Spelling & Vocabulary 2009

Front 1

abscission

Back 1

n. 1. The act of cutting off 2. Botany. The shedding of leaves, flowers, or fruits following the formation of the abscission

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aboslution

Back 2

n. The formal remission of sin imparted by a priest, as in the sacrament of penance
-syn-exoneration, forgiveness
-Latin-acquittal, to absolve

Front 3

acrid

Back 3

adj. 1. Unpleasantly sharp, pungent, or bitter to the taste or smell 2. Caustic in language or tone
-syn-sarcastic, acrimonious, contemptuous
-Latin-sharp

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acrodont

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adj. Having teeth attached to teh edge of the jawbone w/o sockets (fish)

Front 5

adipose tissue

Back 5

n. A type of connective tissue that contains stored cellular fat (may cause obesity)

Front 6

Aeolian harp

Back 6

n. Music. An instrument consisting of an open box over which are streched strings that sound when the wind passes over them (wind harp)
-Aeolus-god of the winds

Front 7

aerialist

Back 7

n. An acrobat who performs in the air, as on a trapeze or tightrope

Front 8

agoraphobia

Back 8

n. An abnormal fear of open or public places
-Greek-market place, fear

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aiguille

Back 9

n. 1. A sharp, pointed mountain peak 2. A needle-shaped drill for boring holes in rock
-Latin-needle

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albatross

Back 10

n. 1. A large, web-footed bird of the family Diomedeidae from the oceans of teh Southern Hemisphere, with a hooked beak and long, narrow wings 2a. A constant, worrisome burden b. An obstacle to success
-Latin-white, pelican, white-tailed sea eagle

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alderman

Back 11

1. Abbr. Ald. A member of the municipal legislative body in a city 2. A member of the higher branch of the municipal council in England and Ireland before 1974 3a. A high-ranked noble in England b. The chief of a county in England
-Old English-elder, chief, man

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Alencon

Back 12

A town of northwest France on the Sarthe River west-southwest of Paris. Its lacework industry dates to the 17th industry. Pop-31,608

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ambiversion

Back 13

n. A personality trait including the qualities fo both introversion and extroversion

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amicus curiae

Back 14

n. Law. A party that is not involved in a particular litigation but that is allowed by the court to advise it on a matter of law directly affecting the litigation(concerning minors)
-Latin-friend,court

Front 15

amphora

Back 15

n. A two-handled jar with a narrow neck used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to carry wine or oil
-Greek-to bear, on both sides, around

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anaclisis

Back 16

n. Psychological dependence on others
-Greek-a leaning back, to lean on, up

Front 17

anadiplosis

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n. A rhetorical repetition at the beginning of a phrase of the word or words with which the previous phrase ended
"He is a man of loyalty--loyalty always firm."
-Greek-double, up

Front 18

Andalusia

Back 18

A region of Southern Spain on the Mediterranean Sea, the strait of Gibraltar, and the Atlantic Ocean. It contains Moorish architecture, inc. the historic towns of Seville, Granada, and Cordoba

Front 19

ankh

Back 19

n. An ansate cross
-Egyptian-life

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anorectic

Back 20

adj. 1. Marked by loss of appetite 2. Suppressing or causing loss of appetite 3. Of or affected w/anorexia nervosa 4. An anorectic drug
-Greek-without, to reach out for

Front 21

antebellum

Back 21

adj. Belonging to the period before a war, esp before the American Civil War
-Latin-before, war

Front 22

antiphogistic

Back 22

adj. Reducing inflammation or fever, anti-inflammatory

Front 23

apocalypticism

Back 23

n. Belief in apocalyptic prophesies, esp. regarding the imminent destruction of the world and the foundation of a new world order as a result of the triumphs of good over evil

Front 24

apotropaic

Back 24

adj. Intended to ward off evil
-Greek-to ward off, to turn, away from

Front 25

appendices

Back 25

n. Abbr. app. 1a. An appendage b. Supplementary material at the end of a book 2. The vermiform appendix 3. Anatomy. A supplementary part of a body organ or structure
-syn-attachments, addendum
-Latin-to hang upon

Front 26

appurtenance

Back 26

n. 1. Something added to another, more important thing, an appendage 2. Equipment, such as tools, clothing, or instruments for a specific purpose 3. Law. A right that is considered incident to the principal property for purposes such as passage of title or inheritance
-syn-adjunt, accessory, attachment
-Latin-to appertain

Front 27

argillaceous

Back 27

adj. Containing, made of, or resembling clay; clayey
-Latin-argil

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arrearage

Back 28

n. 1. The state of being behind in the fulfillment of obligations or of being overdue in payment 2. A payment owed

Front 29

asquint

Back 29

adv. and adj. With a sidelong glance
-syn-awry, askance, secretively, sideways
-English-on, obliquely

