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703 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
waggish
humorous; mischievous; tricky.
bugaboo
bugbear; object of baseless terror
mnemonic
pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid
conscript
draftee; person forced into military service; V.
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
facile
easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial; not deep; Ex. facile solution to a complex problem; Ex. facile speaker; N. facility: ability to do something easily and well; ease in doing resulting from skill or aptitude; something that facilitates an action; amenity; Ex. with great facility
penury
extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy
venal
capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal
flit
fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
citadel
fortress
libidinous
lustful
mendicant
beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
oaf
stupid awkward person; CF. elf
vitiate
spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally
cupidity
greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
rank
offensive in odor or flavor
quisling
traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling
tact
skill or sensitivity in dealing with people without causing offence
colloquy
informal discussion; conversation
misapprehension
error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
isthmus
narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land
skulduggery(skullduggery)
dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
odium
detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)
deserts
what someone deserves
nugatory
worthless; futile
rendition
rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc
terrestrial
on or relating to the earth
misnomer
wrong or improper name; incorrect designation
ghastly
horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast
garish
overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
euphony
sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
pithy
concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
girth
distance around something; circumference
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
asteroid
small planet
adulation
flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
redoubtable
formidable; causing fear
approbation
approval
attrition
rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
secession
withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership
poignancy
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
fodder
coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock; CF. food
regale
entertain
warren
tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live
distant
reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
entrance
put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight
heterogeneous
dissimilar; mixed; not homogeneous; consisting of dissimilar elements or plants
temperate
moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature; CF. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society
glamor
compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous
disinterested
unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
mosaic
picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.
arboreal
of or living in trees
uninhibited
unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings
amnesty
pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
stint
supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
spin
rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton, wool, etc.); N.
grumble
complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.
recondite
abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
consonance
harmony; agreement
enduring
lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering) for a long time; remain alive (in spite of difficulties); last; survive
concave
hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
forward
presumptuous or bold
astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
singular
being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
augury
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
tribulation
suffering; ordeal; distress; trial
cater
provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)
sartorial
pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
slur
slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.
quarry
person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey
queue
line (of waiting people or vehicles)
funereal
sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
genre
particular variety of art or literature
amphibian
able to live both on land and in water; N.
ineluctable
irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable
appall
dismay; shock deeply
analgesia
condition of being unable to feel pain
resign
give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively
pang
sudden sharp feeling of pain
incontinent
lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious
stickler
perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
inclined
tending or leaning toward; bent; V. incline: slant; dispose; be disposed; tend
episodic
(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience
seasonable
occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute
astringent
binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
quotidian
daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine
stanza
division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
sentinel
sentry; lookout
saga
Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
innuendo
indirect or subtle (derogatory) hint; insinuation; Ex. sexual innuendo
rag
scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance
conducive
helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
slight
insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance
tout
promote or publicize (one's goods or service); praise excessively (as a form of advertisement); CF. advertise
repugnance
disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
cue
word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to
soliloquy
talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)
fruition
bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization; Ex. come to/be brought to fruition
termination
end; V. terminate
intermittent
periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at intervals
jocose
given to(having a tendency of) joking
blasphemy
irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
consummate
complete; V.
consequential
self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
gainsay
deny
abolish
cancel; put an end to
convivial
pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
gawk
stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe
betray
be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
cession
yielding to another; ceding
cogent
convincing
flaunt
display ostentatiously; Ex. ``Honey, if you've got it, flaunt it !''
chaperon
older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman
conspire
take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.
clemency
disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
nostrum
questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
scrutinize
examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny
archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
trite
hackneyed; commonplace
codify
arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs
conflagration
great fire
subliminal
below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
duplicity
double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
epithet
word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)
peon
landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage
thematic
of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
plight
difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament
cohorts
group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
labile
likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability
panegyric
formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.
apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
requisition
formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
ample
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
unassuaged
unsatisfied; not soothed
exigency
urgent situation; ADJ. exigent
voodoo
religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
furrow
long shallow trench made by a plow; deep wrinkle in the skin; V.
