Tooth And Nail Chapter 1- Epilogue

Front 1

accost

Back 1

to approach and speak to, often in an aggressive manner.

Front 2

abject

Back 2

miserable, wretched

Front 3

abstemious

Back 3

eating and drinking sparingly or in moderation, temperate.

Front 4

acquiesce

Back 4

to give in or agree without protest or complaint but also without interest or excitement.

Front 5

abstruse

Back 5

very hard to understand,

Front 6

acquisition

Back 6

1. something acquired or owned.
2. the act of acquiring or owning things.

Front 7

acquisitive

Back 7

eager to acquire or own things.

Front 8

acute

Back 8

sharp, intense

Front 9

acrid

Back 9

harsh, burning, or biting to the taste or smell.

Front 10

adage

Back 10

an old saying, a maxim, or proverb.

Front 11

adamant

Back 11

stubborn, unyielding, inflexible.

Front 12

adept

Back 12

very skillful, expert.

Front 13

adjunct

Back 13

something separate and less important that is added to a main thing.

Front 14

admonish

Back 14

to warn, caution, scold, or criticize gently, esp. aginst doing something wrong or bad.

Front 15

admonition

Back 15

a mild criticism or reprimand, a gentle warning.

Front 16

adroit

Back 16

skillful or clever at doing a difficult thing.

Front 17

adversary

Back 17

a person one fights against, enemy, opponent.

Front 18

advocate

Back 18

a person who speaks or writes in support of another person or of a cause or issue; defender, champion.

Front 19

aesthetic

Back 19

of or pert. to beauty, showing appreciation of or sensitivity to beauty in art or nature, tasteful, artistic.

Front 20

abate

Back 20

to reduce or become less in value, amount ,or intensity.

Front 21

affable

Back 21

easy to talk to, pleasant, kindly, courteous, gracious

Front 22

affinity

Back 22

a natural attraction, close relationship, or intense liking.

Front 23

affront

Back 23

intentional offense or insult

Front 24

alacrity

Back 24

eager willingness and promptness, speed, quickness.

Front 25

alchemical

Back 25

pert. to an early form of chemistry primarily concerned with changing common metals into gold and concocting a potion that would ensure eternal youth; hence, possessing a seemingly magical power to change something or someone's form or appearance.

Front 26

alienate

Back 26

to make unfriendly or hostile, lose the support of.

Front 27

altercation

Back 27

an angry, loud dispute

Front 28

altruistic

Back 28

unselfishly concerned with or interested in the welfare of others.

Front 29

amalgam

Back 29

a mixture or combination.

Front 30

ambivalent

Back 30

simultaneously having opposite or conflicting feelings, such as love and hate, toward a person or thing.

Front 31

amenable

Back 31

willing to yield or cooperate, responsive to advice or authority, agreeable.

Front 32

amiable

Back 32

friendly, good-natured, agreeable

Front 33

animosity

Back 33

hatred, bitterness, extreme dislike

Front 34

antediluvian

Back 34

before the biblical flood.

Front 35

anthology

Back 35

a collection of selected writings.

Front 36

antiquated

Back 36

old-fashioned, outmoded, out-of-date

Front 37

apathetic

Back 37

lacking interest or concern, unresponsive.

Front 38

apocryphal

Back 38

probably not true, genuine, or authentic; spec., of questionable authorship.

Front 39

appalling

Back 39

causing dismay or amazement, frightful

Front 40

appraise

Back 40

to officially decide the worth or price of, evaluate, estimate, judge

Front 41

apprehend

Back 41

1. to become aware of through the senses; to understand, grasp mentally
2. to arrest (a suspected criminal).

Front 42

apprehension

Back 42

1. fear or worry of what may happen, dread.
2. the ability to understand a mental grasp.

Front 43

apprehensive

Back 43

fearful, anxious about something in the future.

Front 44

apprise

Back 44

to inform, notify

Front 45

apt

Back 45

1. having a natural tendency, likely.
2. to the point, suitable.

Front 46

arbitrary

Back 46

based only on one's own will or feelings, not based on reason or law.

Front 47

arcane

Back 47

understood or known only by a few, mysterious.

Front 48

archaic

Back 48

of an earlier period, of a time long past, old-fashioned, no longer in ordinary use.

Front 49

artisan

Back 49

a worker trained or skilled in some trade, craftsperson.

Front 50

ascertain

Back 50

to find out, make certain of.

Front 51

ascetic

Back 51

holding back from pleasures or comforts, self-denying.

Front 52

assailant

Back 52

an attacker

Front 53

assent

Back 53

agreement, acceptance, consent.

Front 54

assert

Back 54

to state confidently or declare firmly.

Front 55

assess

Back 55

to determine the value, importance, or extent of; to evaluate, estimate, weigh.

Front 56

asset

Back 56

a valuable thing, quality, or resource.

Front 57

assiduous

Back 57

showing careful, constant attention.

Front 58

assuage

Back 58

1. to make less severe or intense, mitigate, pacify.
2. to satisfy.

Front 59

attest

Back 59

to state that something is true, correct, or genuine, give evidence of, confirm.

Front 60

auspicious

Back 60

showing signs of future success, indicating a happy or fortunate outcome, favorable.

Front 61

austere

Back 61

1. stern or severe in appearance, grim.
2. severely simple, without luxury.

Front 62

authenticate

Back 62

to establish the truth of or show to be genuine.

Front 63

authenticity

Back 63

the condition or quality of being genuine or true.

Front 64

authoritative

Back 64

commanding, giving orders, showing authority.

Front 65

avaricious

Back 65

greedy for wealth or possessions, miserly.

Front 66

banter

Back 66

good-humored, playful teasing, or joking conversation.

Front 67

barbarity

Back 67

cruelty, brutality, savagery.

Front 68

beguiling

Back 68

charming, amusing, delightful.

Front 69

belittle

Back 69

to make something or someone seem small or unimportant.

Front 70

belligerent

Back 70

ready and eager to fight, quarrel, or make war.

Front 71

beneficence

Back 71

the doing of good; generosity or kindness.

Front 72

beneficiary

Back 72

a person who receives a benefit, spec. an inheritance, bequest or legacy.

Front 73

benevolence

Back 73

an inclination to do good; kindliness

Front 74

benighted

Back 74

in a state of mental or moral ignorance.

Front 75

benign

Back 75

kind, good-natured, arising from or indicative of goodness or happiness, not malevolent or malicious.

Front 76

bequest

Back 76

money or property given or left to someone by means of a will.

Front 77

bestial

Back 77

having the qualities of a beast, cruel, brutish.

Front 78

bibliophile

Back 78

a lover of books, a book collector.

Front 79

blithe

Back 79

carefree, showing no concern, thoughtless.

Front 80

bombastic

Back 80

using or pert. to speech or writing that sounds grand or impressive but has little meaning or substance.

Front 81

bondage

Back 81

slavery, servitude, subjection, serfdom.

Front 82

boor

Back 82

a crude, insensitive person.

Front 83

breadth

Back 83

width, the measure of something from side to side.

Front 84

burgeoning

Back 84

growing or developing quickly.

Front 85

callous

Back 85

unfeeling, insensitive, hardhearted.

Front 86

candid

Back 86

open and direct, frank, straightforward.

Front 87

cantankerous

Back 87

quick to dispute or quarrel, argumentative.

Front 88

capacious

Back 88

able to contain a large quantity, roomy, large.

