
|
|
juxtapose
|
place side by side; CF. next
|
|
kaleidoscope
|
tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce interesting symmetrical effects; series of changing events; Ex. kaleidoscope of European history; CF. beautiful
|
|
ken
|
range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken
|
|
kernel
|
central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)
|
|
killjoy
|
grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others
|
|
kindle
|
start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse
|
|
kindred
|
related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N: relative; kin; kinship
|
|
kinetic
|
producing motion; of motion
|
|
kismet
|
fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.
|
|
kleptomaniac
|
person who has a compulsive desire to steal
|
|
knack
|
special talent; art
|
|
knave
|
untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery
|
|
knead
|
mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough
|
|
kneel
|
go down on one's knee(s)
|
|
knell
|
tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.
|
|
knit
|
contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit together in a few weeks.
|
|
knoll
|
little round hill; hillock
|
|
knotty
|
intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot
|
|
kudos
|
honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement
|
|
labile
|
likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability
|
|
laborious
|
demanding much work or care; tedious
|
|
labyrinth
|
maze
|
|
lace
|
cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges (as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace
|
|
laceration
|
torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin as with broken glass); wound
|
|
lachrymose
|
producing tears; tearful
|
|
lackadaisical
|
lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
|
|
lackluster
|
lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull
|
|
laconic
|
brief and to the point; using few words; terse
|
|
lag
|
move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag behind the rest; N.
|
|
laggard
|
slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler
|
|
lagoon
|
shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs
|
|
laity
|
laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy
|
|
lament
|
grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
|
|
lampoon
|
ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution
|
|
lance
|
pierce with a lance; cut into; N: spearlike weapon
|
|
lancet
|
small surgical tool for making incisions
|
|
languid
|
lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless
|
|
languish
|
lose animation or strength
|
|
languor
|
lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression
|
|
lank
|
long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln
|
|
lap
|
take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently; Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person
|
|
larceny
|
theft; Ex. petit larceny
|
|
larder
|
pantry; place where food is kept
|
|
largess
|
generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)
|
|
lascivious
|
lustful
|
|
lassitude
|
languor; weariness; listlessness
|
|
latch
|
fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch
|
|
latent
|
present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF. potential
|
|
lateral
|
of or coming from the side
|
|
latitude
|
freedom from narrow limitations
|
|
laud
|
praise; N. ADJ. laudable: praiseworthy; ADJ. laudatory: expressing praise
|
|
lavish
|
liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance
|
|
lax
|
careless; negligent; not paying enough attention; Ex. lax service
|
|
layman
|
man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional
|
|
leash
|
restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
|
|
leaven
|
add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens
|
|
leave-taking
|
farewell or departure
|
|
lechery
|
gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
|
|
lectern
|
reading desk or stand for a public speaker
|
|
leery
|
(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious
|
|
leeway
|
room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline
|
|
legacy
|
gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor
|
|
legato
|
(of music) played smoothly
|
|
legend
|
explanatory list of symbols on a map
|
|
legerdemain
|
sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
|
|
legislature
|
legislating branch of government; CF. legislate: make laws
|
|
leniency
|
mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe in judgment or punishment
|
|
leonine
|
like a lion
|
|
lethal
|
deadly
|
|
lethargic
|
drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness and inactivity
|
|
levee
|
earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise
|
|
levitate
|
rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light
|
|
levity
|
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner
|
|
levy
|
impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect (a tax); Ex. levy a tax on tobacco
|
|
lewd
|
lustful
|
|
lexicographer
|
compiler of a dictionary; CF. lexicography: work of compiling a dictionary
|
|
lexicon
|
dictionary
|
|
liability
|
drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)
|
|
liaison
|
contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups; one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection
|
|
libel
|
defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character; V. ADJ. libelous
|
|
libertine
|
debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou\'e; CF. free
|
|
libidinous
|
lustful
|
|
libido
|
psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire
|
|
libretto
|
text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
|
|
license
|
official or legal permission; latitude of action or speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or damage; V.
|
|
licentious
|
amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
|
|
lien
|
legal claim or right on a property
|
|
ligneous
|
like wood
|
|
lilliputian
|
extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels
|
|
limber
|
flexible; supple; pliable; V.
|
|
limbo
|
region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo
|
|
limn
|
draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
|
|
limp
|
walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak
|
|
limpid
|
crystal clear
|
|
lineage
|
descent; ancestry
|
|
lineaments
|
features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line
|
|
linger
|
loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going; continue or persist; be slow to disappear; Ex. The smell lingered for days.
|
|
linguistic
|
pertaining to language
|
|
lionize
|
treat (a person) as a celebrity
|
|
liquidate
|
settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate; kill or abolish
|
|
list
|
tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
|
|
listless
|
lacking in spirit or energy; languid
|
|
litany
|
supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words
|
|
lithe
|
flexible; supple; CF. limber
|
|
litigation
|
lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V. litigate
|
|
litotes
|
understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''
|
|
litter
|
waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter
|
|
livid
|
lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely angry
|
|
loath
|
reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go.
|
|
loathe
|
detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive; Ex. loathsome smell
|
|
lode
|
metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)
|
|
loft
|
room or space under the roof; attic
|
|
lofty
|
very high
|
|
log
|
record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk; V.
|
|
loiter
|
hang about/around; stand idly about; linger
|
|
loll
|
lounge about
|
|
longevity
|
long life; long duration
|
|
lookout
|
act of keeping watch; high place commanding a wide view; person who keeps watch
|
|
loom
|
appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct, or distorted form); Ex. The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly. N: apparatus for making thread into cloth
|
|
lope
|
gallop slowly
|
|
lopsided
|
heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
|
|
loquacious
|
talkative; N. loquacity
|
|
lot
|
object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land
|
|
lottery
|
contest in which winners are selected in a drawing of lots
|
|
lounge
|
stand, sit, or lie in a lazy, relaxed way
|
|
lout
|
clumsy person; ADJ. loutish; CF. from countrysides ?
|
|
low
|
moo; make the sound of a cow
|
|
lubricate
|
apply a lubricant to; N. lubricant: substance that reduces friction
|
|
lucid
|
easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity
|
|
lucrative
|
profitable; producing wealth
|
|
lucre
|
money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre
|
|
ludicrous
|
laughable; ridiculous; trifling
|
|
lugubrious
|
mournful; sorrowful
|
|
lull
|
moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex. a lull in the rain; V: cause to become less active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false sense of security; CF. lullaby
|
|
lumber
|
move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered through the woods; N: timber
|
|
lumen
|
unit of light energy (one candle's worth)
|
|
luminary
|
celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object that gives light (as a celestial body)
|
|
luminous
|
shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light; Ex. luminous paint/road signs
|
|
lunar
|
pertaining to the moon
|
|
lunatic
|
insane; Ex. lunatic asylum
|
|
lurid
|
wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; Ex. lurid details of the murder
|
|
lurk
|
stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived
|
|
luscious
|
pleasing to taste or smell; delicious
|
|
lush
|
(of a plant or grass) growing very well
|
|
lust
|
intense sexual desire; intense eagerness; V.
|
|
luster
|
shine; gloss (of a polished surface)
|
|
lustrous
|
shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair
|
|
luxuriant
|
abundant; growing healthily and in large amounts; excessively ornate; rich and splendid; fertile; Ex. luxuriant forests/prose; CF. luxurious, luxuriate
|
|
luxuriate
|
take pleasure in great comfort
|
|
macabre
|
gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
|
|
mace
|
ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval weapon
|
|
macerate
|
soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper
|
|
Machiavellian
|
crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power
|
|
machinations
|
evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate
|
|
maculated
|
spotted; stained; CF. immaculate
|
|
madrigal
|
pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments
|
|
maelstrom
|
violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream
|
|
magisterial
|
authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner
|
|
magistrate
|
official with power to administer the law
|
|
magnanimity
|
generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous
|
|
magnate
|
person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate
|
|
magniloquent
|
boastful; pompous
|
|
magnitude
|
greatness (in size or extent); extent
|
|
maim
|
mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life
|
|
makeshift
|
temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
|
|
maladroit
|
clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling
|
|
malady
|
illness
|
|
malaise
|
uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)
|
|
malapropism
|
comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop
|
|
malapropos
|
inappropriate; ADV.
|
|
malcontent
|
person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person; ADJ: discontented
|
|
malediction
|
curse
|
|
malefactor
|
evildoer; criminal
|
|
maleficient
|
doing evil; N. maleficience
|
|
malevolent
|
wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence
|
|
malfeasance
|
wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)
|
|
malicious
|
hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite
|
|
malign
|
speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame; ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence
|
|
malignant
|
tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor
|
|
malingerer
|
one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work
|
|
malleable
|
(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable
|
|
malodorous
|
foul-smelling
|
|
mammal
|
vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young
|
|
mammoth
|
gigantic; enormous
|
|
manacle
|
restrain; handcuff; N.
|
|
mandate
|
order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another country; power to given to a government; region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex. mandated territory
|
|
mandatory
|
obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
|
|
maneuver(manoeuver)
|
strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end
|
|
mange
|
skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair
|
|
mangle
|
tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex. badly mangled bodies
|
|
mangy
|
shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance
|
|
maniacal
|
raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm
|
|
manifest
|
evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly
|
|
manifestation
|
outward demonstration; manifesting; indication of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation of his pronounced musical bent
|
|
manifesto
|
public declaration of principles; statement of policy
|
|
manifold
|
many in number or kind; numerous; varied
|
|
manipulate
|
operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate publicity and men; ADJ. manipulative
|
|
mannered
|
affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech
|
|
mannerism
|
distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art (according to a set of styles)
|
|
mantle
|
loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
|
|
manumit
|
emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
|
|
mar
|
spoil the appearance of
|
|
maraud
|
move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
|
|
margin
|
border; room; allowance beyond what is needed; Ex. margin of safety
|
|
marginal
|
of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal effect/writing ability
|
|
marital
|
pertaining to marriage
|
|
maritime
|
bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces
|
|
marked
|
noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man
|
|
maroon
|
leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
|
|
marred
|
damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure
|
|
marrow
|
soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood cells
|
|
marshal
|
put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official
|
|
marsupial
|
one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat
|
|
martial
|
warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law
|
|
martinet
|
strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet
|
|
martyr
|
one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism
|
|
mash
|
crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl
|
|
masochist
|
person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism
|
|
mason
|
one who builds or works with stone or brick; N. masonry: work of a mason; stonework or brickwork
|
|
masquerade
|
wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume party or ball at which masks are worn; pretense; disguise
|
|
mass
|
Christian religious ceremony; CF. Mass: ceremony of the Eucharist
|
|
masticate
|
chew
|
|
mat
|
not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
|
|
materialism
|
preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)
|
|
maternal
|
motherly; N. maternity: motherhood
|
|
matin\'ee(matinee)
|
dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon
|
|
matriarch
|
woman who rules a family or larger social group
|
|
matriculate
|
enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix
|
|
matrimony
|
state of being married
|
|
matrix
|
point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization
|
|
maudlin
|
effusively sentimental
|
|
maul
|
handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer
|
|
mausoleum
|
monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos
|
|
mauve
|
pale purple
|
|
maverick
|
rebel; nonconformist (in a group)
|
|
mawkish
|
mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental
|
|
maxim
|
proverb; truth pithily stated
|
|
mayhem
|
injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim
|
|
meager
|
scanty; inadequate
|
|
mealymouthed
|
indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive
|
|
meander
|
wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly
|
|
meddlesome
|
interfering; V. meddle: interfere
|
|
mediate
|
settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire
|
|
mediocre
|
ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad
|
|
meditation
|
reflection; thought; V. meditate
|
|
medium
|
element that is a creature's natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substan
|
|
medley
|
mixture
|
|
meek
|
submissive; patient and long-suffering
|
|
megalomania
|
mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance
|
|
melancholy
|
gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia
|
|
melee
|
fight
|
|
mellifluous
|
(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune
|
|
memento
|
token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit
|
|
memoir
|
memoirs; autobiography; biography
|
|
memorial
|
something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to honor the memory of a person or event; ADJ: commemorative
|
|
memorialize
|
commemorate
|
|
menace
|
threat; V: threaten
|
|
menagerie
|
collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo
|
|
mendacious
|
lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity
|
|
mendicant
|
beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
|
|
menial
|
suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)
|
|
mentor
|
counselor; teacher
|
|
mercantile
|
concerning trade or merchants
|
|
mercenary
|
motivated solely by money or gain; N.
