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871 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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antiquated
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to make old or obsolete
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obstinate
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stubborn
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moribund
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on the verge of death
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faction
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clique
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contravene
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to counter
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orthodox
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of or conforming to beliefs, attitudes, or modes of conduct that are generally approved.
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gradation
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gradual manner
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pontificate
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speak pompously
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catholic
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broad-minded
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apposite
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appropriate
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indispensible
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absolutely necessary,
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martinet
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a strict disciplinarian
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limpid
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transparent
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evanescent
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fleeting
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vituperate
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to use abusive language
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moribund
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in a dying state; near death.
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pedestrian
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lacking imaginiation
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querulousness
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full of complaints
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callow
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inexperienced
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incommode
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hinder
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interpose
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to put an obstacle in the way of
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trammel
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1. restrain
2. tool for drawing an ellipse |
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staid
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to be sedate/proper
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mercurial
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quick-changeable
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novel
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new
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hedonist
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devoted to pleasure
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sybarite
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devoted to pleasure
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protegee
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a woman under the protection or care of someone interested in her welfare
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fractious
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unruly
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inaugural
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initial
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penultimate
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next to the last
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conterminous
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meeting at the ends;
without an intervening gap: Our calendar year |
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deleterious
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harmful; injurious:
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afficiando
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devotee; fan
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bucolic
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having to do with the countryside
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pastoral
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having to do with the countryside
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chimerical
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imaginative
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chromatic
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having to do with colors
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candor
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open and sincere
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debasement
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to lower value
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ablution
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make dirty
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lavation
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to do with washing
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scurrilous
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foul language
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fastideous
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hard to please
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inaugural
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initial
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penultimate
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next to the last
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conterminous
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meeting at the ends; without an intervening gap: In our calendar system, the close of one year is conterminous with the beginning of the next.
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deleterious
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harmful; injurious:
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afficiando
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devotee; fan, enthusiast.
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bucolic
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having to do with the countryside
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pastoral
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having to do with the countryside
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chimerical
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imaginative
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chromatic
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having to do with colors
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candor
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open and sincere
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debasement
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to lower value
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ablution
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make dirty
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lavation
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to do with washing
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scurrilous
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foul language
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fastideous
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hard to please
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mirth
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laughter
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oppulent
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wealthy
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itinerant
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traveller
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compatriot
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comes from the same country
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coup
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a sudden stroke of...
extralegal form of election |
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masochist
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one who enjoys pain
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orator
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one who is good at giving speech
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clandestine
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done in secret
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indignant
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feeling wrath or unjust treatment
