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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
medley n
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A composition of different songs or parts of songs arranged to run as a continuous whole
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meliorate v
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To make better or improve, as in quality or social or physical condition
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mellifluous adj
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Sweetly or smoothly flowing
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melodious adj
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Characterized by a sweet succession of sounds
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melodrama n
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A drama with a romantic story or plot and sensational situation and incidents
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memento n
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A souvenir
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memorable adj
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Noteworthy
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menace n
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A threat
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menagerie n
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A collection of wild animals, especially when kept for exhibition
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mendacious adj
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Untrue
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mendicant n
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A beggar
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mentality n
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Intellectuality
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mentor n
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A wise and faithful teacher, guide, and friend
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mercantile adj
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Conducted or acting on business principles; commercial
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mercenary adj
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Greedy
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merciful adj
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Disposed to pity and forgive
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merciless adj
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Cruel
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meretricious adj
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Alluring by false or gaudy show
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mesmerize v
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To hypnotize
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messieurs n
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Pl Gentlemen
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metal n
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An element that forms a base by combining with oxygen, is usually hard, heavy, and lustrous
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metallurgy n
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The art or science of extracting a metal from ores, as by smelting
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metamorphosis n
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A passing from one form or shape into another
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metaphor n
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A figure of speech in which one object is likened to another, by speaking as if the other
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metaphysical adj
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Philosophical
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metaphysician n
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One skilled in metaphysics
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metaphysics n
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The principles of philosophy as applied to explain the methods of any particular science
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mete v
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To apportion
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metempsychosis n
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Transition of the soul of a human being at death into another body, whether human or beast
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meticulous adj
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Over-cautious
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metonymy n
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A figure of speech that consists in the naming of a thing by one of its attributes
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metric adj
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Relating to measurement
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metronome n
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An instrument for indicating and marking exact time in music
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metropolis n
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A chief city, either the capital or the largest or most important city of a state
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metropolitan adj
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Pertaining to a chief city
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mettle n
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Courage
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mettlesome adj
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Having courage or spirit
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microcosm n
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The world or universe on a small scale
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micrometer n
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An instrument for measuring very small angles or dimensions
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microphone n
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An apparatus for magnifying faint sounds
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microscope n
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An instrument for assisting the eye in the vision of minute objects or features of objects
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microscopic adj
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Adapted to or characterized by minute observation
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microscopy n
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The art of examing objects with the microscope
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midsummer n
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The middle of the summer
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midwife n
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A woman who makes a business of assisting at childbirth
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mien n
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The external appearance or manner of a person
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migrant adj
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Wandering
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migrate v
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To remove or pass from one country, region, or habitat to another
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migratory adj
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Wandering
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mileage n
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A distance in miles
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militant adj
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Of a warlike or combative disposition or tendency
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militarism n
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A policy of maintaining great standing armies
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militate v
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To have weight or influence (in determining a question)
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militia n
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Those citizens, collectively, who are enrolled and drilled in temporary military organizations
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Milky Way n
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The galaxy
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millet n
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A grass cultivated for forage and cereal
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mimic v
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To imitate the speech or actions of
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miniature adj
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Much smaller than reality or that the normal size
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minimize v
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To reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree
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minion n
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A servile favorite
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ministration n
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Any religious ceremonial
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ministry n
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A service
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minority n
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The smaller in number of two portions into which a number or a group is divided
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minute adj
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Exceedingly small in extent or quantity
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minutia n
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A small or unimportant particular or detail
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mirage n
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An optical effect looking like a sheet of water in the desert
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misadventure n
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An unlucky accident
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misanthropic adj
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Hating mankind
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misanthropy n
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Hatred of mankind
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misapprehend v
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To misunderstand
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misbehave v
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To behave ill
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misbehavior n
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Ill or improper behavior
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mischievous adj
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Fond of tricks
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miscount v
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To make a mistake in counting
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miscreant n
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A villain
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misdeed n
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A wrong or improper act
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misdemeanor n
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Evil conduct, small crime
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miser n
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A person given to saving and hoarding unduly
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mishap n
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Misfortune
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misinterpret v
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To misunderstand
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mislay v
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To misplace
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mismanage v
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To manage badly, improperly, or unskillfully
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misnomer n
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A name wrongly or mistakenly applied
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misogamy n