|
|
mercurial
|
capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood
|
|
meretricious
|
flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute
|
|
merger
|
combination (of two business corporations); act of merging
|
|
merit
|
deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
|
|
mesmerize
|
hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer
|
|
metallurgical
|
pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores
|
|
metamorphosis
|
change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis
|
|
metaphor
|
implied comparison; CF. simile
|
|
metaphysical
|
pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality
|
|
mete
|
measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
|
|
meteoric
|
like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor
|
|
meter
|
arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual rhythm)
|
|
methodical
|
systematic; N. method: systematic method of procedure
|
|
meticulous
|
excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous
|
|
metrical
|
metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of Homer
|
|
metropolis
|
large city
|
|
mettle
|
courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome
|
|
miasma
|
swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence
|
|
microcosm
|
small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society
|
|
migrant
|
changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one that migrates
|
|
migratory
|
wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another; move periodically from one region to another
|
|
milieu
|
social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.
|
|
militant
|
combative; bellicose; N.
|
|
militate
|
work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier
|
|
militia
|
army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers
|
|
millennium
|
thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity
|
|
mime
|
pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic; pantomime
|
|
mimicry
|
imitation
|
|
minatory
|
menacing; threatening
|
|
mincing
|
affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way, taking little short steps; Ex. The actor minced across the stage; CF. mincemeat; CF. mincer
|
|
mingle
|
mix together in close association
|
|
miniature
|
small model; small painting; ADJ: small
|
|
minion
|
servile dependent; obsequious follower
|
|
minuscule(miniscule)
|
extremely small
|
|
minute
|
extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting
|
|
minutiae
|
petty or trivial details; CF. minutia
|
|
mirage
|
unreal reflection; optical illusion
|
|
mire
|
entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire
|
|
mirth
|
merriment; laughter
|
|
misadventure
|
mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
|
|
misanthrope
|
one who hates mankind; misanthropist
|
|
misapprehension
|
error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
|
|
miscellaneous
|
made up of a variety of parts
|
|
miscellany
|
mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items
|
|
mischance
|
ill luck
|
|
mischief
|
behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome
|
|
misconduct
|
immoral behavior; bad management; V.
|
|
misconstrue
|
interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge
|
|
miscreant
|
wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF. believe
|
|
misdemeanor
|
minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing
|
|
miserly
|
stingy; mean
|
|
misgivings
|
doubts
|
|
mishap
|
unfortunate accident
|
|
misnomer
|
wrong or improper name; incorrect designation
|
|
misogamy
|
hatred of marriage
|
|
misogynist
|
hater of woman; CF. misogyny
|
|
missile
|
object to be thrown or projected
|
|
missive
|
letter; written statement; CF. sent
|
|
mite
|
very small object or insect-like creature; small coin
|
|
mitigate
|
appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity
|
|
mnemonic
|
pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid
|
|
mobile
|
movable; not fixed; N. mobility
|
|
mock
|
ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision
|
|
mode
|
prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life
|
|
modicum
|
limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate
|
|
modish
|
fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
|
|
modulate
|
tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G
|
|
mogul
|
powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol, Moghul; CF. Mongolian
|
|
molecule
|
the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance
|
|
mollify
|
soothe an angry person
|
|
mollycoddle
|
pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively
|
|
molt(moult)
|
periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)
|
|
molten
|
melted; Ex. molten lava
|
|
momentous
|
very important; N. moment; CF. momentary
|
|
momentum
|
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force
|
|
monarchy
|
government under a single ruler
|
|
monastic
|
related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns
|
|
monetary
|
pertaining to money
|
|
mongrel
|
plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.
|
|
monochromatic
|
having only one color
|
|
monochrome
|
painting in only one color; ADJ.
|
|
monogram
|
design composed of one or more initials of a name; V.
|
|
monograph
|
scholarly article
|
|
monolithic
|
solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone
|
|
monotheism
|
belief in one God
|
|
monotony
|
sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone
|
|
monumental
|
massive; impressively large; built as a monument
|
|
moodiness
|
fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood: | state of mind or emotion
|
|
moratorium
|
legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses
|
|
morbid
|
given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
|
|
mordant
|
biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit
|
|
mores
|
conventions; moral standards; moral customs
|
|
morgue
|
mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation
|
|
moribund
|
dying; at the point of death; CF. death
|
|
morose
|
ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
|
|
mortar
|
vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle
|
|
mortician
|
undertaker; CF. death
|
|
mortify
|
humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die
|
|
mosaic
|
picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.
|
|
mote
|
small speck (esp. of dust)
|
|
motif
|
theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure
|
|
motility
|
ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously
|
|
motley
|
multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)
|
|
mottled
|
blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors
|
|
motto
|
brief statement used to express a principle
|
|
mountebank
|
charlatan; boastful pretender
|
|
muddle
|
confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion
|
|
muggy
|
(of weather) warm and damp
|
|
mulct
|
defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy
|
|
multifarious
|
varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities
|
|
multiform
|
having many forms
|
|
multilingual
|
having many languages; fluent in several languages
|
|
multiplicity
|
state of being numerous or multiple; large number; Ex. multiplicity of details; ADJ. multiple: of more than one element
|
|
mundane
|
worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world
|
|
munificent
|
very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience
|
|
mural
|
wall painting
|
|
murky
|
dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom
|
|
murmur
|
low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
|
|
muse
|
ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)
|
|
musky
|
having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer
|
|
muster
|
gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.
|
|
musty
|
stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist
|
|
mutablility
|
ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant
|
|
mute
|
silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V: soften the sound, color, shade of
|
|
muted
|
silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic noise
|
|
mutilate
|
maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part
|
|
mutinous
|
unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer
|
|
mutter
|
utter (complaining words) indistinctly in low tones
|
|
myopic
|
nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia
|
|
myriad
|
very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand
|
|
mystic
|
of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
|
|
nadir
|
lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith
|
|
naivet\'e(naivety)
|
quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na\"ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous
|
|
narcissist
|
conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus
|
|
narrative
|
related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration
|
|
nascent
|
incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex. nascent ability in music
|
|
natal
|
connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF. postnatal
|
|
natation
|
swimming
|
|
natty
|
neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser
|
|
nausea
|
feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness
|
|
nauseate
|
cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea
|
|
nauseous
|
causing nausea; feeling nausea
|
|
nautical
|
pertaining to ships or navigation
|
|
navigable
|
(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered
|
|
nebula
|
diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy
|
|
nebulous
|
vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal
|
|
necromancy
|
black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis
|
|
nectar
|
drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
|
|
nefarious
|
very wicked
|
|
negate
|
cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation
|
|
negligence
|
neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care
|
|
negligible
|
so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded
|
|
nemesis
|
someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis
|
|
neologism
|
new or newly coined word or phrase
|
|
neophyte
|
recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant
|
|
nepotism
|
favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
|
|
nether
|
lower; Ex. nether garments/regions
|
|
nettle
|
irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
|
|
nexus
|
connection
|
|
nib
|
beak(bill); pen point
|
|
nicety
|
precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties
|
|
niggardly
|
meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person
|
|
niggle
|
spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling
|
|
nihilist
|
one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutio
|
|
nimble
|
quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
|
|
nip
|
snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
|
|
nirvana
|
in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude
|
|
nocturnal
|
done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne
|
|
noisome
|
foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
|
|
nomadic
|
wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place
|
|
nomenclature
|
terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things
|
|
nominal
|
in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint
|
|
nonchalance
|
indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts
|
|
noncommittal
|
neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided
|
|
nondescript
|
undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd
|
|
nonentity
|
person of no importance; nonexistence
|
|
nonplus
|
put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
|
|
nonsense
|
speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
|
|
noose
|
loop formed in a rope
|
|
nostalgia
|
homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
|
|
nostrum
|
questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
|
|
notable
|
conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted
|
|
notch
|
V-shaped cut in a surface; V.
|
|
notoriety
|
disrepute; ill fame
|
|
nourish
|
provide with food necessary for life and growth
|
|
nourishment
|
something that nourishes; food
|
|
nova
|
star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness
|
|
novelty
|
something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original
|
|
novice
|
beginner
|
|
noxious
|
harmful; CF. obnoxious
|
|
nuance
|
shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction
|
|
nubile
|
marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
|
|
nugatory
|
worthless; futile
|
|
nullify
|
make invalid; make null; invalidate
|
|
numismatist
|
person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals
|
|
nuptial
|
related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony
|
|
nurse
|
suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone
|
|
nurture
|
nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing
|
|
nutrient
|
nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment
|
|
nutrition
|
process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition
|
|
nutritious
|
providing nourishment
|
|
quack
|
charlatan; impostor
|
|
quadruped
|
four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped
|
|
quaff
|
drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); CF. sip
|
|
quagmire
|
bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself
|
|
quail
|
cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart
|
|
quaint
|
odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque
|
|
qualified
|
limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify
|
|
qualify
|
reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of something stated
|
|
qualms
|
uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen.
|
|
quandary
|
dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a quandary about whether to go.
|
|
quarantine
|
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine
|
|
quarry
|
dig into (to get stone); N: mine;
|
|
quash
|
crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a rebellion/the decision of the low court
|
|
quay
|
dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
|
|
queasy
|
experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy
|
|
queer
|
strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal
|
|
quell
|
suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet; Ex. ``Army Quells Rebellion'' in newspaper; CF. kill
|
|
quench
|
assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish; put out; suppress
|
|
querulous
|
given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining
|
|
query
|
inquiry; question; V.
|
|
queue
|
line (of waiting people or vehicles)
|
|
quibble
|
minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil
|
|
quicksilver
|
mercury
|
|
quiescent
|
dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence
|
|
quietude
|
tranquillity; calmness
|
|
quintessence
|
purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence
|
|
quip
|
taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.
