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355 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abase
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(v) to humble, to disgrace
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abject
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(adj) miserable, pitiful
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acquiesce
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(v) to agree, to comply quietly
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adulterate
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(v) to corrupt or make impure
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aesthetic
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(adj) pertaining to beauty or art
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aggrandize
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(v) to make larger or greater in power
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allegory
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(n) symbolic representation
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amalgamate
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(v) to mix, combine
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ameliorate
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(v) to make better, to improve
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amortize
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(v) to diminish by installment payments
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anachronism
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(n) something chronologically inappropriate
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ancillary
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(adj) accessory, subordinate, helping
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antediluvian
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(adj) prehistoric, ancient beyond measure
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anterior
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(adj) preceding, previous, before, prior (to)
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apocryphal
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(adj) not genuine, fictional
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apotheosis
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(n) glorification, glorified ideal
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ardent
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(adj) passionate, enthusiastic, fervent
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ardor
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(n) great emotion or passion
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arduous
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(adj) extremely difficult, laborious
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assuage
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(v) to make less severe, to ease, to relieve
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astringent
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(adj) harsh, severe, stern
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atrocious
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(adj) monstrous, shockingly bad, wicked
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atrophy
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(n or v) to wither away, to wither from disuse
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attenuate
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(v) to weaken, to make thin or slender
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augury
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(n) prophecy, prediction of events
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august
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(adj) dignified, awe inspiring, venerable
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auspicious
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(adj) having favorable prospects, promising
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avarice
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(n) greed
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axiom
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(n) premise, postulate, self-evident truth
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baleful
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(adj) harmful, with evil intentions
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banal
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(adj) trite, overly common
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bastion
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(n) fortification, stronghold
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belabor
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(v) to insist repeatedly or harp on
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beleaguer
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(v) to harass, plague
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belie
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(v) to misrepresent, to expose as false
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bellicose
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(adj) warlike, aggressive
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belligerent
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(adj) hostile, tending to fight
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benighted
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(adj) unenlightened
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bequeath
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(v) to give or leave through a will, to hand down
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beseech
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(v) to beg, plead, implore
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bilk
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(v) to cheat, defraud
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blight
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(v) to afflict, to destroy
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bonhomie
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(n) good-natured geniality, atmosphere of good cheer
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bourgeois
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(adj) middle class
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breach
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(n) act of breaking, violation
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brigand
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(n) bandit, outlaw
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burgeon
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(v) to sprout or flourish
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cadence
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(n) rhythmic flow of poetry, marching beat
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callow
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(adj) immature, lacking sophistication
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capacious
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(adj) large, roomy, extensive
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capitulate
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(v) to submit completely, surrender
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castigate
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(v) to punish, to chastise, to criticize severely
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catharsis
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(n) purification, cleansing
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catholic
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(adj) universal: broad and comprehensive
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cavalier
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(adj) carefree, happy: with lordly disdain
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centripetal
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(adj) directed or moving towards the center
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chagrin
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(n) shame embarrassment, humiliation
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charlatan
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(n) quack, fake
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chicanery
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(n) trickery, fraud, deception
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choleric
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(adj) easily angered, short-tempered
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circumlocution
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(n) roundabout, lengthy way of saying something
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circumscribe
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(v) to encircle: to set limits on, confine
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circumspect
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(adj) cautious, wary
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clandestine
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(adj) secretive, concealed for a darker purpose
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coalesce
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(v) to grow together or cause to unite as one
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collateral
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(adj) accompanying
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colloquy
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(n) dialogue or conversation: conference
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collusion
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(n) collaboration, complicity, conspiracy
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comeliness
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(n) physical grace and beauty
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commensurate
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(adj) proportional
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commodious
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(adj) roomy, spacious
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complicity
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(n) knowing partnership in wrongdoing
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compunction
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(n) feeling of uneasiness caused by guilt or regret
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conciliatory
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(adj) overcoming distrust or hostility
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congenital
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(adj) existing since birth
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congruity
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(n) correspondence, harmony, agreement
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conjecture
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(n) speculation, prediction
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conjure
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(v) to evoke: to cast a spell
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consonant
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(adj) consistent with, in agreement with
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construe
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(v) to interpret or explain
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consummate
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(adj) accomplished, complete, perfect
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continence
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(n) self-control, self-restraint
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contravene
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(v) to contradict, deny, act contrary to
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convivial
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(adj) sociable: fond of eating, drinking, and people
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convoke
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(v) to call together, summon
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convoluted
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(adj) twisted, complicated, involved
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copious
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(adj) abundant plentiful
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corporeal
