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106 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abate (v)
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to reduce, lessen
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abdicate (v)
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to give up a position, usually one of leadership
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abduct (v)
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to kidnap, take by force
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abjure (v)
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to reject, renounce
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absolution (n)
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freedom from blame, guilt, sin
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balk (v)
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to stop short and refuse to proceed
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ballad (n)
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a love song or song that tells a narrative
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bane (n)
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source of harm or ruin
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bard (n)
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a poet, often a singer as well
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bashful (adj)
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shy, excessively timid
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cadence (n)
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a rhythm, progression of sound
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calamity (n)
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an event with disasterous consequences
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calibrate (v)
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to set, standardize
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callous (adj)
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harsh, cold, unfeeling
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calumny (n)
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an attempt to spoil someone else's reputation by spreading lies
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debacle (n)
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a disastrous failure, disruption
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debase (v)
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to lower the quality or esteem of something
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debunk (v)
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to expose the falseness of something
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decorous (adj)
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socially proper, apporopriate
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defunct (adj)
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no longer used or existing
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eclectic (adj)
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consisting of a diverse variety of elements
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ecstatic (adj)
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intensely and overpoweringly happy
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efficacious (adj)
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effective
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effrontery (n)
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impudence, nerve, insolence
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egregious (adj)
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extremely bad
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fabricate (v)
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to make up, invent
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facade (n)
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1. the wall of a building; 2. a deceptive appearance or attitude
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facile (adj)
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1. easy, requiring little effort; 2. superficial, achieved with minimal thought or care, insincere
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fallacious (adj)
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incorrect, misleading
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fathom (v)
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to understand, comprehend
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garish (adj)
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gaudy, in bad taste
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genial (adj)
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friendly, affable
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good (v)
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to urge, spur, incite to action
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gourmand (n)
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someone fond of eating and drinking
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grandiose (adj)
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planned on a magnificent, exaggerated scale
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hackneyed (adj)
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unoriginal, trite
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harangue (n)
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a lengthy, ranting speech; (v) to give such a speech
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hardy (adj)
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robust, capable of surviving through adverse conditions
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haughty (adj)
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disdainfully proud
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hedonist (n)
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one who believes pleasure should be the primary pursuit of humans
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iconoclast (n)
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one who attacks common beliefs or institutions
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idiosyncratic (adj)
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peculiar to one person; highly individualized
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idolatrous (adj)
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excessively worshipping one object or person
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mmerse (v)
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to absorb, deeply involve, engross
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immutable (adj)
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not changeable
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jubilant (adj)
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extremely joyful, happy
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juxtaposition (n)
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the act of placing two things next to each other for implicit comparison
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laconic (adj)
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terse in speech or writing
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languid (adj)
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sluggish from fatigue or weakness
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largess (n)
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the generous giving of lavish gifts
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latent (adj)
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hidden, but capable of being exposed
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laudatory (adj)
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expressing admiration or praise
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magnanimous (adj)
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noble, generous
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malevolent (adj)
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wanting harm to befall others
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manifest (adj)
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easily understandable, obvious; (v) to show plainly
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manifold (adj)
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diverse, varied
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maverick (n)
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an independent, nonconformist person
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nefarious (adj)
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heinously villainous
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negligent (adj)
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habitually careless, neglectful
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nocturnal (adj)
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relating to or occuring during the night
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nonchalant (adj)
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having a lack of concern, indifference
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nondescript (adj)
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lacking a distinctive character
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obdurate (adj)
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unyielding to persuasion or moral influences
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obfuscate (v)
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to render incomprehensible
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oblique (adj)
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diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward
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oblivious (adj)
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lacking consciousness or awareness of something
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obscure (adj)
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unclear, partially hidden
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palatable (adj)
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agreeable to the taste or sensibilities
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palatte (n)
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a range of colors or qualities
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palliate (v)
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to reduce the severity of
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paradigm (n)
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an example that is a perfect pattern or model
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paradox (n)
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an apparently contradictory statement that may be true
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quagmire (n)
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a messy, difficult situation
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quandary (n)
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a perplexing, unresolvable state
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querulous (adj)
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whiny, complaining
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rancor (n)
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deep, bitter resentment
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rash (adj)
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hasty, incautious
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raze (v)
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to demolish, level
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reciprocate (v)
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to give in return
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reclusive (adj)
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solitare, shunning society
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salve (n)
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a soothing balm
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satiate (v)
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to satisfy excessively
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scrupulous (adj)
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painstaking, careful
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semaphore (n)
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a visual signal
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serene (adj)
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calm, untroubled
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tantamount (adj)
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equivalent in value or significance
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temerity (n)
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audacity, recklessness
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tenable (adj)
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able to be defended or maintained
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timorous (adj)
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timid, fearful
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transgress (v)
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to violate, go over a limit
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usurp (v)
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to seize by force, take possession of without right
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utopia (n)
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an imaginary and remote place of perfection
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vacillate (v)
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to fluctuate, hesitate
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vacuous (adj)
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lack of content or ideas, stupid
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variegated (adj)
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diversified, distictly marked
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veneer (n)
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a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance
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venerable (adj)
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deserving of respect because of age or acievement
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venerate (v)
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to regarde with respect, honor
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verdant (adj)
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green in tint or color
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vex (v)
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to confuse or annoy
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vicarious (adj)
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experiencing through another
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vindicate (v)
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to avenge; to free from allegation; to set free
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virtuoso (n)
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1. one who exels in an art; 2. a highly skilled musical performer
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vocation (n)
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the work in which oneone is employed
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wistful (adj)
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full of yearning; musingly sad
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wrath (n)
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strong vengeful anger, punishment
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