|
|
quirk
|
sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate
|
|
quisling
|
traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling
|
|
quiver
|
tremble; shake; N.
|
|
quixotic
|
idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
|
|
quizzical
|
curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying); questioning; teasing; mocking; bantering; Ex. quizzical glance
|
|
quorum
|
minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
|
|
quotidian
|
daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine
|
|
rabble
|
mob; noisy crowd
|
|
rabid
|
of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
|
|
rabies
|
disease passed on by the bite of an infected animal (causing madness and death)
|
|
raconteur
|
story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill
|
|
raffle
|
lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off a new car
|
|
rag
|
scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance
|
|
ragamuffin
|
dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes
|
|
rail
|
complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices
|
|
raiment
|
clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.
|
|
rake
|
immoral or dissolute person
|
|
rakish
|
jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
|
|
rally
|
come or bring together; call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate (after illness or difficulty); N: act of rallying; mass gathering
|
|
ram
|
male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
|
|
ramble
|
wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress
|
|
ramification
|
branching out; subdivision; one branch of a system; one of the results following from an action or decision; Ex. ramifications of a business/the decision
|
|
ramify
|
branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions
|
|
ramp
|
slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
|
|
rampant
|
growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed
|
|
rampart
|
defensive mound of earth
|
|
ramshackle
|
(of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart
|
|
rancid
|
having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
|
|
rancor
|
long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ. rancorous
|
|
random
|
without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random
|
|
rank
|
offensive in odor or flavor
|
|
rankle
|
irritate; fester; annoy
|
|
ransack
|
search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
|
|
rant
|
speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.
|
|
rapacious
|
voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds
|
|
rapport
|
close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony
|
|
rapt
|
engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
|
|
rapture
|
great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
|
|
rare
|
(of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains
|
|
rarefied
|
made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
|
|
rasp
|
(of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; rub with something rough; Ex. The cat's tongue rasped my hand.
|
|
raspy
|
making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
|
|
ratify
|
approve formally; confirm; verify
|
|
ratiocination
|
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
|
|
ration
|
fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
|
|
rational
|
(of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason; logical
|
|
rationale
|
fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
|
|
rationalize
|
make rational; devise false reasons for (one's behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization
|
|
raucous
|
(of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts
|
|
ravage
|
devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms
|
|
rave
|
overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as if mad; Ex. raving lunatic
|
|
ravel
|
fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
|
|
ravenous
|
extremely hungry; voracious
|
|
ravine
|
narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon
|
|
raze
|
destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground
|
|
reactionary
|
strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical
|
|
realm
|
kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility
|
|
reaper
|
one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop
|
|
rebate
|
return of part of a payment; discount; V.
|
|
rebuff
|
reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
|
|
rebuke
|
scold harshly; criticize severely
|
|
rebus
|
representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. ``R U 18'' is a rebus for ``Are you 18''.
|
|
rebuttal
|
refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove
|
|
recalcitrant
|
disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
|
|
recant
|
disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant one's faith/a statement
|
|
recapitulate
|
summarize
|
|
recast
|
reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again
|
|
receptive
|
quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal
|
|
recess
|
pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive
|
|
recession
|
withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
|
|
recidivism
|
habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
|
|
recipient
|
receiver
|
|
reciprocal
|
mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement
|
|
reciprocate
|
do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually; interchange; move
|
|
recital
|
act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)
|
|
recite
|
repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation
|
|
reckon
|
count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose
|
|
recline
|
lie down
|
|
recluse
|
hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
|
|
reconcile
|
make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one's political principles with one's religious beliefs
|
|
recondite
|
abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
|
|
reconnaissance
|
survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)
|
|
recount
|
narrate or tell (a story); count over again
|
|
recourse
|
resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
|
|
recreant
|
disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
|
|
recrimination
|
countercharges; V. recriminate
|
|
rectify
|
set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
|
|
rectitude
|
moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
|
|
recumbent
|
reclining; lying down completely or in part
|
|
recuperate
|
recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses
|
|
recurrent
|
occurring again and again
|
|
redolent
|
odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
|
|
redoubtable
|
formidable; causing fear
|
|
redress
|
remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for
|
|
reduce
|
diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction
|
|
redundant
|
superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively wordy; repetitious
|
|
reek
|
emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench
|
|
refectory
|
dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)
|
|
referendum
|
direct vote by all the people
|
|
refraction
|
bending of a ray of light
|
|
refractory
|
unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse
|
|
refrain
|
abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
|
|
refulgent
|
effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon
|
|
refurbish
|
renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish
|
|
refuse
|
anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash
|
|
refute
|
disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
|
|
regal
|
royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
|
|
regale
|
entertain
|
|
regatta
|
boat or yacht race
|
|
regeneration
|
spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
|
|
regent
|
a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
|
|
regicide
|
murder of a king or queen
|
|
regime
|
method of system or government
|
|
regimen
|
prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer
|
|
regiment
|
military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society
|
|
rehabilitate
|
restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
|
|
reimburse
|
repay; pay back
|
|
reinstate
|
restore to a previous condition or position
|
|
reiterate
|
repeat
|
|
rejoinder
|
reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
|
|
rejuvenate
|
make young again
|
|
relapse
|
return to a former state (esp. after improvement); N.
|
|
relegate
|
put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture to the children's room; Ex. relegated to the second division
|
|
relent
|
become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless: unyielding; continuously severe
|
|
relevant
|
having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
|
|
relic
|
surviving remnant (from an extinct culture); memento; keepsake; relics: corpse; Ex. ancient relics; Ex. relics of his travel; Ex. His relics are buried at X.
|
|
religious
|
of religion; (of a person) pious; having reverence for a deity
|
|
relinquish
|
give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm
|
|
relish
|
enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
|
|
remediable
|
reparable
|
|
reminiscence
|
recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
|
|
reminiscent
|
suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence
|
|
remiss
|
negligent; careless about a duty
|
|
remission
|
temporary moderation (of disease symptoms); remitting of a debt or punishment; cancelation of a debt; pardon; Ex. The disease went into remission; Ex. Christians pray for the remission of sins.
|
|
remit
|
transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
|
|
remittance
|
remitting of money; amount of money remitted
|
|
remnant
|
remainder
|
|
remonstrate
|
protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest
|
|
remorse
|
deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach
|
|
remunerative
|
(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble
|
|
rend
|
split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow
|
|
render
|
give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully
|
|
rendezvous
|
meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.
|
|
rendition
|
rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc
|
|
renegade
|
deserter; traitor; ADJ.
|
|
renege
|
break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off the debt
|
|
renounce
|
abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one's claim to the property/one's religion; N. renunciation
|
|
renovate
|
restore to good condition; renew
|
|
renown
|
fame; ADJ. renowned
|
|
rent
|
tear made by rending; rip; split
|
|
reparable
|
capable of being repaired
|
|
reparation
|
compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
|
|
repartee
|
quick clever reply
|
|
repast
|
meal; feast; banquet
|
|
repeal
|
revoke; annul
|
|
repel
|
drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion
|
|
repellent
|
driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive; N.
|
|
repercussion
|
rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion
|
|
repertoire
|
list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; CF. repertory
|
|
repine
|
fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
|
|
replenish
|
fill up again
|
|
replete
|
fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
|
|
replica
|
copy
|
|
replicate
|
reproduce; duplicate
|
|
repose
|
resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single man
|
|
repository
|
storehouse
|
|
reprehensible
|
deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame
|
|
representational
|
(of a style of art) showing things as they actually appear in real life
|
|
repress
|
hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion
|
|
reprieve
|
postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of
|
|
reprimand
|
reprove severely; rebuke; N.
|
|
reprisal
|
retaliation
|
|
reprise
|
musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises
|
|
reproach
|
blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval or disappointment; N. ADJ. reproachful
|
|
reprobate
|
morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?
|
|
reprobation
|
severe disapproval; CF. approbation
|
|
reprove
|
censure; rebuke; N. reproof
|
|
repudiate
|
disown; disavow; deny
|
|
repugnance
|
disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
|
|
repulse
|
reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion
|
|
repulsion
|
distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ. repulsive: causing disgust; tending to drive away; V. repel (not `repulse')
|
|
reputable
|
respectable; having a good reputation
|
|
reputed
|
supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute: consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem
|
|
requiem
|
mass for the dead; dirge
|
|
requisite
|
necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required; necessary
|
|
requisition
|
formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
|
|
requite
|
make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal
|
|
rescind
|
repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)
|
|
resentment
|
indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel anger about
|
|
reserve
|
self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and uncommunicative
|
|
residual
|
remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue
|
|
residue
|
remainder; balance
|
|
resign
|
give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively
|
|
resignation
|
patiently submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job; ADJ. resigned: acquiescent
|
|
resilient
|
elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from misfortune)
|
|
resolution
|
determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute: firm or determined in purpose
|
|
resolve
|
decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined decision; N. resolution
|
|
resonant
|
(of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding loudly); deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance
|
|
resort
|
turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
|
|
resound
|
(of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter
|
|
resourceful
|
clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource, resourcefulness
|
|
respiration
|
breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory
|
|
respite
|
time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment; reprieve
|
|
resplendent
|
brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious
|
|
responsiveness
|
state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.; ADJ. responsive: readily reacting; Ex. responsive to treatment
|
|
restitution
|
returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury
|
|
restive
|
impatiently restless (induced by external coercion or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; CF. not a general synonym for `restless'
|
|
restraint
|
moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
|
|
resumption
|
taking up again; recommencement; V. resume: begin or take up again; take or occupy again; Ex. Kindly resume your seats.
|
|
resurge
|
rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again
|
|
resurrect
|
revive
|
|
resuscitate
|
revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child
|
|
retain
|
keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor
|
|
retaliate
|
repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
|
|
retard
|
delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a child) slower in development
|
|
retentive
|
holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory
|
|
reticent
|
inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence
|
|
retinue
|
following; attendants
|
|
retiring
|
shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality
|
|
retort
|
quick sharp reply; V.
|
|
retract
|
withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a statement/an offer/claws; N. retraction; CF. retractile
|
|
retrench
|
cut down; cut down expenses; economize
|
|
retribution
|
deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for offenses; compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back
|
|
retrieve
|
recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex. retrieve the situation
|
|
retroactive
|
taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax); (of a law) having effect on the past as well as the future
|
|
retrograde
|
go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.
|
|
retrospective
|
looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V. retrospect
|
|
revelry
|
boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration
|
|
reverberate
|
echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.