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(adj) tangible, material: having to do with body
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corpulence
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(n) obesity, fatness, bulkiness
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corroborate
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(v) to confirm, verify
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cosset
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(v) to pamper: to treat with great care
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countenance
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(n) facial expression: look of approval or support
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countenance
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(v) to favor, support
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countermand
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(v) to annul, cancel: to make a contrary order
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craven
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(adj) cowardly
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credence
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(n) acceptance of something as true or real
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credulous
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(adj) gullible trusting
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crescendo
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(n) gradual increase
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culpable
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(adj) guilty, responsible for wrong-doing
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curmudgeon
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(n) cranky person
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daunt
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(v) to discourage: to intimidate
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debilitate
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(v) to weaken, enfeeble
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debunk
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(v) to discredit: to disprove
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deciduous
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(adj) losing leaves in the fall: short-lived, temporary
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declivity
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(n) downward slope
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decorous
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(adj) proper, tasteful, socially correct
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deferential
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(adj) respectful and polite in a submissive way
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deft
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(adj) skillful, dexterous
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delineation
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(n) depiction, representation
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deluge
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(v) to submerge, overwhelm: to flood
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demur
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(v) to express doubts or objections
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denigrate
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(v) to slur someone’s reputation
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depose
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(v) to remove from a high position, as from a throne
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depravity
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(n) sinfulness, moral corruption
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depreciate
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(v) to lose value gradually
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derogate
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(v) to belittle: to disparage
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despondent
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(adj) discouraged, dejected
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despot
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(n) tyrannical ruler
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destitute
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(adj) very poor, poverty-stricken
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desultory
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(adj) at random, rambling, unmethodical
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dexterous
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(adj) skilled physically or mentally
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diabolical
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(adj) fiendish, wicked
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diatribe
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(n) bitter verbal attack
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dichotomy
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(n) division into two parts
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dictum
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(n) authoritative statement: popular saying
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didactic
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(adj) excessively instructive
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diffidence
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(n) shyness, lack of confidence
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dilatory
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(adj) slow, tending to delay
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diminutive
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(adj) small
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disconcerting
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(adj) bewildering, perplexing, slightly disturbing
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discordant
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(adj) disagreeing: at variance
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disparage
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(v) to belittle, speak disrespectfully about
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disseminate
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(v) to spread far and wide
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dissension
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(n) difference of opinion
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dissipate
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(v) to scatter: to pursue pleasure to excess
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distend
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(v) to swell, inflate, bloat
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diurnal
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(adj) daily
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divine
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(v) to foretell or know by inspiration
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divisive
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(adj) creating disunity or conflict
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dogmatic
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(adj) rigidly fixed in opinion, opinionated
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doleful
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(adj) sad, mournful
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droll
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(adj) amusing in a wry, subtle way
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dulcet
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(adj) pleasant sounding, soothing to the ear
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duress
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(n) threat of force or intimidation
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dyspeptic
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(adj) gloomy and irritable: suffering from indigestion
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ebb
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(v) to fade away: to recede
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edict
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(n) law, command, official public order
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edify
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(v) to instruct morally and spiritually
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efface
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(v) to erase or make illegible
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efficacious
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(adj) effective, efficient
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effigy
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(n) stuffed doll: likeness of a person
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effusive
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(adj) expressing emotion without restraint
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egregious
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(adj) conspicuously bad
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egress
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(n) exit
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elucidate
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(v) to explain, clarify
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endemic
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(adj) belonging to a particular area: inherent
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engender
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(v) to produce, cause, bring about
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enmity
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(n) hostility, antagonism, ill will
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ennui
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(n) boredom, lack of interest and energy
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ensconce
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(v) to settle comfortably in a place
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entreat
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(v) to plead, beg
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epicure
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(n) a person with refined taste in cuisine
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epigram
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(n) short, witty saying or poem
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equanimity
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(n) calmness, composure
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erudite
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(adj) learned, scholarly
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esoteric
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(adj) understood by only a learned few
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ethereal
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(adj) not earthly, spiritual: delicate
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exacerbate
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(v) to aggravate: to intensify the bad qualities of
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exhort
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(v) to urge or incite by strong appeals
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exhume
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(v) to remove from a grave: uncover a secret
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exonerate
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(v) to clear of blame, absolve
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expedient
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(adj) convenient, efficient, practical
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expurgate
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(v) to censor
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extemporaneous
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(adj) unrehearsed, on the spur of the moment
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extricate
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(v) to free from: to disentangle
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fallow
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(adj) uncultivated, unused
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felicitous
