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844 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abash
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to embarass
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abeyance
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temporary suppression or suspension
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abject
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miserable, pitiful
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abjure
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to reject, abandon formally
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ablution
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act of cleansing
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abnegate
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to deny, renounce
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abrogate
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to abolish or invalidate by authority
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abstemious
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moderate in appetite
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accede
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to express approval, agree to
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accretion
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growth in size or increase in amount
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acidulous
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sour in taste or manner
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acme
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highest point
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acrimony
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bitterness, animosity
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adumbrate
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to sketch, outline
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adventitious
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accidental
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aerie
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nook or nest built high in the air
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affected
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pretentious, phony
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aggrieve
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to aflict, distress
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alacrity
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cheerfull willingness, eagernes;
speed |
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algorithm
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mechanical problem-solving procedure
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allay
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to lessen, ease, or soothe
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allusiveness
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quality of making indirect references
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ambulatory
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itinerant;
related to walking around |
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amenable
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agreeable, cooperative
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amity
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friendship
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amorous
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strongly attracted to love;
showing love |
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amortize
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to diminish by installment payments
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ancillary
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accessory, subordinate, helping
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anodyne
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something that calms or soothes pain
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antediluvian
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prehistoric, ancient beyond measure
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anterior
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preceeding, previous, before, prior (to)
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antipathy
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dislike, hostility;
extreme opposition or aversion |
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apace
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done quickly
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aperture
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an opening or hole
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aphasia
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inability to speak or use words
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aphelion
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point in a planet's orbit that is farthest from the sun
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aplomb
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poise, confidence
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apostate (n)
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one who renounces a religious faith
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apostrophe
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speech to the reader or someone not present
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apothegm
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a short, instructive saying
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apotheosis
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glorification;
glorified ideal |
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append
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to attach
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apprise
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to give notice of;
inform |
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approbation
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praise;
official approval |
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arable
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suitable for cultivation
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arboreal
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relating to trees; living in tress
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sidereal
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pertaining to stars
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arboretum
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place where trees are displayed and studied
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arcane
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secret, obscure, known only to a few
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archipelago
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large group of islands
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arraign
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to call to court to answer charges
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arrogate
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to demand, claim arrogantly
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artless
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open and honest;
without guile |
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askance
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scornfully
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asperity
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harshness, roughness
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aspersion
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flase runour, damaging report, slander
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assay
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to analyze or estimate,
test |
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assiduous
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dilligent, persistent, hardworking
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assignation
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appointment for lovers' meeting;
assignment |
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assauge
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to make less severe; ease, relieve
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astral
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exalted, elevated in position, relating to the stars
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asunder (adj)
