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225 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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adroit
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adj.
skillful, clever, avoid danger, deft Syn-dexterous, apt Ant-clumsy, awkward |
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adulterate
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verb
to make impure adj impure |
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adventitious
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adj
accidental, not planned |
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aegis
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noun
a shield, protection, sponsorship |
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aesthetic
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adj
pertaining to beauty, creative |
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affectation
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noun
a phony attitude, pose syn-insincerity, sham ant-sincerity, genuineness |
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affinity
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noun
an attraction to |
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affluence
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noun
wealth, richness |
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agape
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open-mouthed; surprised, agog
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aggrandize
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verb
to enlarge; to expand |
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altruism
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noun
a concern for others; generosity syn-magnanimity ant-egoism |
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ambiguous
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adj
open to more than one interpretation syn-unclear, uncertain, vague ant-explicit, definite |
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amoral
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adj
lacking a sense of right and wrong |
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amorphous
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adj
shapeless, formless, vague |
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animosity
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noun
hatred, bitter hostility |
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antipathy
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noun
an intense dislike syn-aversion ant-affinity |
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antithesis
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noun
an exact opposite |
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badinage
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noun
playful, teasing talk verb to banter; to tease |
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banal
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adj
common, ordinary, having lost force by repitition |
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baroque
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adj
overly decorated, having unusual shapes syn-ornate ant-simple |
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bauble
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noun
a showy but useless thing |
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bedlam
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noun
a noisy uproar; a scene of wild confusion, insane person |
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beguile
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verb
to deceive, to charm, to enchant |
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besiege
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verb
to overwhelm, to surround and attack |
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besmich
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verb
to make dirty, to stain, to dishonor syn-soil, sully, smear |
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bestial
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ady
savage, brutal, inhuman syn-brutish, vile, cruel, foul |
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bilious
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adj
bad tempered, cross syn-grouchy, cantankerous |
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blanch
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verb
to whiten, to make pale |
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bland
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mild, tasteless, dull
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blandishment
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noun
flattery syn-cajole |
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bombast
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noun
impressive but meaningless language |
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bona fide
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adj
in good faith |
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boor
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noun
a rude of implolite person |
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bovine
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adj
pertianing to cows of cattle, slugish |
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bowlderize
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verb
to remove offensive passages of a play, novel... syn-to censor |
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brevity
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noun
briefness, short duration ayn-tersness, conciseness, succinctness |
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bucolic
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adj
pertaining to the countryside, rural, rustic syn-pastoral |
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cajole
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verb
to coax, to persuade, to wheedle, persuade by flattery syn-palaver, inbiegle |
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callow
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adj
yougn and inexperienced |
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carcinogen
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noun
causing cancer |
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carnal
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adj
sensual, sexual, relating to desires of the flesh syn-erotic, voluptuous, sensual ant-chaste, modest, spirtual |
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carrion
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noun
decaying flesh |
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catacylsm
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noun
a sudden violent change syn-disaster, catastrophe ant-triumph, boon |
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cataract
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noun
large waterfall abnormality of the eye |
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caveat
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noun
a warning, an official order not to do someting |
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celibate
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noun
unmarried adj abstaining from sex |
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censure
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verb
to criticize sharply syn-blame, condemn, reproach ant-praise, applaud |
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cessation
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noun
a stopping; a discontinuance syn-a pause, a ceasing |
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haff
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noun
worthless mater |
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chagrin
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noun
emabarrassment |
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chimerical
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adj
imaginary, fantastic syn-absurd, illusionary ant-practical |
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coalesce
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verb
to blend, to merge syn-mix, unite, combine |
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debacle
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noun
a complete failure, a total collapse syn- a sudden diaster ant-success, triumph |
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debauchery
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noun
corruption, self indulgence syn-excess, dissipation |
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deference
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noun
respect, consideration syn-regard, honor |
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defile
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verb
to pollute, to corrupt syn-contaminate |
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deign
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verb
to lower oneself before an inferior syn-stoop, condesend |
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delineate
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verb
to describe, to depict, to portray in pictures or gestures |
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demeanor
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noun
behavoir, manner of conducting oneself syn-deportment |
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denouement
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noun
an outcome, result syn-conclusion |
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deride
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verb
to ridicule, to mock, scornful gaity syn-to scorn, taunt, banter, insult ant-to praise complement |
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desiccated
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adj
dried up, to perserve food by drying |
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despicable
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adj
contempible, hateful, deserving of contempt or scorn |
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desultory
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adj
wandering from subject to subject |
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deviate
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verb
to turn aside, stray from standard |
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diadem
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noun
a crown, cloth head band |
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diaphanous
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adj
very sheer and light, fine texture, transparent |
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dichotomy
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noun
a division into two parts, branching of ansestrial lines, process of dividing into two parts |
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ebullient
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adj
enthusiastic, boiling or agitated |
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eclectic
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adj
choosing from various sources, systems or doctrins |
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edify
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verb