|
|
reverend
|
deserving reverence; N: priest
|
|
reverent
|
respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect
|
|
reverie
|
daydream; abstracted musing
|
|
revert
|
relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former owner; N. reversion
|
|
revile
|
attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)
|
|
revoke
|
cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable
|
|
revulsion
|
sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture
|
|
rhapsodize
|
speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery
|
|
rhapsody
|
excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)
|
|
rhetoric
|
art of effective communication; art of using language effectively and persuasively; style of speaking or writing; grandiloquent language; Ex. political rhetoric; ADJ. rhetorical; CF. rhetorical question: question to which no answer is expected as
|
|
ribald
|
marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
|
|
rickety
|
(of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets; CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D
|
|
riddle
|
pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating earth from stone)
|
|
rider
|
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
|
|
rife
|
(of something bad) widespread; abundant; current
|
|
rift
|
narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
|
|
rig
|
arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a ship) with rigging; ADJ. rigging: ropes that hold up a ship's sails
|
|
righteous
|
morally upright; just
|
|
rightful
|
legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
|
|
rigid
|
hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule
|
|
rigor
|
severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
|
|
rile
|
irritate; vex; muddy
|
|
rip
|
tear or be torn quickly and violently; Ex. The sail ripped under the force of the wind; N.
|
|
rivet
|
metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross
|
|
riveting
|
holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing
|
|
rivulet
|
small stream; CF. rill < rivulet < river
|
|
robust
|
strong; vigorous
|
|
rococo
|
ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
|
|
roil
|
make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
|
|
rolling
|
(of land) rising and falling in long gentle slopes; happening continuously by stages; Ex. rolling devolution of power to local governments
|
|
romp
|
play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N.
|
|
rooster
|
cock; adult male chicken
|
|
roseate
|
rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
|
|
roster
|
list (of names)
|
|
rostrum
|
raised platform for speech-making; pulpit
|
|
rote
|
repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
|
|
rotund
|
(of a person) fat and round
|
|
rotunda
|
circular building or hall covered with a dome
|
|
rotundity
|
roundness; sonorousness of speech
|
|
rou\'e
|
lecherous man
|
|
rousing
|
lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse: waken; arouse from sleep or depression; excite; stir up
|
|
rout
|
put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat
|
|
rubble
|
fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)
|
|
rubric
|
title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol
|
|
ruddy
|
reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking
|
|
rudimentary
|
elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language
|
|
rue
|
regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. ADJ. rueful
|
|
ruffian
|
violent scoundrel; bully
|
|
rumble
|
make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder or stomach)
|
|
ruminant
|
animal that ruminates; ADJ.
|
|
ruminate
|
chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically); mull over(ponder)
|
|
rummage
|
ransack; thoroughly search
|
|
run-down
|
(of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a person) weak or exhausted
|
|
runic
|
mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune: one of the letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic peoples (cut on stone or wood); magic charm
|
|
ruse
|
trick to deceive; stratagem
|
|
rustic
|
pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person
|
|
rusticate
|
banish to the country; dwell in the country
|
|
rustle
|
make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together
|
|
ruthless
|
pitiless; merciless; cruel
|
|
saboteur
|
one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property; N. sabotage: destruction of property (usually carried out secretly)
|
|
saccharine
|
cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin
|
|
sacrilegious
|
desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration, misuse, or theft of something sacred
|
|
sacrosanct
|
invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable
|
|
sadistic
|
inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty
|
|
saga
|
Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
|
|
sagacious
|
wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity
|
|
sage
|
person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; ADJ: wise
|
|
salacious
|
lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk
|
|
salient
|
prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features
|
|
saline
|
salty
|
|
sallow
|
(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice
|
|
salubrious
|
healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health
|
|
salutary
|
tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health
|
|
salvage
|
rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved
|
|
sanctimonious
|
displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety
|
|
sanction
|
approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance
|
|
sanctuary
|
place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex. The outlaw was granted sanctuary in the church.
|
|
sanguinary
|
bloody; with much bloodshed
|
|
sanguine
|
optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red
|
|
sap
|
diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification); Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength.
|
|
sarcasm
|
cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging rebuke; ADJ. sarcastic
|
|
sardonic
|
scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile
|
|
sartorial
|
pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
|
|
sate
|
satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
|
|
satellite
|
small body revolving around a larger one
|
|
satiate
|
satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated
|
|
satire
|
form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly
|
|
satirical
|
using satire; mocking
|
|
saturate
|
soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity
|
|
saturnine
|
morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.
|
|
satyr
|
half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus (resembling a goat), portrayed as wanton(unrestrained) and cunning; lecher; CF. faun; CF. goat: lecherous man
|
|
saunter
|
stroll(go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.
|
|
savant
|
scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know
|
|
savor
|
enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality
|
|
savory
|
pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable; Ex. savory reputation
|
|
scabbard
|
case for a sword blade; sheath
|
|
scad
|
a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes
|
|
scaffold
|
temporary platform for workers (to work at heights above the ground); bracing framework; platform for execution
|
|
scale
|
climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones
|
|
scanty
|
meager; insufficient
|
|
scapegoat
|
someone who bears the blame for others; whipping boy; CF. escape+goat
|
|
scavenge
|
hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food; search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who scavenges; animal that feeds on refuse and carrion
|
|
scenario
|
plot outline; screenplay(script for a movie); opera libretto; outline of possible future events
|
|
schematic
|
of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation; outline
|
|
scheme
|
systematic plan; plot; clever dishonest plan; orderly arrangement of elements; Ex. health insurance scheme; Ex. a scheme to escape taxes; Ex. a color scheme; Ex. a story with no scheme; V: contrive a scheme
|
|
schism
|
division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split
|
|
scholarly
|
full of learning; erudite; like a scholar; Ex. scholarly journal
|
|
scintilla
|
trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark
|
|
scintillate
|
sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation
|
|
scion
|
detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant
|
|
scoff
|
laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats
|
|
scorch
|
sear; N.
|
|
score
|
number of points; written form of a musical composition; reason; group of 20; notch or incision; Ex. full/vocal score; Ex. Don't worry on that score; V: mark with lines or notches; Ex. score the paper to make it easy to fold
|
|
scotch
|
stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF. 劝悼阑 临捞绰 狼固
|
|
scourge
|
lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict
|
|
scowl
|
frown angrily; N: angry frown
|
|
scrap
|
small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel
|
|
scrappy
|
quarrelsome
|
|
scraps
|
leftover food
|
|
screech
|
unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.
|
|
scrimmage
|
disorderly fight between two or more people
|
|
scruple
|
hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience
|
|
scrupulous
|
conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker
|
|
scrutinize
|
examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny
|
|
scuffle
|
struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry; N. CF. scuffling twins ?
|
|
scurrilous
|
abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
|
|
scurry
|
move hastily; hurry; move briskly
|
|
scurvy
|
contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C
|
|
scuttle
|
sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull
|
|
seamy
|
sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life
|
|
sear
|
burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause (a plant) to wither
|
|
season
|
enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning
|
|
seasonable
|
occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute
|
|
seasonal
|
of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment
|
|
seasoned
|
experienced
|
|
secession
|
withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership
|
|
seclusion
|
isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate
|
|
secrete
|
conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism; CF. secretive
|
|
sect
|
separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group
|
|
sectarian
|
of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member of a sect; narrow-minded person
|
|
secular
|
worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal
|
|
sedate
|
composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative
|
|
sedentary
|
requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population
|
|
sedition
|
conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious
|
|
seduce
|
lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive
|
|
sedulous
|
diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity
|
|
seedy
|
run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel
|
|
seemly
|
(of behavior) proper; appropriate
|
|
seep
|
pass slowly through small openings; ooze; trickle; N. seepage
|
|
seethe
|
be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.
|
|
seine
|
seine net; net for catching fish
|
|
seismic
|
pertaining to earthquakes
|
|
selective
|
careful in choosing; having an effect only on certain things; not general; Ex. eclectic weed killer
|
|
self-indulgence
|
excessive indulgence of one's own desire
|
|
self-righteous
|
sure of one's own righteousness; moralistic
|
|
semblance
|
outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.
|
|
seminal
|
related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field
|
|
seminary
|
school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women
|
|
senility
|
old age; feeblemindedness of old age; ADJ. senile: resulting from old age; showing the weakness of body or mind from old age; Ex. senile dementia
|
|
sensitization
|
process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become sensitive
|
|
sensual
|
devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous; Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips
|
|
sensuous
|
giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin
|
|
sententious
|
pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic
|
|
sentient
|
capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience
|
|
sentimental
|
swayed by sentiment; appealing to the sentiments
|
|
sentinel
|
sentry; lookout
|
|
septic
|
of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)
|
|
sepulcher
|
tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral
|
|
sequester
|
isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life
|
|
sere
|
sear; parched; dry
|
|
serendipity
|
gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck; CF. The Three Princes of Serendip
|
|
serenity
|
calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene
|
|
serpentine
|
winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of the river; N. serpent: snake
|
|
serrated
|
having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
|
|
servile
|
slavish; cringing; N. servility
|
|
servitude
|
slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment
|
|
sever
|
separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up (a relationship); N. severance; CF. severance pay: extra pay given an employee upon leaving a position
|
|
severity
|
harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense
|
|
sextant
|
navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)
|
|
shack
|
crude cabin
|
|
shackle
|
chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.
|
|
shade
|
slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey
|
|
sham
|
pretend; feign; ADJ: not genuine; fake; Ex. sham jewelry; N: something that is not what it appears; impostor; pretense; Ex. The agreement was a sham.
|
|
shambles
|
(place or scene of) complete disorder or ruin; wreck; mess; Ex. After the hurricane, the coast was a shambles.
|
|
Shangri-la
|
imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost Horizon
|
|
shard
|
fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay bowl, or cup)
|
|
shaving
|
very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp blade)
|
|
sheaf
|
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
|
|
shear
|
remove (fleece or hair) by cutting; remove the hair or fleece from; cut with or as if with shears; N: shears; pair of scissors
|
|
sheathe
|
place into a case; insert into or provide with a sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a blade
|
|
shed
|
small roofed structure for storage and shelter; V: pour forth; lose by natural process; repel without allowing penetration; radiate; cast; Ex. shed tears/light/water/skin/leaves
|
|
sheer
|
pure; thin and transparent; very steep
|
|
sherbet
|
flavored dessert ice
|
|
shift
|
change position or place; exchange (one thing) for another; change in direction or position; Ex. shift the stolen goods; N. group of workers which takes turns with other groups; working period of such a group
|
|
shimmer
|
shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.
|
|
shirk
|
avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger
|
|
shoddy
|
made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick
|
|
shoot
|
new growth from a plant
|
|
shove
|
push forward; push roughly; Ex. pushing and shoving to get on the bus; N.
|
|
shrew
|
scolding woman; very small mouselike animal
|
|
shrewd
|
clever; astute
|
|
shrivel
|
make or become shrunken and wrinkled (often by drying)
|
|
shudder
|
shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
|
|
shuffle
|
mix together; jumble; move (something) from one place to another; slide (the feet) along the ground while walking; Ex. shuffle papers from one pile to another; N.
|
|
shun
|
keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by her neighbors.
|
|
shunt
|
move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.