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into different parts
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attenuate
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to make thin or slender; weaken
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augment
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to expand, extend
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augury
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prophecy, prediction of events
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august
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dignified, awe-inspiring, venerable
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auspicious
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having favorable prospects, promising
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auxillary
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supplementary, reserve
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aver
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to affirm, to declare to be true
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bacchanalian
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drunkenly festive
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baleful
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harmful, with evil intentions
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balk (v)
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to refuse; shirk; prevent
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bane
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something causing ruin
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beatific
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appearing to be saintly, angelic
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becalm
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to make calm, keep motionless by lack of wind
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becloud
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to confuse; darken with clouds
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belabor
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to insist repeatedly, harp on
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beleaguer
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to harass, plague
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belfry
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belltower
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belie
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to misinterpret, expose as false
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bellicose
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warlike, aggressive
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bemuse
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to confuse, stupefy; plunge into deep thought
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benighted
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unenlightened
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benison
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blessing
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bespatter
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to spatter
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betoken
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to indicte, signify, give evidence of
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bevy
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group
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bifurcate
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divide into two parts
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bilious
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bad-natured
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bilk
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to cheat, defraud
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billet
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board and lodging for troops
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blanch
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to plale; take the color out of
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blandish
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to coax with flattery
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blight
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to afflict, to destroy
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blithe
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joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought
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bluster
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to boast or make threats loudly
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bonanza
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extremely large amount, something profitable
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bonhomie
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good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer
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boon
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blessing; something to be thankful for
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broach
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to mention or suggest for the first time
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bromide
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a dull, commonplace person or idea
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brusque
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rough and abrubt in manner
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bulwark
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defense wall, anything serving as defense
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bursar
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treasurer
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cabal
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a secret group seeking to overturn something
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callow
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immature, lacking sophistication
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calumny
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false and malicious accusation, misrepresentation, slander
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canard
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a lie
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canny
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smart, founded on common sense
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capacious
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large, roomy; extensive
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careen
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to lean to one side
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carom
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to strike and rebound
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categorical
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absolute, without exception
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catholic
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universal; broad and comprehensive
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caucus
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smaller group within an organization; a meeting of such a group
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caulk
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to make watertight
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cavalcade
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a procession
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cavil
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to raise trivial objections
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cavort
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to frolic, frisk
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celerity
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quick moving or acting
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censorious
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severly critical
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cession
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act of surrendering something
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chagrin
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shame, embarrassment, humiliation
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chary
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watchful, cautious, extremely shy
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chattel