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Hatred of marriage
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misogyny n
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Hatred of women
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misplace v
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To put into a wrong place
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misrepresent v
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To give a wrong impression
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misrule v
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To misgovern
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missal n
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The book containing the service for the celebration of mass
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missile n
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Any object, especially a weapon, thrown or intended to be thrown
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missive n
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A message in writing
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mistrust v
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To regard with suspicion or jealousy
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misty adj
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Lacking clearness
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misunderstand v
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To Take in a wrong sense
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misuse v
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To maltreat
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mite n
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A very small amount, portion, or particle
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miter n
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The junction of two bodies at an equally divided angle
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mitigate v
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To make milder or more endurable
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mnemonics n
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A system of principles and formulas designed to assist the recollection in certain instances
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moat n
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A ditch on the outside of a fortress wall
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mobocracy n
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Lawless control of public affairs by the mob or populace
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moccasin n
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A foot-covering made of soft leather or buckskin
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mockery n
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Ridicule
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moderation n
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Temperance
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moderator n
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The presiding officer of a meeting
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modernity n
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The state or character of being modern
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modernize v
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To make characteristic of the present or of recent times
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modification n
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A change
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modify v
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To make somewhat different
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modish adj
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Fashionable
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modulate v
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To vary in tone, inflection, pitch or other quality of sound
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mollify v
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To soothe
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molt v
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To cast off, as hair, feathers, etc
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momentary adj
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Lasting but a short time
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momentous adj
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Very significant
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momentum n
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An impetus
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monarchy n
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Government by a single, sovereign ruler
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monastery n
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A dwelling-place occupied in common by persons under religious vows of seclusion
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monetary adj
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Financial
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mongrel n
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The progeny resulting from the crossing of different breeds or varieties
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monition n
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Friendly counsel given by way of warning and implying caution or reproof
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monitory n
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Admonition or warning
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monocracy n
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Government by a single person
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monogamy n
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The habit of pairing, or having but one mate
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monogram n
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A character consisting of two or more letters interwoven into one, usually initials of a
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name
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monograph n
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A treatise discussing a single subject or branch of a subject
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monolith n
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Any structure or sculpture in stone formed of a single piece
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monologue n
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A story or drama told or performed by one person
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monomania n
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The unreasonable pursuit of one idea
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monopoly n
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The control of a thing, as a commodity, to enable a person to raise its price
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monosyllable n
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A word of one syllable
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monotone n
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The sameness or monotony of utterance
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monotonous adj
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Unchanging and tedious
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monotony n
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A lack of variety
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monsieur n
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A French title of respect, equivalent to Mr and sir
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monstrosity n
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Anything unnaturally huge or distorted
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moonbeam n
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A ray of moonlight
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morale n
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A state of mind with reference to confidence, courage, zeal, and the like
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moralist n
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A writer on ethics
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morality n
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Virtue
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moralize v
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To render virtuous
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moratorium n
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An emergency legislation authorizing a government suspend some action temporarily
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morbid adj
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Caused by or denoting a diseased or unsound condition of body or mind
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mordacious adj
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Biting or giving to biting
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mordant adj
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Biting
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moribund adj
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On the point of dying
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morose adj
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Gloomy
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morphology n
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the science of organic forms
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motley adj
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Composed of heterogeneous or inharmonious elements
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motto n
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An expressive word or pithy sentence enunciating some guiding rule of life, or faith
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mountaineer n
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One who travels among or climbs mountains for pleasure or exercise
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mountainous adj
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Full of or abounding in mountains
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mouthful n
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As much as can be or is usually put into the or exercise
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muddle v
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To confuse or becloud, especially with or as with drink
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muffle v
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To deaden the sound of, as by wraps
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mulatto n
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The offspring of a white person and a black person
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muleteer n
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A mule-driver
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multiform adj
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Having many shapes, or appearances
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multiplicity n
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the condition of being manifold or very various
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mundane adj
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Worldly, as opposed to spiritual or celestial
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municipal adj
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Of or pertaining to a town or city, or to its corporate or local government
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municipality n
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A district enjoying municipal government
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munificence n
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A giving characterized by generous motives and extraordinary liberality
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munificent adj
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Extraordinarily generous
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muster n
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An assemblage or review of troops for parade or inspection, or for numbering off
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mutation n
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The act or process of change
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mutilate v
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To disfigure