Front 89

capitulate

Back 89

to yield, surrender, esp. under specifically negotiated terms.

Front 90

capricious

Back 90

unpredictable, changing suddenly for no apparent reason, inconstant.

Front 91

castigate

Back 91

to criticize harshly or severely, berate

Front 92

categorical

Back 92

absolute, without any question or condition.

Front 93

celerity

Back 93

speed, quickness.

Front 94

charade

Back 94

an elaborate and obvious show or illusion.

Front 95

charlatan

Back 95

a fake, phony, quack, or fraud, esp. one who pretends to have great knowledge or skill.

Front 96

chasten

Back 96

to discipline or punish in order to correct or improve.

Front 97

chastise

Back 97

to criticize or scold harshly.

Front 98

chimerical

Back 98

imaginary, unrealistic, wildly improbable

Front 99

chronicler

Back 99

a person who records events in order of time.

Front 100

circumlocution

Back 100

a roundabout or wordy way of expressing an idea.

Front 101

circumspect

Back 101

cautious, careful, considering all conditions before acting.

Front 102

circumvent

Back 102

to go around, bypass, get around by clever maneuvering.

Front 103

clamor

Back 103

a loud and continuous noise, strong and noisy protest or outcry, hubbub, uproar.

Front 104

collaboration

Back 104

a working with another or others, as on a literary or scientific project.

Front 105

colloquium

Back 105

a meeting for discussion, esp. an academic seminar to exchange views on a particular subject.

Front 106

collusion

Back 106

a secret agreement or cooperation between persons for an illegal or wrongful purpose.

Front 107

collosal

Back 107

very great in size, gigantic, enormous.

Front 108

commonplace

Back 108

ordinary, dull, unremarkable

Front 109

communal

Back 109

of or relating to a community; public.

Front 110

concede

Back 110

to acknowledge as being true, reasonable, or proper.

Front 111

concoct

Back 111

to make up, invent, cook up.

Front 112

concomitant

Back 112

existing with something else, accompanying.

Front 113

concordance

Back 113

an alphabetical index of the important words in a written work (or works of an author) indicating the passages in which they occur.

Front 114

concur

Back 114

to agree.

Front 115

condescension

Back 115

a proud, snobbish attitude toward anyone considered inferior.

Front 116

confidant

Back 116

a person to whom one entrusts personal matters or secrets.

Front 117

conflagration

Back 117

a great, destructive fire.

Front 118

conjecture

Back 118

an opinion or conclusion based on insufficient evidence, a guess.

Front 119

conscientious

Back 119

1. guided by conscience
2. showing thought and care.

Front 120

conspiracy

Back 120

a secret plot to commit an evil or illegal act.

Front 121

constraint

Back 121

a restriction or limitation.

Front 122

contemplative

Back 122

thoughtful, devoted to meditation.

Front 123

contemporary

Back 123

a person living at the same time as another.

Front 124

contemptuous

Back 124

full of contempt, thinking or treating as inferior or worthless.

Front 125

contention

Back 125

a claim that someone supports and argues for.

Front 126

conviction

Back 126

a strong belief or opinion.

Front 127

convivial

Back 127

1. festive
2. fond of good company, esp. when eating and drinking, sociable

Front 128

corroborate

Back 128

to support with more evidence, make more certain or believable, provide further proof.

Front 129

coup

Back 129

a brilliant move or action, clever maneuver.

Front 130

coveted

Back 130

possessing so much value as to inspire greed or envy

Front 131

covetous

Back 131

having a strong desire for something that belongs to someone else.

Front 132

credence

Back 132

belief or confidence in the truth of something.

Front 133

cryptic

Back 133

mysterious, baffling, having a hidden meaning.

Front 134

cupidity

Back 134

greed

Front 135

cursory

Back 135

done quickly with little attention to detail

Front 136

cynical

Back 136

expressing disbelief in or distrust of others out of a sense that everyone's motives and actions are selfish.

Front 137

dearth

Back 137

scarcity, scant supply, lack.

Front 138

debase

Back 138

to make lower in value, quality, character, or dignity.

Front 139

debilitate

Back 139

to make weak, enfeeble.

Front 140

decadent

Back 140

in a state of decline (as in art, literature, morals, etc.), self-indulgent or self-gratifying

Front 141

decorum

Back 141

formal, proper, or suitable behavior, dress, speech, etc.; conduct suitable to a situation.

Front 142

deflate

Back 142

to reduce the confidence or lessen the importance of

Front 143

deft

Back 143

skillful in a quick, smooth way.

Front 144

deluge

Back 144

a great flood or downpour.

Front 145

denigrate

Back 145

to defame, damage the reputation of

Front 146

deplorable

Back 146

1. very bad or unfortunate, regrettable
2. deserving strong disappoval or condemnation.

Front 147

depraved

Back 147

wicked, immoral, evil

Front 148

derision

Back 148

scornful or sneering laughter, taunting, mockery

Front 149

desultory

Back 149

moving or passing from one thing to another, not proceeding in an orderly or organized way, aimless, disconnected.

Front 150

deteriorate

Back 150

to grow worse, fall into disrepair, become lower in quality or value.

Front 151

deviant

Back 151

not normal, standard, acceptable; abnormal.

Front 152

devil's advocate

Back 152

a person who upholds an unpopular case or defends a questionable position for the sake of argument or out of sheer perversity.

Front 153

devious

Back 153

not honest and straightforward, sly, shifty, tricky

Front 154

diagnosis

Back 154

a careful examination of the facts or nature of something as a decision based on such an examination esp. one by a physician.

Front 155

diction

Back 155

manner of expression, choice and arrangement of words.

Front 156

didactic

Back 156

designed to instruct or guide behavior

Front 157

diligence

Back 157

steady and careful attention, esp. to work or duties.

Front 158

din

Back 158

a continuous, loud, annoying noise; uproar.

Front 159

dire

Back 159

causing great fear or distress, disastrous, terrible

Front 160

disaffected

Back 160

discontented, rebellious.

Front 161

discern

Back 161

to detect with the eyes or other senses, recognize mentally.

Front 162

discerning

Back 162

having or showing sharp perception and judgment, rapidly noticing small differences or fine distinctions

Front 163

disclose

Back 163

uncover, expose to view, reveal

Front 164

disconcerting

Back 164

upsetting, frustrating, or embarassing.

Front 165

discordant

Back 165

disagreeing, conflicting, clashing, not in harmony.

Front 166

discourse

Back 166

to talk, carry on a conversation

Front 167

discreet

Back 167

cautious in one's speech or actions, tactful

Front 168

discretion

Back 168

the exercise of caution or good judgment.

Front 169

disdain

Back 169

scorn, a feeling or show of dislike or disregard for something or someone considered inferior

Front 170

disgruntled

Back 170

dissatisfied, resentful, discontented.

Front 171

disorient

Back 171

to disturb someone's sense of time, place, or identity.

Front 172

disparage

Back 172

to speak of, treat, or regard as inferior or unimportant.

Front 173

dispense

Back 173

1. to deal out in portions, distribute, administer.
2. to get rid of, do away with, do without.

Front 174

disposition

Back 174

arrangement, makeup, composition.

Front 175

disseminate

Back 175

to scatter widely, spread abroad.

Front 176

dissertation

Back 176

a lengthy, formal piece of writing, spec. a thesis prepared for a doctoral degree.

