Vocabulary Unit 3

Front 1

abominate

Back 1

(v) to have an intense dislike or hatred for

syn. loathe, abhor
ant. relish, cherish

Front 2

acculturation

Back 2

(n) the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group of society

syn. adaptation

Front 3

adventitious

Back 3

(adj) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential

syn. inciedental
ant. essential, intrinsic

Front 4

ascribe

Back 4

(v) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute

syn. impute, credit

Front 5

circuitous

Back 5

(adj) roundabout, not direct

syn. indirect, winding
ant. straight, direct

Front 6

commiserate

Back 6

(v) to aympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress

syn. empathize, feel sorry for
ant. feel no sympathy for

Front 7

enjoin

Back 7

(v) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authorative way; to prohibit

syn. bid, charge, command
ant. allow, permit

Front 8

expedite

Back 8

(v) to mae easy, cause to progress faster

syn. accelerate, speed up
ant. hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct

Front 9

expiate

Back 9

(v) to make amends, make up for; to avert

syn. redeem, atone

Front 10

ferment

Back 10

(n) a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence
(v) to be in or work into such a state; to priduce alcohol by chemical action

syn. commotion, turmoil
ant. tranquility

Front 11

inadvertent

Back 11

(adj) resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental

syn. accidental
ant. deliberate, intentional

Front 12

nominal

Back 12

(adj) exsisting in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously

syn. token, trifling
ant. real, actual, excessive

Front 13

noncommittal

Back 13

(adj) not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no

syn. cagey, uninformative
ant. positive, definite, commited

Front 14

peculate

Back 14

(v) to steal something that has been given into one's trust; to take improperly for one's own use

syn. embezzle, defraud

Front 15

proclivity

Back 15

(n) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency

syn. penchant, propensity
ant. inability or incapacity

Front 16

sangfroid

Back 16

(n) composure or coolness, esp. in trying circumstances

syn. poise, equanimity
ant. hysteria

Front 17

seditious

Back 17

(adj) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government

syn. rebellious
ant. loyal, faithful, supportive

Front 18

tenuous

Back 18

(adj) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported

syn. flimsy, vague, hazy
ant. strong, solid, valid

Front 19

vitriolic

Back 19

(adj) bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting(like a strong acid)

syn. withering, mordant
ant. bland, sugary

Front 20

wheedle

Back 20

(v) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end

syn. cajole, sweet-talk
ant. intimidate, strong-arm

Front 21

approbation

Back 21

(n) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval

Front 22

assuage

Back 22

(v) to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench

Front 23

coalitoion

Back 23

(n) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose

Front 24

decadence

Back 24

(n) decline, decay or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay

Front 25

elicit

Back 25

(v) to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)

Front 26

expostulate

Back 26

(v)to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning

Front 27

hackneyed

Back 27

(adj)used so often as to lack freshness or originality

Front 28

hiatus

Back 28

(n)a gap, opening, break

Front 29

innuendo

Back 29

(n)a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference

Front 30

inercede

Back 30

(v) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a go-between in a disagreement

Front 31

jaded

Back 31

(adj)wearied, worn-out, dulled

Front 32

lurid

Back 32

(adj) causing shock, horror, or revulsion:sensational,; pale or sallow in color

Front 33

meritorious

Back 33

(adj) worthy, deserving recognition and praise

Front 34

petulant

Back 34

(adj) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated or upset

Front 35

prerogative

Back 35

(n) a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence

Front 36

provincial

Back 36

(adj)pertaining to an outlying area; narrow in mind or outlook

Front 37

simulate

Back 37

(v) to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of

Front 38

transcend

Back 38

(v) to rise above or beyond, exceed

Front 39

umbrage

Back 39

(n) shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influece or power

Front 40

unctuous

Back 40

(adj) excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness

Front 41

ameliorate

Back 41

(v) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

Front 42

aplomb

Back 42

(n) poise, assurance, great self confidence

Front 43

bombastic

Back 43

(adj) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

Front 44

callow

Back 44

(adj) without experience; immature, not fully developed

Front 45

drivel

Back 45

(n)saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense
(v) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle

Front 46

epitome

Back 46

(n) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

Front 47

exhort

Back 47

(v) to urge strongly, adivse earnestly

Front 48

ex officio

Back 48

(adj., adv) by virtue of holding a certain office

Front 49

infringe

Back 49

(v) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

Front 50

ingratiate

Back 50

(v) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others

Front 51

interloper

Back 51

(n) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be; intruder

Front 52

intrinsic

Back 52

(adj)belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

Front 53

inveigh

Back 53

(v) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

Front 54

lassitude

Back 54

(n) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

Front 55

millennium

Back 55

(n) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

Front 56

occult

Back 56

(adj) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view
(v) to hide, conceal
(n) matters involving the supernatural