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(adj) suitable appropriate: well spoken
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fervid
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(adj) passionate, intense, zealous
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fetter
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(v) to bind, chain, confine
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flaccid
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(adj) limp, flabby, weak
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foible
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(n) minor weakness or character flaw
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foment
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(v) to arouse or incite
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forbearance
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(n) patience, restraint, leniency
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forswear
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(v) to repudiate, renounce, disclaim, reject
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forte
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(n) strong point, something a person does well
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founder
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(v) to sink: to fall helplessly
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fracas
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(n) noisy dispute
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fulsome
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(adj) sickeningly excessive: repulsive
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gambol
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(v) to dance or skip around playfully
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garner
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(v) to gather and store
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gibe
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(v) to make heckling, taunting remarks
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glib
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(adj) fluent in an insincere manner: offhand, casual
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glower
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(v) to glare, stare angrily and intensely
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goad
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(v) to prod or urge
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gratis
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(adj) free, costing nothing
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guile
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(n) trickery, deception
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gustatory
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(adj) relating to the sense of taste
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harbinger
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(n) precursor, sign of something to come
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harrowing
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(adj) extremely distressing, terrifying
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hermetic
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(adj) tightly sealed
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hidebound
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(adj) excessively rigid: dry and stiff
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hinterland
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(n) wilderness
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hoary
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(adj) very old: whitish or gray from age
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hyperbole
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(n) purposeful exaggeration for effect
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idiosyncrasy
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(n) peculiarity of temperament, eccentricity
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ilk
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(n) type or kind
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imbue
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(v) to infuse: to dye, wet, moisten
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immutable
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(adj) unchangeable, invariable
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impecunious
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(adj) poor, having no money
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importune
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(v) to ask repeatedly, beg
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improvident
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(adj) without planning or foresight: negligent
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impugn
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(v) to call into question: to attack verbally
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incendiary
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(adj) combustible, flammable, burning easily
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incipient
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(adj) beginning to exist or appear: in an initial stage
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inculcate
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(v) to teach, impress in the mind
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inculpate
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(v) to blame, charge with a crime
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incursion
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(n) sudden invasion
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indigent
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(adj) very poor
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indignant
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(adj) angry, incensed, offended
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indolent
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(adj) habitually lazy, idle
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indubitable
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(adj) unquestionable
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inert
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(adj) unable to move, tending to inactivity
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ingenious
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(adj) original, clever, inventive
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ingress
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(n) entrance
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insidious
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(adj) sly, treacherous, devious
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interdict
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(v) to forbid, prohibit
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interloper
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(n) trespasser: meddler in others’ affairs
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interpolate
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(v) to insert: to change by adding new words or material
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interpose
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(v) to insert: to intervene
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invidious
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(adj) envious: obnoxious
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jingoism
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(n) belligerent support of one’s country
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juggernaut
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(n) huge force destroying everything in its path
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jurisprudence
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(n) philosophy of law
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knell
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(n) sound of funeral bell: omen of death or failure
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lachrymose
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(adj) tearful
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laggard
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(n) dawdler, loafer, lazy person
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lassitude
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(n) lethargy, sluggishness
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lionize
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(v) to treat as a celebrity
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lissome
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(adj) easily flexed, limber, agile
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lugubrious
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(adj) sorrowful, mournful: dismal
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machination
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(n) plot or scheme
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maladroit
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(adj) clumsy, tactless
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malinger
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(v) to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
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martinet
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(n) strict disciplinarian, one who rigidly follows rules
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matriculate
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(v) to enroll as a member of a college or university
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mendicant
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(n) beggar
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meticulous
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(adj) extremely careful, fastidious, painstaking
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mettle
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(n) courageousness: endurance
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militate
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(v) to operate against, work against
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mirth
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(n) frivolity, gaiety, laughter
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moribund
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(adj) dying, decaying
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mottle
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(v) to mark with spots
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negligible
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(adj) not worth considering
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nettle
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(v) to irritate
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noisome
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(adj) stinking, putrid
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notoriety
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(n) unfavorable fame
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noxious
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(adj) harmful, unwholesome
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nuance
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(n) shade of meaning
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nullify
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(v) to make legally invalid: to counteract the effect of
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obviate
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(v) to make unnecessary: to anticipate and prevent
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occlude
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(v) to shut: to block
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omniscient
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(adj) having infinite knowledge, all-seeing
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onerous
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(adj) burdensome
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ostentatious
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(adj) showy
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palaver
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(n) idle talk
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pall
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(n) covering hat darkens or obscures: coffin