Front 177

dissonant

Back 177

harsh and disagreeable in sound, jarring to the ear.

Front 178

divergent

Back 178

branching off, departing from a set course or opinion, deviating.

Front 179

divulge

Back 179

to make known, reveal (usu. something private or secret)

Front 180

dogged

Back 180

refusing to give up despite difficulties.

Front 181

dogmatic

Back 181

stating opinions in an overbearing manner, opinionated, dictatorial.

Front 182

dotard

Back 182

a feeble old person

Front 183

dour

Back 183

gloomy, severe, stern

Front 184

drastic

Back 184

extreme, severe, harsh, having a strong effect.

Front 185

droll

Back 185

amusingly strange, humorously odd.

Front 186

dupe

Back 186

to fool, trick, cheat.

Front 187

dupe

Back 187

someone easily fooled, tricked, or cheated.

Front 188

duplicity

Back 188

dishonesty, double-dealing, acting contrary to one's real feelings and beliefs in order to fool or cheat.

Front 189

dwindle

Back 189

to decrease steadily, shrink, diminish.

Front 190

ebullient

Back 190

overflowing with high spirits, enthusiasm, or excitement

Front 191

eclectic

Back 191

selecting, or consisting of selections, from a variety of sources, esp. the best of those sources; varied.

Front 192

eclipse

Back 192

to darken, diminish the brightness or importance of, overshadow, surpass, outshine.

Front 193

edification

Back 193

moral, spiritual, or intellectual improvement or instruction

Front 194

edifying

Back 194

morally, spiritually, or intellectually instructive.

Front 195

egalitarian

Back 195

promoting equal treatment for people, esp. as to social, political, and economic rights.

Front 196

egregious

Back 196

very bad or offensive in an obvious way, flagrant.

Front 197

elated

Back 197

full of joy or happiness, blissful

Front 198

elicit

Back 198

to bring out, draw forth.

Front 199

elitism

Back 199

a preference for rule or leadership by the elite class.

Front 200

eloquent

Back 200

expressed in a strong, clear, graceful, and persuasive way; moving, forceful.

Front 201

elucidate

Back 201

to make clear, explain

Front 202

elude

Back 202

to escape, avoid

Front 203

elusive

Back 203

1. hard to get hold of or capture.
2. hard to define, describe, understand, or remember.

Front 204

embellish

Back 204

to make beautiful by adding decoration

Front 205

eminence

Back 205

great distinction, superiority, or importance.

Front 206

empathy

Back 206

an identification with and ability to share another person's feelings or situation.

Front 207

emphatic

Back 207

expressed or done with emphasis, forceful.

Front 208

emulate

Back 208

to try to do as well as or better than, esp. by imitating; compete with, rival.

Front 209

enamored

Back 209

filled with love or desire, charmed

Front 210

enervated

Back 210

weakened, drained of stength or energy

Front 211

enigma

Back 211

a riddle, mystery, puzzle; a person, situation, statement, or text that causes confusion, doubt, or bewilderment

Front 212

ensconced

Back 212

settled securely or snuggly.

Front 213

ensue

Back 213

to follow as a consequence or result, occur next.

Front 214

entail

Back 214

to require as a necessary consequence, necessitate.

Front 215

entity

Back 215

something that exists and can be recognized as a particular and distinct unit.

Front 216

enumerate

Back 216

to list one after the other, count off, name individually

Front 217

epic

Back 217

pert. to or having the qualities of a long poem, novel, or play usu. written in a dignified or elevated style, celebrating heroes and heroic deeds.

Front 218

equanimity

Back 218

the quality or state of being calm, composed, and even-tempered

Front 219

equivocate

Back 219

to intentionally mislead or confuse by using language that can be understood in two or more ways.

Front 220

erratic

Back 220

1. not regular or consistent (as in quality or progress).
2. odd or peculiar.

Front 221

erudite

Back 221

having or exhibiting deep and extensive learning

Front 222

esoteric

Back 222

intended for or understood only by a select group.

Front 223

estimable

Back 223

deserving esteem

Front 224

evanescent

Back 224

vanishing, short-lived, fleeting

Front 225

evasive

Back 225

meaning to evade, not forthright; indirect, intentionally vague or misleading

Front 226

evocative

Back 226

having the power to call forth certain ideas or memories.

Front 227

exasperate

Back 227

to irritate extremly, to try the patience of.

Front 228

exlusive

Back 228

admitting only certain people as friends or members

Front 229

exegesis

Back 229

detailed explanation or analysis, esp. of a text.

Front 230

exemplary

Back 230

worthy to serve as a model

Front 231

exert

Back 231

to put forth or bring to bear

Front 232

exonerate

Back 232

to declare blameless, find innocent

Front 233

exorbitant

Back 233

far beyond what is usual or proper; excessive

Front 234

expedient

Back 234

a means to an end

Front 235

exploit

Back 235

a daring deed, heroic feat.

Front 236

expound

Back 236

to explain by giving detail

Front 237

exquisite

Back 237

of extreme beauty and excellence

Front 238

extant

Back 238

still existing

Front 239

exultant

Back 239

filled with great joy, expressing triumph

Front 240

exultation

Back 240

great rejoicing and jubilation, the state of being exultant

Front 241

facade

Back 241

an artificial or deceptive appearance

Front 242

faculty

Back 242

a power or capability of the mind or body, either natural or acquired.

Front 243

far-fetched

Back 243

not likely to be true or to happen

Front 244

fatuous

Back 244

silly or stupid in a complacent way.

Front 245

feisty

Back 245

full of spirit or nerve

Front 246

felicitous

Back 246

well suited or appropriate

Front 247

fervid

Back 247

glowing with feeling, fiery

Front 248

fetid

Back 248

having an offensive smell (as of decay), stinking.

Front 249

fiasco

Back 249

a total and ignominious failure.

Front 250

fickle

Back 250

not loyal or constant (as in affections), given to casual change.

Front 251

fitful

Back 251

irregular, intermittent

Front 252

florid

Back 252

overly decorated, flowery

Front 253

flourish

Back 253

a loud, lively sounding of trumpets.

Front 254

foolhardy

Back 254

bold in a foolish, reckless manner

Front 255

forbidding

Back 255

grim, sinister, menacing

Front 256

forgery

Back 256

an imitation (as of a signature or document) intended to be passed off as the real thing; a counterfeit

Front 257

forthright

Back 257

going straight to the point without hesitation, frank=, direct.

Front 258

fortuitous

Back 258

occuring by chance, accidental

Front 259

frugal

Back 259

careful in spending, using one's money or resources carefully and sparingly, thrifty, economical

Front 260

furtive

Back 260

sly, stealthy, shifty, underhanded

Front 261

futile

Back 261

of no use, ineffective, pointless

Front 262

galvanize

Back 262

to rouse to action, excite

Front 263

garrulous

Back 263

overly talkative, esp. about unimportant things

Front 264

gaudy

Back 264

excessively showy in a tasteless way

Front 265

germane

Back 265

pert. to what is under consideration or being discussed

Front 266

giddy

Back 266

dizzy, lightheaded.

Front 267

grandiloquent

Back 267

speaking in a lofty, pompous, or overblown manner

Front 268

grandiose

Back 268

1. impressive, magnificent
2. affectedly grand

Front 269

grapple

Back 269

to engage in a struggle at close quarters, wrestle, vie

Front 270

gratify

Back 270

please, satisfy, delight

Front 271

gregarious

Back 271

liking the companionship of others; sociable

Front 272

grimace

Back 272

to twist the face in an expression of pain, disapproval, frustration, or contempt.

