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503 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abandon
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Total Lack of inhibition
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Abase
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To disgrace/humble
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Abash
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To make ashamed
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Abate
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To decrease
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Abattoir
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Slaughterhouse
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Abdicate
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Give up a right
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Aberration
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Extreme departure from the normal
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Abet
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To aid/collaborate with bad things
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Abeyance
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Temporary suspension (of law)
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Abhor
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To loathe
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Abject
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Miserable
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Abjure
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To formally abandon
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Ablution
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cleansing
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Abnegate
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To renounce (oneself)
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Abolish
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To eliminate
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abortive
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not completed
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abridge
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to shorten
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abrogate
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to annul
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abscond
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to depart secretly
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absolve
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to free from blame
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abstain
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to refrain
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abstract
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complex, theoretical
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abstruse
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difficult to understand
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accede
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to agree, enter upon duties, give in (to demands)
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accesible
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attainable
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accessory
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attachment, ornament
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accolade
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praise
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accomodate
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to allow, adapt
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accost
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to approach and speak to
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accretion
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growth by addition
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accrue
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to accumulate
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acerbic
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sour, sharp, bitter
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acme
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highest point
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acquiesce
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comply unwillingly
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acquit
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to release from blame, (to conduct (oneself)
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acrid
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bitter, acerbic
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acrimony
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bitterness, harshness, between two people
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acuity
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sharpness
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acumen
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sharpness of insight
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acute
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sharp
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adage
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proverb
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adamant
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unyielding in opinion
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adapt
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to adjust to accomodate
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address
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skill
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adhere
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to cling/stick to
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adjacent
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(lying) next to
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adjunct
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attached
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admonished
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to reprimand
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adroit
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skillful
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adulation
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praise, accolade
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adulterate
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to make impure
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adumbrate
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to give in outline
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advantageous
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favorable
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adversarial
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competitive
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adverse
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unfavorable
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aerial
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of the air
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aerie
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a bird's nest high in the air
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aerodynamic
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related to motion through air
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aesthete
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seeker of beauty
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aesthetic
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pertaining to beauty
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affable
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friendly
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affected
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pretentious not genuine
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affinity
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attraction, similarity
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affluent
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abundant, wealthy
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affront
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to insult
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agenda
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plan, schedule
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aggrandize
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to increase i.e. ego aggrandizement
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aggregate
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(n) total
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aggrieve
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to distress
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agile
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nimble
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agitation
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commotion
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agnostic
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not confident in the existence of God
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agrarian
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related to farming
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alacrity
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eagerness, speed
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alchemy
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medieval science devoted to the study of converting base metals into gold and finding the elixir of life.
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algorithm
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mechanical computation
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alias
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assumed name
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alienated
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distanced, estranged
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alight
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to land
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aligned
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adjusted precisely
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allay
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to lessen, soothe
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allege
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to assert to be true, cite as an excuse
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allegory
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symbolic representation
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alleviate
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to lessen, relieve, allay
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alliteration
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repetition of an original sound
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allocation
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division, share, portion
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allure
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enticement, power to attract
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allusion
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indirect reference
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aloof
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detached, indifferent
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altercation
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noisy dispute
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altruism
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selfless concern for others
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amalgamate
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to combine
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amateur
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hobbyist, participant without pay
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ambidextrous
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skilled with both hands
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ambiguous
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having multiple meanings
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ambivalence
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conflicting feelings
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ameliorate
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to improve
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amenable
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cooperative, agreeable
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amend
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to correct, revise
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amenity
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comfort
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amiable
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friendly, amicable
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amicable
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agreeable, friendly, amiable
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amity
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friendship
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amoral
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having no morals
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amorous
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filled with love, romantic
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amorphous
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having no definite shape
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amortize
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to diminish by installments
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amphibian
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at home in water or on land
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amphitheater
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arena with seats around
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ample
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plentiful, sufficient
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amplify
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to increase
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amulet
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ornament worn as a charm
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anachronism
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something unfit in time
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analogous
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comparable
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anarchy
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absence of government
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anathema
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religious taboo
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anchorite
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a religious recluse
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ancillary
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accessory, auxiliary
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anecdote
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short account of an event
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anemia
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weakness due to low red blood cell count
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anesthetic
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causing loss of sensation
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animation
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enthusiasm, liveliness
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animosity
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hostility
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annex
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an addition; to incorporate territory
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annul
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to cancel
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anodyne
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a pain relieving agent
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anoint
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to oil; enthrone
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anomaly
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irregularity
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anonymity
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having no name
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antagonist
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adversary
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antecedent
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that which came before
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antediluvian
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before the Flood
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anterior
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prior
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anthology
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collection of literary works
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anthropomorphic
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giving human qualities to non humans.
