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30 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
apiary
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place where bees are kept
A beekeeper maintains an apiary. |
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aviary
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place where birds are kept
Dont miss the birds-of-prey exhibit in the zoo's aviary. |
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badger
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tease; annoy; nag (originally to harass a trapped badger)
Badgered by the children's persistent pleas, their parents finally relented and allowed them to go to the movies. |
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lionize
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treat as highly important
With the first publication of his poems, Robert Burns gained immediate fame and was lionized by Edinburgh society. |
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menagerie
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place where animals are kept and trianed; collection of wild animals
P.T. Barnum called his traveling circus, museum, and menagerie "the greatest show on earth." |
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parasitic
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living at the expense of another; sponging
Fleas are parasitic insects. |
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parrot
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repeat mechanically, like a parrot (tropical bird that imitates human speech)
Does he really understand what he is saying, or is he merely parroting his teacher? |
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benign
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not dangerous
gentle; kindly The patient was relieved to learn that his tumor was benign, not malignant. The principal's benign smile reassured us. |
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convalesce
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recoveer health after illness; recuperate
After the appendectomy you will have to convalesce for about a week before returning to school. |
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fester
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form pus; rankle; rot; putrefy
When a wond festers, it becomes inflamed, swollen, and painful. |
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immunity
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resistance (to a disease)
freedom (as from an obligation); exemption Mosst people acquire life-long immunity to German measles once they have had that disease. Federal properties within the city limits enjoy immunity from taxation. |
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malignant
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threatening to cause death
very evil An emergency operation was scheduled to remove the malignant growth. Ray's parents considered their son's new friend a malignant influence, someone sure to get Ray into serious trouble. |
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salubrious
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healthful
Southern Florida's salubrious climate attracts many convalescents. |
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eulogize
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praise; extol; laud; glorify
The late composer was eulogized for his contibutions to American music. |
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laudable
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praiseworthy; commendable
Although the track star did not succeed in breaking the world's record, she did make a laudable attempt. |
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plaudit
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(used mainly in the plural) applause; enthusiastic praise; acclaim
Reappearing, the quartet rewarded their admirers' plaudits with an encore. |
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calumnious
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falsely and maliciously accusing; defamatory; slnderous
Witnesses who heard the calumnious attack offered to testify in behalf of the slandered person. |
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derogatory
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expressing low esteem; belittling; disparaging
Despite derogatory comments by some critics, the film is abox office hit. |
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libel
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false and defamatory printed (or written) statement
We shall sue the newspaper that printed this libel against out company. |
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malign
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speak evil of ; vilify; traduce
I cannot beear to hear you malign so good of a man. |
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stigmatize
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brand with a mark of disgrace
Surely no one would enjoy being stigmatized by a nickname like "Dopey." |
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banter
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playful teasing; joking; raillery
The retiring employees were subjected to gentle banter about their coming life of ease. |
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droll
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odd and laughter-provoking
"On Eating Crackers in Bed" is surely a droll title for an essay. |
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facetious
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in the habit of joking
said in jest without serious intent Our facetious coach likes turning almost every comment into a joke. When you are carrying a heavily loaded lunch tray, some joker may try to upset you with a facetious remark, like "Hey, do you have a pen?" |
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flippant
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treating serious matters lightly
One should not be so flippant about the need for studying; it is a serious matter that may affect your graduation. |
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jocose
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given to jesting; playfully humorous; jocular
Some columnists write in a jocose vein; others are inclined to be serious. |
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levity
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lack of proper seriousness; trifling; gaiety; frivolity
Some of us felt that George's giggling during the ceremony was an unforgiving levity. |
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parody
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humorous imitation
The Washington press corps entertained the Chief Executive with a parody of Presidential message to Congress. |
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satire
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language or writing that exposes follies or abuses by holding them up to ridicule
Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels is a brilliant satire on human follies. |
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travesty
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imitation that makes a serious thing seem ridiculous; mockery
It is a travesty of justice that a notorious criminal should escape trial because of a technicality. |