Front 273

hackneyed

Back 273

made commonplace or dull by overuse.

Front 274

hamper

Back 274

to restrict the movements of, hinder, interfere with

Front 275

haphazard

Back 275

characterized by lack of order or direction, accidental, not planned.

Front 276

harmonious

Back 276

1. orderly and pleasing in sound or arrangement.
2. in accord or agreement.

Front 277

headlong

Back 277

literally, headfirst; figuratively, recklessly

Front 278

hedonist

Back 278

a person who follows a way of life devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain

Front 279

hidebound

Back 279

inflexible, close-minded, conservative, stubbornly stuck in one's ways

Front 280

iconoclastic

Back 280

attacking or opposing accepted, established beliefs or customs

Front 281

ideological

Back 281

relating to or based on ideas, esp. the ideas characteristic of a particular culture or group.

Front 282

ill-conceived

Back 282

badly planned

Front 283

illicit

Back 283

unlawful, illegal

Front 284

illustrious

Back 284

very well known, celebrated

Front 285

imminent

Back 285

about to happen

Front 286

immutable

Back 286

not changeable; fixed.

Front 287

impart

Back 287

to give or grant a share or portion of.

Front 288

impasse

Back 288

a predicament from which there is no escape, a deadlock.

Front 289

impassive

Back 289

unaffected by emotion, giving no sign of feeling

Front 290

impeccable

Back 290

without fault, flaw, or blemish

Front 291

impede

Back 291

to hinder, interfere with, obstruct

Front 292

impending

Back 292

about to happen

Front 293

imperious

Back 293

proud, overbearing, dictatorial

Front 294

impervious

Back 294

unreceptive to, unaffected by

Front 295

impetuous

Back 295

acting suddenly and forcefully, with much emotion and little thought; hasty, overeager, impatient

Front 296

implicate

Back 296

to connect (someone) to a plot, crime, etc.

Front 297

imposing

Back 297

impressive in appearance, manner, or size

Front 298

impregnable

Back 298

not able to be entered, penetrated, conquered, or overcome.

Front 299

impressionable

Back 299

easily affected or influenced, sensitive

Front 300

impropriety

Back 300

an improper act or an unacceptable use of language.

Front 301

imprudent

Back 301

unwise, lacking good judgment, not prudent

Front 302

impudent

Back 302

rude, disrespectful

Front 303

inadvertent

Back 303

not intentional

Front 304

inane

Back 304

without point or meaning, silly, foolish

Front 305

incarcerate

Back 305

to put in prison, imprison

Front 306

incessant

Back 306

unceasing, continuing without interruption.

Front 307

incoherent

Back 307

not expressed in a clear, orderly manner; hard to make sense of, disjointed, disorganized, not coherent.

Front 308

inconceivable

Back 308

not possible to imagine, unbelievable, unthinkable

Front 309

incontrovertible

Back 309

indisputable, unquestionable, not possible to argue with.

Front 310

incorrigible

Back 310

incapable of being corrected, improved, or reformed

Front 311

incredulous

Back 311

unable or unwilling to believe, doubting

Front 312

indefatigable

Back 312

never lacking energy, tireless

Front 313

indeterminate

Back 313

indefinite, unclear, not fixed or settled.

Front 314

indignation

Back 314

anger aroused by something unjust or unfair

Front 315

indistinct

Back 315

unclear, hard to recognize, blurred, dim, faint.

Front 316

indulge

Back 316

allow to act without restraint, give in to or satisfy (an appetite, whim, desire, etc.)

Front 317

industrious

Back 317

hardworking, persevering

Front 318

ineffectual

Back 318

not producing the desired effect

Front 319

inert

Back 319

having the power to move or respond

Front 320

ingenious

Back 320

clever, creative, imaginative

Front 321

ingenuous

Back 321

showing innocence or trust; childlike, sincere

Front 322

inherent

Back 322

essential, existing within someone or something as a natural, permanent element.

Front 323

inimitable

Back 323

not able to be copied or imitated, matchless

Front 324

iniquity

Back 324

great injustice, wickedness, sin

Front 325

initial

Back 325

of or coming at the beginning, earliest, first

Front 326

initiative

Back 326

the act of or the responsibility for taking the first step in doing something.

Front 327

innocuous

Back 327

harmless, causing no injury or ill will.

Front 328

inquisitive

Back 328

inclined to ask questions, extremely curious

Front 329

inscrutable

Back 329

mysterious, difficult to interpret or understand.

Front 330

insidious

Back 330

evil or treacherous in a sly, underhanded manner; working or spreading ill or harm in a hidden, dangerous way.

Front 331

insinuation

Back 331

a sly hint, indirect or covert suggestion, esp. of something unpleasant or disagreeable.

Front 332

insipid

Back 332

1. without flavor or taste, bland
2. not interesting, dull

Front 333

insulated

Back 333

set apart, isolated, protected, detached.

Front 334

integral

Back 334

essential, necessary for completion

Front 335

integrate

Back 335

to form into a unified whole, incorporate into a larger whole, unite.

Front 336

integrity

Back 336

moral or artistic honesty, strength of character.

Front 337

intemperate

Back 337

excessive, unruly, lacking in moderation

Front 338

intractable

Back 338

difficult to control, lead, or manipulate

Front 339

intrepid

Back 339

extremely brave, daring, unafraid.

Front 340

intricacy

Back 340

something detailed, complicated, complex, entangled, or involved.

Front 341

intrigue

Back 341

to arouse the interest, desire, or curiosity of; fascinate.

Front 342

intuition

Back 342

the faculty of knowing instinctively, without conscious reasoning; the knowledge so acquired.

Front 343

inventiveness

Back 343

originality, creativity

Front 344

inscrutable

Back 344

mysterious, difficult to interpret or understand.

Front 345

insidious

Back 345

evil or treacherous in a sly, underhanded manner; working or spreading ill or harm in a hidden, dangerous way.

Front 346

insinuation

Back 346

a sly hint, indirect or covert suggestion, esp. of something unpleasant or disagreeable.

Front 347

insipid

Back 347

1. without flavor or taste, bland
2. not interesting, dull

Front 348

insulated

Back 348

set apart, isolated, protected, detached.

Front 349

integral

Back 349

essential, necessary for completion

Front 350

integrate

Back 350

to form into a unified whole, incorporate into a larger whole, unite.

Front 351

integrity

Back 351

moral or artistic honesty, strength of character.

Front 352

intemperate

Back 352

excessive, unruly, lacking in moderation

Front 353

intractable

Back 353

difficult to control, lead, or manipulate

Front 354

intrepid

Back 354

extremely brave, daring, unafraid.

Front 355

intricacy

Back 355

something detailed, complicated, complex, entangled, or involved.

Front 356

intrigue

Back 356

to arouse the interest, desire, or curiosity of; fascinate.

Front 357

intuition

Back 357

the faculty of knowing instinctively, without conscious reasoning; the knowledge so acquired.