Front 57

permeate

Back 57

(v) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

Front 58

precipitate

Back 58

(v) to fall down as moisture; to cause to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height
(n)moisture; the product of an action or process

Front 59

stringent

Back 59

(adj) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or biter to the taste

Front 60

surmise

Back 60

(v) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess
(n) likely idea that lacks definite proof

Front 61

affable

Back 61

(adj) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to talk to

Front 62

aggrandize

Back 62

(v) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear

Front 63

amorphous

Back 63

(adj) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity or cohesion

Front 64

aura

Back 64

(n) that which surrounds(as an atmosphere); a distinct air or personal quality

Front 65

contraband

Back 65

(n) illegal traffic, smuggled goods
(adj) illegal, prohibited

Front 66

erudite

Back 66

(adj) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

Front 67

gossamer

Back 67

(adj) thin, light, insubstantial
(n) a very thin, light cloth

Front 68

infer

Back 68

(v) to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply

Front 69

inscrutable

Back 69

(adj) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

Front 70

insular

Back 70

(adj) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

Front 71

irrevocable

Back 71

(adj) incapable of being changed or called back

Front 72

propensity

Back 72

(n) a natural inclination or predilecation toward

Front 73

querulous

Back 73

(adj) peevish, complaining, fretful

Front 74

remonstrate

Back 74

(v) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to

Front 75

repudiate

Back 75

(v) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

Front 76

resilient

Back 76

(adj) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

Front 77

reverberate

Back 77

(v) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

Front 78

scurrilous

Back 78

(adj) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low, foul-mouthed

Front 79

sedulous

Back 79

(adj) persistent, showing industry and determination

Front 80

sleazy

Back 80

(adj) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable

Front 81

amnesty

Back 81

(n) a general pardon for an offense agains a government in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution

Front 82

autonomy

Back 82

(n) self-government, political control

Front 83

axiomatic

Back 83

(adj) self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle of rule

Front 84

blazon

Back 84

(v) to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely

Front 85

caveat

Back 85

(n) a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior

Front 86

equitable

Back 86

(adj) fair, just, embodying principle of justice

Front 87

extricate

Back 87

(v) to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort

Front 88

filch

Back 88

(v) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts

Front 89

flout

Back 89

(v) to mock, treat with contempt

Front 90

fractious

Back 90

(adj) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable

Front 91

precept

Back 91

(n) a rule of conduct or action

Front 92

salutary

Back 92

(adj) beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome

Front 93

scathing

Back 93

(adj) bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm

Front 94

scourge

Back 94

(v) to whip, punish severly
(n) a cause of affliction or suffereing; a source of severe punishment or criticism

Front 95

sepulchral

Back 95

(adj) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal

Front 96

soporific

Back 96

(adj) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy
(n) something that induces sleep

Front 97

straitlaced

Back 97

(adj) extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritancial

Front 98

transient

Back 98

(adj) lasting only a short time fleeting
(n) one who stays only a short time

Front 99

unwieldy

Back 99

(adj) not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity

Front 100

vapid

Back 100

(adj) dull, uniteresting, tiresoem; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force

Front 101

anomalous

Back 101

adj. abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual

Front 102

aspersion

Back 102

n. a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming

Front 103

bizarre

Back 103

adj. extremely strange, unusual, atypical

Front 104

brusque

Back 104

adj. abrupt, blunt, with no formalities

Front 105

cajole

Back 105

v. to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to decieve with soothing thoughts or false promises

Front 106

castigate

Back 106

v. to punish severely; to criticize severely

Front 107

contrive

Back 107

v. to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about a the result of a scheme or plan

Front 108

demagogue

Back 108

n. a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

Front 109

disabuse

Back 109

v. to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking

Front 110

ennui

Back 110

n. weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom

Front 111

fetter

Back 111

n. a chain or shackle placed on the feet

v. to chain or shakcle; to render helpless or impotent

Front 112

heinous

Back 112

adj. very wicked, offensive, hateful

Front 113

immutable

Back 113

adj. not subject to change, constant

Front 114

insurgent

Back 114

n. one who rebels or rises against authority

adj. rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on

Front 115

megalomania

Back 115

n. a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality

Front 116

sinecure

Back 116

n. a position requiring litle or no work; an easy job

Front 117

surreptitious

Back 117

adj. stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud

Front 118

transgress

Back 118

v. to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law

Front 119

transmute

Back 119

v. to change from one nature, substance or form to another

Front 120

vicarious

Back 120

adj. performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another

Front 121

austere

Back 121

(adj) severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor

Front 122

beneficent

Back 122

(adj) performing acts of kindness or charity; conferring benefits, doing good

Front 123

cadaverous

Back 123

(adj) pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse

Front 124

concoct

Back 124

(v) to prepare by combining ingredients, make up (as a dish); to devise, invent, fabricate