|
|
shyster
|
lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner
|
|
sibling
|
brother or sister
|
|
sibylline
|
prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
|
|
sidereal
|
relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
|
|
sidetrack
|
switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from a main issue; N. CF. siding: short section of railroad track connected by switches with a main track
|
|
sift
|
put through a sieve to separate fine from coarse particles; sort or examine carefully
|
|
significant
|
expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant
|
|
silt
|
sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
|
|
simian
|
monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
|
|
simile
|
comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as
|
|
simper
|
smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
|
|
simplistic
|
oversimplified
|
|
simulate
|
feign; imitate
|
|
sinecure
|
well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
|
|
sinewy
|
(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
|
|
singular
|
being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
|
|
sinister
|
evil; ominous
|
|
sinuous
|
twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
|
|
siren
|
apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
|
|
skeptic
|
sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
|
|
skiff
|
small light sailboat or rowboat
|
|
skim
|
read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
|
|
skimp
|
provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly
|
|
skinflint
|
miser; stingy person
|
|
skirmish
|
minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
|
|
skittish
|
inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
|
|
skulduggery(skullduggery)
|
dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
|
|
skulk
|
move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.
|
|
slack
|
moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V.
|
|
slacken
|
slow up; loosen; make or become slack
|
|
slag
|
glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
|
|
slake
|
satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
|
|
slander
|
defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ. slanderous
|
|
slap
|
hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
|
|
slapdash
|
hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)
|
|
slaughter
|
killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher (animals) for food; kill in large numbers
|
|
slavish
|
of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original
|
|
sleazy
|
shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
|
|
sledge
|
large sled drawn by work animals
|
|
sleek
|
smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
|
|
sleeper
|
one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable
|
|
sleigh
|
large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
|
|
sleight
|
dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks
|
|
slew
|
large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left
|
|
slick
|
make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib
|
|
slight
|
insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance
|
|
slink
|
move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)
|
|
slipshod
|
slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
|
|
slither
|
slip or slide
|
|
sloth
|
slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
|
|
slough
|
(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed
|
|
slovenly
|
untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless
|
|
sluggard
|
lazy person
|
|
sluggish
|
lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell
|
|
sluice
|
artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
|
|
slur
|
pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble
|
|
sly
|
clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's intentions
|
|
smart
|
intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex. smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N: smarting pain
|
|
smattering
|
slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German
|
|
smear
|
spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing
|
|
smelt
|
melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition
|
|
smirk
|
conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone else's misfortune); V.
|
|
smolder
|
smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger
|
|
smother
|
kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in little stickers
|
|
smudge
|
dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
|
|
smug
|
self-satisfied; complacent
|
|
sneak
|
move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky
|
|
snicker
|
half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
|
|
snip
|
short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors
|
|
snivel
|
complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.
|
|
snub
|
ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she snubbed me; N.
|
|
snuffle
|
sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)
|
|
soar
|
rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.
|
|
sober
|
serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
|
|
sobriety
|
moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
|
|
sodden
|
thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
|
|
sojourn
|
temporary stay; V: stay for a time
|
|
solace
|
comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble
|
|
solder
|
repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts
|
|
solecism
|
nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette
|
|
solemnity
|
seriousness; gravity
|
|
solicit
|
entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer
|
|
solicitor
|
lawyer in the lower court of law
|
|
solicitous
|
anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
|
|
soliloquy
|
talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)
|
|
solitude
|
state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary: existing or living alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded; single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of proof
|
|
solstice
|
point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
|
|
soluble
|
able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved
|
|
solvent
|
substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of dissolving another substance
|
|
somatic
|
pertaining to the body; bodily; physical
|
|
somber
|
dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow
|
|
somnambulist
|
sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
|
|
somnolent
|
half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
|
|
sonic
|
of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic
|
|
sonnet
|
14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
|
|
sonorous
|
resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
|
|
soothsayer
|
one who foretells the future
|
|
sophist
|
teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument
|
|
sophisticated
|
worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
|
|
sophistry
|
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism
|
|
sophomoric
|
immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
|
|
soporific
|
sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
|
|
sordid
|
filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
|
|
sound
|
in good condition; showing good judgment or good sense; thorough; complete; Ex. sound mind/investment/training
|
|
sour
|
having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.
|
|
sovereign
|
ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent
|
|
sovereignty
|
complete independence and self-government (of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern
|
|
sow
|
plant or scatter seed
|
|
spangle
|
small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
|
|
spare
|
give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time
|
|
sparse
|
not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
|
|
Spartan
|
without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life
|
|
spasmodic
|
fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
|
|
spat
|
squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
|
|
spate
|
sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
|
|
spatial
|
relating to space
|
|
spatula
|
broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
|
|
spawn
|
lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals
|
|
specious
|
seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
|
|
speck
|
small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye
|
|
spectral
|
ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
|
|
spectrum
|
colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts
|
|
speechless
|
unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
|
|
spendthrift
|
someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth
|
|
sphinx-like
|
enigmatic; mysterious
|
|
spin
|
rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton, wool, etc.); N.
|
|
splice
|
join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.
|
|
spoilsport
|
one who spoils the pleasure of others
|
|
spontaneity
|
lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening without being planned
|
|
spoof
|
parody
|
|
spoonerism
|
accidental transposition of sounds in successive words; Ex. ``Let me sew you to your sheet'' for ``Let me show you to your seat''; CF. William Spooner
|
|
sporadic
|
occurring irregularly; intermittent
|
|
sportive
|
playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike
|
|
sprout
|
begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new growth on a plant; shoot
|
|
spruce
|
neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.
|
|
spry
|
(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
|
|
spurious
|
false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments
|
|
spurn
|
reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
|
|
squabble
|
minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
|
|
squalor
|
condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story
|
|
squander
|
waste; spend foolishly
|
|
squash
|
crush; quash; suppress
|
|
squat
|
short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
|
|
squeamish
|
easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.
|
|
squelch
|
produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash;
|
|
staccato
|
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
|
|
stagnant
|
(of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output
|
|
staid
|
serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
|
|
stalemate
|
deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
|
|
stalwart
|
physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower
|
|
stamina
|
power of endurance; strength; staying power
|
|
stammer
|
speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
|
|
stamp
|
step on heavily (so as to crush or extinguish); put an end to; imprint or impress with a mark, design, or seal; shape with a die; characterize; Ex. machine stamping out car bodies; Ex. newspaper stamping him as a liar; N. stamping; implement us
|
|
stampede
|
sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals or people); V: participate in or cause stampede; Ex. stampede before the price rises
|
|
stanch
|
stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
|
|
standstill
|
condition of no movement or activity; stop
|
|
stanza
|
division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
|
|
start
|
move suddenly or involuntarily; Ex. start at the sight of a snake
|
|
stately
|
formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
|
|
static
|
having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state
|
|
statute
|
law enacted by the legislature
|
|
statutory
|
created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
|
|
steadfast
|
steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
|
|
stealth
|
action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
|
|
steep
|
soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
|
|
stellar
|
pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance
|
|
stem
|
stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
|
|
stem_from
|
arise from; originate from
|
|
stench
|
strong foul odor; reek; stink
|
|
stentorian
|
(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad
|
|
stereotype
|
one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to ster
|
|
sterile
|
incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V. sterilize
|
|
stickler
|
perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
|
|
stifle
|
suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
|
|
stigma
|
token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
|
|
stilted
|
bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
|
|
stink
|
stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
|
|
stint
|
supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
|
|
stipend
|
pay for services
|
|
stipple
|
paint or draw with dots or short strokes
|
|
stipulate
|
state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
|
|
stock
|
standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique
|
|
stockade
|
wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
|
|
stodgy
|
dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
|
|
stoic
|
stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
|
|
stoke
|
stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
|
|
stolid
|
dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
|
|
stoop
|
bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying
|
|
stout
|
rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
|
|
straggle
|
stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out in a scattered group; Ex. straggling marathon racer; Ex. straggling branch
|
|
strangle
|
kill by choking or suffocating; suppress
|
|
stratagem
|
deceptive scheme; clever trick
|
|
stratified
|
divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
|
|
stratum
|
layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata
|
|
strew
|
spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals
|
|
striated
|
marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
|
|
stricture
|
severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
|
|
strident
|
loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
|
|
stringent
|
(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
|
|
strut
|
supporting bar; CF. airplane wing building support
|
|
studied
|
carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
|
|
studious
|
given to diligent study
|
|
stultify
|
make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression
|
|
stumble
|
trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act falteringly; N.
|
|
stump
|
base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle
|
|
stun
|
make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
|
|
stupefy
|
stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
|
|
stupor
|
state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
|
|
sturdy
|
strong and firm (in the body)
|
|
stygian
|
unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
|
|
stymie
|
thwart; present an obstacle; stump
|
|
suavity
|
urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
|
|
subaltern
|
subordinate
|
|
subdue
|
less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one's anger
|
|
subjective
|
influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence
|
|
subjugate
|
conquer; bring under control
|
|
sublimate
|
refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
|
|
sublime
|
causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
|
|
subliminal
|
below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
|
|
submerge
|
place under water; dip; go under water; cover completely (as with water); Ex. submerged in work
|
|
submissive
|
willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
|
|
subordinate
|
occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
|
|
suborn
|
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
|
|
subpoena
|
writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena
|
|
subsequent
|
following in time or order; later
|
|
subservient
|
behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience
|
|
subside
|
sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
|
|
subsidiary
|
serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
|
|
subsidy
|
direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy
|
|
subsistence
|
existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
|
|
substantial
|
of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
|
|
substantiate
|
support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
|
|
substantive
|
substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
|
|
subsume
|
include (as a member of a group); encompass
|
|
subterfuge
|
stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
|
|
subtlety
|
perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning
|
|
subversive
|
tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
|
|
succor
|
assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
|
|
succulent
|
juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus
|
|
succumb
|
yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness
|
|
suckle
|
give or take milk at the breast or udder
|
|
suffocate
|
die or kill from lack of air; suppress
|
|
suffragist
|
advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage
|
|
suffuse
|
spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.
|
|
suitor
|
man who is courting a woman
|
|
sullen
|
silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
|
|
sully
|
defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one's hands in menial labor
|
|
sultry
|
(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous
|
|
summation
|
act of finding the total; summing-up; summary (esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)
|
|
sumptuous
|
grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
|
|
sunder
|
separate; part; CF. asunder
|
|
sundry
|
miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items
|
|
superannuated
|
retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
|
|
supercilious
|
haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium
|
|
supererogatory
|
superfluous; more than needed or demanded
|
|
superficial
|
of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge
|
|
superfluous
|
excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity
|
|
superimpose
|
place over something else
|
|
supernumerary
|
person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary number
|
|
supersede
|
replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
|
|
supine
|
lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision
|
|
supplant
|
take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
|
|
supple
|
flexible; limber; pliant
|
|
suppliant
|
entreating; beseeching; N.
|
|
supplicant
|
one who supplicates; ADJ.
|
|
supplicate
|
petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
|
|
supposition
|
assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
|
|
supposititious
|
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
|
|
suppress
|
put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm; inhibit the expression of; check; prevent from being published or made public; Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress the magazine/truth
|
|
surfeit
|
satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food
|
|
surge
|
powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
|
|
surly
|
bad-tempered; rude; cross
|
|
surmise
|
guess; N.