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piece of personal property
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chicanery
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tricky, fraud, deception
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chimerical
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fanciful, imaginary, visionary; impossible
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choleric
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easily angered, short-tempered
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chortle
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to chuckle
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chromatic
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relating to color
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circumlocution
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roundabout, lengthy way of saying something
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circumspect
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cautious, wary
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clement
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mild
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cloying
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indulging to excess
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cognomen
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family name, any name, especially a nickname
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collateral
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accompanying
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colloquy
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dialougue or conversation, conference
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comeliness
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physical grace and beauty
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commensurate
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proportional
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commodious
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roomy, spacious
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commute
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to change a penalty to a less severe one
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compendious
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summarizing completely and briefly
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complaisant vs. complacent
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first means: agreeable, friendly
2nd: self-satisfied, smug |
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complicity
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knowing partnership in wrongdoing
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compulsive
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obsessive, fanatic
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compunctious
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feeling guilty or having misgivings
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compunction
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feeling of uneasiness caused by guilt
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concatenate
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linked togethor
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conciliatory
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overcoming distrust or hostility
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concomitant
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accompanying something
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confection
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something sweet to eat
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conflagration
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a big, destructive fire
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confluence
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meeting place; meeting of two streams
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congenial
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similar in tastes and habits
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congenital
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existing sense birth
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conjugal
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pertaining to marriage
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connive
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to conspire, scheme
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consanguineous
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of the same origin; related by blood
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consign
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to commit, entrust
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consonant
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consistent with, in agreement with
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constituent
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component, part; citizen, voter
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construe
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to explain or interpret
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consummate (adj & v)
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accomplished, complete, perfect;
to complete, fulfill |
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contrite
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deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong
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contumacious
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rebellious
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convalescence
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gradual recovery after an illness
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convivial
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sociable, fond of eating, drinking and people
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convoke
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to call togethor, to summon
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coquette
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woman who flirts
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corpulence
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obesity, fatness, bulkiness
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cosmography
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science that deals with the nature of the universe
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cosmopolitan
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sophisticated, free from local predjudices
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cosset
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to pamper, treat with great care
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coterie
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group of people with a common interest or purpose
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countermand
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to annul, cancel, make a contrary order
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countervail
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to counteract, to exert force against
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coven
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group of witches
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craven
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cowardly
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credulous
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gullible, trusting
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cupidity
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greed
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curmudgeon
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cranky person
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curt
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abrupt, blunt
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cygnet
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young swan
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daunt
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to discourage, intimidate
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dearth
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lack, scarcity, insufficiency
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debutante
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young woman making debut in high society
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decamp