Front 358

inventiveness

Back 358

originality, creativity

Front 359

inveterate

Back 359

fixed in a habit or custom

Front 360

invigorating

Back 360

giving strength and energy to

Front 361

irk

Back 361

to bother, annoy, vex

Front 362

irrevocable

Back 362

not possible to bring back, undo, or alter

Front 363

jostle

Back 363

to crowd or brush against, push, elbow, shove

Front 364

jovial

Back 364

jolly, good-natured

Front 365

jubilant

Back 365

filled with or showing joy

Front 366

judicious

Back 366

characterized by good judgment, sensible, wise

Front 367

keen

Back 367

1. sharp
2. intellectually sharp, penetrating, piercing
3. intense

Front 368

kindle

Back 368

to ignite or light; hence, to stir up or excite

Front 369

laceration

Back 369

a jagged tear or wound

Front 370

languid

Back 370

having no energy or interest, slow, weak

Front 371

languish

Back 371

to lose strength or health, become weak, droop from longing or desire, pine, suffer

Front 372

largess

Back 372

1. a generous or lavish gift
2. generous or lavish giving, generosity

Front 373

latent

Back 373

present but not visible or active

Front 374

laudable

Back 374

worthy of praise or approval

Front 375

legacy

Back 375

money or property that has been left to someone by a will; an inheritance, anything handed down from the past.

Front 376

legible

Back 376

able to be read or deciphered easily

Front 377

legitimate

Back 377

lawful, legal

Front 378

lethargic

Back 378

having little or no energy, drowsy, dull

Front 379

levity

Back 379

joking or gaiety, esp. at inappropriate moments

Front 380

listless

Back 380

lacking spirit, energy, or interest

Front 381

lithe

Back 381

flexible in a gracious way, limber, supple

Front 382

loquacious

Back 382

talkative, esp. excessively

Front 383

lucid

Back 383

capable of being readily understood, clear, plain

Front 384

lurid

Back 384

causing horror or fear, terrible, shocking, sensational

Front 385

luscious

Back 385

having a pleasant taste and smell

Front 386

luxuriant

Back 386

1. showing thick and abundant growth, lush
2. very rich, fancy, or elaborate, as in decorations or furnishings

Front 387

lyric

Back 387

expressing strong personal feelings

Front 388

magnanimous

Back 388

1. generous in overlooking insults or injuries
2. noble, high-minded, unselfish

Front 389

malevolent

Back 389

wishing or doing evil to others, showing ill will

Front 390

malicious

Back 390

desiring to hurt or injure someone, full of ill will, evil, nasty, spiteful

Front 391

malodorous

Back 391

having a disagreeable odor, foul-smelling

Front 392

manic

Back 392

having or showing an exaggerated enthusiasm, interest, desire, or level of activity

Front 393

masonry

Back 393

stonework, brickwork, or a structure made of stone or brick

Front 394

masquerade

Back 394

to wear a disguise, pose, assume a false identity.

Front 395

mediate

Back 395

to bring about a settlement between disputing parties, act as a peacemaker or go-between

Front 396

mercenary

Back 396

greedy, motivated solely by the desire for money or material gain.

Front 397

meritorious

Back 397

deserving of praise, admiration, or reward; worthy.

Front 398

metaphysical

Back 398

of or pert. to metaphysics, the branch of philosophy that explores the nature of being and reality; hence, highly abstract or difficult to understand

Front 399

methodical

Back 399

carried out in an orderly or systematic way

Front 400

mettle

Back 400

spirit, courage, strength of character.

Front 401

mime

Back 401

to act out something silently with body movements and facial expressions.

Front 402

minute

Back 402

extremely small, tiny

Front 403

misapprehension

Back 403

misunderstanding

Front 404

mishap

Back 404

an unlucky or unfortunate accident

Front 405

mock

Back 405

pretended; not real but made to look so.

Front 406

moderation

Back 406

the condition or quality of avoiding extremes and staying within reasonable limits

Front 407

modest

Back 407

1. not vain or boastful, humble
2. limited in number, size, scope, etc.
3. simple, not elaborate or pretentious

Front 408

monolithic

Back 408

made of or resembling a single large block of stone; hence, solid, rigid, massive, and uniform in appearance or character.

Front 409

morose

Back 409

gloomy and irritable

Front 410

mortified

Back 410

humiliated, having one's self-respect or pride injured.

Front 411

munificence

Back 411

great generosity

Front 412

muse

Back 412

1. to consider, be absorbed in one's thoughts, contemplate, think or say in a reflective manner.
2. to ask oneself, wonder

Front 413

muse

Back 413

a source of inspiration

Front 414

mystical

Back 414

having a quality or meaning that is spiritual or beyond human understanding.

Front 415

naive

Back 415

showing a lack of wordly wisdom or sophistication; hence, simple, childlike, and innocent or foolish, impractical, and inexperienced.

Front 416

nefarious

Back 416

extremely wicked, villainous, evil

Front 417

niche

Back 417

1. a place or situation especially suited to a person or thing.
2. a recess in a wall, as for holding a small statue or other art object.

Front 418

nonchalant

Back 418

cool and unconcerned.

Front 419

nondescript

Back 419

lacking distinguishing features or characteristics, not easily described or classified

Front 420

notable

Back 420

worthy of note, distinguished, important, outstanding.

Front 421

noteworthy

Back 421

deserving attention, worthy of notice.

Front 422

notorious

Back 422

widely known, esp. unfavorably

Front 423

noxious

Back 423

harmful to a person's health or morals, not wholesome

Front 424

novelty

Back 424

something that is fresh, different, unusual, or the first of its kind.

Front 425

obdurate

Back 425

not easily moved by pity or persuasion, stubborn, inflexible

Front 426

obfuscation

Back 426

the often intentional act of confusing or making something unclear or difficult to understand

Front 427

objective

Back 427

1. not influenced by personal feelings or opinions, not biased.
2. having to do what is real, as opposed to what exists only in the mind

Front 428

oblique

Back 428

expressed in an indirect manner, not straightforward.

Front 429

obliterate

Back 429

to destroy completely, wipe out, remove any trace of.

Front 430

oblivious

Back 430

showing no awareness of, not minding.

Front 431

obscure

Back 431

to hide or conceal; to make vague, confusing, dim, or indistinct.

Front 432

obsequious

Back 432

too eager to please, flatter, or obey; fawning.

Front 433

obsolete

Back 433

no longer in use, out-of-date, outmoded

Front 434

obtuse

Back 434

slow in understanding or feeling, dull, stupid.

Front 435

occult

Back 435

beyond human comprehension, mysterious, magical

Front 436

officious

Back 436

overly eager or presumptuous in offering unsolicited assitance or advice, meddlesome

Front 437

ominous

Back 437

threatening or foreboding, sinister, full of or indicating potential evil or harm.

Front 438

opaque

Back 438

1. not allowing the passage of light, not transparent.
2. difficult to understand, unclear.

Front 439

oppressive

Back 439

harsh, difficult, hard to bear, burdensome

Front 440

opulent

Back 440

very rich, costly, expensive, indicative of great wealth

Front 441

oracle

Back 441

a priest through whom the gods were thought to respond to questions put to them by the ancient Greeks and Romans; hence, any person thought to possess great wisdom or authority

Front 442

ordeal

Back 442

an experience that is very difficult or painful.

Front 443

orthodox

Back 443

in accordance with long-established and commonly accepted beliefs or practices, esp. those of a religion; proper, generally accepted, customary.

Front 444

oscillate

Back 444

to move back and forth in a regular way, like a pendulum.

Front 445

ostentatious

Back 445

showy or flashy in an attempt to impress, making a conspicuous display to attact attention

Front 446

outlandish

Back 446

strange, unfamiliar, strikingly different or odd.