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assuasive

Back 30

adj. Soothing; calming

Front 31

asyndeton

Back 31

n. The omission of conjunctions from constructions in which they would normally be used
-Greek-w/o conjunctions, to bind together

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autistic

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n. 1. Abnormal introversion and egocentricity; acceptance of fantasy rather than reality 2. Psychology. Infantile autism

Front 33

azimuth

Back 33

n. Abbr. az. 1. The horizontal angular distance from a reference direction to the point where a vertical circle through a celestial body intersects the horizon 2. The horizontal angle of the observer's bearing in surveying 3. The lateral deviation of a bomb
-Latin-the way, compass bearing, path

Front 34

bamboozle

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v. Informal. To take in by elaborate methods of deceit; hoodwink
-syn-deceive, betray, mislead, delude, dupe

Front 35

bandoleer, bandolier

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n. A belt fitted with small pockets or loops for carrying cartridges and worn across the chest by soldiers
-Spanish-band

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Bangladesh

Back 36

A country of Southern Asia on the Bay of Bengal. Formerly part of Bengal, it became East Pakistan when India achieved independence in 1947. After a savage civil war with west Pakistan (1971), Bangladesh formed a separate union. Capital and largest city-Dacca, Pop-87,052,000

Front 37

bathymetry

Back 37

n. Measurement of the depth of large bodies of water

Front 38

beatitude, Beatitude

Back 38

n. 1. (beatitude). Supreme blessedness or happiness 2. (Beatitude). Any of the declarations of blessedness made by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount 3. Used as a title for a patriarch in the Armenian or Russian Orthodox church
-syn-blissfulness, felicity
-Latin-happy

Front 39

Bell's palsy

Back 39

n. A unilateral facial muscle paralysis of sudden onset, resulting from trauma, compression, or infection of the facial nerve and characterized by muscle weakness and a distorted facial expression
-After Sir Charles Bell, Scottish anatomist

Front 40

bereavement

Back 40

v. 1. To leave desolate or alone, esp. by death 2. Archaic. To take something valuable or necessary typically by force
-syn-loss, sorrow, mourning, sadness
-Old English-to deprive, take away

Front 41

bicameral

Back 41

adj. Composed of or based on two legislative chambers
-Latin-twice, chamber

Front 42

blucher

Back 42

n. 1. A high shoe or half boot 2. A shoe having the vamp and tongue made of one piece and the quarters lapping over the vamp
-After General Lebercht von Blucher

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bouquetier

Back 43

n. A small container for holding flowers in a nosegay, shaped like a trumpet and having a deep handle to hold the stems (also called porte bouquet)
-French-bouquet

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Bouvier des Flandres

Back 44

n. Any of a breed of large, strong dogs developed in Belgium, having a rough, fawn to black coat and originally used for herding and guarding cattle
-French-cowherd of Flandres

Front 45

bouzouki

Back 45

n. Music. A Greed stringed instument resembling a mandolin
-Greek-mpouzouki

Front 46

breeches buoy

Back 46

n. Nautical. An apparatus used for rescues and transfers at sea, consisting of sturdy canvas breeces attached at the waist to a ring buoy that is suspended from a pulley running along a rope from ship to shore or from ship to ship

Front 47

breviary

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n. Ecclesiastical. A book containing the hymns, offices, and prayers from the canonical hours
-Latin-summary, short

Front 48

bryology

Back 48

n. The study of bryophytes (mosses and things like that)

Front 49

caitiff

Back 49

n. A despicable coward adj. Despicable and cowardly
-Latin-prisoner

Front 50

calenture

Back 50

n. A tropical fever one believed to be caused by heat
-Latin-to heat, to warm up

Front 51

cameoing

Back 51

v. 1. To make into or like a gem or shell carved in relief 2. To portray in sharp, delicate relief, as in literary composition 3. To make a brief but dramatic appearance, as in a film

Front 52

capriole

Back 52

n. 1. An upward leap made by a trained horse w/o going forward and w/the hind legs kicked out 2. A playful leap or jump
-Latin-somersault, roebuck, wild goat

Front 53

carabao

Back 53

n. A large buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) of Asia, often domesticated esp. as a draft animal and having large, spreading horns (water ox, buffalo)

Front 54

convoke

Back 54

v. To cause to assemble in a meeting, convene
-syn-call, muster, summon
-Latin-to call, together

Front 55

confrere

Back 55

n. A fellow member of a fraternity or profession; a colleague
-Latin-brother, with, together

Front 56

conge

Back 56

n. 1. Formal or authoritative permission to depart 2. An abrupt dismissal 3. A leave-taking 4. A formal bow 5. Architecture. A concave molding
-Latin-to come and go