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to leave suddenly
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declivity
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downward slope
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decry
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to belittle, openly condemn
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defamatory
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slanderous, injurious to the reputation
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deference
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respect, honor
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deferential
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respectful and polite in a submissive way
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defunct
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no longer existing, dead, extinct
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deleterious
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harmful, destructive, detrimental
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demagogue
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leader or rabble-rouser who usually uses appeals to emotion or predjudice
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demur
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to express doubts or objections,
delay |
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denigrate
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to slur or blacken someone's reputation
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denude
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to make bare, uncover, undress
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deprecate
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to belittle, disparage
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derivative
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copied or adapted; not original
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derogate
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to belittle, disparage
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descry
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to discover or reveal
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desiccate
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to dry completely, dehydrate
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desist
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to stop doing something
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desultory
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at random, rambling, unmethodical
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detestation
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extreme hatred
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diaphanous
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allowing light to shine through; delicate
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dictum
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authoritative statement;
popular saying |
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didactic
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excessively instructive
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diffidence
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lack of confidence, shyness
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diffract
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to cause to separate into parts, esp. light
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dilapidated
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in disrepair, run-down, neglected
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dilatory
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slow, tending to delay
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dilettante
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an amateur
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disaffected
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discontented and disloyal
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disburse
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to pay out
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disclaim
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to deny, disavow
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disconsolate
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unable to be consoled;
extremely sad |
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discursive
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wandering from topic to topic
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disgorge
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to vomit, discharge violently
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dissemble
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to pretend, disguise one's motives
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dissimulate
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to disguise or put on a false appearance
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distaff
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the female branch of a family
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distend
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to swell, inflate, bloat
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dither (v)
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to move or act confusedly or without clear purpose
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diurnal
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daily
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doctrinaire
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rigidly devoted to theories
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dolor
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sadness
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dolt
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idiot, dimwit, foolish person
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dotage
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senile condition, mental decline
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dotard
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senile old person
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doughty
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courageous
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dour
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sullen and gloomy;
stern and severe |
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draft
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to plan, outline; to recruit
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drivel
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stupid talk; slobber
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droll
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amusing in a wry, subtle way
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dudgeon
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angry indignation
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dulcet
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pleasant sounding, soothing to the ear
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dyseptic
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suffering from indigestion;
gloomy and irritable |
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ebullient
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exhilirated, full of enthusiasm and high spirits
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editorialize
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to express an opinion on a subject
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efficacious
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effective, efficient
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effluvia
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outpouring of gases or vapors
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effulgent
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brilliantly shining
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effusive
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expressing emotion without restraint
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egregious
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conspicuously bad
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egress
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exit
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elegy
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mournful poem, usually about the dead
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elicit