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disband
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to set free, scatter
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ligneous
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made of wood
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genteel
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graceful; refined
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adjunct
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joined, but not a part of
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exhort
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to make an urgent appeal
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divisive
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creating seperation or difference
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diabolical
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devilish
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spartan
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hardy; warlike
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trenchant
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keen, biting, severe (wit)
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lithe
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graceful
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antecedent
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preceding
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indissoluble
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not capable of being melted or broken
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corpulent
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obese
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gentrification
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improvement (as of a neighborhood)
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coiffure
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a headdress
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gadfly
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one who annoys another (like a fly found around horses)
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chagrin
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disappoint dismay, vexation
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remunerate
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to pay back
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expatriate
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one formerly of a country
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fodder
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coarse grains or food for animals
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lissome
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moving with grace
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epicure
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one with discriminating taste
a gourmet |
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dour
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inflexible
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remiss
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negligent in filling duty
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bemoan
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grieve
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ungainly
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clumsy, awkaward
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upshot
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conclusion
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jubilant
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think: jubilee
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coiffure
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a headdress
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stalemate
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an impass; can't go further
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autocrat
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one who rules with absolute power
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destitute
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needy
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bourgeois
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of middle class
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discombobulated
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confused, and maybe a little upset
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edify
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elevate spiritually and morally
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comely
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pleasing to the sight
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infamous
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having a bad reputation
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caldron
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a large kettle
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moratorium
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a pause
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hiatus
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pause
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asperity
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harshness
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vouchsafe
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to grant
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atrophy
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to waste away from lack of use or nourishment
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jovial
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merry
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furtive
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stolen
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subterfuge
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an evasion
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artifice
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a clever trick
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exegesis
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an elaboration or explanation
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pastiche
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eclectic
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disposed
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inclined toward
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contraband
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goods traded illegally
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contraband
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goods traded illegally
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abnegation
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renunciation
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disposed
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inclined toward
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pastiche
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made up of bits from various sources
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exegesis
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an elaboration
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subterfuge
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an evasion
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artifice
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clever trickery
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furtive
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stolen
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atrophy
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to waste away from lack of use or nourishment
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vouchsafe
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to concede, grant, bestow
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asperity
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harshness
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moratorium
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a pause
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hiatus
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a pause
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caldron
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a large kettle
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cupidity
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greed of gain
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constituent
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one who is represented by another legislative assembly
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unilateral
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onesided
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draconian
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very severe or cruel
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jocund
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merry
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despotic
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Saddam, Hitler
