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423 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
abdicate
|
to renounce or relinquish a throne
|
|
aberrant
|
abnormal or deviant
|
|
abeyance
|
suspended action
|
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abject
|
utterly hopeless, humiliating or wretched
|
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abjure
|
to renounce on oath
|
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ablution
|
act of cleansing
|
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abrogate
|
to abolish by formal means
|
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abstruse
|
hard to understand; secret, hidden
|
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accretion
|
an increase by natural growth
|
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acerbic
|
sour or astringent in taste, harsh in temper
|
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acquiesce
|
to comply, give in
|
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acrid
|
sharp or biting to the taste or smell
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acrimonious
|
caustic, stinging or bitter in nature
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adjure
|
to beg or command
|
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admonish
|
to counsel against something; caution; warn; reprove
|
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adventitious
|
accidental
|
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aesthetic
|
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful
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affable
|
friendly, courteous
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aggrandize
|
to increase in power, influence and reputation
|
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aggregate
|
gather; accumulate
|
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alacrity
|
cheerful promptness; eagerness
|
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alleviate
|
relieve
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altruist
|
a person unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others
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amalgamate
|
combine; unite in one body
|
|
amatory
|
of or pertaining to lovers or lovemaking
|
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ambiguous
|
unclear or doubtful in meaning
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ambivalence
|
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
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ameliorate
|
to make better; to improve
|
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amity
|
friendship; peaceful harmony
|
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analogous
|
comparable
|
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anarchy
|
absence of governing body; state of disorder
|
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androgen
|
any substance that promotes masculine characteristics
|
|
androgynous
|
being both male and female
|
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animus
|
hostile feeling or attitude
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anomalous
|
abnormal; irregular
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apartheid
|
any system or caste that separates people according to race
|
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apogee
|
the highest or most distant point
|
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apotheosis
|
glorification, glorified ideal
|
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appease
|
pacify or soothe; relieve
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apprise
|
inform
|
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appropriate
|
acquire; take possession of for one’s own use
|
|
arduous
|
hard; strenuous
|
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arrogate
|
to claim unwarrantably or presumptuously
|
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artless
|
without guile; open and honest
|
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ascetic
|
practicing self-denial; austere
|
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assuage
|
to make less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
|
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atrophy
|
to waste away; wither or deteriorate; the wasting away of body tissue
|
|
attenuate
|
make thinner
|
|
audacious
|
daring; bold
|
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avocation
|
something one does in addition to a principle occupation
|
|
banal
|
boring; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clichéd; hackneyed
|
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belie
|
contradict; give a false impression
|
|
belligerent
|
warlike, given to waging war
|
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bemoan
|
to express pity for
|
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beneficent
|
kindly; doing good
|
|
benevolent
|
desiring to do good to others
|
|
benign
|
having a kindly disposition
|
|
bilateral
|
pertaining to or affecting two or both sides
|
|
bolster
|
support; reinforce
|
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boorish
|
rude; insensitive
|
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burgeon
|
grow forth; send out buds
|
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burnish
|
make shiny by rubbing; polish
|
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buttress
|
support; prop up
|
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capitulate
|
to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms
|
|
catalyst
|
agent that increases the rate of a chemical action; person or thing that causes
|
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caustic
|
burning; sarcastically biting
|
|
circuitous
|
roundabout, indirect
|
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circumambulate
|
to walk about or around
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circumscribe
|
to draw a line around
|
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circumspect
|
watchful and discreet
|
|
coagulate
|
thicken; congeal; clot
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|
coda
|
concluding section of a musical or literary composition; something that summarizes
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commensurate
|
corresponding in extent, degree, etc.; proportionate
|
|
compendium
|
brief, comprehensive summary
|
|
complacent
|
self-satisfied, unconcerned
|
|
compliant
|
yielding; conforming to requirements
|
|
compunction
|
a feeling of uneasiness for doing wrong
|
|
concentric
|
having a common center
|
|
conciliate
|
to placate, win over
|
|
conciliatory
|
reconciling; soothing
|
|
condone
|
overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
|
|
conflagration
|
a large destructive fire
|
|
confluence
|
merging into one
|
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confound
|
confuse; puzzle
|
|
congenital
|
existing or as such from birth
|
|
connoisseur
|
person competent to act as a judge of art; a lover of art
|
|
contention
|
claim; thesis
|
|
contentious
|
quarrelsome
|
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contravene
|
to come into conflict with
|
|
contrite
|
feeling regret and sorrow for one’s sins or offenses; penitent
|
|
conundrum
|
riddle; difficult problem
|
|
convalescent
|
recovering from illness
|
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converge
|
approach; tend to meet; come together
|
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convoke
|
to call together
|
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corroborate
|
to provide supporting evidence
|
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craven
|
cowardly
|
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cursory
|
going rapidly over something; hasty; superficial
|
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daunt
|
intimidate; frighten
|
|
decadent
|
decaying; deteriorating
|
|
decorum
|
propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners
|
|
default
|
failure to act
|
|
deferential
|
respectful; to yield judgment to
|
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deign
|
to think fit or in accordance with one’s dignity
|
|
delineate
|
portray; depict; sketch
|
|
delude
|
to mislead the mind of judgment of, deceive
|
|
denigrate
|
blacken
|
|
deride
|
ridicule; make fun of
|
|
derision
|
contemptuous or jeering laughter; ridicule.