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to draw out, provoke
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emend
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to correct a text
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emollient
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having soothing qualities
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emotive
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appealing to or expressing emotion
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encipher
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to translate a message into a code
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encomium
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warm praise
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opine
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to hold or express an opinion
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endemic
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belonging to a particular area, inherent
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endogamous
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marrying within a specific group due to law or customs
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enervate
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to weaken, sap strength
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enjoin
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to urge, order, command;
forbid or prohibit, as by judicial order |
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ennui
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boredom, lack of interest and energy
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ensconce
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to settle comfortably into a place
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entail
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to involve as a necessary result, necessitate;
require, impose |
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epicure
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person with refined taste in food and wine
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epigram
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short, witty saying or poem
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epigraph
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question at the beginning of a literary work
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epilogue
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concluding section of a literary work
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epithet
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an abusive word or phrase
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equanimity
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calmness, composure
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equine
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relating to horses
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ersatz
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fake
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eschew
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to abstain from, avoid
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espouse
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to support or advocate, to marry
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esurient
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hungry, greedy
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euphony
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pleasant, harmonious sound
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eurythmics
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art of harmonious body movements
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evince
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to show clearly, display, signify
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excoriate
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to denounce
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exculpate
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to clear of blame or fault
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execrable
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utterly detestable
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exigent
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urgent; excessively demanding
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expatiate
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to wander; to discuss or describe at length
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expatriate
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one who lives outside one's native land
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expedient
|
convenient, efficient, practical
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expiate
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to atone for, make amends for
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explicit
|
clearly defined, specific; forthright in expression
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expurgate
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to censor
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extenuate
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to lessen the seriousness, strength or effect of
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extrapolate
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to estimate
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extricate
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to free from, disentangle
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facsimile
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an exact copy
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fallow
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uncultivated, unused
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fastidious
|
careful with details;
hard to please |
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faze
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to bother, upset, or disconcert
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fealty
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intense loyalty
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feckless
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ineffective, careless, irresponsible
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fecund
|
fertile, fruitful, productive
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felicitous
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suitable, appropriate; well-spoken
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felicity
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feeling great happiness
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fervid
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passionate, intense, zealous
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fetid
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foul smelling, putrid
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expurgate
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to censor
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extenuate
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to lessen the seriousness, strength or effect of
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extrapolate
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to estimate
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extricate
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to free from, disentangle
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facsimile
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an exact copy
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fallow
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uncultivated, unused
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fastidious
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careful with details;
hard to please |
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faze
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to bother, upset, or disconcert
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fealty
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intense loyalty
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feckless
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ineffective, careless, irresponsible
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fecund
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fertile, fruitful, productive
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felicitous
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suitable, appropriate; well-spoken