qualities of an absolute or irresponsible ruler; tyrannical |
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beget
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to procreate
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overt
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open to view
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amenable
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managable
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oblique
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obscure
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apposite
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appropriate for
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trajectory
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path (of something going thru space)
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pugnacious
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disposeded to fight
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transgressions
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offense; crime; fault
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gird
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encircle
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parochial
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limited; narrow; of a parish (like a church)
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bilk
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to frustrate or disappoint; to decieve
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blanch
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to make white; ass. with cooking
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bulwark
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that which defends an enemy attack, like a strong wall
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barrage
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intense volly of many things at once (think: enemy fire)
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braggadocio
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a boaster, braggart
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aphorism
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not the sugar-coated euphemism
truth expressed concisely |
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virtuoso
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performer who excels in her art
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niggardly
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stingy
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rend
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to tear one's clothes
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vanguard
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front lines (military)
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avarice
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greediness for wealth
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ravish
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to delight to ecstasy;
to seize by violence |
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truncate
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cut short; break off
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flax
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plant fiber used to make linen
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tensile
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capable of extension
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impudent
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bold and sassy
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oblique
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not straightforward
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malcontent
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one who is resentful, holds a grudge
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allot
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to distribute
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propound
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to exhibit
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tome
|
very large book within a collection of writings
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retrench
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to cut off
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drivel
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stupid talk
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besiege
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to surround with armed forces
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extraneous
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not belonging to a thing
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archetype
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the original pattern
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incrustation
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a covering or layering
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whimsy
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a fanciful/odd conceit
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disabuse
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to free from false ideas
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compact
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agreement
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avarice
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greediness for wealth
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soliloquy
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a monologue, a speech made by one alone to one's self
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grimace
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expression of disapproval
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fortuitous
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fortunate
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mores
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cusoms; habits
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omniscient
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all-knowing
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imbue
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to dye; become impressed
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bivouac
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to be on guard (at night)
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cavalcade
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a procession of persons on horseback
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complicity
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partnership in wrong-doing
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shirk
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to evade an obligation
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supplicant
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one who asks submissively
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sobriquet
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a nickname
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allegory
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a work of art with an underlying message
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amoral
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unconcerned with morals
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fresco
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a painting on plaster
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prodigy
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extraordinary event
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querulous
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argumentative
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allegory
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a work of art with an underlying message
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slurry
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insoluble mixture of fine material (like clay)
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ferment
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heat; agitation
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vogue
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the way or fashion of people at any particular time
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dynamic
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of energy
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commingle
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mingle
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inclement
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physically severe or harsh; rough (weather)
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rudimentary
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elementary
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conducive
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helpful
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paradigm
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a model example
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vagrant