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antipathy
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hostility, dislike
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antiquated
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outdated, obsolete
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antiquity
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ancient times
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antithesis
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exact opposite
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apathetic
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indifferent, unconcerned
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aphasia
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inability to use words
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aphorism
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pithy statement
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apocryphal
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of doubtful authenticity
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apoplexy
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stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, fit of extreme anger
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apostate
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one who renounces a religion
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apostrophe
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address to someone not present
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apotheosis
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glorified ideal, deification of a person
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apparatus
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machine, tool
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apparition
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ghost, unusual sight
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appease
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to placate
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apellation
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name
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applicable
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related
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apprise
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to inform
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approbation
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praise, accolade, adulation
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appropriate (v)
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(v) to take possesion of
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aquatic
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related to water
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arable
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able to be plowed
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arbitrary
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determined by whim
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arbitrate
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to mediate, negogiate
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arboreal
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related to trees
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arcane
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hidden, esoteric
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archaic
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antiquated, outdated, obsolete
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archetype
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prototype, ideal example
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archipelago
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group of islands
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archive
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public records of historical interest
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ardent
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passionate
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arduous
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extremely difficult
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arid
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extremely dry
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arraign
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to charge with a crime
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arrest
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to stop s.o./s.t.
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arrogate
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to claim without right
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arsenal
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ammunition storehouse
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articulate
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to express clearly
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artifact
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historic relic
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artisan
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crafts person
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ascend
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to rise
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ascertain
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to determine
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ascetic
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self denying, abstinent
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ascribe
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to attribute, assign
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ashen
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resembling ashes, gray
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askew
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tilted
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aspersion
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false rumor
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aspire
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to have great hopes
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assail
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to attack
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assent
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to express agreement
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assiduous
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diligent, hard-working
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assignation
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assignment, rendezvous
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assimilation
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act of becoming similar
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assonance
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resemblance in sound
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assuage
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relieve, ease
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astringent
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harsh, constricting body tissue
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astute
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shrewd; crafty
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asunder
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into various parts
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atone
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to make amends for a wrong
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atrocious
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shockingly bad
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atrophy
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to wither away
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attain
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to accomplish
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attenuate
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to weaken, make slender
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attest
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to testify
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attribute
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ascribe (v)
distinctive trait (n) |
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attrition
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wearing down, gradual reduction
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audacious
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bold, daring
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audit
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formal financial investigation
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auditory
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related to hearing
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augment
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to expand
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augury
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prophecy, prediction of events
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august
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dignified, inspiring
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auspicious
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favorable
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austere
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stern, unadorned
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authoritarian
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extremely strict
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autocrat
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dictator
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autonomous
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independent
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auxiliary
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ancillary, supplementary, reserve
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avant-garde
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leaders of new social movements
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avarice
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greed
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avenge
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to take revenge
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aver
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to affirm
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aversion
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intense dislike
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avert
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to turn away, prevent
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avian
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related to birds
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aviary
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a large enclosure for birds
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avow
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to declare openly
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awry
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askew, crooked
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axiom
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postulate, self evident truth
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baleful
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having evil intentions
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balk
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to refuse, thwart, hesitate
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ballad
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narrative poem, folk song
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balm
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soothing influence
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ban
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to forbid
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banal
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trite, overly common
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bane
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something that causes death, destruction
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banter
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playful conversation
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bard
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eminent poet or reader of poetry
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basilisk
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legendary serpent with fatal breath and glance
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bastion
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fortification
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bay (v)
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to bark in a deep prolonged way
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becalm
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to make calm
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becloud
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to confuse, darken
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beguile
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to deceive with charm
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behemoth
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huge creature
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belabor