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felicity
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feeling great happiness
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fervid
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passionate, intense, zealous
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fetid
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foul smelling, putrid
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fey
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otherworldly; doomed
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fictive
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fictional, imaginary
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filch
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to steal
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fillial
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appropriate for a child
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fiat
|
an authoritative decree, sanction
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fission
|
process of splitting into two parts
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fitful
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intermittent, irregular
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florid
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gaudy, extremely ornate; ruddy, flushed
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flurried
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to become agitated and confused
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foible
|
minor weakness or character flaw
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foist
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to pass off as genuine
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foment
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to arouse or incite
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|
|
forbearance
|
patience, restraint, leniency
|
|
|
forensics
|
study of argumentation and debate
|
|
|
forfend
|
to prevent
|
|
|
forlorn
|
dreary, deserted; unhappy; hopeless, despairing;
pitiful in appearnace |
|
|
fortnight
|
two weeks
|
|
|
fracas
|
noisy dispute
|
|
|
fraught
|
full of, accompanied by
|
|
|
frenetic
|
wildly frantic, frenzied, hectic
|
|
|
frond
|
leaf
|
|
|
fulminate
|
to explode with anger;
denounce ferociously |
|
|
fulsome
|
excessive, overdone, sickeningly abudannt
|
|
|
gainsay
|
to deny
|
|
|
gambol
|
to dance or skip around playfully
|
|
|
gibe (v)
|
to make heckling, taunting remarks
|
|
|
glib
|
fluent in an insincere manner;
offhand, casual |
|
|
glower
|
to glare, stare angrily and intensely
|
|
|
gossamer
|
something light
|
|
|
granular
|
having a grainy texture
|
|
|
gratis
|
free, costing nothing
|
|
|
gustatory
|
relating to sense of taste
|
|
|
hackneyed
|
worn out by over-use
|
|
|
hapless
|
unfortunate, having bad luck
|
|
|
hamlet
|
small village
|
|
|
hallow
|
to make holy, treat as sacred
|
|
|
harangue
|
a pompous speech
|
|
|
harrowing
|
extremely distressing
|
|
|
headlong
|
recklessly
|
|
|
hector
|
a bully, braggart
|
|
|
hemicycle
|
semicircle form or structure
|
|
|
hermetic
|
tightly sealed
|
|
|
hidebound
|
excessively rigid;
dry and stiff |
|
|
hinterland
|
wilderness
|
|
|
hiatus
|
a gap or break
|
|
|
hoary
|
very old;
whitish or gray from age |
|
|
homonym
|
word identical in pronunciation but different in meaning
|
|
|
hypochondria
|
unfounded belief that one is often ill
|
|
|
ignominous
|
disgraceful and dishonorable
|
|
|
ilk
|
type or kind
|
|
|
illimitable
|
limitless
|
|
|
imbue
|
to infuse; dye, wet, moisten
|
|
|
immaterial
|
nonessential; not consisting of matter
|
|
|
immunological
|
relating to immune system
|
|
|
immure
|
to imprison
|
|
|
impassive
|
showing no emotion
|
|
|
impecunious
|
poor, having no money
|
|
|
impertinent
|
rude
|
|
|
impious
|
not devout in religion
|
|
|
impolitic
|
unwise
|
|
|
importune
|
to ask repeatedly, beg
|
|
|
impound
|
to seize and confine
|
|
|
imprecation
|
curse
|
|
|
improvident
|
without planning or foresight, negligent
|
|
|
impudent
|
arrogant and rude
|
|
|
impugn
|
to call into question, attack verbally
|
|
|
inane
|
foolish, silly, lacking significance
|
|
|
incandescent
|
shining brightly
|
|
|
incarnadine
|
blood-red in color
|
|
|
incendiary
|
combustible, flammable, burning easily
|
|
|
incipient
|
beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage
|
|
|
incisive
|
perceptive, penetrating
|
|
|
incredulous
|
skeptical, doubtful
|
|
|
inculcate
|
to teach, impress in the minf
|
|
|
inculpate
|
to blame, charge with a crime
|
|
|
incursion
|
sudden invasion
|
|
|
indelible
|
permanent, not erasable
|
|
|
indigent
|
very poor
|
|
|
indolent
|
habitually lazy, idle
|
|
|
indomitable
|
fearless, unconquerable
|
|
|
indubitable
|
unquestionable
|
|
|
inert
|
unable to move, tending to inactivity
|
|
|
inestimable
|
too great to be estimated
|
|
|
inexorable
|
inflexible, unyielding
|
|
|
inextricable
|
incapable of being disentangled
|
|
|
ingenuous
|
straightforward, open; naive and unsophisticated
|
|
|
inglorious
|
lacking fame or honor, shameful
|
|
|
ingrate
|
ungrateful person
|
|
|
ingratiate
|
to bring oneself purposely into another's good graces
|
|
|
ingres
|
entrance
|
|
|
injunction
|
command, order
|
|
|
injurious
|
causing injury
|
|
|
inquest
|
investigation
|
|
|
insentient
|
unfeeling, unconscious
|
|
|
insidious
|
sly, treacherous, devious
|
|
|
insipid
|
bland, lacking flavor; lacking excitment
|
|
|
insolent
|
insulting, arrogant
|
|
|
insolvent
|
bankrupt, unable to pay one's debts
|
|
|
insular
|
isolated, detached
|
|
|
insuperable
|
insurmountable, unconquerable
|
|
|
intemperate
|
not moderate
|
|
|
inter
|
to bury
|
|
|
interdict
|
to forbid, prohibit
|
|
|
interlocutor
|
someone taking part in a dialogue
|
|
|
interloper
|
trespasser; meddler in other's affairs
|
|
|
internecine
|
deadly to both sides
|
|
|
interpolate
|
to insert; change by adding new words or material
|
|
|
interregnum
|
interval between reigns
|
|
|
interstice
|
a space between things
|
|
|
intractable
|
not easily managed
|
|
|
intransigent
|
uncompromising
|
|
|
inure
|
to harden; accustom; become used to
|
|
|
invective
|
verbal abuse
|
|
|
inveigh
|
protest strongly
|
|
|
investiture
|
ceremony conferring authority
|
|
|
inveterate
|
confirmed, long standing, deeply rooted
|
|
|
invidious
|
likely to provoke ill will, offensive
|
|
|
irascible
|
easily angered
|
|
|
rapacious
|
inordinately greedy
|
|
|
iridescent
|
showing many colors
|
|
|
jaded
|
tired by excess or overuse; slightly cynical
|
|
|
jibe
|
to shift suddenly from one side to another
|
|
|
jingoism
|
belligerent support of one's country
|
|
|
jocular
|
jovial, playful, humorous
|
|
|
kinetic
|
relating to motion, characterized by movement
|
|
|
kismet
|
fate
|
|
|
knell
|
sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure
|
|
|
kudos
|
fame, glory, honor
|
|
|
lachrymose
|
tearful
|
|
|
laconic
|
using few words
|
|
|
laggard
|
dawdler, loafer, lazy person
|
|
|
lambaste
|
disapprove angrily
|
|
|
languid
|
lacking energy, indifferent, slow
|
|
|
languor
|
listlessness- lacking energy and enthusiasm
|
|
|
lapidary
|
relating to precious stones
|
|
|
larder
|
place where food is stored
|
|
|
largess
|
generosity; gift
|
|
|
lascivious
|
lewd, lustful
|
|
|
lassitude
|
lethargy, sluggishness
|
|
|
laxity
|
carelessness
|
|
|
leery
|
suspicious
|
|
|
legerdemain
|
trickery
|
|
|
licentious
|
immoral; unrestrained by society
|
|
|
lien
|
right to possess and sell the property of a debtor
|
|
|
limpid
|
clear and simple; serene; transparent
|
|
|
liniment
|
medicinal liquid used externally to ease pain
|
|
|
lionize
|
to treat as a celebrity
|
|
|
lissome
|
easily flexed, limber, agile
|
|
|
listless
|
lacking energy and enthusiasm
|
|
|
lithe
|
moving and bending with ease
|
|
|
livid
|
reddened with anger; discolored from a bruise
|
|
|
locomotion
|
movement from place to place
|
|
|
loquacious
|
talkative
|
|
|
low
|
to make a sound like a cow
|
|
|
lugubrious
|
sorrowful, mournful
|
|
|
lurid
|
harshly shocking, sensational; glowing
|
|
|
macabre
|
gruesome, producing horror
|
|
|
machination
|
plot or scheme
|
|
|
macrobiotics
|
art of prolonging life by special diet of organic, nonmeat substances
|
|
|
maelstrom
|
whirlpool, turmoil; agitated state of mind
|
|
|
magnanimous
|
generous, noble in spirit
|
|
|
magnate
|
powerful or influential person
|
|
|
maladroit
|
clumsy, tactless
|
|
|
malapropism
|
humorous misuse of a word
|
|
|
malediction
|
curse
|
|
|
malefactor
|
evil-doer; culprit
|
|
|
malinger
|
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
|
|
|
manumission
|
release from slavery
|
|
|
martinet
|
strict disciplinarian, one who rigidly follows rules
|
|
|
matriculate
|
to enroll as a member of a college or university
|
|
|
matrilineal
|
tracing ancestry through mother's line