Front 125

crass

Back 125

(adj) coarse, unfeeling; stupid

Front 126

debase

Back 126

(v) to lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade, adulterate,; to cause to deteriorate

Front 127

desecrate

Back 127

(v) to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently; to contaminate, pollute

Front 128

disconcert

Back 128

(v) to confuse; to disturb the composure of

Front 129

grandiose

Back 129

(adj) grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated

Front 130

inconsequential

Back 130

(adj) trifling, unimportant

Front 131

infraction

Back 131

(n) a breaking of a law or obligation

Front 132

mitigate

Back 132

(v) to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity

Front 133

pillage

Back 133

(v) to rob of goods by open force(as in war), plunder
(n) the act of looting; booty

Front 134

prate

Back 134

(v) to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion

Front 135

punctilious

Back 135

(adj) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety

Front 136

redoubtable

Back 136

(adj) inspiring fear or awe; illustrious, eminent

Front 137

reprove

Back 137

(v) to find fault with, scold, rebuke

Front 138

restitution

Back 138

(n) and act of restoring someone or something to the rightful owner or to a former state of position; making good on a loss or damage

Front 139

stalwart

Back 139

(adj) strong and sturdy; brave; resolute
(n) a brave, strong person; a stron supporter; one who takes an uncompromising position

Front 140

vulnerable

Back 140

(adj) open to attack; capable of being wounded or damaged; unprotected

Front 141

acrimonious

Back 141

(adj) stinging, bitter in temper or tone

Front 142

bovine

Back 142

(adj) resembling a cow or ox; sluggish, unresponsive

Front 143

consternation

Back 143

(n) dismay, confusion

Front 144

corpulent

Back 144

(adj) fat; having a large, bulky body

Front 145

disavow

Back 145

(v) to deny responsibility for or connection with

Front 146

dispassionate

Back 146

(adj) impartial; calm, free from emotion

Front 147

dissension

Back 147

(n) disagreement, sharp difference of opinion

Front 148

dissipate

Back 148

(v) to cause to disappear; to scatter, dispel; to spend foolishly, squander; to be sxtravagant in pusuit of pleasure

Front 149

expurgate

Back 149

(v) to remove objectionable passages or words from a written text; to cleanse, purify

Front 150

gauntlet

Back 150

(n) an armored or protective glove; a challenge; two lines of men armed with weapons with which to beat a person forced to run between them; an ordeal

Front 151

hypothetical

Back 151

(adj) based on an assumption or guess; used as a probisional or tentative idea to guide or direct investigation

Front 152

ignoble

Back 152

(adj) mean, low, base

Front 153

impugn

Back 153

(v) to call into question; to attack as false

Front 154

intemperate

Back 154

(adj) immoderate, lacking in self-control; inclement

Front 155

odium

Back 155

(n) hatred, contempt; disgrace or infamy resulting from hateful conduct

Front 156

perdify

Back 156

(n) faithlessness, treachery

Front 157

relegate

Back 157

(v) to place in a lower position; to assign, refer, turn over; to banish

Front 158

squeamish

Back 158

(adj) inclined to nausea; easily shocked or upset; excessively fastidious or refined

Front 159

subservient

Back 159

(adj) subordinate in capacity or role; submissively obedient; serving to promote some end