|
|
surmount
|
overcome
|
|
surpass
|
exceed
|
|
surreptitious
|
done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
|
|
surrogate
|
substitute; person or thing used in place of another; Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.
|
|
surveillance
|
close observation of a person (esp. one under suspicion); watching; guarding
|
|
susceptible
|
impressionable; easily influenced; sensitive; having little resistance as to a disease; likely to suffer; receptive to; capable of accepting; Ex. susceptible to persuasion/colds; Ex. The agreement is not susceptible of alteration; N. susceptibility
|
|
suspend
|
cause to stop for a period; interrupt; hold in abeyance; defer; hang from above; exclude for a period from a position; Ex. suspended state; Ex. suspend judgment; Ex. suspended from the team; N. suspension
|
|
suspense
|
state of being undecided; anxiety or apprehension resulting from uncertainty
|
|
sustain
|
suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop; maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the trapped miners
|
|
sustenance
|
sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food, nourishment; something that maintains life; food
|
|
suture
|
stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound
|
|
swagger
|
walk or behave with an over-confident manner
|
|
swamp
|
wetland; marsh; V: flood; overwhelm; drench in with liquid
|
|
swarm
|
large group of insects moving in a mass; crowd of people or animals; V: move in a crowd or mass
|
|
swarthy
|
(of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?
|
|
swathe
|
swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages
|
|
sway
|
swing from side to side; influence (someone) to change one's opinion; N.
|
|
swear
|
vow; promise; use profane oaths; use offensive words
|
|
swear-word
|
word considered offensive; Ex. ``bloody''
|
|
swell
|
long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.
|
|
swelter
|
(of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be oppressed by heat
|
|
swerve
|
deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course; Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the right.
|
|
swill
|
drink greedily
|
|
swindler
|
cheater
|
|
swipe
|
hit with a sweeping motion; N.
|
|
sybarite
|
lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy
|
|
sycophant
|
servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic
|
|
syllogism
|
logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
|
|
sylvan
|
pertaining to the woods or the country
|
|
symbiosis
|
interdependent relationship (between groups, species) often mutually beneficial; ADJ. symbiotic; CF. together + life
|
|
symmetry
|
arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity; ADJ. symmetrical
|
|
synchronous
|
similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring at the same time; V. synchronize
|
|
synoptic
|
providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis
|
|
synthesis
|
combining parts or separate things into a whole; the whole so formed; PL. syntheses; V. synthesize
|
|
synthetic
|
not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis; Ex. synthetic fiber; N.
|
|
tablet
|
small round piece of medicine; flat piece of stone or metal bearing an inscription; Ex. stone tablet on the wall
|
|
tacit
|
understood (without actually being expressed); not put into words; Ex. tacit agreement
|
|
taciturn
|
habitually silent; talking little
|
|
tact
|
skill or sensitivity in dealing with people without causing offence
|
|
tactful
|
careful no to cause offence; OP. tactless
|
|
tactile
|
pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
|
|
taint
|
contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad; Ex. tainted reputation; N: stain; touch of decay or bad influence; CF. touch
|
|
takeoff
|
burlesque; act of leaving the ground
|
|
talisman
|
charm; object believed to give supernatural powers to or protect its bearer
|
|
talon
|
claw of bird
|
|
tan
|
convert (hide) into leather; make brown by exposure to the sun
|
|
tangential
|
only slightly connected; not central; peripheral; digressing; showing divergence; CF. tangent
|
|
tangible
|
able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof
|
|
tanner
|
person who turns animal hides into leather
|
|
tantalize
|
tease; excite by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach; torture with disappointment; CF. Tantalus: Greek mythological figure
|
|
tantamount
|
equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount
|
|
tantrum
|
fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex. The child went into tantrums.
|
|
taper
|
very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward one end
|
|
tarantula
|
venomous spider
|
|
tardy
|
slow; sluggish; not on time; late; Ex. tardy arrival
|
|
tarnish
|
make or become dull or discolored; N.
|
|
tarry
|
linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle
|
|
tart
|
sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex. tart apple/reply
|
|
tatter
|
torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes) old and torn; (of a person) dressed in old torn clothes
|
|
taunt
|
deride or provoke; challenge in derision; N.
|
|
taut
|
tight; strained; tense; ready; OP. slack
|
|
tautological
|
needlessly repetitious; Ex. ``It was visible to the eye''; N. tautology: needless repetition of the same sense; statement that is always true
|
|
tawdry
|
cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry
|
|
tawny
|
brownish yellow
|
|
taxonomist
|
specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF. taxonomy: science of classification
|
|
tedium
|
boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious
|
|
teetotalism
|
practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks; N. teetotaler;; ADJ. teetotal; CF. T + total
|
|
temerity
|
boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day's work
|
|
temper
|
moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) as by alternate heating and cooling
|
|
temperament
|
characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess; ADJ. temperamental: of temperament; having frequent changes of temper; Ex. temperamental dislike of sports; Ex. temperamental actress
|
|
temperate
|
moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature; CF. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society
|
|
tempestuous
|
stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest: violent storm
|
|
tempo
|
speed of music
|
|
temporal
|
of time; not lasting forever; limited by time; temporary; secular; worldly
|
|
temporize
|
gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself
|
|
tenacious
|
holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
|
|
tenacity
|
firmness; persistence
|
|
tenancy
|
possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant's occupancy
|
|
tenant
|
one that pays rent to use property owned by another
|
|
tend
|
have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply one's attention; attend
|
|
tendentious
|
promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend: move in a certain direction
|
|
tender
|
offer formally; extend; Ex. tender one's resignation/the exact fare; N: formal offer; money; Ex. legal tender; ADJ: young and vulnerable; sensitive to the touch; sore; soft; delicate; Ex. child of tender years; Ex. tender wound
|
|
tenet
|
doctrine; dogma
|
|
tensile
|
capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. tensile rubber
|
|
tension
|
stretching; condition of being stretched; mental strain; strained relationship between groups or people
|
|
tentative
|
not fully worked out or developed; provisional; experimental; uncertain; hesitant; not definite or positive; Ex. tentative agreement/reply
|
|
tenuous
|
thin; slim; rare
|
|
tenure
|
holding of an office or real estate; time during which such an office is held
|
|
tepid
|
lukewarm; slightly warm; half-hearted; not eager; Ex. tepid reaction to the new film; Ex. tepid supporter
|
|
terminal
|
part that forms the end; railroad or bus station; ADJ. forming an end; ending in death; fatal; Ex. terminal cancer
|
|
termination
|
end; V. terminate
|
|
terminology
|
terms used in a science or art; study of nomenclature
|
|
terminus
|
last stop of railroad; end
|
|
terrestrial
|
on or relating to the earth
|
|
terse
|
concise; abrupt; pithy
|
|
tertiary
|
third in order or rank
|
|
tessellated
|
mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
|
|
testator
|
maker of a will; CF. testatrix
|
|
testy
|
irritable; impatient and bad-tempered; short-tempered; N. testiness
|
|
tether
|
tie (an animal) with a rope or tether; N: rope or chain to which an animal is tied; limit of one's endurance; Ex. the end of one's tether
|
|
thematic
|
of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
|
|
theocracy
|
government run by religious leaders
|
|
theoretical
|
based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical
|
|
therapeutic
|
curative; N. therapy
|
|
thermal
|
pertaining to heat; producing heat; warm; Ex. thermal bath; N: rising current of warm air
|
|
thesis
|
opinion put forward and supported by reasoned arguments
|
|
thespian
|
pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress
|
|
thrall
|
slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; CF. enthrall
|
|
thrash
|
beat with a whip or flail; defeat utterly; talk about thoroughly in order to find the answer; move wildly or violently; Ex. The fishes thrashed about in the net.
|
|
threadbare
|
worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor; hackneyed; Ex. threadbare excuses
|
|
threat
|
sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of rain; V: express a threat; give warning of (something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain.
|
|
thresh
|
beat (cereal plants) with a machine or flail to separate the grains from the straw
|
|
thrifty
|
careful about money; economical; N. thrift
|
|
thrive
|
prosper; flourish
|
|
throb
|
(of a heart or machine) beat rapidly or violently; N. Ex. hearthrob: heartbeat; sweetheart
|
|
throes
|
violent anguish
|
|
throng
|
crowd (of people or things); V.
|
|
throttle
|
strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N: valve that regulates the flow; CF. throat ?
|
|
thwart
|
block or hinder; baffle; frustrate
|
|
tickle
|
touch (the body) lightly so as to cause laughter; please
|
|
tightwad
|
miser; excessively frugal person
|
|
tiller
|
handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer)
|
|
timbre
|
quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument (which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch)
|
|
timidity
|
lack of self-confidence or courage
|
|
timorous
|
fearful; timid; demonstrating fear
|
|
tinge
|
give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N: slight degree of a color or quality; Ex. tinged with grey/jealousy
|
|
tint
|
slight degree of color; V: give a tint to
|
|
tipple
|
drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink
|
|
tirade
|
long angry denunciatory speech; diatribe; harangue; extended scolding; denunciation
|
|
titanic
|
gigantic; N. titan
|
|
tithe
|
tax of one-tenth (contributed to a church); V: pay a tithe
|
|
titillate
|
tickle; excite pleasantly; Ex. not to titillate the audience but to enlighten it
|
|
title
|
name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation as of rank or office (such as Lord or General); right or claim to possession; championship; Ex. title as head of the family; Ex. title to the estate
|
|
titter
|
nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
|
|
titular
|
of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular head of the company
|
|
toady
|
servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn
|
|
toga
|
Roman outer robe
|
|
token
|
outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude
|
|
toll
|
sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals; N: sound of a bell; fixed tax or charge
|
|
tome
|
large volume; book
|
|
tonsure
|
shaving of the head especially by person entering religious orders; V.
|
|
topography
|
physical features of a region (such as the shape and height); CF. topo-: place
|
|
topple
|
become unsteady and fall down
|
|
torpedo
|
underwater explosive apparatus; V.
|
|
torpor
|
lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; ADJ. torpid: lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of an animal) dormant; hibernating
|
|
torque
|
twisting force; force producing rotation
|
|
torrent
|
rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.