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pall
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(v) to lose strength or interest
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panoply
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(n) impressive array
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parity
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(n) equality
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parley
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(n) discussion, usually between enemies
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parochial
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(adj) of limited scope or outlook, provincial
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parry
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(v) to ward off or deflect
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pastiche
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(n) piece of literature or music imitating other works
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peccadillo
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(n) minor sin or offense
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pedagogue
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(n) teacher
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pedant
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(n) uninspired, boring academic
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percipient
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(adj) discerning, able to perceive
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perdition
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(n) complete and utter loss: damnation
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peripatetic
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(adj) moving from place to place
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permeable
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(adj) penetrable
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perspicacious
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(adj) shrewd, astute, keen-witted
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pestilence
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(n) epidemic, plague
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phlegmatic
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(adj) sluggish: calm in temperament
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pilfer
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(v) to steal
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pittance
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(n) meager amount or wage
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placate
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(v) to soothe or pacify
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ply
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(v) to join together: to use diligently: to engage
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pontificate
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(v) to speak in a pretentious manner
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precipitate
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(adj) sudden and unexpected
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precipitate
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(v) to cause to happen: to throw down from a height
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predilection
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(n) preference, liking
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prevaricate
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(v) to lie: to evade the truth
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privation
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(n) lack of usual necessities or comforts
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prodigious
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(adj) vast, enormous, extraordinary
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profligate
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(adj) corrupt, degenerate
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propinquity
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(n) nearness
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proselytize
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(v) to covert to a particular belief or religion
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pugilism
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(n) boxing
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quiescence
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(n) inactivity, stillness
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quotidian
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(adj) occurring daily: commonplace
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raconteur
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(n) witty, skillful storyteller
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recant
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(v) to retract a statement, opinion, etc.
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recondite
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(adj) relating to obscure learning: known to only a few
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redress
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(n) relief from wrong or injury
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rejoinder
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(n) response
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remediable
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(adj) capable of being corrected
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reticent
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(adj) not speaking freely: reserved
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retinue
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(n) group of attendants with an important person
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retiring
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(adj) shy, modest, reserved
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retrench
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(v) to cut down: to reduce
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revelry
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(n) boisterous festivity
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riddle
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(v) to make holes in: to permeate
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ruminate
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(v) to contemplate, reflect upon
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salubrious
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(adj) healthful
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sardonic
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(adj) cynical, scornfully mocking
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scintilla
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(n) trace amount
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scintillate
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(v) to sparkle, flash
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sectarian
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(adj) narrow-minded: relating to a group or sect
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senescent
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(adj) old
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sententious
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(adj) having a moralizing tone
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sentient
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(adj) aware, conscious, able to perceive
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seraphic
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(adj) angelic, pure, sublime
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simper
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(v) to smirk: to smile foolishly
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sinuous
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(adj) winding: intricate, complex
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solecism
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(n) grammatical mistake
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solipsism
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(n) belief that oneself is the only reality
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sonorous
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(adj) producing a full, rich sound
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sophistry
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(n) deceptive reasoning or argumentation
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soporific
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(adj) sleepy or tending to cause sleep
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stoic
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(adj) indifferent to or unaffected by emotions
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stultify
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(v) to impair or reduce to uselessness
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subjugate
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(v) to enslave: to conquer, subdue
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subterfuge
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(n) trick or tactic used to avoid something
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superannuated
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(adj) too old, obsolete, outdated
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supercilious
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(adj) arrogant, haughty, overbearing, condescending
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tangential
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(adj) digressing, diverting
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tenable
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(adj) defensible, reasonable
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tome
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(n) book, usually large and academic
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trepidation
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(n) fear and anxiety
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trifling
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(adj) of slight worth, trivial, insignificant
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trite
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(adj) shallow, superficial
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truncate
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(v) to cut off: to shorten by cutting
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tumult
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(n) state of confusion: agitation
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tyro
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(n) beginner, novice
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urbane
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(adj) courteous, refined, suave
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utilitarian
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(adj) efficient, functional, useful
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vaunted
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(adj) boasted about, bragged about
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verisimilitude
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(n) quality of appearing true or real
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vestige
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(n) trace, remnant
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virtuoso
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(n) someone with masterly skill: expert musician
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whet
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(v) to sharpen: to stimulate
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whimsical
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(adj) playful, fanciful
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xenophobia
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(n) fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers
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yoke
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(v) to join together
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zealot
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(n) someone passionately devoted to a cause
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