|
|
derivative
|
unoriginal; obtained from another source
|
|
deterrent
|
something that discourages; hindrance
|
|
diatribe
|
bitter scolding; invective
|
|
digression
|
wandering away from the subject
|
|
dilettante
|
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
|
|
dirge
|
lament with music
|
|
discerning
|
mentally quick and observant; having insight
|
|
discordant
|
not harmonious; conflicting
|
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discredit
|
defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve
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discrepancy
|
lack of consistency; difference
|
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discrete
|
separate; unconnected; consisting of distinct parts
|
|
disingenuous
|
lacking genuine candor; insincere
|
|
disinterested
|
unprejudiced
|
|
disjointed
|
lacking coherence; separated at the joints
|
|
dismiss
|
eliminate from consideration; reject
|
|
disparage
|
belittle
|
|
disparate
|
fundamentally distinct or different in kind; entirely dissimilar
|
|
disport
|
to divert or amuse oneself
|
|
disquiet
|
a lack of calm or peace
|
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dissolution
|
disintegration; looseness in morals
|
|
dissonance
|
discord; opposite of harmony
|
|
distend
|
to expand by stretching; swell out
|
|
distill
|
purify; refine; concentrate
|
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diverge
|
vary; go in different directions from the same point
|
|
divest
|
strip; deprive
|
|
doctrine
|
a principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief;
|
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document
|
provide written evidence
|
|
dogma
|
a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
|
|
doleful
|
sorrowful, mournful
|
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dormant
|
sleeping; lethargic; latent
|
|
dour
|
sullen, gloomy
|
|
duplicity
|
deceitfulness in speech or conduct; double-dealing
|
|
dystrophy
|
faulty or inadequate nutrition or development
|
|
ebullient
|
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm
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effigy
|
a dummy; a likeness or image, especially of a person.