|
|
torrid
|
(of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid love affairs
|
|
torso
|
trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk
|
|
tortuous
|
winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain road
|
|
toss
|
throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion; flip (a coin) to decide something
|
|
totem
|
animal, plant, or natural object serving as a symbol of a clan or family; representation of this; Ex. totem pole
|
|
totter
|
shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall
|
|
touching
|
causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic; V. touch: cause to feel pity or sympathy; ADJ. touched
|
|
touchstone
|
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion; standard
|
|
touchy
|
oversensitive; easily offended; irasible; delicate; needing delicate handling; Ex. touchy situation
|
|
tout
|
promote or publicize (one's goods or service); praise excessively (as a form of advertisement); CF. advertise
|
|
toxic
|
poisonous; N. toxicity
|
|
tract
|
propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political group); expanse of land; region of indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex. digestive tract
|
|
tractable
|
docile; easily managed; (of something) easily changed or molded; N. tractability
|
|
traduce
|
expose to slander
|
|
trajectory
|
path taken by a projectile; Ex. trajectory of a bullet
|
|
tramp
|
walk with a heavy step; travel on foot; N: vagrant; one who travels aimlessly about; long walk; sound of heavy walking
|
|
trample
|
step heavily with the feet; crush under the feet
|
|
trance
|
hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition
|
|
tranquillity
|
calmness; peace
|
|
transcendent
|
exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing; V. transcend: go beyond; exceed; surpass; N. transcendancy
|
|
transcendental
|
going beyond common thought or ideas; impossible to understand by practical experiences or practices; known only by studying thoughts or intuition; OP. empirical; CF. transcendentalism
|
|
transcribe
|
copy; write a copy of; N. transcription
|
|
transgression
|
violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond (a limit); violate; do wrong
|
|
transient
|
staying for a short time; momentary; temporary; N: one that is transient
|
|
transition
|
going from one state of action to another
|
|
transitory
|
transient; impermanent; fleeting; N. transitoriness
|
|
translucent
|
partly transparent
|
|
transmute
|
transform; change; convert to something different
|
|
transparent
|
permitting light to pass through freely; easily detected; obvious; clear; Ex. transparent lie
|
|
transpire
|
(of a fact) become known; be revealed; happen; give off (watery waste matter) through pores
|
|
transport
|
strong emotion; rapture; Ex. in a transport/transports of; V: move to strong emotion; enrapture
|
|
transpose
|
reverse the order or position of
|
|
trappings
|
outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward sign of rank)
|
|
traumatic
|
(of an experience) deeply shocking; pertaining to an injury caused by violence; N. trauma: serious wound; emotional shock that causes lasting psychological damage
|
|
travail
|
strenuous work; toil; painful labor; labor of childbirth
|
|
traverse
|
go through or across
|
|
travesty
|
copy or example of something that completely misrepresents the true nature of the real thing; comical parody or imitation; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous; Ex. travesty of justice; OP. paragon
|
|
tread
|
walk; trample; N: grooved face of a tire; horizontal part of a step
|
|
treasure
|
keep as precious; cherish
|
|
treatise
|
article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly
|
|
trek
|
travel; journey; V: make a long difficult journey
|
|
tremor
|
trembling; slight quiver (as of the earth or from nervous agitation)
|
|
tremulous
|
trembling; wavering
|
|
trenchant
|
cutting; incisive; keen
|
|
trepidation
|
fear; nervous apprehension
|
|
tribulation
|
suffering; ordeal; distress; trial
|
|
tribunal
|
court of justice
|
|
tribune
|
official of ancient Rome elected by the plebians to protect their rights; protector of the people
|
|
tribute
|
tax levied by a ruler; payment made by one nation to another in acknowledgment of submission; mark of respect (such as praise or gift); Ex. pay tribute to
|
|
trickle
|
flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
|
|
trickster
|
person who cheats people
|
|
trident
|
three-pronged spear
|
|
trifle
|
something of little importance or value; small amount; Ex. a trifle; V: treat without seriousness; flirt
|
|
trifling
|
trivial; unimportant
|
|
trigger
|
set off; start
|
|
trilogy
|
group of three related works (connected by a shared subject but each complete in itself)
|
|
trim
|
make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by removing what is unnecessary; ornament; decorate (round the edges); Ex. trim the cost; Ex. jacket trimmed with fur; N. ADJ: tidy; in good order
|
|
trinket
|
knickknack; bauble; cheap jewelry
|
|
trite
|
hackneyed; commonplace
|
|
trivia
|
trifles; unimportant matters
|
|
troth
|
pledge of good faith especially in betrothal; betrothal; Ex. by my troth
|
|
trough
|
long narrow container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.); long narrow depression as between waves
|
|
truculence
|
aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent: aggressive; pugnacious; fierce
|
|
truism
|
self-evident truth
|
|
truncate
|
cut the top off; shorten
|
|
trunk
|
main wooden stem of a tree; human body excluding the head and limbs; torso; prehensile nose of an elephant
|
|
tryst
|
meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet
|
|
tumid
|
(of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous
|
|
tumult
|
commotion of a great crowd; riot; noise; uproar; ADJ. tumultuous: noisy and disorderly
|
|
tundra
|
rolling treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America
|
|
turbid
|
(of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick
|
|
turbulence
|
state of violent agitation; ADJ. turbulent: violently agitated or disturbed
|
|
tureen
|
deep dish for serving soup
|
|
turgid
|
swollen; distended (as from liquid)
|
|
turmoil
|
extreme confusion; great commotion and confusion; Ex. throw the country into turmoil
|
|
turncoat
|
traitor
|
|
turpitude
|
depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude
|
|
tutelage
|
guardianship; training; function of a tutor; instruction
|
|
tutelary
|
protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex. tutelary deities
|
|
tycoon
|
wealthy and powerful businessperson; wealthy leader; magnate; Ex. business tycoon
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typhoon
|
tropical hurricane or cyclone
|
|
tyranny
|
oppression; cruel government; ADJ. tyrannical: of a tyrant or tyranny; despotic; V. tyrannize: treat tyrannically; oppress
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|
tyro
|
beginner; novice
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ubiquitous
|
being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity
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ulcer
|
sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate
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ulterior
|
intentionally hidden; beyond what is evident; situated beyond; unstated and often questionable; Ex. ulterior motive
|
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ultimate
|
final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental; Ex. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.
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ultimatum
|
last demand; last warning; last statement of conditions that must be met; Ex. They have ignored our ultimatum.
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umbrage
|
resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness
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unaccountable
|
unexplicable; impossible to account for; unreasonable or mysterious
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|
unanimity
|
complete agreement; ADJ. unanimous
|
|
unassailable
|
not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question
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unassuaged
|
unsatisfied; not soothed
|
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unassuming
|
modest; Ex. the champion's unassuming manner
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unbridled
|
violent; uncontrolled; Ex. unbridled rage/greed
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uncanny
|
strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack
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unceremonious
|
not done politely without due formalities
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unconscionable
|
unscrupulous; not guided by conscience; excessive; beyond reason; Ex. unconscionable demand
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uncouth
|
boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish
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unction
|
the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction
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|
unctuous
|
oily; bland; insincerely suave
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underhand(underhanded)
|
done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)
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|
underlying
|
lying below; fundamental
|
|
undermine
|
weaken gradually; sap; dig a mine beneath
|
|
underscore
|
underline; emphasize
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|
understate
|
state with less truth than seems warranted by the facts; Ex. He understated the seriousness of the crime; N. understatement; OP. overstate
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undertaker
|
funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials
|
|
undulating
|
moving with a wavelike motion; V. undulate; CF. und: wave
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|
unearth
|
dig up; discover (facts) by careful searching; Ex. He unearthed some secrets about her; OP. conceal
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unearthly
|
not earthly; supernatural; weird; ghostly
|
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unequivocal
|
plain; clear; obvious
|
|
unerringly
|
infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes
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unexceptionable
|
entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism
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unfaltering
|
steadfast; firm; not changing
|
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unfeigned
|
genuine; real
|
|
unfetter
|
liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter
|
|
unfledged
|
immature; not having the feathers necessary to fly; CF. fledgling
|
|
unfrock
|
defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority
|
|
ungainly
|
(of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy; (of something) unwieldy; Ex. ungainly dancer/instrument
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|
unguent
|
ointment
|
|
uniformity
|
sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same all over
|
|
unilateral
|
one-sided; involving or affecting only one side; Ex. unilateral declaration
|
|
unimpeachable
|
that cannot be impeached; beyond doubt or question; blameless and exemplary
|
|
uninhibited
|
unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings
|
|
unintimating
|
unfrightening
|
|
unique
|
without an equal; single in kind
|
|
unison
|
unity of pitch (in musical performance); complete accord; Ex. The choir sang in unison.
|
|
universal
|
characterizing or affecting all; general; present everywhere; of the universe; cosmic; Ex. universal agreement; Ex. a subject of universal interest
|
|
unkempt
|
disheveled; uncared for in appearance; not combed; CF. comb
|
|
unmitigated
|
(of something bad) not moderated; unrelieved or immoderate; without qualification; absolute; Ex. unmitigated disaster
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|
unobtrusive
|
inconspicuous; not blatant
|
|
unprecedented
|
having no previous example; novel; unparalleled
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|
unprepossessing
|
unattractive
|
|
unravel
|
disentangle; solve
|
|
unregenerate
|
making no attempt to change one's bad practices
|
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unrequited
|
not requited; not reciprocated; Ex. unrequited love
|
|
unruly
|
disobedient; lawless; difficult to control
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|
unsavory
|
distasteful; disagreeable; morally offensive; Ex. unsavory activity/reputation
|
|
unscathed
|
unharmed; Ex. escape the accident unscathed
|
|
unseemly
|
unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with unseemly haste
|
|
unsightly
|
ugly; unpleasant to look at
|
|
unsullied
|
untarnished; CF. sully
|
|
untenable
|
(of a position, esp. in an argument) indefensible; not able to be maintained
|
|
untoward
|
unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter
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|
unwarranted
|
unjustified; having no justification; groundless; baseless; undeserved
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|
unwieldy
|
awkward (to carry or move); cumbersome; unmanageable
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|
unwitting
|
not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex. She was their unwitting accomplice; Ex. unwitting insult; CF. wit: know
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|
unwonted
|
unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted punctuality.
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|
upbraid
|
reprimand; severely scold
|
|
upright
|
(sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral
|
|
uproar
|
noisy confusion
|
|
uproarious
|
marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy (esp. with laughter); hilarious; causing loud laughter; extremely funny
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|
upshot
|
outcome; final result
|
|
urbane
|
suave; refined in manner; elegant
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|
urchin
|
mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin: hedgehog; CF. porcupine: pig with spikes ?; CF. sea urchin
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|
urge
|
drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to take action; impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that prompts action
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|
urgent
|
compelling immediate action; pressing; persistent; importunate; Ex. urgent in his demands
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|
ursine
|
bearlike; pertaining to a bear
|
|
usage
|
act or manner of using; accepted practice; way in which words are actually used
|
|
usurp
|
seize another's power or rank (without legal authority); supplant; appropriate; N. usurpation; CF. take for one's own use
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|
usury
|
lending money at illegal high rates of interest
|
|
utopia
|
ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian
|
|
uxorious
|
excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife; CF. uxor: wife
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|
vacillate
|
waver (in opinion); fluctuate; sway to and fro; N. vacillation
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|
vacuous
|
empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity
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|
vagabond
|
wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp
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|
vagary
|
capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander
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|
vagrant
|
homeless wanderer
|
|
vain
|
full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity
|
|
vainglorious
|
boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity
|
|
valediction
|
saying farewell; expression of leave-taking
|
|
valedictory
|
pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp. at graduation exercises)
|
|
valid
|
logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable; effective; Ex. valid reasoning/passport
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|
validate
|
make valid; confirm; ratify
|
|
valor
|
bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave
|
|
vampire
|
ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
|
|
vanguard
|
forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard
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|
vantage
|
position giving an advantage (such as a strategic point); CF. vantagepoint
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|
vapid
|
lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture
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|
vaporize
|
turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)
|
|
variegate
|
change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)
|
|
variegated
|
(esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored
|
|
varnish
|
paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film; glossy coating produced by using this substance; Ex. nail varnish; V.