gerontocracy
government ruled by old people
rarefied
made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
madrigal
pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments
multilingual
having many languages; fluent in several languages
adept
expert at; very skilled
suffocate
die or kill from lack of air; suppress
deadlock
standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
laconic
brief and to the point; using few words; terse
fake
not genuine; N: one that is not genuine; impostor; sham; V: counterfeit; Ex. fake the results of the experiment/the signature
apparition
ghost; phantom
scurrilous
abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
consanguineous(consanguine)
having a common ancestor
diabolical
diabolic; devilish; fiendish
wither
(of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay
fresco
painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)
masochist
person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism
progenitor
ancestor
odoriferous
giving off an odor
asperity
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
salient
prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features
brook
tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream
ductile
malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
subversive
tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
monotony
sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone
inkling
hint; slight indication
corrode
destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)
nirvana
in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude
ribald
marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
elastic
able to spring back into shape; quick to recover (as from disappointment); able to adapt to change; Ex. elastic plans; N: elastic material
biennial
every two years
pugilist
boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing
eulogy
expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize
limp
walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak
coy
shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offerクヲ ゲセメタサ カァ
ordain
decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination
noisome
foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
semblance
outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.
assert
state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
calamity
disaster; misery
foil
defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart; CF. fail
invocation
prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon as a reference or support; act of invoking
retaliate
repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
complicity
participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
tangible
able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof
numismatist
person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals
supplant
take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
progeny
children; offspring; descendants
list
tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
invoke
call and bring into use (a right or law); call on/upon (a higher power or god) for help; ask for; beg for; conjure (a spirit); Ex. invoke the veto power; Ex. invoke one's advisor/God
slither
slip or slide
precedent
something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF. unprecedented
gaunt
lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren
dishearten
discourage
commensurate
equal in extent; of the same size
ethereal
like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air
archaic
antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
longevity
long life; long duration
pan
criticize harshly
quintessence
purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence
scanty
meager; insufficient
unseemly
unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with unseemly haste
rebuff
reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
pulverize
crush or grind into very small particles
canny
shrewd in money matters; thrifty
influx
flowing into
overwrought
nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done
clientele
body of customers
patent
obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.
wane
decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.
fetter
shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or shackle for the foot of a prisoner; CF. foot
regeneration
spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
pedagogy
teaching; art of education
jubilation
rejoicing; great joy
mete
measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
pulmonary
pertaining to the lungs
rift
narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
exonerate
acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
untoward
unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter
ramp
slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
juncture
crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining
perspicuous
(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments
devoid
empty; lacking
prefigure
be a sign of; foreshadow
indicative
suggestive; implying; serving to indicate
denigrate
blacken; defame
lexicon
dictionary
sober
serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
bode
foreshadow; portend
reparation
compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
odious
arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile
maraud
move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
meager
scanty; inadequate
ceremonious
marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
autonomous
self-governing; N. autonomy
vapid
lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture
propitiate
appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
fledgling(fledgeling)
inexperienced; N: young bird that has acquired wing feathers and is learning to fly; inexperienced person
immaculate
spotless; flawless; absolutely clean
distinctive
clearly different from others of the same kind
transpose
reverse the order or position of
momentum
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force
exploit
brave and successful act; deed or action, particularly a brave deed; CF. crossing the Atlantic ocean
sibylline
prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
serrated
having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
cohere
stick together
wistful
sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing
gamely
in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game
spurn
reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
conservatory(conservatoire)
school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
malcontent
person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person; ADJ: discontented
killjoy
grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others
discourse
serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.
bifurcated
divided into two branches; forked
lucrative
profitable; producing wealth
qualms
uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen.
fusion
union; coalition; V. fuse
clarion
shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times
traverse
go through or across
cherubic
angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order
parasite
animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; CF. para-: beside
decomposition
decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
industrious
diligent; hard-working; N. industry
metallurgical
pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores
dutiful(duteous)
(of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)
indices
signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student's potential; CF. index: something that reveals or indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index
disband
dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
supposititious
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
despot
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
topple
become unsteady and fall down
apprise
inform
tardy
slow; sluggish; not on time; late; Ex. tardy arrival
sheer
pure; thin and transparent; very steep
optician
maker and seller of eyeglasses
deposition
testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
legend
explanatory list of symbols on a map
aseptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
farce
broad comedy; mockery; humorous play full of silly things happening; ADJ. farcical
acrid
bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
raconteur
story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill
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
dart
move or throw suddenly and quickly
scholarly
cohesion
tendency to keep together
epoch
period of time
canard
unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
toss
throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion; flip (a coin) to decide something
phalanx
formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)
bar
railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister
lineaments
features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line
validate
make valid; confirm; ratify
compelling
overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel
choreography
art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances
furor
frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury
obituary
death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.