Front 447

overt

Back 447

done or shown openly, observable, not hidden or concealed, not covert.

Front 448

overwrought

Back 448

under considerable emotional strain; extremely nervous, excited, or tense

Front 449

painstaking

Back 449

careful, showing great effort

Front 450

pallid

Back 450

pale, wan; lacking color, strength, or vitality

Front 451

paltry

Back 451

so small as to be worthless or unimportant; trifling

Front 452

panoramic

Back 452

wide and comprehensive, usu. describing a view in every direction.

Front 453

paragon

Back 453

a model of excellence or perfection

Front 454

patronizing

Back 454

tending to treat others as inferior, acting with an air of condescension.

Front 455

paucity

Back 455

lack, scarcity, insufficiency of amount or number

Front 456

peccadillo

Back 456

a minor sin, fault, or error.

Front 457

pedant

Back 457

1. a person who makes a showy display of knowledge to impress others.
2. a peson who pays excessive attention to rules or details in learning or scholarship

Front 458

pedestal

Back 458

the base supporting a column, statue, lamp, or the like.

Front 459

pedestrian

Back 459

dull, ordinary, uninteresting

Front 460

penchant

Back 460

a strong liking or inclination

Front 461

penury

Back 461

extreme poverty, indigence, want, destitution

Front 462

perceptive

Back 462

capable of quickly understanding

Front 463

perennial

Back 463

lasting through many years, enduring, perpetual

Front 464

perfunctory

Back 464

1. done in a routine manner, as if merely to get finished; hasty.
2. showing little interest or enthusiasm, careless, halfhearted

Front 465

perjure

Back 465

to make (oneself) guilty of lying esp. while under an oath to tell the truth (as in a court of law)

Front 466

permutation

Back 466

a thorough change in form, character, or condition; transformation, altercation

Front 467

pernicious

Back 467

harmful, destructive.

Front 468

persistent

Back 468

continuing in spite of diffulty or opposition, persevering.

Front 469

perspicacious

Back 469

having a powerful and penetrating mind, quick to see and understand.

Front 470

perturbation

Back 470

agitation, disquiet, uneasiness

Front 471

pervade

Back 471

to spread throughout, permeate.

Front 472

perverse

Back 472

1. improper, incorrect
2. stubbornly contrary or wrongheaded.

Front 473

pervert

Back 473

to twist the meaning or character of

Front 474

petrified

Back 474

hardened, stonelike.

Front 475

petty

Back 475

spiteful, small-minded, mean

Front 476

philistine

Back 476

a narrow-minded person with ordinary tastes and ideas who has no interest in the arts or learning.

Front 477

phlegmatic

Back 477

not easily excited or moved to action, calm, unemotional

Front 478

placid

Back 478

calm, peaceful, quiet, restful

Front 479

poignant

Back 479

affecting the emotions, touching, intensely or painfully moving

Front 480

poised

Back 480

1. self-assured, at ease, composed
2. balanced, held steady.

Front 481

pompous

Back 481

puffed up with self-importance

Front 482

ponderous

Back 482

1. large and heavy, bulky
2. dull, boring, labored

Front 483

portly

Back 483

stout, heavyset, fat

Front 484

posthumous

Back 484

occurring after a person's death

Front 485

potent

Back 485

having a strong effect, powerful

Front 486

pragmatic

Back 486

practical as opposed to theoretical

Front 487

precept

Back 487

a rule for guiding conduct or action.

Front 488

precipitate

Back 488

to bring about suddenly or sooner than expected.

Front 489

preconceived

Back 489

formed in advance, as an opinion.

Front 490

predetermined

Back 490

decided in advance, determined beforehand

Front 491

predilection

Back 491

a preference, liking, tendency to favor.

Front 492

preeminent

Back 492

superior, outstanding, notable above all others.

Front 493

preliminary

Back 493

coming before or leading up to the main event, introductory, prefatory

Front 494

preposterous

Back 494

senseless, foolish, ridiculous

Front 495

prescient

Back 495

having knowledge of events before they occur, having foresight

Front 496

prescribe

Back 496

to give as an order or direction, lay down as a rule.

Front 497

prevailing

Back 497

widely accepted, most common or frequent

Front 498

prevaricate

Back 498

to lie, speak falsely, stray from the truth

Front 499

primordial

Back 499

primitive, original, basic, elemental, primeval

Front 500

priority

Back 500

1. something first in importance or order
2. the right of being first in importance, order, or rank

Front 501

prodding

Back 501

jabbing, poking, or goading with or as if with a prod (a pointed stick).

Front 502

prodigious

Back 502

1. huge, enormous, monumental; extraordinary in size, extent, or degree
2. marvelous, amazing, phenomenal

Front 503

profound

Back 503

1. deep
2. having or demonstrating deep understanding or intelligence
3. complete, absolute, unbroken
4. sweeping, extensive
5. intensely felt

Front 504

profusion

Back 504

a large supply, great quantity or amount

Front 505

prognosis

Back 505

a prediction, forecast, esp. about the course of a disease and the possibility of recovery

Front 506

prolific

Back 506

highly productive or fruitful

Front 507

promulgate

Back 507

to make known formally or officially, publish, circulate, proclaim, publicize

Front 508

prone

Back 508

stretched out face downward, prostrate.

Front 509

propensity

Back 509

a natural tendency or inclination

Front 510

prophetic

Back 510

of or pert. to a prophet (one who makes predictions) or to a prophecy (a prediction, esp. one that is divinely inspired)

Front 511

propound

Back 511

to present for consideration, suggest, propose

Front 512

prosaic

Back 512

unimaginative, boring, ordinary, dull

Front 513

prosperity

Back 513

wealth, good fortune, success

Front 514

protagonist

Back 514

the leading character in a work of literature.

Front 515

protracted

Back 515

drawn out in time, prolonged, stretched out, lengthened.

Front 516

protruding

Back 516

sticking up or out, projecting

Front 517

proverbial

Back 517

well-known because widely repeated; famous.

Front 518

prurient

Back 518

tending to have or causing lustful desires or thoughts

Front 519

pugilist

Back 519

a fighter, boxer

Front 520

pungent

Back 520

sharp or biting to smell or taste

Front 521

purloin

Back 521

to steal, pilfer, take dishonestly, commit theft.

Front 522

purported

Back 522

to claim, often falsely.

Front 523

quagmire

Back 523

an area of swampy ground, a bog; hence, a situation difficult to get out of.

Front 524

quandary

Back 524

a state of uncertainty about what to do; a perplexing or difficult situation, predicament, jam, fix, pickle

Front 525

querulous

Back 525

tending to find fault; complaining, peevish, or whiny.

Front 526

quiescent

Back 526

in a resting state, quiet, not active

Front 527

quizzical

Back 527

questioning, disbelieving, or puzzled.

Front 528

rationalist

Back 528

one whose opinions or beliefs are based on reasoning.

Front 529

raucous

Back 529

disorderly, wild, rowdy.

Front 530

ravage

Back 530

devastating damage, violent destruction

Front 531

rebut

Back 531

to deny or disapprove (an argument or claim) by offering opposing evidence or proof.

Front 532

reckoning

Back 532

the settling of accounts; an accounting, as for something received or done.

Front 533

recluse

Back 533

a person who lives alone, shut away from the outside world

Front 534

reconcile

Back 534

to bring into agreement, make consistent, harmonize.