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|
vassal
|
in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord; subordinate or dependent
|
|
vaunted
|
boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt: boast; brag
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|
veer
|
change in direction; swerve
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|
vegetate
|
live in a monotonous way (without interests or activity); CF. vegetation: plants of an area; CF. vegetarian; CF. vegan
|
|
vehement
|
forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence
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|
velocity
|
speed
|
|
venal
|
capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal
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|
vendetta
|
blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams
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|
vendor
|
seller
|
|
veneer
|
thin surface layer (of good quality wood, glued to a base of inferior material); cover; surface show; fa\c{c}ade; V.
|
|
venerable
|
deserving high respect; commanding respect; CF. command: deserve and get
|
|
venerate
|
revere; treat with great respect
|
|
venial
|
(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial
|
|
venison
|
meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork, ham, bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton; CF. lamb: lamb
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|
venom
|
poison (of an animal); hatred; Ex. remarks full of venom; ADJ. venomous
|
|
vent
|
release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly); utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on his family.
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|
ventilate
|
admit fresh air into to replace stale air
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|
ventral
|
abdominal
|
|
ventriloquist
|
someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing (without moving lips or jaws); N. ventriloquism, ventriloquy
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|
venture
|
risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
|
|
venturesome
|
(of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an action) risky
|
|
venue
|
location; place (of a crime, trial, gathering, etc.); CF. come
|
|
veracious
|
(of a person) truthful
|
|
veracity
|
truthfulness; adherence to the truth
|
|
verbalize
|
put into words; ADJ. verbal: of words; spoken rather than written; oral; of a verb
|
|
verbatim
|
word for word; in the same words; repeating the actual words exactly
|
|
verbiage
|
pompous array of words; too many unnecessary words; wordiness
|
|
verbose
|
wordy; N. verbosity
|
|
verdant
|
green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows
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|
verdigris
|
green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather
|
|
verge
|
border; edge, rim, or margin; Ex. on the verge of: very near to; V: border on
|
|
verisimilar
|
having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible
|
|
verisimilitude
|
appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth
|
|
veritable
|
being truly so; real or genuine; actual; not false or imaginary
|
|
verity
|
quality of being true; lasting truth or principle; Ex. the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the eternal verities
|
|
vernacular
|
living language (as compared to the official language); language spoken in a country or region; natural style; Ex. lapse into the vernacular
|
|
vernal
|
pertaining to spring
|
|
versatile
|
having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility
|
|
vertebrate
|
having a backbone or spinal column; N: group of animals having a segmented spinal column
|
|
vertex
|
summit; highest point; PL. vertices
|
|
vertigo
|
severe dizziness; giddiness
|
|
verve
|
enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor
|
|
vestige
|
trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion
|
|
veto
|
vested power to reject a bill; exercise of this right; V: prevent or forbid by exercising the power of veto
|
|
vex
|
annoy; distress
|
|
viable
|
capable of maintaining life; feasible; practical or workable; Ex. viable scheme
|
|
viand
|
food; CF. live
|
|
vibrant
|
full of vigor or energy; vibrating
|
|
vicar
|
parish priest; representative
|
|
vicarious
|
experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ
|
|
vicissitude
|
change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China
|
|
victuals
|
food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food
|
|
vie
|
contend; compete
|
|
vigil
|
keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); Ex. all-night vigil
|
|
vigilant
|
watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to spot danger; N. vigilance
|
|
vigilante
|
one who without authority assumes law enforcement powers
|
|
vignette
|
small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene
|
|
vigor
|
active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous
|
|
vile
|
despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander
|
|
vilify
|
slander; speak evil of; N. vilification
|
|
vindicate
|
clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one's client; Ex. vindicate one's claim; CF. vindicator
|
|
vindictive
|
disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak
|
|
vintner
|
wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine
|
|
violate
|
break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually; Ex. violate graves
|
|
viper
|
poisonous snake
|
|
virile
|
manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength
|
|
virtual
|
in essence; existing in essence though not in actual form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual ruler/space
|
|
virtue
|
goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity
|
|
virtuoso
|
highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso
|
|
virulent
|
(of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N. virulence; CF. virus; CF. venom
|
|
virus
|
disease communicator
|
|
visage
|
face; appearance
|
|
visceral
|
felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate
|
|
viscid
|
adhesive; gluey
|
|
viscous
|
(of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF. consistency
|
|
vise
|
vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device
|
|
vision
|
eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural
|
|
visionary
|
produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical; showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one given to speculative impractical ideas
|
|
vital
|
full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize
|
|
vitiate
|
spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally
|
|
vitreous
|
of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify
|
|
vitriolic
|
causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression; CF. glass
|
|
vituperative
|
abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively
|
|
vivacious
|
lively or animated; sprightl sprightly/lively
|
|
vivid
|
(of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking lifelike mental images; Ex. vivid red hair/description
|
|
vivisection
|
act of dissecting living animals
|
|
vixen
|
female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew
|
|
vociferous
|
clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining)
|
|
vogue
|
popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.
|
|
volatile
|
changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile character/situation in the street
|
|
volition
|
act of using one's will; act of making a conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition.
|
|
volley
|
simultaneous discharge of a number of shots; V.
|
|
voluble
|
fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility
|
|
voluminous
|
having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large
|
|
voluptuous
|
sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex. voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary: voluptuous person
|
|
voodoo
|
religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
|
|
voracious
|
ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader
|
|
vortex
|
whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged
|
|
vouch
|
give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher
|
|
vouchsafe
|
grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
|
|
voyeur
|
Peeping Tom; person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others
|
|
vulgar
|
of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth; N. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; CF. vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout
|
|
vulnerable
|
susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability
|
|
vulpine
|
like a fox; crafty
|
|
vulture
|
carrion-eating birds
|
|
vying
|
contending; CF. vie
|
|
wade
|
walk through a substance, such as water, that impedes movement
|
|
waffle
|
speak equivocally about an issue; N.
|
|
waft
|
move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window
|
|
wag
|
shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog wagged its tail; N: humorous person; wit
|
|
wage
|
begin and continue (a war)
|
|
waggish
|
humorous; mischievous; tricky
|
|
waif
|
homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
|
|
waive
|
give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim
|
|
wake
|
trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before; Ex. hunger followed in the wake of the war
|
|
wallow
|
roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury
|
|
wan
|
having a pale or sickly color; pallid
|
|
wanderlust
|
strong longing to travel
|
|
wane
|
decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.
|
|
wangle
|
achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
|
|
wanton
|
unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause
|
|
warble
|
(of a bird) sing; babble; N.
|
|
ward
|
administrative division of a city; division in a hospital or prison; incompetent person placed under the protection of a guardian; V: guard; ward off: avert
|
|
warp
|
twist out of shape; N.
|
|
warrant
|
justification; written order that serves as authorization (esp. a judicial writ); Ex. search/death warrant; V: justify; guarantee
|
|
warranted
|
justified; authorized
|
|
warranty
|
guarantee; assurance by seller
|
|
warren
|
tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live
|
|
wary
|
very cautious; watchful
|
|
wastrel
|
waster; profligate
|
|
waver
|
move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady in decision or movement; Ex. wavering between accepting and refusing
|
|
wax
|
increase gradually (as the moon); grow
|
|
waylay
|
ambush; lie in wait for and attack
|
|
wean
|
accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the young of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling; give up a cherished activity; cause to gradually leave (an interest or habit); Ex. wean oneself from cigarettes
|
|
weary
|
tired after long work; V.
|
|
weather
|
pass safely through (a storm or difficult period); endure the effects of weather or other forces
|
|
weird
|
eerie; strange; unnatural
|
|
well-bred
|
of good upbringing; well-mannered and refined
|
|
welt
|
raised mark from a beating or whipping
|
|
welter
|
wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in blood); Ex. The victims weltered in their blood.
|
|
wheedle
|
deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her
|
|
whelp
|
young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.
|
|
whet
|
sharpen; stimulate; Ex. whet someone's appetite
|
|
whiff
|
puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); short-lasting smell; hint; Ex. whiff of perfume/scandal
|
|
whim
|
sudden capricious idea; fancy
|
|
whimsical
|
capricious; fanciful; amusingly strange
|
|
whimsy
|
whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely; Ex. story full of whimsy
|
|
whine
|
complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as in pain or supplication)
|
|
whinny
|
neigh like a horse; CF. neigh: make the sound which horses make
|
|
whit
|
small amount; smallest speck; Ex. not a whit of
|
|
whittle
|
pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually; trim
|
|
wholesome
|
conducive to mental or physical health; healthful
|
|
whorl
|
ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers
|
|
wiggle
|
wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions
|
|
willful
|
wilful; intentional; headstrong
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willowy
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flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
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wilt
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loose freshness; droop
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wily
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crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem
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wince
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move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex. She winced as she touched the cold body.
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windfall
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fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event
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winnow
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sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; CF. wind
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winsome
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charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging
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wisp
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small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)
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wispy
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thin; slight; barely discernible
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wistful
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sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing
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withdrawn
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introverted; retiring; remote remote/distant in manner; aloof
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wither
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(of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay
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withhold
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refuse to give; hold back; Ex. withholding tax
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withstand
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stand up against; resist successfully
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witless
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lacking intelligence or wit; foolish; idiotic
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witticism
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witty saying; wisecrack(clever joking remark)
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wizardry
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sorcery; magic
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wizened
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shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady
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woe
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great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering; Ex. financial woes
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woeful
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sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably bad; Ex. woeful housing conditions
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wont
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(the stated person's) habit or custom; habitual procedure; ADJ. wonted: customary
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worldly
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engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual; of the material world
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wrangle
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quarrel noisily; obtain through arguing; herd cattle; N.
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wrath
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anger; fury
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wreak
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inflict; Ex. wreak one's vengeance on
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wrench
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twist; pull; strain; Ex. He wrenched the gun out of her hands.
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wrest
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obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence; Ex. wrest victory from their grasp
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wretch
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miserable person; bad or despicable person; ADJ. wretched: miserable; bad; contemptible; vile
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wring
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twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting; wrench painfully (necks or hands)
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wrinkle
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small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.
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writ
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written command issued by a court (telling someone to do or not to do something)
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writhe
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twist in coils; contort in pain
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wrongheaded
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stubbornly wrong
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wry
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(esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing displeasure)
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xenophobia
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fear or hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe
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yen
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strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel
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yeoman
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man or farmer owning small estate; middle-class farmer
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yield
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amount produced; crop; income on investment; profit obtained from an investment; V: produce; give in; surrender
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yoke
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join together; unite; N: crossbar used to joining two draft animals
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yokel
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rustic; country bumpkin;
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yore
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time long past; Ex. in the days of yore
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zany
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comic; crazy; N: clown; comical person (given to outlandish behavior)
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zeal
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eager enthusiasm (to a cause or ideal); ADJ. zealous
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zealot
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one who is zealous; fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
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zenith
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point directly overhead in the sky; summit; acme; highest point
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zephyr
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gentle breeze; west wind
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zest
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outer skin of an orange used for giving a special taste to food; spice; interest; flavor; spirited enjoyment; Ex. add a certain zest to the affair; Ex. zest for life
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