dialectical
relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
oratorio
dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata
sloth
slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
simian
monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
inter
bury; N. interment
supersede
replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
coroner
perspicuity
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
succulent
juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus
ransack
search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
dorsal
relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
protean
able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
conscientious
scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
gape
open widely; open the mouth wide; stare wonderingly with the mouth open; CF. agape
perverse
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
nexus
connection
mercantile
concerning trade or merchants
inestimable
quixotic
idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
antipathy
aversion; dislike or opposition
chaste
morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere
incident
event; event that causes a crisis
distraught
upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry
recreant
disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
disport
amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
proxy
authorized agent; authority to act for another
leave-taking
farewell or departure
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
brunt
main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument
junta
group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)
materialism
preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)
analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain; N.
jurisprudence
science of law
dossier
file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
transparent
permitting light to pass through freely; easily detected; obvious; clear; Ex. transparent lie
virulent
(of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N. virulence; CF. virus; CF. venom
bluster
blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale
capacious
spacious
conspiracy
treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)
lectern
reading desk or stand for a public speaker
aria
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
unique
without an equal; single in kind
posterity
descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; CF. posterior, anterior
pacifist
one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N. pacifism: opposition to war as a means of resolving disputes
insatiable
not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex. insatiable appetite
exhilarating
invigorating and refreshing; cheering; V. exhilarate: make cheerful and excited; Ex. exhilarated by the ride in the sports car
bohemian
unconventional (in an artistic way)
ignoble
unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed
career
rush wildly; go at full speed
zeal
eager enthusiasm (to a cause or ideal); ADJ. zealous
miscellany
mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items
acquittal
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
evocative
tending to call up (emotions, memories)
titter
nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
glut
overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply
devious
roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
imperturbable
unshakably calm; placid
husbandry
frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman
ingrate
ungrateful person (not expressing thanks)
comport
bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
reprobation
severe disapproval; CF. approbation
arch-
chief; first; Ex. archbishop
incendiary
arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb
glossary
brief explanation of words used in the text
helm
steering wheel of a ship; position of control
pretext
excuse
solvent
able to pay all depths; N. solvency
nauseous
causing nausea; feeling nausea
valor
bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave
impasse
predicament(dangerous condition) from which there is no escape; situation allowing for no further progress
foreboding
premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V. forebode: be a warning of (something unpleasant)
copious
plentiful
overturn
turn over; capsize; topple
fawning
courting favor by cringing and flattering; V. fawn: exhibit affection as a dog; seek favor or attention by obsequiousness
allegory
story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable
retain
keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor
mimicry
imitation
extrinsic
external; not essential or inherent; extraneous; OP. intrinsic
duration
length of time something lasts
truism
self-evident truth
absolve
pardon (an offense)
arsenal
storage place for military equipment
centrifugal
radiating; departing from the center
alms
money or goods given to the poor
shrew
scolding woman; very small mouselike animal
sordid
filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
franchise
right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory
enhance
increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or usefulness); improve
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
decadence
decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
ejaculation
exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate
terse
concise; abrupt; pithy
vintner
wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine
labyrinth
maze
detain
keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
self-indulgence
excessive indulgence of one's own desire
philology
study of language or words
recapitulate
summarize
odorous
having an odor
rustle
make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together
licentious
amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
physiognomy
face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
awful
terrible; very bad
ravenous
extremely hungry; voracious
earmark
unaccountable
unexplicable; impossible to account for; unreasonable or mysterious
behoove(behove)
be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.