|
|
effluence
|
flowing out of
|
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effrontery
|
impudence; shameless boldness; sheer nerve; presumptuousness
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|
elicit
|
draw out by discussion
|
|
elocution
|
art of clear and expressive speaking
|
|
embellish
|
adorn; ornament; enhance, as a story
|
|
empathy
|
the identification with the feelings or thoughts of others
|
|
empirical
|
based on experience
|
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emulate
|
imitate; rival
|
|
endemic
|
prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country
|
|
enhance
|
increase; improve
|
|
enigma
|
a puzzle; a mystery
|
|
epigram
|
a witty or pointed saying tersely expressed
|
|
epithet
|
a word or phrase characteristically used to characterize a person or thing
|
|
equanimity
|
calmness of temperament; composure
|
|
estimable
|
admirable
|
|
eugenics
|
improvement of qualities of race by control of inherited characteristics
|
|
euphemism
|
an inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered
|
|
euphony
|
pleasantness of sound
|
|
execrable
|
abominable
|
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exigency
|
urgent situation; pressing needs or demands; state of requiring immediate attention
|
|
exigent
|
urgent; requiring immediate action
|
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expound
|
to set forth in detail
|
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extrapolation
|
projection; conjecture
|
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exult
|
to show or feel triumphant joy
|
|
facetious
|
joking (often inappropriately); humorous
|
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facilitate
|
help bring about; make less difficult
|
|
fallacious
|
false; misleading
|
|
fatuous
|
brainless; inane; foolish, yet smug
|
|
felicitous
|
apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
|
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fervor
|
glowing ardor; intensity of feeling
|
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fiduciary
|
of a trust; held or given in trust
|
|
flag
|
droop; grow feeble; to decline in vigor or strength
|
|
fledgling
|
inexperienced
|
|
flout
|
reject; mock; show contempt for
|
|
fractious
|
irritable, peevish
|
|
frugality
|
thrifty; economy
|
|
fusillade
|
continuous discharge of firearms or outburst of criticism
|
|
futile
|
useless; hopeless; ineffectual
|
|
gainsay
|
deny
|
|
garrulous
|
loquacious; talkative; wordy
|
|
goad
|
urge on
|
|
gouge
|
overcharge
|
|
gregarious
|
sociable
|
|
guile
|
deceit or trickery
|
|
guileless
|
without deceit
|
|
gullible
|
easily deceived
|
|
harangue
|
long, passionate, and vehement speech
|
|
heterodox
|
different from acknowledged standard; holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines
|
|
heterogeneous
|
of other origin; not originating in the body
|
|
homogeneous
|
of the same kind
|
|
hyperbole
|
exaggeration; overstatement
|
|
hypocritical
|
affecting virtues or qualities one does not have
|
|
idolatry
|
worship of idols; excessive admiration
|
|
immutable
|
unchangeable
|
|
impair
|
injure; hurt
|
|
impede
|
hinder; block
|
|
impermeable
|
impervious; not permitting passage through its substance
|
|
imperturbable
|
calm; placid
|
|
implacable
|
incapable of being pacified
|
|
implicit
|
understood but not stated
|
|
implode
|
burst inward
|
|
importune
|
to urge or press with excessive persistence
|
|
impugn
|
to attack as false or questionable; challenge in argument
|
|
inadvertently
|
unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
|
|
inamorata
|
a female lover
|
|
incongruity
|
lack of harmony; absurdity
|
|
inconsequential
|
insignificant; unimportant
|
|
incorporate
|
introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite
|
|
inculpate
|
to charge with fault
|
|
incursion
|
a hostile entrance into a place
|
|
indeterminate
|
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
|
|
indigence
|
poverty
|
|
indigent
|
experiencing want or need; impoverished.
|
|
indoctrinate
|
to imbue someone with learning
|
|
induce
|
to move or lead by influence
|
|
ineffable
|
too great for description
|
|
inert
|
inactive; lacking power to move
|
|
infusion
|
liquid extract so obtained
|
|
inherent
|
firmly established by nature or habit
|
|
inimical
|
hostile, unfriendly
|
|
innocuous
|
harmless
|
|
insensate
|
without feeling or sensitivity
|
|
insensible
|
unconscious; unresponsive
|
|
insidious
|
intended to trap or beguile
|
|
insinuate
|
hint; imply; creep in
|
|
insolent
|
boldly rude or disrespectful
|
|
insularity
|
narrow-mindedness; isolation
|
|
interloper
|
someone who intrudes in the domain of others
|
|
intractable
|
unruly; stubborn; unyielding
|
|
intransigence
|
refusal of any compromise; stubbornness
|
|
inundate
|
overwhelm; flood; submerge
|
|
inured
|
accustomed; hardened
|
|
irresolute
|
uncertain how to act; weak
|
|
itinerary
|
plan of a trip
|
|
laconic
|
brief and to the point; using few words
|
|
lassitude
|
languor; weariness
|
|
latent
|
potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden
|
|
laud
|
praise
|
|
lethargic
|
drowsy; dull
|
|
levee
|
earth or stone embankment to prevent flooding
|
|
levity
|
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity
|
|
litigate
|
to make the subject of a lawsuit
|
|
log
|
record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities
|
|
loquacious
|
talkative
|
|
lucid
|
easily understood; clear; intelligible
|
|
luminous
|
shining; issuing light
|
|
magnanimity
|
generosity
|
|
magnanimous
|
generous in forgiving an insult or injury
|
|
magnate
|
a powerful or influential person
|
|
maladroit
|
clumsy, tactless
|
|
malevolent
|
characterized by or expressing bad will
|
|
malfeasance
|
misconduct or wrongdoing often committed by a public official
|
|
malign
|
to speak harmful untruths about, to slander
|
|
malinger
|
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
|
|
malingerer
|
one who feigns illness to escape duty
|
|
malleable
|
capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable
|
|
maverick
|
rebel; nonconformist
|
|
maxim
|
an expression of general truth or principle
|
|
mendacious
|
lying; habitually dishonest
|
|
metamorphosis
|
change of form
|
|
meticulous
|
excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous
|
|
minatory
|
menacing, threatening
|
|
miscegenation
|
interbreeding of races
|
|
morose
|
ill-humored; sullen; melancholy
|
|
mundane
|
worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday
|
|
nascent
|
starting to develop
|
|
negate
|
cancel out; nullify; deny
|
|
obdurate
|
stubborn, hardened in feelings; resistant to persuasion
|
|
obfuscate
|
to render indistinct or dim
|
|
oblique
|
having a slanting or sloping direction
|
|
obsolescent
|
becoming obsolete
|
|
obstreperous
|
noisily defiant, unruly
|
|
obtuse
|
not sharp, pointed or acute
|
|
obviate
|
to prevent; make unnecessary; get rid of
|
|
occlude
|
to stop; close; to prevent the passage of