Front 57

coquettish

Back 57

n. A woman who makes teasing sexual or romantic overtures; a flirt
-French-fliratious man

Front 58

contemn

Back 58

v. To view w/contempt; despise
-syn-disdain, scorn
-Latin-to despise, to slight

Front 59

cataplexy

Back 59

n. A sudden loss of muscle tone and strength, usually caused by an extreme emotional stimulus
-Greek-fixation, to astound, terrify, downwards

Front 60

convivial

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adj. 1. Fond of feasting, drinking, and good company; sociable 2. Merry; festive
-syn-companionable, gregarious
-Latin-banquet, to live, together

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cogitable

Back 61

adj. Thinkable; conceivable

Front 62

charmeuse

Back 62

n. A satin-finished silk fabric
-French-charmer, seductress

Front 63

collusion

Back 63

n. A secret agreement between two or more parties for a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose; conspiracy
-syn-plot, machination, cabal
-Latin-to collude

Front 64

commingle

Back 64

v. To become blended; to cause to blend together; mix
-syn-mingle, combine

Front 65

categorical

Back 65

adj. 1. Being w/o exception or qualification; absolute 2a. Of or relating to a category or categories b. According to or using categories
-syn-explicit, definite, express, specific

Front 66

cheval glass

Back 66

n. A long mirror mounted on swivels on a frame
-French-support, horse

Front 67

cerement

Back 67

n. 1. Cerecloth 2. A burial garment

Front 68

cilice

Back 68

n. A coarse cloth; haircloth
-Latin-a covering made of Cilician goat hair

Front 69

Cimmerian

Back 69

adj. Very dark or gloomy n. Greek Mythology. One of a mythical people described by Homer as inhabiting a land of perpetual darkness

Front 70

cartouch, cartouche

Back 70

n. 1. A structure, often in the shape of an oval shield or oblong scroll, used as an architectural ornament or to bear a design or inscription 2. An oval or oblong figure in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics that encloses characters esp. the names of royal people 3. A heavy, paper cartridge case
-French, Indian-paper,card

Front 71

celebrant

Back 71

n. 1a. A person who participates in a religious ceremony or rite b. The priests officiating at the celebration of the Eucharist 2. A participation in a celebration

Front 72

celluloid

Back 72

n. 1. A colorless, flammable material made from nitrocellulose and camphor and used to make photographic film 2a. Motion-picture film b. The cinema adj. 1. Made of a material from nitrocellulose and camphor 2. Portrayed on film 3. Artificial, synthetic

Front 73

cloven-footed

Back 73

adj. Cloven-footed/hoofed (a hoof split in two toes) (pig, deer, sheep, oxen)

Front 74

cerebrospinal

Back 74

adj. 1. Of or relating to the brain and spinal cord

Front 75

complicacy

Back 75

n. 1. The state of being complicated 2. A complication

Front 76

clerisy

Back 76

n. Educated people considered as a group; the literati
-Latin-clergy, priest

Front 77

decolletage

Back 77

n. 1. A low neckline on a woman's garment esp. a dress 2. A dress with a low neckline
-French-neckline

Front 78

deflagrate

Back 78

v. To burn or cause to burn w/great heat and intense light
-Latin-to blaze

Front 79

coryphee

Back 79

n. A ballet dancer who ranks above a member of the corps de ballet and below a soloist and who performs in small ensembles
-Latin-leader

Front 80

courante

Back 80

1. A 17th-century French dance characterized by running and gliding steps to an accompaniment in triple time 2. Music. The 2nd movement of the classical baroque suite, typically following the allemande
-Latin-to run

Front 81

Coventry

Back 81

1. A city of central England east-southeast of Birmingham. Famous as the home of Lady Godiva, it was severly damaged in WWII. Pop-3186002. A town of Rhode Island SW of Providence, settled in 1643, formerly noted as a lacemaking center. Pop-31083 3. A state of exile

Front 82

delineate

Back 82

v. 1. To draw or trace the outline of; sketch 2. To represent pictorially; depict 3. To depict in words or gestures; describe
-syn-represent, portray
-Latin-line, thread

Front 83

demonstrator

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1. n. One that demonstrates, such as a participant in a public display of opinion 2. An article or product used in demonstration

Front 84

coxswain

Back 84

Nautical. n. 1. A person who usually steers a ship's boat and has charge of its crew 2. A person in a racing shell who usually directs the rest of the crew
-English-cockboat, servant

Front 85

crampon

Back 85

n. 1. A hinged pair of curved iron bars for raising heavy objects, such as stones 2. An iron spike attached to the shoe to prevent slipping when walking on ice or climbing (climbing iron)

Front 86

cri de coeur

Back 86

n. An impassioned outcry, as of entreaty or protest
-French-cry of heart