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to insist upon repeatedly
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belated
|
late (adj)
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beleaguer
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harass, plague, beset
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belfry
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bell tower
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belie
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to misrepresent, expose as false
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belittle
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to represent as unimportant
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bellicose
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warlike
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belligerent
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hostile
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bellow
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to roar
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bemuse
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to confuse, stupefy (to the point of aphasia)
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benchmark
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standard of measure
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benediction
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a blessing
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benefactor
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one who gives aid
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beneficent
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charitable
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benighted
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unenlightened
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benign
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kind, gentle
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bequeath
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to leave through a will
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berate
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to scold harshly
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bereave
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to leave desolate, esp. by death
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beseech
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to beg, plead
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bestial
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beastly
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bestow
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to give as a gift
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betoken
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to indicate, signify
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bevel
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angle of meeting at other than 90 degrees
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bevy
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group
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bias
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prejudice
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bibliography
|
list of books
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bibliophile
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lover of books
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bilateral
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two-sided
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bilious
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containing bile, irascible (easily angered)
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bilk
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to defraud, cheat
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billet
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to board and lodge troops in private residences, to quarter troops
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biosphere
|
area in which lving organisms exist
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blanch
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to turn white
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blandish
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to flatter
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blasphemous
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profane, irreverent
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blatant
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obvious
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blight (v)
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to destroy
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blithe
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joyful
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bludgeon
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to strike with a heavy club
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bodice
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fitted upper part of a dress
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bohemian
|
artistic person of uncoventional behavior
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boisterous
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rowdy, loud
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bombastic
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high-sounding but meaningless
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bonanza
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a source of great wealth
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bonhomie
|
atmosphere of good cheer
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boon
|
blessing, benediction
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boor
|
crude, insensitive person
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botanist
|
one who studies plants
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boudoir
|
a woman's private room
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bouffant
|
puffed out, esp. hairstyle
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bountiful
|
plentiful
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bourgeois
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middle-class, of the capitalist class
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bovine
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related to cattle, placid or dull
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bowdlerize
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to purge of all risqué reference
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brazen
|
made of brass, contemptuously bold
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breach
|
act of breaking, violation
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brigand
|
bandit, outlaw
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brittle
|
likely to break, fragile
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broach (v)
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to mention for the first time
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bromide
|
a trite saying, a platitude
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browse
|
to inspect casually, graze
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brusque
|
rough and abrupt
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buffet (v)
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to toss about
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buffoon
|
clown, fool
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bulwark
|
wall of defense
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bumptious
|
crudely assertive
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burgeon
|
to sprout, flourish, burst forth
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burly
|
brawny, husky
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burnish
|
polish
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bursar
|
treasurer
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bustle
|
commotion, energetic activity
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butt
|
object of ridicule
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buttress (v)
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to reinforce
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byway
|
back road
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cacophony
|
unpleasant noise
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cadence
|
rhythmic flow leading to completion
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cajole
|
to coax with flattery
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calamitous
|
disastrous
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callous
|
thick-skinned, insensitive
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callow
|
immature, unsophisticated
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calumny
|
flase and malicious accusation, slander
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camaraderie
|
spirited goodwill among friends
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candor
|
honest expression
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canine
|
related to dogs
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canny
|
shrewd, competent
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canonize
|
to declare someone a saint
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cantankerous
|
ill-tempered
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canvass
|
to examine, conduct a poll
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capacious
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roomy
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capillary
|
slender, hair-like
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capitalism
|
economic system of private enterprise
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capitulate
|
surrender unconditionally
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capricious
|
acting without thought
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capsule
|
soluble container; pressurized compartment
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captious
|
ill-naturedly critical, calculated to entrap
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carat
|
(gems) 200mg, (gold) 1/24 pure
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cardiologist
|
heart doctor
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caret
|
proofreading symbol for insertion
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caricature
|
cartoon, exaggerated portrait
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carnal
|
of the flesh
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carnivorous
|
meat-eating
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carp (v)
|
to find constant fault
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cartography
|
map-making
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casement
|
window frame that opens on hinges
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cassock
|
ankle-length garment worn by clergy
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cast
|
copy, replica; to throw, make a copy or replica
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castigate
|
criticize severely, punish
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catalyst
|
something facilitating change
|
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catastrophe
|
great, often sudden calamity
|
|
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categorical
|
without exception
|
|
|
catharsis
|
emotional or spiritual purification
|
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catholic
|
universal, comprehensive
|
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caucus
|
sub-group, party meeting to determine policy
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caulk
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to make watertight
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causality
|
cause-effect relationship
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caustic
|
able to burn, sarcastic
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cavalier
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with lordly disdain, armed horsemen, escort
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cavort
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frolic
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cede
|
surrender possesion of
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celestial
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heavenly
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censorious
|
severely critical
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centrifugal
|
moving away from the center
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centripetal
|
moving towards the center
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cerebral
|
brainy, intellectual
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certitude
|
certainty
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cessation
|
halt
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cession
|
act of surrendering
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chagrin
|
embarrassment
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chalice
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goblet
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chaos
|
great disorder or confusion
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charlatan
|
quack, fake
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chary
|
cautious, shy
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chastise
|
to scold, punish by beating
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chauvinism
|
fanatical devotion to one's race, sex, etc.