|
|
|
maudlin
|
overly sentimental
|
|
|
mawkish
|
sickeningly sentimental
|
|
|
megalith
|
huge stone used in prehistoric structures
|
|
|
mendacious
|
dishonest
|
|
|
mendacity
|
a lie, falsehood
|
|
|
mendicant
|
beggar
|
|
|
meretricious
|
gaudy, falsely attractive
|
|
|
meridian
|
circle passing through two poles of the earth
|
|
|
militate
|
to operate against, work against
|
|
|
mirth
|
frivolity, gaiety, laughter
|
|
|
miscreant
|
one who behaves criminally
|
|
|
missive
|
note or letter
|
|
|
modicum
|
a small amount
|
|
|
mollify
|
to calm or make less severe
|
|
|
moot
|
debatable; previously decided
|
|
|
mordacious
|
caustic, biting
|
|
|
mordant
|
sarcastic
|
|
|
moribund
|
dying, decaying
|
|
|
mottle
|
to mark with spots
|
|
|
munificent
|
generous
|
|
|
mutability
|
changeability
|
|
|
myopic
|
near sighted
|
|
|
nadir
|
lowest point
|
|
|
naivete
|
a lack of worldly wisdom
|
|
|
nascent
|
starting to develop, coming into existence
|
|
|
necromancy
|
black magic
|
|
|
nafarious
|
vicious, evil
|
|
|
neologism
|
new word or expression
|
|
|
neonate
|
newborn child
|
|
|
nether
|
located under or below
|
|
|
nettle
|
to ittitate
|
|
|
niggardly
|
stingy
|
|
|
niggling
|
trifle,petty
|
|
|
novitiate
|
period of being a beginner
|
|
|
numismatics
|
coin collecting
|
|
|
nuptial
|
relating to marriage
|
|
|
obeisance
|
a show of respect or submission
|
|
|
obfuscate
|
to confuse, obscure
|
|
|
objurgate
|
scold
|
|
|
oblique
|
indirect, evasive; misleading, devious
|
|
|
obloquy
|
abusive language; ill repute
|
|
|
obsequious
|
brownnosing
|
|
|
obsequy
|
funeral ceremony
|
|
|
obstreperous
|
troublesome, boisterous, unruly
|
|
|
obviate
|
to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent
|
|
|
occlude
|
to shut, block
|
|
|
odious
|
hateful, contemptible
|
|
|
officious
|
too helpful, meddlesome
|
|
|
onerous
|
burdensome
|
|
|
opalescent
|
iridescent, displaying colors
|
|
|
opaque
|
impervious to light
|
|
|
opine
|
to express an opinion
|
|
|
opprobrious
|
disgraceful, contemptuous
|
|
|
ornithologist
|
scientist who studies birds
|
|
|
orotund
|
pompous
|
|
|
ossify
|
to turn to bone; to become rigid
|
|
|
ostensible
|
apparent
|
|
|
ostentatious
|
showy
|
|
|
ouster
|
expulsion, ejection
|
|
|
overt
|
in the open
|
|
|
overweening
|
arrogant
|
|
|
paean
|
a song of praise or thanksgiving
|
|
|
palatial
|
like a palace, magnificent
|
|
|
palaver
|
idle talk
|
|
|
palisade
|
fence made up of stakes
|
|
|
pall
|
covering that darkens or obscures (n); to lose strength or interest (v)
|
|
|
palliate
|
to make less serious, ease
|
|
|
pallid
|
lacking color or liveliness
|
|
|
palpable
|
obvious, real, tangible
|
|
|
palpitation
|
trembling, shaking, irregular beating
|
|
|
panacea
|
cure-all
|
|
|
panache
|
flamboyance, verve
|
|
|
panegyric
|
elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
|
|
|
panoply
|
impressive array
|
|
|
paragon
|
model of excellence or perfection
|
|
|
pare
|
to trim
|
|
|
parity
|
equality
|
|
|
parochial
|
limited outlook, provincial
|
|
|
parry
|
to ward off or deflect
|
|
|
parsimony
|
stinginess
|
|
|
pastiche
|
piece of literature or music imitating other works
|
|
|
patent
|
obvious, unconcealed
|
|
|
pathogenic
|
causing disease
|
|
|
pathos
|
pity, compassion
|
|
|
patrician
|
aristocrat
|
|
|
patrimony
|
inheritance or heritage derived from one's father
|
|
|
paucity
|
scarcity
|
|
|
pecadillo
|
minor offense
|
|
|
peculation
|
theft of money or goods
|
|
|
pedagogue
|
teacher
|
|
|
pedant
|
one who pays undue attention to book learning and rules; one who displays learning ostentatiously
|
|
|
pejorative
|
having bad connotations; disparaging
|
|
|
pellucid
|
transparent; translucent; easily understood
|
|
|
penchant
|
inclination
|
|
|
pensive
|
thoughtful
|
|
|
penumbra
|
partial shadow
|
|
|
penury
|
extreme poverty
|
|
|
perambulate
|
walk about
|
|
|
percipient
|
discerning, able to perceive
|
|
|
perdition
|
complete and utter loss; damnation
|
|
|
peregrinate
|
to wander from place to place
|
|
|
peremptory
|
imperative; dictatorial
|
|
|
perfidious
|
faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy
|
|
|
perfunctory
|
done in a routine way; indifferent
|
|
|
perihelion
|
point in orbit nearest the sun
|
|
|
peripatetic
|
moving from place to place
|
|
|
periphrastic
|
containing too many words
|
|
|
pernicious
|
very harmful
|
|
|
perspicacious
|
shrewd, astute, keen-witted
|
|
|
pert
|
lively and bold
|
|
|
pertinacious
|
persistent, stubborn
|
|
|
pertinent
|
applicable, appropriate
|
|
|
perturbation
|
disturbance
|
|
|
pettish
|
fretful
|
|
|
petulance
|
rudeness, peevishness
|
|
|
phlegm
|
apathy, coldness
|
|
|
phlegmatic
|
calm in temperament; sluggish
|
|
|
picayune
|
petty, of little value
|
|
|
piddling
|
trivial
|
|
|
pillory
|
ridicule and abuse
|
|
|
pique
|
fleeting feeling of hurt pride
|
|
|
pithy
|
profound, substantial; concise, to the point
|
|
|
pittance
|
meager amount or wage
|
|
|
plaintive
|
expressing sorrow
|
|
|
plait
|
to braid
|
|
|
plangent
|
loud sound; wailing sound
|
|
|
plaudit
|
applause
|
|
|
ply (v)
|
to use diligently; to engage; to join
|
|
|
pneumatic
|
relating to air; worked by compressed air
|
|
|
polyglot
|
speaker of many languages
|
|
|
ponderous
|
weighty; unwieldy
|
|
|
pontificate
|
to speak in a pretentious manner
|
|
|
pore (v)
|
to study closely or meditatively
|
|
|
portent
|
omen
|
|
|
posterity
|
future generations; all of a person's descendants
|
|
|
potable
|
drinkable
|
|
|
potentate
|
monarch or ruler with great power
|
|
|
precipitous
|
hasty, quickly; with little caution
|
|
|
precis
|
short summary of facts
|
|
|
precocious
|
unusually advanced at an early age
|
|
|
predicate (v)
|
to found or base on
|
|
|
predilection
|
preference, liking
|
|
|
prepossessing
|
attractive, engaging, appealing
|
|
|
presage
|
to foretell, indicate in advance
|
|
|
prescient
|
having forsight
|
|
|
presentiment
|
premonition, sense of foreboding
|
|
|
prestidigitation
|
sleight of hand
|
|
|
prevaricate
|
to lie
|
|
|
primoridal
|
original, existing from the beginning
|
|
|
probity
|
honesty, integrity
|
|
|
procure
|
to obtain
|
|
|
prodigious
|
vast, enormous, extrordinary
|
|
|
progenitor
|
originator, forefather, ancestor in a direct line
|
|
|
prolix
|
tediously wordy
|
|
|
promontory
|
piece of land or rock higher than its surroundings
|
|
|
promulgate
|
to make know publicly
|
|
|
propagate
|
to breed
|
|
|
propinquity
|
nearness
|
|
|
propitiate
|
to win over, appease
|
|
|
propitious
|
favorable, advantageous
|
|
|
protean
|
readily assuming different forms or characters
|
|
|
proxy
|
power to act as a substitute for another
|
|
|
prurient
|
lustful, exhibiting lewd desires
|
|
|
puerile
|
childish, immature, silly
|
|
|
pugilism
|
boxing
|
|
|
pulchritude
|
beauty
|
|
|
punctilious
|
careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony
|
|
|
punitive
|
having to do with punishment
|
|
|
purgation
|
process of cleansing, purification
|
|
|
pusillanimous
|
cowardly
|
|
|
quaternary
|
consisting of or relating to four units or members
|
|
|
querulous
|
inclined to complain, irritable
|
|
|
quiescence
|
inactive, at rest
|
|
|
quotidian
|
occurring daily; commonplace
|
|
|
raconteur
|
witty, skillful storyteller
|
|
|
raillery
|
lighthearted jesting
|
|
|
ramshackle
|
likely to collapse
|
|
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rapprochment
|
having a cordial relationship
|
|
|
rarefy
|
to make thinner, purer, or more refined
|
|
|
ratiocination
|
methodical, logical reasoning
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|
|
rebarbative
|
irritating, repellent
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|
|
recalcitrant
|
resisting authority or control
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|
|
recapitulate
|
to summarize
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|
|
recidivism
|
tendency to repeat previous behavior
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|
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recondite
|
relating to obscure learning; known to only a few
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|
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recreant
|
disloyal; cowardly
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|
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rectitude
|
moral uprightness
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refectory
|
room where meals are served
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refractory
|
obstinately resistant
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rejoinder
|
response
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remonstrate
|
to protest or object
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|
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remuneration
|
pay or reward for work, trouble, etcetera
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|