Front 535

recount

Back 535

to narrate, tell in detail, describe

Front 536

rectify

Back 536

to set right or adjust

Front 537

rectitude

Back 537

rightness in principles and conduct

Front 538

refinement

Back 538

1. elegance of thought, feeling, manners, taste, or language.
2. improvement, polish

Front 539

reflective

Back 539

thoughtful

Front 540

rejuvenated

Back 540

refilled with energy or youthfulness, made to seem new or fresh again.

Front 541

rejuvenating

Back 541

refreshing, restorative, giving new life and energy to.

Front 542

relent

Back 542

to become more gentle, less severe, or more forgiving.

Front 543

remonstrate

Back 543

to argue with strong reasons against, plead in protest, present an objection.

Front 544

renegade

Back 544

disloyal, traitorous

Front 545

renovate

Back 545

to renew, make as good as new.

Front 546

repression

Back 546

the act or state of keeping something down or holding it in check, often by force.

Front 547

repressive

Back 547

tending or serving to keep something down or hold it in check, restrictive, authoritarian.

Front 548

reproachful

Back 548

full of or expressing disapproval for a wrong or fault

Front 549

reprobate

Back 549

a wicked, immoral person

Front 550

rescind

Back 550

to repeal or cancel

Front 551

resentment

Back 551

ill will produced by a perceived insult or injury.

Front 552

resilient

Back 552

recovering quickly, as from misfortune or illness.

Front 553

resonant

Back 553

having a full and rich tone or sound

Front 554

resourceful

Back 554

clever and creative in solving problems or difficulties.

Front 555

revelation

Back 555

something made known or revealed, esp. something surprising.

Front 556

reverence

Back 556

a feeling of awe and respect often mingled with affection

Front 557

revitalize

Back 557

to give new life and energy to, make vital again

Front 558

ribald

Back 558

coarse or vulgar in the use of language

Front 559

robust

Back 559

strong, hearty, sturdy, firm, full of health

Front 560

rotund

Back 560

round in shape, notably plump or chubby

Front 561

rueful

Back 561

filled with sorrow, regret, or pity

Front 562

sabotage

Back 562

to deliberately hinder, obstruct, injure, destroy, etc.

Front 563

sagacious

Back 563

wise, exercising sound judgment

Front 564

salient

Back 564

standing out, attracting attention, easily seen, noticeable

Front 565

sallow

Back 565

of a sickly, pale, yellowish color or complexion.

Front 566

salubrious

Back 566

favorable to health, healthful

Front 567

salutary

Back 567

promoting a beneficial purpose or effect, good for one's health, producing an improvement, remedial, corrective

Front 568

satirical

Back 568

relating to the art of exposing human folly or vice with wit

Front 569

saunter

Back 569

to walk in a leisurely way, stroll

Front 570

savant

Back 570

a person of great learning, scholar

Front 571

savor

Back 571

literally, to taste or smell with pleasure; figuratively, to enjoy, delight in, relish

Front 572

scatterbrained

Back 572

incapable of orderly thought, flighty

Front 573

scintillating

Back 573

1. emitting sparkles or twinkles of light, shining
2. lively, intelligent, clever, or witty

Front 574

scope

Back 574

range, the area covered

Front 575

scoundrel

Back 575

a dishonorable person, cad, villain

Front 576

scruple

Back 576

a moral principle that restrains action

Front 577

scrupulous

Back 577

precise and exacting

Front 578

scurrilous

Back 578

coarse, indecent, or abusive

Front 579

self-aggrandizement

Back 579

the increase of one's own importance, position, or reputation

Front 580

senile

Back 580

relating to or characteristic of old age, esp. showing a decline in mental abilities

Front 581

sentiment

Back 581

a feeling, opinion

Front 582

sentimental

Back 582

expressing tender feelings, sometimes to excess

Front 583

shard

Back 583

a fragment of a brittle substance, esp. of broken pottery

Front 584

shrouded

Back 584

shut off from sight or light, hidden, concealed

Front 585

shun

Back 585

to keep away from deliberately, avoid consistently or habitually

Front 586

singular

Back 586

extraordinary, rare, remarkable, exceptional

Front 587

sinuous

Back 587

having curves or turns, wavy, winding, snakelike

Front 588

smirk

Back 588

to smile in a self-satisfied or artificial way; simper.

Front 589

sojourn

Back 589

to remain or live (in a place) for a while.

Front 590

sojourn

Back 590

a temporary stay

Front 591

solicitous

Back 591

concerned, worried, or anxious about someone or something

Front 592

soothsayer

Back 592

one who claims to be able to foretell the future; a seer

Front 593

soporific

Back 593

inducing sleep; tending to dull the awareness

Front 594

sparse

Back 594

of a few, scattered elements; not thick or dense.

Front 595

specificity

Back 595

precision, definitiveness

Front 596

specify

Back 596

to state or list in detail, define, stipulate

Front 597

spectral

Back 597

spooky, eerie, otherworldly, like a specter (a ghost)

Front 598

speculate

Back 598

to reason and form theories on the basis of inadequate or inconclusive evidence.

Front 599

speculator

Back 599

a person who makes risky financial investments.

Front 600

spendthrift

Back 600

someone who wastes money or spends it foolishly

Front 601

spontaneous

Back 601

1. occuring naturally or without practice or forethought
2. acting in accordance with one's own inner nature rather than with external forces, guided by instinct or impulse.

Front 602

spurious

Back 602

fake, fraudulent, counterfeit

Front 603

squabble

Back 603

a noisy quarrel or argument, usu. over a small matter.

Front 604

squandering

Back 604

using or spending foolishly and wastefully.

Front 605

staid

Back 605

proper, sober, dignified, conservative, strait-laced.

Front 606

stalwart

Back 606

of outstanding strength, sturdy

Front 607

stately

Back 607

impressively formal and serious in style or proportions

Front 608

stature

Back 608

height or level of achievement

Front 609

staunch

Back 609

firm, loyal, true

Front 610

steadfast

Back 610

faithful, constant, loyal, firm

Front 611

stereotype

Back 611

something that conforms to a fixed pattern, not allowing for individuality, esp. a mental image or a way of thinking about a person, thing, or event.

Front 612

stimulate

Back 612

to excite to growth or greater action, rouse

Front 613

stoic

Back 613

not affected by or showing emotions, esp. pain or distress; calm, unmoved

Front 614

stratagem

Back 614

a trick or scheme used to outwit an enemy, gain an advantage, or achieve a goal.

Front 615

stratum

Back 615

a level, layer, rank, or grade

Front 616

strident

Back 616

loud, noisy, grating, shrill

Front 617

studious

Back 617

1. concerned with study or learning.
2. earnest, purposeful, deliberate.

Front 618

stupefaction

Back 618

a state of stupidity, grogginess, or half-consciousness

Front 619

suave

Back 619

smooth and courteous, polished and poised in social situations

Front 620

subjective

Back 620

of or arising from a person's emotions, prejudices, or interests, not from external evidence; based on personal feelings or opinions.

Front 621

subordinate

Back 621

occupying an inferior position, rank, or class; secondary, minor

Front 622

subside

Back 622

to become quiet or less active, settle down to a lower level

Front 623

substantiate

Back 623

to support by proof or reliable evidence

Front 624

subtlety

Back 624

a fine point, delicate distinction

Front 625

succinct

Back 625

expressed precisely and compactly, without wasted words.