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cherub
|
an angel
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chicanery
|
trickery, fraud
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chide
|
to express disapproval
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chimera
|
monster, foolish fantasy
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chimerical
|
imaginary
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chivalrous
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noted for bravery and courtesy
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choleric
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easily angered
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choreography
|
art of arranging dances
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chortle
|
to chuckle
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chromatic
|
related to color, musical scale in half steps
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chronicler
|
historian
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chronological
|
in order of time occurrence
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circa
|
around (a year)
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circuitous
|
roundabout
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circumlocution
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talking around something
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circumnavigate
|
to sail completely around
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circumscribe
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to set limits on
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circumspect
|
cautious, wary
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circumvent
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to avoid by going around
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cistern
|
tank for rainwater
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citadel
|
fortress
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civil
|
polite, related to citizens
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clairvoyant
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psychic
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clamor
|
noisy outcry
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clandestine
|
secretive, concealed
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claustrophobia
|
fear of enclosed spaces
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cleave
|
split, adhere to
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clemency
|
mercy
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cloak
|
a loose garment, to cover with a cloak
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cloister
|
to seclude, set apart
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cloying
|
overly sweet
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coagulate
|
to clot
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coalesce
|
to grow together
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coddle
|
to treat indulgently
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coerce
|
to compel by force
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coffer
|
strongbox
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cogent
|
compelling, convincing, pertinent
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cognate
|
similar, akin
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cognitive
|
related to the faculty of knowing
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cognomen
|
surname
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cohabit
|
to live togther
|
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coherent
|
lucid, understandable, sticking together
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collage
|
artistic composition of objects pasted on a surface
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collateral
|
accompanying
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colloquial
|
conversational
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collusion
|
collaboration, complicity
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comeliness
|
physical grace
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commend
|
to praise
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commensurate
|
proportional
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commission
|
authorization, fee paid to agent
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commodious
|
roomy
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commonplace
|
ordinary
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communicable
|
transmittable
|
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commute
|
to reduce a penalty
|
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compatriot
|
fellow countryman
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compelling
|
having a powerful effect
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compensate
|
reimburse, pay back, make up for
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complacent
|
self-satisfied, smug
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complaisant
|
willingly compliant, amiable
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complement
|
to complete, perfect
|
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compliant
|
yielding, submissive
|
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complicity
|
partnership in crime
|
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complimentary
|
praising, given free as courtesy
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compound
|
to combine, composed of several parts
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compunction
|
unease caused by regret
|
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concave
|
curved inward
|
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concede
|
to yield, admit
|
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|
conceptualize
|
to imagine
|
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|
conciliatory
|
overcoming animosity
|
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concise
|
expressing much in a few words
|
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concoct
|
devise, fabricate
|
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concord
|
agreement
|
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concur
|
to agree
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condone
|
to pardon
|
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conduit
|
tube, pipe
|
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confection
|
candy, sweets
|
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|
confiscate
|
appropriate, seize
|
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conflagration
|
destructive fire
|
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conflate
|
to combine, confuse
|
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confluence
|
flowing together
|
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|
conformist
|
one who uncritically acts according to custom
|
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confound
|
to baffle, perplex
|
|
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congeal
|
to solidify
|
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congenial
|
similar in taste and habits, friendly
|
|
|
congenital
|
existing since birth
|
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|
conjure
|
to evoke spirits, cast a spell
|
|
|
conglomerate
|
collection of unrelated things
|
|
|
congruity
|
correspondence, harmony
|
|
|
conjugal
|
pertaining to marriage
|
|
|
consanguineous
|
related by blood
|
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|
conjecture
|
speculation, prediction
|
|
|
conscientious
|
careful and thorough
|
|
|
consecrate
|
deicate to sacred of serious use
|
|
|
consensus
|
agreement of opinion
|
|
|
consign
|
commit, entrust
|
|
|
consolation
|
providing comfort for a loss
|
|
|
consolidate
|
to combine, incorporate
|
|
|
consonant (adj)
|
in agreement with
|
|
|
constituent
|
component, citizen
|
|
|
constrained
|
compelled, restrained
|
|
|
construe
|
explain, interpret
|
|
|
consummate
|
complete, perfect, to complete
|
|
|
contemptuous
|
manifesting scorn
|
|
|
continence
|
self-control
|
|
|
contravene
|
contradict, deny
|
|
|
contrite
|
repentant
|
|
|
contumacious
|
obstinantly disobedient
|
|
|
contumelious
|
contemptuous
|
|
|
contusion
|
bruise
|
|
|
conundrum
|
riddle, puzzle
|
|
|
convalescence
|
gradual recovery
|
|
|
convene
|
to come together
|
|
|
conventional
|
typical, agreed upon
|
|
|
converge
|
to move towards a common point
|
|
|
convex
|
curved outward
|
|
|
convivial
|
sociable
|
|
|
convoke
|
to call together
|
|
|
convoluted
|
twisted, complicated
|
|
|
copious
|
abundant, plentiful
|
|
|
coquette
|
woman who flirts
|
|
|
cordial
|
friendly
|
|
|
corporeal
|
related to the body
|
|
|
corpulence
|
obesity, bulkiness
|
|
|
correlation
|
mutual relation between things
|
|
|
corroborate
|
to confirm
|
|
|
corrugate
|
molded with parallel grooves
|
|
|
cosmetic (adj)
|
related to beauty, superficial
|
|
|
cosmography
|
science of the universe
|