improve someone morally, intelectually or spirtually |
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effete
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adj
worn out, barren, marked by self indulgence |
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egregious
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adj
remarkably bad, outrageous, conspicuously bad |
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elegy
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noun
a sad or mournful poem |
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elicit
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verb
to draw forth, to call forth, to cause a reaction |
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elixer
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noun
a supposed remedy for all ailments, solution of alchohol and water, substance that prolongs life indeffinatly |
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elucidate
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verb
to make clear |
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emanate
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verb
to come forth, to send forth, to come out |
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emendation
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noun
a correction, alteration intended to improve |
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empathy
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noun
an understanding of another's feelings |
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empirical
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adj
based on practical experience rather than theory |
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endemic
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adj
confined to a particular coutry or area |
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enervate
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verb
to weaken |
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ennui
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noun
boredom; a weariness resulting from lack of interest |
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ephemeral
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adj
lasting only a brief time; short-lived, lasting only a day |
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epitome
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noun
a typical example, a condensed account, summary |
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ergo
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conj
therefore |
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erotic
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adj
pertaining to sexual love |
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eschew
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verb
to keep away from, to avoid, to shun |
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facetious
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adj
comical, jocular, flippant |
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facticious
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adj
causing disagreement |
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fastidious
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adj
hard to please, fussy syn-meticulous |
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fatuous
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adj
foolish, inane |
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fecund
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adj
fertile, productive |
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ferret
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verb
to search or drive out, to expel |
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fervent
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adj
eager, earnest, intense |
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fetish
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noun
an object that recieves respect or devotion |
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finesse
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noun
diplomacy, tact, artful managment |
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fiscal
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adj
pertianing to finances, relating to taxation, public debt |
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fissure
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noun
an opening, a groove, a split, a separation |
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flaccid
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adj
flabby |
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flagellate
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verb
to whip, to lash |
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flaunt
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verb
to show off |
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flout
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verb
to ridicule, to show contempt for |
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foment
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verb
to stir up, to incite |
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fop
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noun
an excessively fashion-conscious man |
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fortuitous
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adj
lucky, by chance, fortunate |
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gambol
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verb
to frolic, to romp about playfully |
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garish
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adj
tastelessly gaudy |
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garner
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verb
to gather, to acquire |
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garrulous
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adj
talkative, wordly, rambling |
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germane
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adj
relevant, fitting |
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gibe
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verb
to scoff, to ridicule |
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gloat
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verb
to look at or think about with great satisfaction |
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glower
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verb
to stare angrily, sullen anger |
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grandiose
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adj
impressive, showy, magnificent, characterized by grandness |
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gratuitous
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adj
unnecessary or uncalled for, unjustified, above what is neccessary |
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grotesque
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adj
absurd, distorted, ludicris distortion |
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gumption
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noun
courage and initiative, common sense |
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hackneyed
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adj
commonplace, overused |
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halcyon
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adj
calm, pleasant |
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hallow
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verb
to make holy adj holy |
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harbinger
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noun
an omen or sign |
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harlequin
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noun
a clown |
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hector
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verb
to bully, to pester |
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hedonism
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noun
pursiut of pleasure, especially of the senses |
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hegira
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noun
flight, escape |
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hermetic
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adj
tightly sealed |
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heterogeneous
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adj
different, dissimilar |
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hiatus
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noun
a pause or gap |
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hoi polloi
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noun
common people, the masses |
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hospice
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noun
a shelter |
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hubris
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noun
excessive pride or self-confidence |
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hybrid
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noun
anything of mixed origin adj mixed, assorted |
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idiosyncrasy
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noun
a peculiar personality trait |
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idolatry
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noun
excessive or blind adoration, worship of an object |
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ignoble
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adj
dishonorable, shameful |
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imminent
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adj
likely to happen, threatening |
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immolate
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verb
to kill someone as a sacrificail victim, usually by fire |
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immutable
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adj
unchanged, fixed |
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impair
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verb
to weaken, to cause to become worse |
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impale
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verb
to pierce with a sharp stake through the body |
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impalpable
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adj
unable to be felt, intangible |
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impecunious
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adj
without money, penniless |
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impediment
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noun
barrier, obstruction |
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imperative
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adj
extremely necessary, vitally important |
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imperious
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adj
domineering, haughty |
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impinge
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verb
to strike, to encroach |
