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60 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abeyance
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n. a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended
syn. deferment |
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Ambivalent
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adj. having opposite and conflicting feelings
syn. equivocal, ambiguous |
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Beleaguer
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v. to surround with an army, harass
syn. besiege |
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Carte blanche
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n. full freedom or authority to act
syn. blank check, free rein |
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Cataclysm
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n. a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval
syn. catastrophe |
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Debauch
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to corrupt morally, seduce
syn.carouse, spree, orgy |
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Eclat
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great brilliance (of performance of achievement)
syn.mediocrity |
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Fastidious
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excessively careful in regard to details
syn. meticulous, finicky ant. careless, sloppy |
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Gambol
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v. to jump or skip about playfully
syn. frolic, cavort ant. lumber, trudge |
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Imbue
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v. to soak or stain thoroughly; to fill the mind
syn. infuse, instill ant. remove, erase |
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Inchoate
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adj. not fully shaped or formed
syn. embryonic, rudimentary ant. developed |
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Lampoon
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n. a malicious satire; ridicule
syn. burlesque |
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Malleable
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adj. capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced
syn. pliable, impressionable ant. rigid |
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Nemesis
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n. an agent or force inflicting vengeance or punishment retribution itself; an unbearable rival
ant. ally |
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Opt
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v. to make a choice or decision
syn. select |
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Philistine
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adj. lacking in cultural and artistic values or refinements
syn. yahoo ant. highbrow |
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Picaresque
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adj. characteristic of clever rogues
syn. rascally, rakish |
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Queasy
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adj. nauseated or uneady
syn. unsettled ant. calm |
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Refractory
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adj. stubborn
syn. disobedient ant. dutiful, obedient |
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Savoir-faire
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n. social competence
syn. finesse, suavity ant. tactlessness, gaucherie |
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Beatitude
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n. a blessing
syn. bliss ant. despair |
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Bete Noire
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n. someone of something that one especially dislikes, dreads or avoids
syn. bugbear, nemesis ant. pet, idol |
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Bode
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v. to be an omen of
syn. augur |
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Dank
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adj. wet
syn. clammy |
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Ecumenical
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adj. worldwide or universal
syn. general, comprehensive ant. insular |
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Fervid
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adj. burning with enthusiasm or zeal
syn. zealous ant. blase |
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Fetid
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adj. offensive odor
syn. malodorous |
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Gargantuan
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adj. of immense size, volume; enormous
syn. gigantic ant. dwarfish |
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Heyday
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n. the prime years
syn. golden age |
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Incubus
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n. a demon or evil spirit; anything that oppresses or weighs upon one
syn. millstone |
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Infrastructure
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n. a basic foundation or framework
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Inveigle
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v. to entice, lure, or snare by flattery or artful inducements
syn. beguile |
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Kudos
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n. the acclaim, prestige, or renown that comes as a result of some action or achievement
syn. accolades |
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Lagniappe
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n. an extra or unexpected gift
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Prolix
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adj. long-winded and wordy
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Protege
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syn. ward, trainee
ant. mentor |
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Prototype
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n. an original pattern or model
syn. archetype |
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Sycophant
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n. someone who attempt to win favors or advance him or herself by flattery or servile behavior
syn. toady, bootlicker |
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Tautology
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n. a redundancy
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Truckle
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v. to yield or submit
syn. kowtow |
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Abberation
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n. a departure from what is proper, normal
syn. deviation, anomaly |
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Ad hoc
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improvised
syn. makeshift ant. permanent |
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Bane
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n. the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin
syn. spoiler |
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Bathos
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n. grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality
syn. schmaltz |
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Cantankerous
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adj. ill-tempered
syn. ornery ant. sweet-tempered |
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Casuistry
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n. the application of general ethical principles; specious argument syn. sophistry
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De facto
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adv. actually
syn. in point of fact ant. de jure |
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Depredation
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n. preying upon or plundering
syn. pillage |
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Empathy
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syn. sympathy, compassion
ant. callousness |
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Harbinger
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v. to herald the approach of
syn. precursor ant. sequel |
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Hedonism
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devotion to or pursuit of pleasure
syn. sensuality ant. self-denial |
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Lackluster
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adj. dull
syn. drab ant. radiant |
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Malcontent
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adj. in open defiance of prevailing conditions
sun. disgruntled ant. complacent |
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Nepotism
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n. undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives
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Pander
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v. to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices
syn. indulge |
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Peccadillo
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n. a trifling fault or shortcoming
syn. indiscretion ant. mortal sin |
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Piece de resistance
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n. the principle dish of a meal
syn. centerpiece |
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Remand
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v. to send or order back
syn. remit, return |
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Syndrome
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n. a group of symptoms
syn. pattern |
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Mellifluous
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adj. flowing sweetly; honeyed
syn. musical ant. harsh |