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a wanderer
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elliptical
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1: oval shaped
2: having a part omitted |
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pretext
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pretense; diguise
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insolent
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rude
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effigy
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a dummy for public observation, often is burned
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unction
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act of rubbing with an oil for medical or symbolic purposes
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raiment
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clothing
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cacophony
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harsh sound (like the jumbled noises of a daycare)
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bulwark
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that which defends an enemy attack
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seditious
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disposed to take part in rebellion
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promontory
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a high point of land; a part that projects outward
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aegis
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sponsorship; protection
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influx
|
a streaming together
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antecdote
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a short biographical story; often amusing
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finicky
|
overly particular
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transcribe
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to write over again
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malevolence
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hatred
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quorum
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a minimum # of people req'd to hold an official meeting
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nubile
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marriable; sexually mature
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wanton
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unrestrained; reckless
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bastion
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a fortified place
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happenstance
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accidental happening
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provident
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saving for the future; prudent
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unexpurgated
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complet, without ommision of even the objectionable passages
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epicure
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a person with discriminating taste
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troth
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belief; faith; loyalty
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nepotism
|
favortism shown to family (in politics/business)
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countermand
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to negate
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instantiate
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to represent by a concrete example
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univocal
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having one voice/opinion
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gaffe
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a social blunder of faux pas
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ignominious
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dishonorable
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winsome
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cheerful
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rectitude
|
rightness
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dialectic
|
examining ideas logically
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redolent
|
fragrant/aromatic
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august
|
majestic dignity
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acuiesce
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consent
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renege
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to turn back on (a promise)
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adage
|
an old saying
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larceny
|
theft
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vantage
|
like advantage; a gain
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carnage
|
flesh of slain animals or men
great destruction of life |
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divisive
|
creating separation (a divisive remark)
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circumlocution
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a wordy round about way of expression
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frution
|
enjoyment
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rectitude
|
rightness of principle/practice
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moribund
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almost dead
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waggish
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frolicsome
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expropriate
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to surrender ownership of
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adjudicate
|
to try to determine, as a court
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outmoded
|
obsolete
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sedentary
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stationary
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treatise
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a written composition, whose principles are explained
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raconteur
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someone skilled at storytelling
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polemic
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practice of argument
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guy
|
a rope or chain used to steady something
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chasm
|
deep opening
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acerbic
|
sour or severe
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jibe
|
to agree
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acumen
|
descernement
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gall
|
brazen assurance
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coronation
|
the crowning of new king/queen
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proponent
|
one who makes a proposal
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usurp
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to seize
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duress
|
forced restraint
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infallible
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not liable deceive
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recourse
|
an attempt to find assistance
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wax
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to grow bigger
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quay
|
where boats load and unload into the water
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tensile
|
capable of extension
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lampoon
|
written work using satire to belittle or attack someone
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bate
|
to reduce
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desist
|
to stop
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polarize
|
to put at opposite extremes
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consecutive
|
following in order
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vagary
|
a wandering of thoughts
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egregious
|
remarkably bad
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appurtenance
|
an appendage; an accessory
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aegis
|
sponsorship; protection
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efficacious
|
efficient
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bilious
|
ill-tempered
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paramour
|
a lover, a wooer
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animus
|
aggression
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demagogue