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mutiny n
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Rebellion against lawful or constituted authority
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myriad n
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A vast indefinite number
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mystic n
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One who professes direct divine illumination, or relies upon meditation to acquire truth
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mystification n
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The act of artfully perplexing
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myth n
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A fictitious narrative presented as historical, but without any basis of fact
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mythology n
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The whole body of legends cherished by a race concerning gods and heroes
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nameless adj
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Having no fame or reputation
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naphtha n
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A light, colorless, volatile, inflammable oil used as a solvent, as in manufacture of paints
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Narcissus n
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The son of the Athenian river-god Cephisus, fabled to have fallen in love with his reflection
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narrate v
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To tell a story
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narration n
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The act of recounting the particulars of an event in the order of time or occurrence
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narrative n
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An orderly continuous account of the successive particulars of an event
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narrator n
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One who narrates anything
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narrow-minded adj
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Characterized by illiberal views or sentiments
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nasal adj
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Pertaining to the nose
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natal adj
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Pertaining to one's birth
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nationality n
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A connection with a particular nation
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naturally adv
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According to the usual order of things
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nausea n
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An affection of the stomach producing dizziness and usually an impulse to vomit
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nauseate v
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To cause to loathe
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nauseous adj
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Loathsome
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nautical adj
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Pertaining to ships, seamen, or navigation
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naval adj
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Pertaining to ships
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navel n
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The depression on the abdomen where the umbilical cord of the fetus was attached
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navigable adj
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Capable of commercial navigation
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navigate v
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To traverse by ship
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nebula n
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A gaseous body of unorganized stellar substance
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necessary adj
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Indispensably requisite or absolutely needed to accomplish a desired result
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necessitate v
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To render indispensable
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necessity n
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That which is indispensably requisite to an end desired
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necrology n
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A list of persons who have died in a certain place or time
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necromancer n
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One who practices the art of foretelling the future by means of communication with the dead
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necropolis n
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A city of the dead
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necrosis n
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the death of part of the body
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nectar n
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Any especially sweet and delicious drink
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nectarine n
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A variety of the peach
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needlework n
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Embroidery
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needy adj
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Being in need, want, or poverty
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nefarious adj
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Wicked in the extreme
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negate v
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To deny
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negation n
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The act of denying or of asserting the falsity of a proposition
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neglectful adj
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Exhibiting or indicating omission
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negligee n
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A loose gown worn by women
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negligence n
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Omission of that which ought to be done
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negligent adj
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Apt to omit what ought to be done
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negligible adj
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Transferable by assignment, endorsement, or delivery
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negotiable v
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To bargain with others for an agreement, as for a treaty or transfer of property
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Nemesis n
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A goddess; divinity of chastisement and vengeance
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neocracy n
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Government administered by new or untried persons
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neo-Darwinsim n
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Darwinism as modified and extended by more recent students
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neo-Latin n
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Modernized Latin
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neopaganism n
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A new or revived paganism
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Neolithic adj
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Pertaining to the later stone age
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neology n
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The coining or using of new words or new meanings of words
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neophyte adj
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Having the character of a beginner
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nestle v
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To adjust cozily in snug quarters
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nestling adj
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Recently hatched
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nettle v
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To excite sensations of uneasiness or displeasure in
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network n
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Anything that presents a system of cross- lines
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neural adj
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Pertaining to the nerves or nervous system
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neurology n
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The science of the nervous system
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neuter adj
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Neither masculine nor feminine
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neutral adj
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Belonging to or under control of neither of two contestants
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nevertheless conj
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Notwithstanding
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Newtonian adj
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Of or pertaining to Sir Isaac Newton, the English philosopher
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niggardly adj
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Stingy (no longer acceptable to use)
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nihilist n
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An advocate of the doctrine that nothing either exists or can be known
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nil n
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Nothing
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nimble adj
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Light and quick in motion or action
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nit n
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The egg of a louse or some other insect
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nocturnal adj
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Of or pertaining to the night
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noiseless adj
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Silent
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noisome adj
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Very offensive, particularly to the sense of smell
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noisy adj
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Clamorous
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nomad adj
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Having no fixed abode
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nomic adj
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Usual or customary
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nominal adj
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Trivial
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nominate v
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To designate as a candidate for any office
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nomination n
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The act or ceremony of naming a man or woman for office
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nominee n
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One who receives a nomination
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non-existent n
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That which does not exist
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non-resident adj
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Not residing within a given jurisdiction
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