Front 626

suffused

Back 626

spread through or over (as with light or color)

Front 627

sumptuous

Back 627

exceptionally rich and luxurious

Front 628

supercilious

Back 628

looking down at or treating others in a proudly superior way

Front 629

superficial

Back 629

concerned only with the surface, with what is obvious or apparent; shallow, lacking in depth or substance

Front 630

superlative

Back 630

excellent, of the greatest or highest quality.

Front 631

surmise

Back 631

to conclude based on scanty evidence, suppose, guess

Front 632

surpassing

Back 632

superior

Front 633

surreptitious

Back 633

secret and stealthy, not open or conspicuous

Front 634

sustenance

Back 634

food, nourishment

Front 635

symmetrical

Back 635

possessing symmetry, having balanced proportions.

Front 636

tangential

Back 636

straying from or only slightly connected (to a subject)

Front 637

tantalizing

Back 637

intensely tempting, arousing great interest or desire for something that seems unreachable or unobtainable

Front 638

tattered

Back 638

ragged, torn, shredded

Front 639

tawdry

Back 639

flashy and tasteless, cheap, showy

Front 640

telltale

Back 640

indicating or revealing something intended to be secret

Front 641

tempestuous

Back 641

stormy, passionate, greatly agitated, like a tempest (a violent windstorm)

Front 642

tentative

Back 642

hesitant, halting, uncertain, timid, halfhearted

Front 643

tenure

Back 643

1. the status assuring an employee a permanent position, esp. as a teacher.
2. the act, right, or manner of holding something (such as a teaching position) or the length of time something is held

Front 644

theoretical

Back 644

of, pert. to, or based on (1) unsupported opinion or limited information or (2) a general set of principles or knowledge

Front 645

threadbare

Back 645

so frayed that the threads show, old and worn out

Front 646

throng

Back 646

a host of people, crowd, multitude

Front 647

timorous

Back 647

fearful, hesitant, timid, lacking self-confidence

Front 648

tirade

Back 648

a prolonged and angry speech, harangue, diatribe

Front 649

toady

Back 649

someone who flatters others hoping to gain favors, an obsequious follower, bootlicking servant

Front 650

tome

Back 650

a weighty, large, or scholarly book

Front 651

torrid

Back 651

passionate, heated

Front 652

transcribe

Back 652

1. to make a handwritten or printed copy.
2. to translate or write out in the corresponding characters of another alphabet.

Front 653

translucent

Back 653

allowing the passage of light but not a view of objects beyond

Front 654

treatise

Back 654

a systematic and usu. lengthy and scholarly discussion of a subject in writing.

Front 655

trivial

Back 655

of small value or importance, not worth noticing

Front 656

troupe

Back 656

a group of touring theatrical performers.

Front 657

tumult

Back 657

1. great uproar or commotion
2. a noisy or violent outburst

Front 658

turret

Back 658

a little tower usu. at an angle of a larger structure.

Front 659

tyrannize

Back 659

to rule with absolute, often oppressive power

Front 660

ubiquitous

Back 660

existing everywhere at the same time, widespread

Front 661

unblemished

Back 661

having no fault or flaw

Front 662

uncanny

Back 662

strange, mysterious, eerie.

Front 663

unconventional

Back 663

not bound by accepted custom or practice, not ordinary, not conventional

Front 664

underscore

Back 664

to draw a line under; hence, to stress or emphasize

Front 665

unenlightened

Back 665

ignorant, misinformed, not educated or enlightened

Front 666

uniform

Back 666

identical or alike, unvarying, consistent

Front 667

universal

Back 667

1. including, covering, or involving all
2. existing or operating everywhere.

Front 668

unprecedented

Back 668

without parallel or precedent (an earlier example or model to follow)

Front 669

unremitting

Back 669

not letting up, constant

Front 670

unrestrained

Back 670

unchecked, uncontrolled, not under restraint

Front 671

unsavory

Back 671

literally, disagreeable to taste or smell; figuratively, undesirable, objectionable, morally offensive

Front 672

unsettling

Back 672

disturbing, causing uneasiness or confusion

Front 673

unwieldy

Back 673

not easy to handle or manage, esp. because of size, weight, awkward shape, etc.

Front 674

upbraid

Back 674

to criticize severely, rebuke

Front 675

upright

Back 675

honest, adhering to what is morally right or just

Front 676

urbane

Back 676

extremely polite and polished in manner

Front 677

usurp

Back 677

to seize and hold by force or without proper right or authority

Front 678

valedictory

Back 678

containing a farewell, of or relating to a leave-taking

Front 679

valid

Back 679

1. right, well-founded, reasonable, just.
2. legal, official

Front 680

valor

Back 680

bravery and determination in facing danger, esp. in war

Front 681

vandalism

Back 681

willful or malicious destruction of property

Front 682

vanquish

Back 682

to subdue, conquer, defeat, overcome

Front 683

vantage point

Back 683

a position from which one has a wide view

Front 684

venerable

Back 684

1. deserving respect because of age, character, achievements, etc.
2. impressive because of age

Front 685

veritable

Back 685

true, actual, not false or exaggerated

Front 686

vernacular

Back 686

the common, everyday spoken form of a language.

Front 687

vibrant

Back 687

filled with energy, lively

Front 688

vigilant

Back 688

on the alert, watchful

Front 689

vilify

Back 689

to abuse in speech or writing, say or write damaging of false things about, slander, defame

Front 690

vindictive

Back 690

motivated by a desire for revenge, unforgiving and spiteful

Front 691

violate

Back 691

1. to break or disregard
2. to defile, desecrate, or disrespect.

Front 692

virtually

Back 692

practically, almost but not quite, nearly

Front 693

visceral

Back 693

of or pert. to the internal organs of the body, esp. the abdomen; hence, instinctive and intuitive rather than intellectual or rational

Front 694

vital

Back 694

1. characteristic of living beings or essential to maintaining life
2. full of life and energy
3. being of the utmost importance.

Front 695

vitality

Back 695

1. the capacity to live or go on living
2. liveliness, pep

Front 696

vivacious

Back 696

filled with life and spirit, lively, sprightly

Front 697

voluminous

Back 697

of great volume, number, or extent

Front 698

voracious

Back 698

1. exceedingly hungry, ravenous
2. never getting enough of something

Front 699

vulgar

Back 699

1. without refinement or taste, coarse, crass, crude, gross
2. of or pert. to the common or ordinary people

Front 700

vulnerable

Back 700

susceptible to being injured or wounded, open to attack, having insufficient defenses

Front 701

wane

Back 701

to fade away, diminish gradually

Front 702

wanton

Back 702

1. mean or cruel without motive or provocation
2. immoral, lustful
3. careless, reckless

Front 703

wary

Back 703

watchful and cautious, distrustful, leery

Front 704

wayward

Back 704

1. willfully following one's own desires, disobedient, headstrong, contrary
2. inconstant and unpredictable

Front 705

weathered

Back 705

faded or altered by exposure to the weather

Front 706

whim

Back 706

an unpredictable and often sudden notion or fancy.

Front 707

winsome

Back 707

charming, agreeable, and pleasant in appearance or manner

Front 708

wizened

Back 708

shrunken, shriveled, wrinkled from aging

Front 709

wreak

Back 709

to inflict or bring about

Front 710

writhe

Back 710

to twist or turn, as in pain.