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703 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
waggish
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humorous; mischievous; tricky.
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bugaboo
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bugbear; object of baseless terror
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mnemonic
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pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid
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conscript
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draftee; person forced into military service; V.
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punctilious
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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
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facile
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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
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penury
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extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy
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venal
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capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal
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flit
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fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
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citadel
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fortress
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libidinous
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lustful
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mendicant
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beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
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oaf
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stupid awkward person; CF. elf
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vitiate
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spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally
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cupidity
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greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
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rank
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offensive in odor or flavor
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quisling
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traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling
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tact
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skill or sensitivity in dealing with people without causing offence
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colloquy
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informal discussion; conversation
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misapprehension
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error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
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isthmus
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narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land
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skulduggery(skullduggery)
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dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
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odium
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detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)
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deserts
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what someone deserves
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nugatory
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worthless; futile
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rendition
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rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc
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terrestrial
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on or relating to the earth
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misnomer
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wrong or improper name; incorrect designation
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ghastly
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horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast
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garish
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overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
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euphony
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sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
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pithy
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concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
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girth
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distance around something; circumference
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lap
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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
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asteroid
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small planet
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adulation
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flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
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array
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marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
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redoubtable
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formidable; causing fear
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approbation
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approval
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attrition
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rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
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secession
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withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership
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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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fodder
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coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock; CF. food
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regale
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entertain
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warren
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tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live
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distant
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reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
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entrance
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put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight
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heterogeneous
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dissimilar; mixed; not homogeneous; consisting of dissimilar elements or plants
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temperate
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moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature; CF. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society
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glamor
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compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous
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disinterested
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unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
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mosaic
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picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.
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arboreal
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of or living in trees
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uninhibited
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unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings
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amnesty
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pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
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stint
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supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
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spin
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rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton, wool, etc.); N.
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grumble
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complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.
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recondite
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abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
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consonance
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harmony; agreement
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enduring
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lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering) for a long time; remain alive (in spite of difficulties); last; survive
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concave
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hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
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forward
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presumptuous or bold
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astigmatism
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eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
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singular
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being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
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augury
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omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
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tribulation
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suffering; ordeal; distress; trial
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cater
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provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)
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sartorial
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pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
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slur
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slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.
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quarry
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person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey
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queue
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line (of waiting people or vehicles)
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funereal
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sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
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genre
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particular variety of art or literature
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amphibian
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able to live both on land and in water; N.
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ineluctable
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irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable
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appall
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dismay; shock deeply
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analgesia
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condition of being unable to feel pain
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resign
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give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively
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pang
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sudden sharp feeling of pain
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incontinent
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lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious
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stickler
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perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
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inclined
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tending or leaning toward; bent; V. incline: slant; dispose; be disposed; tend
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episodic
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(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience
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seasonable
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occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute
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astringent
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binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
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quotidian
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daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine
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stanza
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division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
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sentinel
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sentry; lookout
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saga
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Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
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aristocracy
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hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
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innuendo
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indirect or subtle (derogatory) hint; insinuation; Ex. sexual innuendo
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rag
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scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance
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conducive
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helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
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slight
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insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance
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tout
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promote or publicize (one's goods or service); praise excessively (as a form of advertisement); CF. advertise
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repugnance
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disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
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cue
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word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to
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soliloquy
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talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)
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fruition
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bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization; Ex. come to/be brought to fruition
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termination
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end; V. terminate
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intermittent
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periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at intervals
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jocose
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given to(having a tendency of) joking
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blasphemy
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irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
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consummate
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complete; V.
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consequential
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self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
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gainsay
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deny
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abolish
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cancel; put an end to
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convivial
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pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
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gawk
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stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe
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betray
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be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
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cession
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yielding to another; ceding
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cogent
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convincing
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flaunt
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display ostentatiously; Ex. ``Honey, if you've got it, flaunt it !''
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chaperon
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older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman
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conspire
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take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.
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clemency
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disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
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nostrum
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questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
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scrutinize
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examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny
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archetype
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prototype; primitive pattern
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trite
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hackneyed; commonplace
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codify
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arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs
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conflagration
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great fire
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subliminal
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below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
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duplicity
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double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
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epithet
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word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)
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peon
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landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage
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thematic
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of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
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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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cohorts
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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)
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labile
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likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability
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panegyric
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formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.