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impious
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adj
disrespectful toward God |
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importune
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verb
to persistently ask, to beg |
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impotent
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adj
powerless, lacking strength |
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imprecation
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noun
a curse |
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jocular
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adj
humorous, lighthearted |
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juxtapose
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verb
to place side by side for comparison |
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kinetic
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adj
pertaining to motion |
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kismet
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noun
destiny, fate, fortune |
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knell
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noun
a sound made by a bell rung slowly for a death or funeral |
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labyrinth
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noun
a maze |
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lachrymose
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adj
tearful, weepy |
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laconic
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adj
using few words, short, concise |
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lambent
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adj
softly bright or raidiant, runing or moving lightly over a surface |
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languid
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adj
sluggish, drooping from weakness |
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lascivious
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adj
lustful or lewd, inciting sexual disire |
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legerdemain
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noun
sleight of hand, deception |
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libertine
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noun
one who leads an immoral like |
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machination
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noun
an evil design or plan |
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macroscopic
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adj
visible to the naked eye |
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maelstrom
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noun
whirlpool, turbulence, agitated state of mind |
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malapropism
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noun
a word hmorously misused |
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malleable
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adj
capable of being changed, easily shaped |
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martinet
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noun
a strict disciplinarian, taskmaster |
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masochist
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noun
one who enjoys his or her own pain and suffering |
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mendacious
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adj
lying, false, decietful |
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meretricious
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adj
attrative in a cheap, flashy way |
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milieu
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noun
environment, setting |
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miscreant
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noun
a vicious person |
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nebulous
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adj
hazy, vague, uncertain |
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necromancy
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noun
magic, especially that practiced by a witch |
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neologism
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noun
use of a new word, making up a new word or definition |
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nihilism
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noun
a total rejection of established laws |
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nirvana
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noun
a condition of great peace or happiness, ideal condition or rest |
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nonentity
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noun
aperson or thing of little importance |
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non sequitur
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noun
something that does not logically follow |
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nubile
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adj
a female suitable for marriage in regard to age and physical development |
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obdurate
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adj
stubborn, hardharted |
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obfuscate
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verb
to confuse, to bewilder |
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obloquy
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noun
strong disaproval, a bad reputating resulting from public critism |
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obsequious
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adj
excessively submissive or overly attentive |
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obviate
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verb
to prevent, to get around |
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offal
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noun
garbage, waste parts |
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olfactory
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adj
pertaining to smell |
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onerous
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adj
burdensome, heavy, hard to endure |
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onus
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noun
a burden, respinsibility, obligation |
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optimum
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noun/adj
the best, the most favorable, the ideal |
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opulent
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adj
rich, luxurious, wealthy |
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orifice
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noun
mouth, opening |
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orthography
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noun
correct spelling |
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paleontology
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noun
a science dealing with prehistoric life through study of fossils |
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palliate
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verb
to ease, to lessen, to soothe |
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panache
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noun
self-confidence, a showy manner |
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pandemic
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adj
general, widespread |
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panegyric
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noun
an expression of praise |
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paradigm
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noun
a model, an example |
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parochial
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adj
local, narrow, limited |
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parody
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noun
a work which imitates antoher in a ridiculous manner |
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paroxysm
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noun
a sudden outburst, a fit |
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patent
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adj
evident or obvious |
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peccadillo
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noun
a minor offence, a misdeed |
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pecuniary
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adj
pertaining to money, financial |
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pedantic
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adj
tending to show off one's learning |
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pedestrian
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adj
a person or thing said to be ordinary or dull |
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pejorative
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adj
having a negative effect, insulting |
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perdition
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noun
damnation, ruin, hell |
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perfunctory
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adj
done without care, in a routine fashion |
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perspicacity
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noun
keenness of judgement |
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peruse
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verb
to read carefully |
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quagmire
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noun
a awamp, a difficult or inextricable situtation |
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quandary
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noun
a puzzling situation; a dilemma |
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quasi
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adj
resembling, seeming half |
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querulous
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adj
complaining, grumbling, whiney |
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quiddity
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noun
an essential quality |
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raiment
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noun
clothing, garments |
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rakish
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adj
carefree, dashing, jaunty |
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ratiocinate
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verb
to reason, to think |
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rationalize
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verb
to make an excuse for |