|
|
officious
|
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one’s services
|
|
omnivorous
|
eating or absorbing everything
|
|
oscillate
|
vibrate; waver
|
|
ostentatious
|
showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention
|
|
panegyric
|
formal or elaborate praise at an assembly
|
|
panoply
|
a wide-ranging and impressive array or display
|
|
partisan
|
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party
|
|
pathogenic
|
causing disease
|
|
pathological
|
pertaining to disease
|
|
pedantic
|
showing off learning; bookish
|
|
penchant
|
strong inclination; liking
|
|
penury
|
severe poverty; stinginess
|
|
percipient
|
having perception; discerning; discriminating
|
|
perennial
|
something long-lasting
|
|
perfidious
|
willing to betray one’s trust
|
|
peripatetic
|
walking or traveling about; itinerant
|
|
permeable
|
penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through
|
|
permutation
|
a complete change; transformation
|
|
perquisite
|
a gratuity, tip
|
|
perspicacious
|
having keen mental perception and understanding; shrewd; astute
|
|
pertinacious
|
resolute; persistent, stubborn
|
|
pervasive
|
spread throughout
|
|
petulant
|
showing sudden irritation, esp. over some annoyance
|
|
philanderer
|
one who carries on flirtations
|
|
philanthropy
|
charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
|
|
philology
|
the study of literary texts to establish their authenticity and determine
|
|
phlegmatic
|
calm; not easily disturbed
|
|
piety
|
devoutness; reverence for God
|
|
placate
|
pacify; conciliate
|
|
plasticity
|
ability to be molded
|
|
platitude
|
trite remark; commonplace statement
|
|
plummet
|
fall sharply
|
|
porous
|
full of pores; like a sieve
|
|
pragmatic
|
practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact
|
|
preamble
|
introductory statement
|
|
precarious
|
uncertain; risky
|
|
precept
|
a commandment given as a rule of action or conduct
|
|
precipitate
|
n. to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
|
|
precipitate
|
adj. rash, premature, hasty, sudden
|
|
preclude
|
to prevent the presence of
|
|
precocious
|
unusually advanced or mature in mental development or talent
|
|
precursor
|
forerunner
|
|
predilection
|
preference, liking
|
|
prescient
|
having knowledge of things before they happen
|
|
presentiment
|
a feeling of anticipation over a future event
|
|
presumptuous
|
arrogant; taking liberties
|
|
pristine
|
characteristic of earlier times; primitive; unspoiled
|
|
problematic
|
doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing
|
|
profound
|
deep; not superficial; complete
|
|
prohibitive
|
tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; inclined to prevent or
|
|
promulgate
|
to make known by open declaration
|
|
propensity
|
natural inclination
|
|
propound
|
to set forth for consideration
|
|
proselytize
|
to convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another
|
|
protract
|
to prolong, draw out, extend
|
|
provident
|
having or showing foresight
|
|
prudence
|
wisdom, caution or restraint
|
|
puerile
|
childish, immature
|
|
pugnacious
|
to quarrel or fight readily
|
|
punctilious
|
strict or exact in the observance of formalities
|
|
pungent
|
stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic
|
|
pusillanimous
|
lacking courage or resolution
|
|
qualified
|
limited; restricted
|
|
querulous
|
full of complaints
|
|
quibble
|
minor objection or complaint
|
|
quiescence
|
n. the condition of being at rest, still, inactive
|
|
rarefied
|
made less dense (of a gas)
|
|
recalcitrant
|
obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly
|
|
recant
|
disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error
|
|
recluse
|
hermit; loner
|
|
recondite
|
abstruse; profound; secret
|
|
recumbent
|
lying down; reclining; leaning
|
|
refute
|
disprove
|
|
rejoinder
|
to reply, retort
|
|
relegate
|
banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign
|
|
remonstrate
|
to say or plead in protest, objection, or reproof
|
|
reprehensible
|
deserving rebuke or censure; blameworthy.
|
|
reprisals
|
retaliation against an enemy
|
|
reproach
|
express disapproval or disappointment
|
|
rescind
|
cancel
|
|
resolution
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n. determination
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resolve
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v. to make a firm decision about.
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reverent
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respectful; worshipful
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revile
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to criticize with harsh language
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sage
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person celebrated for wisdom
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salient
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prominent or conspicuous
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salubrious
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conducive or favorable to health or well-being
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sanction
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approve; ratify
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satiate
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satisfy fully
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saturate
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soak thoroughly
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savor
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enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality
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secrete
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hide away or cache; produce and release a substance
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sedition
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incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government
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shard
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a piece of broken pottery, especially one found in an archaeological dig;
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skeptic
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doubter; person who suspends judgment until having examined evidence supporting
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sociopath
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a person whose behavior is antisocial and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility
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solicitous
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worried; concerned
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spectrum
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colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism
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sporadic
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occurring irregularly
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stint
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to restrict or limit, as in amount or number; be sparing with
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stipulate
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to lay down as a condition of an agreement; require by contract
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striated
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marked with parallel bands; grooved
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strut
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pompous walk or supporting bar
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subjugate
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to conquer
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subpoena
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a writ requiring appearance in court to give testimony
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subside
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settle down; descend; grow quiet
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substantiate
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establish by evidence; verify; support
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subterfuge
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an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule
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supercilious
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arrogant, haughty, condescending
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supersede
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cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete
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supplicate
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to make humble and earnest entreaty
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supposition
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hypothesis; surmise
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tacit
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understood; not put into words
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taciturn
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silent, not talkative
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tangential
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peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing
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tenable
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capable of being held, maintained or defended
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tenacious
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holding fast; holding or tending to hold persistently to something
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tendentious
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marked by a strong implicit point of view; partisan
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tenuous
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thin; rare; slim
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tirade
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extended scolding; denunciation; harangue
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tortuous
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winding; full of curves
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transcendent
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going beyond ordinary limits
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transgression
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violation of a law; sin
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truculence
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aggressiveness; ferocity
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unconscionable
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not restrained by conscience; unscrupulous
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vacillate
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waver; fluctuate
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venerate
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revere
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veracity
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filled with trust and accuracy
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verbose
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wordy
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verisimilitude
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the appearance or semblance of truth
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verity
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truthfulness
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viable
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practical or workable
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vicarious
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performed, exercised, received or suffered in place of another
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vilify
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to slander, to defame
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viscous
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sticky, gluey
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vituperative
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adj. abusive; scolding
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vociferous
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crying out noisily
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volatile
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changeable; explosive; evaporation rapidly
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volition
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free choice, free will; act of choosing
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voracious
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having a great appetite
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warranted
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justified; authorized
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wary
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very cautious
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welter
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turmoil; bewildering jumble
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whimsical
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capricious; fanciful
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zealot
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fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
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