badger
pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal
rumble
make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder or stomach)
sojourn
temporary stay; V: stay for a time
myopic
nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia
tortuous
winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain road
cross
bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
murmur
low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
fret
be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful
gaffe
social blunder
divest
strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)
beatitude
blessedness; state of great happiness
sinecure
well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
squat
short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
unintimating
unfrightening
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
discomfit
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
tarry
linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle
prosperous
successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off
apotheosis
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
pinnace
small boat
transition
going from one state of action to another
maudlin
effusively sentimental
chameleon
lizard that changes color in different situations
aspersion
slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
ape
imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
render
give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully
galley
low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
curb
chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain
buffet
strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set
seemly
(of behavior) proper; appropriate
decrepitude
state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
protuberance
protrusion; swelling; bulge
benefit
advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits
memorialize
commemorate
condign
adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
oscillate
vibrate pendulumlike; waver
theoretical
based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical
pundit
authority on a subject; expert; learned person
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 stereotype people; Ex. stereotyped answer
brawny
muscular; having well-developed muscles
surfeit
satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food
hazard
venture; put in danger; risk; Ex. hazard a guess; N: possible source of danger
eloquence
expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced
fanciful
whimsical; visionary; imaginary; produced by imagination; Ex. fanciful scheme
factious
inclined to form factions; causing dissension
chassis
framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
inopportune
untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly chosen
alcove
nook; recess
vendetta
blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams
nemesis
someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis
accrue
come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
undertaker
funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials
complementary
serving to complete something
jingoist
extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism
aquiline
curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
lofty
very high
mordant
biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit
bombast
grandiloquent, pompous speech
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
deft
neat; skillful
homily
sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic
rankle
irritate; fester; annoy
mingle
mix together in close association
indeterminate
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
rotundity
roundness; sonorousness of speech
enumerate
list; mention one by one
congenial
pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
gist
essence; main point; substance
privation
lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF. deprive
cataclysm
deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change
toxic
poisonous; N. toxicity
mutter
utter (complaining words) indistinctly in low tones
abjure
renounce upon oath
extradition
surrender of prisoner by one state to another; Ex. extradition treaty; V. extradite
quirk
sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate
aspire
seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
stratagem
deceptive scheme; clever trick
arrogance
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
commune
small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature
forestall
prevent by taking action in advance
inundate
flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work
fussy
fastidious; finicky; easily upset
estranged
separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N. estrangement
jetsam
things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)
bequeath
leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest
dauntless
bold; fearless
lien
legal claim or right on a property
congruent
in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous
expound
explain
obtuse
blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding
detrimental
harmful; damaging; N. detriment
mangy
shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance
putrefy
make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
hideous
repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex. hideous face/scream
abate
subside or moderate
annul
make void
egotism
tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively; conceit; self-importance
skeptic
sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
audacious
daring; bold; N. audacity
compost
mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put or make compost
heresy
opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion; ADJ. heretical; CF. heretic
high-flown
highly pretentious or inflated
maniacal
raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm
whorl
ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers
petulant
touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
decimate
kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
resolve
decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined decision; N. resolution
brave
face courageously; Ex. brave the storm
viscous
(of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF. consistency
grovel
crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate; behave in a servile manner
compliance
conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply
invalid
one incapacitated(disabled) by a chronic illness; ADJ: incapacitated by illness; not valid; null; V: allow to leave (a military force) because of ill-health
spurious
false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments
lechery
gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
entomology
study of insects
molt(moult)
periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)
expatiate
talk at length; speak or write in detail
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
askance
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
dour
sullen; gloomy; stubborn
prate
talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
cardinal
chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order
pastry
paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)
betroth
become engaged to marry
valediction
saying farewell; expression of leave-taking
hygiene
science and practice of the promotion and preservation of health; ADJ. hygienic: showing careful attention to cleanness (to prevent disease); Ex. hygienic condition
elaboration
addition of details; intricacy
homeostasis
tendency of a system or organism to maintain relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF. homeo-: constant; Ex. homeotherm
hostage
person who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy so that the other side will do what the enemy demands
resentment
indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel anger about
palimpsest
parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased
vaporize
turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)
lackadaisical
lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
casualty
serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle
bulk
size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size
rectitude
moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
vainglorious
boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity
filing
particle removed by a file
inveigh
denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh against the evils of drink
pathetic
causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
supererogatory
superfluous; more than needed or demanded
engross
occupy fully; absorb
orgy
wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping
feral
(of an animal) not domestic; wild
hilarity
boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ. hilarious: full of laughter
incandescent
strikingly bright; shining with intense heat; emitting visible light when heated; Ex. incandescent light bulb; CF. candle
forebears(forbears)
ancestors
disenfranchise
disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
slink
move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)
besmirch
soil; defile; make dirty
brood
sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time
beholden
obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
flay
strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly
sophomoric
immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
exculpate
clear from blame or guilt
perturb
disturb greatly
variegated
(esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored
excerpt
selected passage (written or musical) taken from a longer work; V.