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apothecary
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druggist; pharmacist
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requisition
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formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
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ample
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enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
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unassuaged
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unsatisfied; not soothed
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exigency
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urgent situation; ADJ. exigent
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voodoo
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religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
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furrow
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long shallow trench made by a plow; deep wrinkle in the skin; V.
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gerontocracy
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government ruled by old people
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rarefied
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made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
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madrigal
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pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments
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multilingual
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having many languages; fluent in several languages
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adept
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expert at; very skilled
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suffocate
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die or kill from lack of air; suppress
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deadlock
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standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
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laconic
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brief and to the point; using few words; terse
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fake
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not genuine; N: one that is not genuine; impostor; sham; V: counterfeit; Ex. fake the results of the experiment/the signature
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apparition
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ghost; phantom
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scurrilous
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abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
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consanguineous(consanguine)
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having a common ancestor
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diabolical
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diabolic; devilish; fiendish
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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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fresco
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painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)
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masochist
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person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism
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progenitor
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ancestor
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odoriferous
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giving off an odor
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asperity
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sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
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salient
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prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features
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brook
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tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream
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ductile
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malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
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subversive
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tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
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monotony
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sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone
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inkling
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hint; slight indication
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corrode
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destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)
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nirvana
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in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude
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ribald
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marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
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elastic
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able to spring back into shape; quick to recover (as from disappointment); able to adapt to change; Ex. elastic plans; N: elastic material
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biennial
|
every two years
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pugilist
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boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing
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eulogy
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expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize
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limp
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walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak
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coy
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shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offerクヲ ゲセメタサ カァ
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ordain
|
decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination
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noisome
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foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
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semblance
|
outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.
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assert
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state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
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calamity
|
disaster; misery
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foil
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defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart; CF. fail
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invocation
|
prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon as a reference or support; act of invoking
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retaliate
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repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
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complicity
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participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
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tangible
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able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof
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numismatist
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person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals
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supplant
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take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
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progeny
|
children; offspring; descendants
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list
|
tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
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invoke
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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
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slither
|
slip or slide
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precedent
|
something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF. unprecedented
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gaunt
|
lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren
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dishearten
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discourage
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commensurate
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equal in extent; of the same size
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ethereal
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like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air
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archaic
|
antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
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longevity
|
long life; long duration
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pan
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criticize harshly
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quintessence
|
purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence
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scanty
|
meager; insufficient
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unseemly
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unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with unseemly haste
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rebuff
|
reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
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pulverize
|
crush or grind into very small particles
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canny
|
shrewd in money matters; thrifty
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influx
|
flowing into
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overwrought
|
nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done
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clientele
|
body of customers
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patent
|
obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.
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wane
|
decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.
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fetter
|
shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or shackle for the foot of a prisoner; CF. foot
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regeneration
|
spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
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pedagogy
|
teaching; art of education
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jubilation
|
rejoicing; great joy
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mete
|
measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
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pulmonary
|
pertaining to the lungs
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rift
|
narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
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exonerate
|
acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
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untoward
|
unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter
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ramp
|
slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
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juncture
|
crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining
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perspicuous
|
(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments
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devoid
|
empty; lacking
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prefigure
|
be a sign of; foreshadow
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indicative
|
suggestive; implying; serving to indicate
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denigrate
|
blacken; defame
|
|
lexicon
|
dictionary
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|
sober
|
serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
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bode
|
foreshadow; portend
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reparation
|
compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
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odious
|
arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile
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maraud
|
move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
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meager
|
scanty; inadequate
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ceremonious
|
marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
|
|
autonomous
|
self-governing; N. autonomy
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vapid
|
lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture
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propitiate
|
appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
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|
fledgling(fledgeling)
|
inexperienced; N: young bird that has acquired wing feathers and is learning to fly; inexperienced person
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immaculate
|
spotless; flawless; absolutely clean
|
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distinctive
|
clearly different from others of the same kind
|
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transpose
|
reverse the order or position of
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momentum
|
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force
|
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exploit
|
brave and successful act; deed or action, particularly a brave deed; CF. crossing the Atlantic ocean
|
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sibylline
|
prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
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serrated
|
having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
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cohere
|
stick together
|
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wistful
|
sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing
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gamely
|
in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game
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spurn
|
reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
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conservatory(conservatoire)
|
school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
|
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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)
|