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renascent
|
reborn, coming into being again
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renitent
|
resisting pressure, obstinate
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repast
|
meal or mealtime
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reprise
|
repetition, esp. of a piece of musci
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reprobate
|
morally unprincipled person
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requite
|
to return or repay
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|
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rescind
|
to appeal or to cancel
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|
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respire
|
to breath
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|
|
resplendent
|
splendid, brilliant
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|
|
restive
|
impatient, uneasy, restless
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retinue
|
group of attendants
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retiring
|
shy, modest, reserved
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retrench
|
to regroup, reorganize
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|
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rhapsody
|
emotional literary or musical work
|
|
|
ribald
|
humorous in a vulgar way
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|
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riposte
|
a retort
|
|
|
rococo
|
very highly ornamental
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|
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roil
|
to disturb or cause disorder
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|
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rostrum
|
stage for public speaking
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|
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rue
|
to regret
|
|
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salacious
|
lustful
|
|
|
salient
|
prominent or conspicuous
|
|
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sallow
|
sticky yellow in color
|
|
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salubrious
|
healthful
|
|
|
sanguine
|
ruddy, cheerfully optimistic
|
|
|
sapient
|
wise
|
|
|
sardonic
|
cynical, scornfully mocking
|
|
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scabrous
|
dealing with indecent things; blemished
|
|
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scintilla
|
very small amount
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|
|
scintillate
|
to sparkle, flash
|
|
|
scion
|
descendant, child
|
|
|
scrivener
|
professional copysist
|
|
|
scurrilous
|
vulgar, low, indecent
|
|
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secant
|
straight line intersecting a curve at two points
|
|
|
seminal
|
relating to the beginnings or seeds of something
|
|
|
senescent
|
aging, growing old
|
|
|
sententious
|
abounding in pithy aphorisms or maxims
|
|
|
serendipity
|
habit of making fortunate discoveries by chance
|
|
|
sidle
|
to cause to turn sideways; to move along one side
|
|
|
simian
|
apelike, relating to apes
|
|
|
simper
|
to smirk, smile foolishly
|
|
|
sinecure
|
well-paying job or office that requires little or no work
|
|
|
skulk
|
to move in a stealthy or cautious manner; sneak
|
|
|
slake
|
to calm down or moderate
|
|
|
slipshod
|
careless, hasty
|
|
|
sobriquet
|
nickname
|
|
|
solarium
|
room or glassed-in area exposed to the sun
|
|
|
solecism
|
grammatical mistake
|
|
|
solicitious
|
concerned, attentive; eager
|
|
|
somnambulist
|
sleepwalker
|
|
|
somnolent
|
drowsy, sleepy; inducing sleep
|
|
|
soporific
|
sleepy or tending to cause sleep
|
|
|
sordid
|
filthy, contemptible and corrupt
|
|
|
specious
|
deceptively attractive
|
|
|
sporitve
|
frolicsome, playful
|
|
|
squalid
|
filthy; morally repulsive
|
|
|
staccato
|
marked by abrupt, clear cut sounds
|
|
|
staid
|
self restrained to the point of dullness
|
|
|
stentorian
|
extremely loud
|
|
|
stint
|
(v) to be sparing or frugal
|
|
|
stolid
|
having or showing little emotion
|
|
|
stricture
|
something that restrains; negative criticism
|
|
|
strident
|
loud, harsh
|
|
|
stripling
|
an adolescent boy
|
|
|
stultify
|
to impair or reduce to uselessness
|
|
|
sublimate
|
to repress impulses
|
|
|
subterfuge
|
trick or tactic used to avoid something
|
|
|
sufferable
|
bearable
|
|
|
sully
|
to soil, taint
|
|
|
superannuated
|
too old, obsolete, outdated
|
|
|
supercilious
|
arrogant, haughty, overbearing, condescending
|
|
|
supererogatory
|
nonessential
|
|
|
surfeit
|
excessive amount
|
|
|
surly
|
rude and bad tempered
|
|
|
surmise
|
to make an educated guess
|
|
|
swarthy
|
having a dark complexion
|
|
|
synchronous
|
happening at the same time
|
|
|
syncopation
|
temporary irregularity in musical rhythm
|
|
|
tableau
|
vivid description, striking incident or scence
|
|
|
taciturn
|
uncommunicative, not inclined to speak much
|
|
|
talisman
|
something producing a magical effect
|
|
|
tantamount
|
equivalent in value or significance
|
|
|
tawdry
|
gaudy, cheap, showy
|
|
|
technocrat
|
strong believer in technology
|
|
|
temerity
|
recklessness
|
|
|
tendentious
|
biased
|
|
|
tensile
|
capable of enduring physical stress
|
|
|
tenuous
|
weak, unsubstantial
|
|
|
tepid
|
lukewarm; showing little enthusiasm
|
|
|
thrall
|
a person in servitude
|
|
|
threnody
|
a sad poem or song
|
|
|
timorous
|
timid, shy, full of ap,prehension
|
|
|
toady
|
flatterer, yes-man
|
|
|
torpid
|
lethargic
|
|
|
torrid
|
burning hot, passionate
|
|
|
torsion
|
act of twisting and turning
|
|
|
tractable
|
obedient, yielding
|
|
|
trammel
|
to impede or hamper
|
|
|
transmute
|
to change in appearance or shape
|
|
|
travesty
|
parody, exaggeration imitation, caricature
|
|
|
trenchant
|
acute, sharp, incisive; forceful, effective
|
|
|
trite
|
shallow, superficial
|
|
|
truculent
|
savage and cruel; fierce; ready to fight
|
|
|
truncate
|
to cut off, shorten by cutting
|
|
|
tryst
|
agreement between lovers to meet
|
|
|
turbid
|
muddled, unclear
|
|
|
turgid
|
swollen, bloated
|
|
|
turpitude
|
inherent vileness, depravity
|
|
|
tyro
|
beginner, novice
|
|
|
umbrage
|
offense, resentment
|
|
|
unavailing
|
hopeless, useless
|
|
|
unctuous
|
greasy, oily; smug and falsely earnest
|
|
|
unfrock
|
to strip of priestly duties
|
|
|
unstinting
|
generous
|
|
|
untoward
|
not favorable; unruly
|
|
|
upbraid
|
to scold sharply
|
|
|
urbane
|
courteous, refined, suave
|
|
|
vacuous
|
empty, void, lacking intelligence or purpose
|
|
|
vapid
|
tasteless, dull
|
|
|
vaunted
|
boasted about, bragged about
|
|
|
venal
|
corrupt, willing to do wrong for money
|
|
|
verdant
|
green with vegetation; inexperienced
|
|
|
verdure
|
fresh, rich vegetation
|
|
|
verity
|
truthfulness
|
|
|
vernal
|
relating to spring
|
|
|
verve
|
energy, vitality
|
|
|
viaduct
|
series of elevated arches used to cross a valley
|
|
|
vicissitude
|
change or variation; ups and downs
|
|
|
vim
|
energy; enthusiasm
|
|
|
virile
|
manly
|
|
|
virulent
|
extremely poisonous; malignant; hateful
|
|
|
vitiate
|
reduce in value or effectiveness
|
|
|
vitriolic
|
burning, caustic; sharp
|
|
|
vituperative
|
to abuse verbally
|
|
|
vociferous
|
loud, vocal and noisy
|
|
|
wan
|
sickly pale
|
|
|
wanton
|
undisciplined, unrestrained, reckless
|
|
|
waspish
|
rude, behaving badly
|
|
|
wax
|
to in crease
|
|
|
welter
|
(n)a confused mass; a jumble
|
|
|
windfall
|
sudden, unexpected good fortune
|
|
|
winsome
|
charming, happily engaging
|
|
|
wizened
|
withered, shriveled, wrinkled
|
|
|
writ
|
written document, usually in law
|
|
|
zenith
|
highest point
|
|
|
zephyr
|
gentle breeze
|
|
|
attenuate
|
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
|
|
|
credulous
|
too trusting; gullible
|
|
|
deference
|
respect
|
|
|
diatribe
|
an abusive, condemning speech
|
|
|
diffident
|
lacking self-confidence
|
|
|
enumerate
|
to count, list, or itimize
|
|
|
exculpate
|
to clear from blame
|
|
|
florid
|
excessively decorated or embellished
|
|
|
foment
|
to arouse or incite
|
|
|
garrulous
|
talking alot
|
|
|
mollify
|
to calm or make less severe
|
|
|
onerous
|
troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
|
|
|
opprobrium
|
public disgrace
|
|
|
stolid
|
unemotional, lacking sensitivity
|
|
|
whimsical
|
acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
|
|
|
reticent
|
silent, reserved
|
|
|
millinery
|
designing, making of hats
|
|
|
repine
|
to be fretfully discontented; complain
|
|
|
prohibitive
|
1. serving or tending to prohibit or forbid something.
2. sufficing to prevent the use, purchase, etc., of something: prohibitive prices |
|
|
repast
|
1. a quantity of food taken or provided for one occasion of eating: to eat a light repast.
2. a meal: the evening repast. |
