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20 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
affable
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(adj) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
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We spent a pleasant afternoon with our __________ neighbors.
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aggrandize
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(v) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater
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John D. Rockefeller worked to __________ his empire by purchasing oil wells, refineries, and pipelines.
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amorphous
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(adj) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity or cohesion
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The __________ body of the amoeba was fascinating to watch under the microscope.
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aura
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(n) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality
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What people thought was her __________ of mystery was actually a mask for her shyness.
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contraband
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(n) illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj) illegal, prohibited
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Three jeweled combs from the 17th century were among the __________ seized by the police.
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erudite
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(adj) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic
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For my paper, I would like to find an __________ history of the subject written in a clear and unbiased manner.
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gossamer
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(adj) thin light, delicate, insubstantial; (n) a very thin, light cloth
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Ghosts are often depicted in literature as wearing __________ clothing that makes them seem all the more ethereal.
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infer
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(v) to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply
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I can __________ nothing from his odd behavior.
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inscrutable
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(adj) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically
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I could not tell by her __________ smile whether she was pleased or only amused with me.
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insular
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(adj) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience
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You seem too sophisticated to hold such __________ opinions.
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irrevocable
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(adj) incapable of being changed or called back
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We tend to think of court verdicts as __________ but they are often overturned by higher courts.
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propensity
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(n) a natural inclination or predilection toward
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Queen Elizabeth I showed a strong __________ for putting off decisions in the hoped that they would resolve themselves.
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querulous
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(adj) peevish, complaining, fretful
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Some flight attendants dread a __________ airline passenger more than they do rough weather.
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remonstrate
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(v) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to
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Slowly, carefully, keeping his voice down, he argued with the caller as one might __________ with a child.
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repudiate
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(v) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of
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He was forced to __________ a statement he had made before he'd had all the information.
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reverberate
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(v) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly
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From the construction site, the noise of bulldozers and dump trucks __________ across the valley.
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scurrilous
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(adj) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed
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Days passed and unrest grew, and soon the rebels began a __________ attack on their absent leader.
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sedulous
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(adj) persistent, showing industry and determination
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No one could say that he was lazy, for he was a careful, __________ copier of other people's work.
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sleazy
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(adj) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable
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The old lady made her clothes at home in order to avoid the __________ goods sold in the general store.
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resilient
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(adj) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly
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The development of light weight, __________ plastics revolutionized the design of many durable goods.
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