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55 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
Abandon
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Total lack of inhibition
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With her strict parents out of town, Kelly danced all night with abandon
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Abate
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To decrease, to reduce
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My hunger abated when I saw how filthy the chef's hands were
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Abet
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To aid; to act as an accomplice
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While Derwin robbed the bank, Marvin abetted his friends by pulling up the getaway car.
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Abjure
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To renounce under oath; to abanadon forever; to abstrain from
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After having been devout for most of his life, he suddenly abjured his beliefs, much to his family's disappointment.
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Abnegate
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To give up; to deny to oneself
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After his retirement, the former police commissioner found it difficult to abnegate authority.
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Abortive
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Ending without results
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Her abortive attempt to swim the full five miles left her frustrated.
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Abrogate
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to annul; to abolish by authoritative action
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The president's job is to abrogate any law that fosters inequality among citizens.
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Abscond
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To leave quickly in secret
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The criminal absconded during the night with all of his mother's money.
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Abstemious
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Done sparingly; consuming in moderation
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The spa served no sugar or wheat, but the clients found the retreat so calm that they didn't mind the abstemious rules.
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Accede
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To express approval, to agree to
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Once the mayor heard the reasonable request, she happily acceded to the proposal.
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Acclivity
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An incline or upward slope, the ascending side of a hill
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We were so tired from hiking that by the time we reached the acclivity, it looked more like a mountain than a hill.
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Accretion
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A growth in size, and increase in amount
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The committee's strong fund-raising efforts resulted in an accretion in scholarship money.
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Acme
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The highest level or degree attainable
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Just when he reached the acme of his power, the dictator was overthrown.
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Actuate
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To put into motion, to activate; to motivate or influence to activity
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The leaders rousing speech actuated the crows into a peaceful protest.
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Acuity
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Sharp vision or perception characterized by the ability to resolve fine detail
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With unusual acuity, she was able to determine that the masterpiece was a fake.
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Acumen
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Sharpness of insight, mind, and understanding; shrewd judgement
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The investor's financial acumen helped him to select high-yield stocks.
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Adamant
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Stubbornly unyielding
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She was adamant about leaving the restaurant after the waiter was rude.
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Adept
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Extremely skilled
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She is adept at computing math problems in her head.
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Adjudicate
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To hear and settle a matter; to act as a judge
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The principal adjudicated the disagreement between two students.
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Adjure
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To appeal to
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The criminal adjured to the court for mercy.
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Admonish
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To caution or warn gently in order to correct something
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My mother admonished me about my poor grades.
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Adroit
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Skillful; accomplished; highly competent
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The adroit athlete completed even the worst difficult obstacle course with ease.
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Adulation
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Excessive flattery or admiration
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The adulation she showed her professor seemed insincere; I suspected she really wanted a better grade.
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Adumbrate
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To give a hint or indication of something to come
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Her constant complaining about the job adumbrated her intent to leave.
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Aerie
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A nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
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Perched high among the trees, the eagle's aerie was filled with eggs.
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Affected
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phony, artificial
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The affected hairdresser spouted French phrases, though she had never been to France.
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Aggregate
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A collective mass, the sum total
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An aggregate of panic-stricken customers mobbed the bank, demanding their life savings.
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Algorithm
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An established procedure for solving a problem or equation
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The accountant uses a series of algorithms to determine the appropriate tax bracket.
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Alimentary
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Pertaining to food, nutrition, or digestion
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After a particularly good meal, Sherlock turned to his companion and exclaimed, "I feel quite good, very well fed. It was alimentary my dear Watson."
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Allay
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To lessen, ease, reduce in intensity
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Trying to allay their fears, the nurse sat with them all night.
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Amity
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Friendship, good will
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Correspondence over the years contributed to a lasting amity between the women.
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Amorphous
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Having no definite form
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The Blob featured an amorphous creature that was constantly changing shape.
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Animus
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A feeling of animosity or ill will
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Though her teacher had failed her, she displayed no animus toward him.
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Anodyne
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A source of comfort; a medicine that relieves pain
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The sound of classical music is usually just the anodyne I need after a tough day at work.
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Anomaly
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A deviation from the common rule, something that is difficult to classify
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Among the top-ten albums of the year was one anomaly- a complication of polka classics.
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Anthropomorphic
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Suggesting human characteristics for animals and inanimate things
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Many children's stories feature anthropomorphic animals such as talking wolves and pigs.
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Antiquated
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Too old to be fashionable or useful
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Next to her coworker's brand-new model, Marisa's computer looked antiquated.
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Aphorism
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A short statement of a principle
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The country doctor was given to such aphorisms as "Still waters run deep."
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Aplomb
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Self-confident assurance; poise
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For such a young dancer, she had great aplomb, making her perfect to play the young princess.
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Aposate
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One who renounces a religious faith
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So that he could divorce his wife, the king scoffed at the church doctrines and declared himself an apostate.
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Apposite
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Strikingly appropriate or well adapted
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The lawyer presented an apposite argument upon cross-examining the star witness.
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Apprise
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To give notice to, inform
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"Thanks for apprising me that the test time has been changed." said Emanuel.
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Appropriate
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To assign to a particular purpose, allocate
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The fund's manager appropriated funds for the clean-up effort.
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Arable
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Suitable for cultivation
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The overpopulated country desperately needed more arable land.
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Arcane
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Secret, obscure; known only to a few
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The arcane rituals of the sect were passed down through many generations.
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Archipelago
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A large group of islands
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Between villages in the Stockholm archipelago, boat taxis are the only form of transportation.
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Arrears
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Unpaid, overdue debts or bills; neglected obligations
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After the expensive lawsuit, Dominic's accounts were in arrears.
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Arrogate
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To claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right
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Lynn watched in astonishment as her boss arrogated the credit for her brilliant work on the project.
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Askance
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With disapproval; with a skeptical sideways glance
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She looked askance at her son's failing report card as he mumbled that he had done all the schoolwork.
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Assent
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To agree, as to a proposal
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After careful deliberation, the CEO assented to the proposed merger.
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Atavistic
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Characteristic of a former era, ancient
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After spending three weeks on a desert island, Roger became a survivalist with atavistic skills that helped him endure.
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Autocrat
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A dictator
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Mussolini has been described as an autocrat who tolerated no opposition.
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Aver
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To declare to be true, to affirm
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"Yes, he was wearing a mask," the witness averred.
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Avuncular
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Like an uncle in behavior, especially in kindness and warmth
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The coach's avuncular style made him well-liked.
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Awry
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Crooked, askew, amiss
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Something must have gone awry in the computer system because some of my files are missing.
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