insolvent
bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency
parley
conference (between opponents); CF. speak
compendium
brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious
gusty
windy
benison
blessing
don
put on; OP. doff
chaffing
bantering; joking
hive
box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
catapult
slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
aspirant
seeker after position or status
magistrate
official with power to administer the law
finite
limited
supplicant
one who supplicates; ADJ.
scrappy
quarrelsome
intelligentsia
intellectuals; members of the educated elite (often used derogatorily)
crochet
make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet
epitome
perfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody
vagrant
wandering from place to place; roving; stray; moving in a random fashion; Ex. vagrant thoughts; N. vagrancy
falter
hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or move unsteadily through weakness; N.
florid
ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose
philatelist
stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or amusement)
avalanche
great mass of falling snow and ice
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
inane
silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity
orientation
act of finding oneself in society; orienting
acidulous
slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
crabbed
sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
lagoon
shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs
unprepossessing
unattractive
airy
of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
integrate
make whole; combine; make into one unit
dispatch
speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
knead
mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough
spry
(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
addiction
compulsive habitual need
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
humane
marked by kindness or consideration; kind and compassionate; humanitarian
sycophant
servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic
swear-word
word considered offensive; Ex. ``bloody''
sedate
composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative
abet
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
monograph
scholarly article
preternatural
beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces
jurisdiction
right and power to apply the law; authority
despoil
plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
voluminous
having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large
dapper
neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
sleigh
large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
sullen
silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
anathema
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
destitute
extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
dismantle
take apart; disassemble
imperative
absolutely necessary; that must be done; critically important; expressing command; Ex. It is imperative that; N: something that must be done
disclaim
disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
indoctrinate
cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism
indigence
poverty
interstice
narrow space between things
abode
dwelling place; home
avuncular
of or like an uncle
matin\'ee(matinee)
dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon
welt
raised mark from a beating or whipping
strangle
kill by choking or suffocating; suppress
flotsam
drifting wreckage
eclipse
darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse
putative
supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child
gerrymander
change voting district lines in order to favor a political party; N. CF. Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander
implicate
incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be involved (in a crime); Ex. implicate someone in the crime
oblivion
obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness
incompatible
inharmonious; N. incompatibility
assent
agree; accept; N. assessment
momentous
very important; N. moment; CF. momentary
seminal
related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field
histrionic
theatrical; excessively dramatic or emotional; affected; of actors or acting; N. histrionics: histrionic behavior
stockade
wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
stem
stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
vagary
capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander
inculcate
teach (ideas or principles); instill
countermand
cancel; revoke (an order)
insularity
narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula
discriminating
able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
vouchsafe
grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
rubble
fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)
abeyance
suspended action
sate
satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
rote
repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
immolate
offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)
malignant
tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor
dysentery
inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract
fray
brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have loose threads developing; cause to become worn out (a person's temper or nerves); CF. rub
agglomeration
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
phylum
major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division
hiatus
gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break
irrevocable
unalterable; irreversible; impossible to revoke
contrivance
something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme
apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
ratify
approve formally; confirm; verify
loft
room or space under the roof; attic
defray
provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
chagrin
annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)
magisterial
authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner
warp
twist out of shape; N.
phenomena
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
plaudit
praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud
litter
waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter
advent
arrival
tenacious
holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
touchstone
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion; standard
resound
(of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter
aperture
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
coalition
partnership; league; union of separate political parties
defame
harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
nutrition
process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition
sustenance
sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food, nourishment; something that maintains life; food
waive
give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim
facilitate
help bring about; make less difficult
glean
gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty
novelty
something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original
avenge
take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.
emanate
issue forth; come out
shrivel
make or become shrunken and wrinkled (often by drying)
swell
long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.
misconduct
immoral behavior; bad management; V.
fell
cruel; (of a disease) deadly
swear
vow; promise; use profane oaths; use offensive words
immune
resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity
decry
express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
nomenclature
terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things
bait
harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
exposure
risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open; Ex. exposure of governmental corruption
ruminant
animal that ruminates; ADJ.
scorch
sear; N.
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
imperceptible
unnoticeable; impossible to perceive; undetectable
collusion
conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude
depravity
extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
quorum
minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
allude
refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
pendulous
hanging; suspended
pith
core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
psychosomatic
of the influence of the mind on the body (esp. with respect to disease)