Front 160

susceptible

Back 160

(adj) open to; easily influenced; lacking in resistance

Front 161

abate

Back 161

(v) to make less in amount; to subside, become less

Front 162

adulation

Back 162

(n) praise or flattery that is excessive

Front 163

anathema

Back 163

(n) an object of intense dislike

Front 164

astute

Back 164

(adj) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

Front 165

avarice

Back 165

(n) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

Front 166

culpable

Back 166

(adj) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

Front 167

dilatory

Back 167

(adj) tending to delay or procrastinate

Front 168

egregious

Back 168

(adj) conspicuous, standing out from the mass

Front 169

equivocate

Back 169

(v) to speak or act in a way that allows for more then one interpretation

Front 170

evanescent

Back 170

(adj) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

Front 171

irresolute

Back 171

(adj) unable to make up one's mind

Front 172

nebulous

Back 172

(adj) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color; vague

Front 173

novice

Back 173

(n) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience

Front 174

penury

Back 174

(n) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

Front 175

pretentious

Back 175

(adj) done for show, striving to make a big impression

Front 176

recapitulate

Back 176

(v) to review a series of facts; to sum up

Front 177

resuscitate

Back 177

(v) to revive, bring back to conciousness

Front 178

slovenly

Back 178

(adj) untidy, dirty, careless

Front 179

supposition

Back 179

(n) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

Front 180

torpid

Back 180

(adj) inactive, sluggish, dull

Front 181

accrue

Back 181

(v) to grow or accumulate over time

Front 182

annotation

Back 182

(n) a critical or explantory note or comment

Front 183

bedlam

Back 183

(n) a state or scene of uproar and confusion

Front 184

covert

Back 184

(adj) hidden, diguised
(n) a sheltered place, a hiding place

Front 185

debonair

Back 185

(adj) pleasant, courteous, lighthearted

Front 186

dun

Back 186

(v) to demand insistently
(n) a creditor
(adj) dark, dull, drab, dingy

Front 187

efficacious

Back 187

(adj) effective, producing results

Front 188

equanimity

Back 188

(n) calmness, composure, refusal to panic

Front 189

fortuitous

Back 189

(adj) accidental, occuring by a happy chance

Front 190

gist

Back 190

(n) the essential part, main point

Front 191

gratuitous

Back 191

(adj) freely given; unwarrented

Front 192

imperious

Back 192

(adj) averbearing, arrogant

Front 193

invective

Back 193

(n) abusive language
(adj) abusive, vituperative

Front 194

motley

Back 194

(adj) showing great variety
(n) a jester's costume; a jester

Front 195

munificent

Back 195

(adj) extremely generous, lavish

Front 196

procrastinate

Back 196

(v) to delay, put off until later

Front 197

provocative

Back 197

(adj) tending to produce a stong feeling or response

Front 198

recondite

Back 198

(adj) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding

Front 199

reprobate

Back 199

(n) a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person
(v) to disapprove of, condem

Front 200

sedentary

Back 200

(adj) characterized by or calling for continued sitting

Front 201

abstemious

Back 201

(adj) moderate, sparing

Front 202

censurable

Back 202

(adj) deserving blame or correction

Front 203

contingent

Back 203

(adj) likely but not certain to happen
(n) a representative group forming part of a larger body

Front 204

corroborate

Back 204

(v) to confirm, make for certain

Front 205

denizen

Back 205

(n) adn inhabitant, resident

Front 206

discursive

Back 206

(adj) passing aimlessly from place to another

Front 207

disseminate

Back 207

(v) to scatter or spread widely

Front 208

dowdy

Back 208

(adj) poorly dressed, shabby

Front 209

florid

Back 209

(adj) highly colored; excessively ornate

Front 210

foist

Back 210

(v) to impose by fraud; to pass off as worthy or genuine

Front 211

gauche

Back 211

(adj) awkward, lacking in social graces

Front 212

heresy

Back 212

(n) an opinion different from accepted belief

Front 213

inculcate

Back 213

(v) to impress on the mind by repetition

Front 214

palpable

Back 214

(adj) capable of being touched or felt

Front 215

perceptive

Back 215

(adj) having sympathetic insight or understanding

Front 216

pernicious

Back 216

(adj) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal

Front 217

salient

Back 217

(adj) leaping, jumping, springing forth
(n) a projection or bulge

Front 218

satiate

Back 218

(v) to satisfy completely
(adj) full, satisfied

Front 219

sear

Back 219

(v) to make or become dry and withered

Front 220

specious

Back 220

(adj) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking realy merit

Front 221

absolve

Back 221

(v) to clear from blame

Front 222

caricature

Back 222

(n) a representation in which the characteristic features are deliberately exaggerated
(v) to present someone with something in a deliberately distorted way

Front 223

clangor

Back 223

(n) a loud, ringing sound
(v) to make a loud ringing noise

Front 224

contiguous

Back 224

(adj) side by side, touching

Front 225

cupidity

Back 225

(n) an eager desire for something; greed

Front 226

deleterious

Back 226

(adj) harmful, injurious

Front 227

enhance

Back 227

(v) to raise to a higher degree

Front 228

enthrall

Back 228

(v) to captivate, charm, hold spellbound

Front 229

extenuate

Back 229

(v) to lessen the seriousness or magnitude of an offense by making partial excuses

Front 230

implicit

Back 230

(adj) implied or understood though unexpressed

Front 231

incisive

Back 231

(adj) sharp, keen, penetrating

Front 232

ostentatious

Back 232

(adj) marked by conspicuous or pretentious disply, showy

Front 233

paragon

Back 233

(n) a model of excellence or perfection

Front 234

paraphrase

Back 234

(v) to restate in other words
(n) a statement that presents a given idea in new language

Front 235

politic

Back 235

(adj) prudent, shrewdly concieved and developed

Front 236

prosaic

Back 236

(adj) dull, lakcing in distiction or originality

Front 237

redudant

Back 237

(adj) extra, excess, more than is needed

Front 238

sanctimonious

Back 238

(adj) making a show of virtue or righteousness

Front 239

scintillating

Back 239

(adj) sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant

Front 240

winsome

Back 240

(adj) charming, attractive, pleasing