|
one who appeals to the prejudices and emotions of others to gain power
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probity
|
virtue
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embroil
|
to complicate
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fulminate
|
to make a loud, sudden noise;
to send decrees with force or authority |
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ruminate
|
to mull over
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glower
|
to stare angrily, to scowl
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analgesic
|
pain killer
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infidel
|
one who does not believe in the prevailing religious faith
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tenure
|
length of time at a job;
how to gain permanent appointment |
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despondency
|
loss of hope
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wrest
|
to turn/twist
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immolate
|
to sacrifice(kill)
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ennui
|
a feeling of weariness and disgust
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dross
|
waste matter
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garish
|
gaudy
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decry
|
publically condemn
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prototype
|
first example
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inveigh
|
to complain/criticize strongly
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desist
|
to stop persisting
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opulent
|
elegant(think opal)
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bungle
|
clumsy
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flag
|
to tire, lose vigor
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pugilist
|
boxer/fighter
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cessation
|
a discontinueance
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conceit
|
a fanciful idea
|
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unkempt
|
unkept, untidy
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vivisection
|
the dissection of a live animal
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stupefy
|
to make dull; to deprive of understanding
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auspice
|
patronage;
assistanc/protection; sign/omen |
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recapitualte
|
to sum up
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coiffure
|
headdress
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secede
|
to retire, withdraw, separate oneself
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enjoin
|
to prohibit
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apogee
|
farthest from the highest point
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hoary
|
white or gray from age
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appurtenance
|
an appendage or accessory
|
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benediction
|
a blessing
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decrepitude
|
[decrepit] broken state by old age
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perdition
|
entire loss
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skirmish
|
small battle
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garish
|
gaudy, tawdry
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diminutive
|
very small; below the average size
think: diminish |
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unrequited
|
not repaid or returned
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monolithic
|
consisting of a single piece or idea
|
|
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plebeian
|
common;
vulgar |
|
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myopic
|
nearsighted
|
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amorous
|
[think: amore]
inclined to love |
|
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decadent
|
sinfully delightful
|
|
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tantamount
|
equivalent in value
|
|
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maculated
|
having spots or blotches
|
|
|
enrapture
|
to transport with pleasure
|
|
|
draconian
|
extremely cruel or severe
|
|
|
variegated
|
marked with different colors
|
|
|
atavistic
|
habitual
|
|
|
winsome
|
merry
|
|
|
litany
|
a repetitive incantation or listing
|
|
|
hamlet
|
a small village
|
|
|
ravish
|
to transport with joy or delight;
to seize by violence |
|
|
deplore
|
to lament
to condemn |
|
|
hackles
|
the hairs or feathers around an animals neck
|
|
|
brigand
|
a lawless fellow; one of a band of robbers
|
|
|
sacrosanct
|
sacred
|
|
|
satirical
|
to make fun of with humor; could be sarcastic
|
|
|
respite
|
temporary intermission
|
|
|
saunter
|
to walk in relaxed fashion
|
|
|
piebald
|
mottled; having black and white spots
|
|
|
venal
|
corrupt
|
|
|
incendiary
|
arsonist;
to agitate |
|
|
animus
|
aggression; hostility
|
|
|
pluck
|
spirit; courage
|
|
|
celerity
|
quickness
|
|
|
pollyannish
|
very optimistic
|
|
|
ecumenical
|
encompassing many faiths or beliefs
|
|
|
corollary
|
an inference (from demonstration)
a consequence |
|
|
sentenious
|
terse and full of meaning
|
|
|
hegemony
|
leadership
|
|
|
cynosure
|
at the center of attention
|
|
|
somnambulist
|
a sleepwalker
|
|
|
nuance
|
a shade of difference; a delicate distinction
|
|
|
abnegation
|
a renunciation
|
|
|
cozen
|
to deceive; cheat
|
|
|
acquiesce
|
to accept
|
|
|
mercenary
|
a soldier for hire
|
|
|
rejoinder
|
an anwer to a reply
|
|
|
truncate
|
to cut short
|
|
|
despondency
|
loss of hpe
|
|
|
staid
|
sober
grave sedate |
|
|
blight
|
mildew; decay
|
|
|
realpolitik
|
politics based on pratical matters (not ethical principles)
|
|
|
salacious
|
to be lustful
|
|
|
cabal
|
a secret association composed of a few persons
|
|
|
vitriol
|
sharp/bitter feeling
|
|
|
avocation
|
[think: vocation]
an occupation of lesser importance (which is ~ persued for pleasure, not money) |
|
|
parry
|
to ward off or evade (an argument)
|
|
|
defeatist
|
one who expects loss
|
|
|
insidious
|
marked by deceit
intended to entrap |
|
|
congenial
|
kindred; sympathetic
|
|
|
sage
|
wise
|
|
|
polyglot
|
one who speaks multiple languages
|
|
|
bawdy
|
dirty/obscene
|
|
|
fractious
|
irritable
|
|
|
mendicant
|
a beggar
|
|
|
perigee
|
the lowest or closest point
the point of a satellite's orbit that is nearest the earth |
|
|
vernacular
|
the local language of a place
|
|
|
tautology
|
repetition
|
|
|
ungainly
|
clumsy; awkward
|
|
|
tutelage
|
guardianship
|
|
|
picayune
|
small coin;
something of little value |
|
|
portent
|
an omen
|
|
|
preamble
|
an introductory portion
|
|
|
embroil
|
to complicate
|
|
|
carp
|
to find fault; criticize
|
|
|
efface
|
to rub out; erase
|
|
|
abate
|
reduce
|
|
|
aberrant
|
abnormal, deviant
|
|
|
abeyance
|
suspended action
|
|
|
abscond
|
to leave secretly
|
|
|
abstemious
|
eating/drinking in moderation
|
|
|
aggrandize
|
increase in power/influence
|
|
|
alacrity
|
promptness, eagerness
|
|
|
amalgamate
|
mix
|
|
|
ambibalence
|
uncertainty or indecisiveness;
mixed feelings |
|
|
anachronism
|
out of place in time
|
|
|
anomaly
anomalous |
abnormal, irregular
|
|
|
antipathy
|
dislike
|
|
|
apprise
|
inform
|
|
|
approbation
|
approval
|
|
|
appropriate
|
acquire
|
|
|
arbitrate
|
judge b/w 2 parties
|
|
|
archaic
|
ancient, old-fashioned
|
|
|
ardor
|
intense and passionate feeling
|
|
|
artless
|
open and honest
|
|
|
ascetic
|
self-denying and austere
hermit |
|
|
assiduous
|
diligent
|
|
|
assuage
|
make less severe, ease, soothe
|
|
|
attenuate
|
reduce, weaken
|
|
|
audacious
|
fearless and daring
|
|
|
austere
|
severe or stern
|
|
|
autonomous
|
self-governing
|
|
|
aver
|
state confidently
|
|
|
banal
|
predictable
|
|
|
belie
|
contradict, give false impression
|
|
|
bolster
|
support
|
|
|
boorish
|
rude, insensitive
|
|
|
burgeon
|
grow forth
|
|
|
burnish
|
shiny, polish
|
|
|
buttress
|
support
|
|
|
cacophony
cacophonous |
inharmonious
|
|
|
capricious
|
fickle
|
|
|
castigate
|
punish
|
|
|
caustic
|
sarcastically biting
|
|
|
chicanery
|
deception, trickery
|
|
|
cogent
|
convincing and well reasoned
|
|
|
convoluted
|
intricate, complicated
|
|
|
corroborate
|
provide supporting evidence
|
|
|
credulous
|
too trusting, gullible
|
|
|
crescendo
|
increase in volume or intensity
|
|
|
coagulate
|
thicken, clot
|
|
|
coda
|
concluding section of musical; literary piece
|
|
|
commensurate
|
of the same size, extent
|
|
|
compendium
|
brief, summary
|
|
|
complaisant
|
trying to please
|
|
|
conciliatory
|
reconciling, soothing
|
|
|
confound
|
confuse
|
|
|
connoisseur
|
someone who appreciates
|
|
|
contention
|
assertion, thesis
|
|
|
contentios
|
quarrelsome
|
|
|
contrite
|
feeling regret and sorrow for one's offenses
|
|
|
conundrum
|
riddle; difficult problem
|
|
|
craven
|
cowardly
|
|
|
deference
|
respect, courtesy
|
|
|
deride
|
ridicule, mock
|
|
|
desiccate
|
dry out
|
|
|
diatribe
|
abusive speech, scolding
|
|
|
desultory
|
aimless, haphazard, disconnected
|
|
|
diffident
|
lacking self-confidence, shyness
|
|
|
dilettante
|
amatuer
|
|
|
dirge
|
funeral hymm or mournful speech
|
|
|
disabuse
|
free from error
|
|
|
disparate
|
fundamentally different
|
|
|
dissemble
|
present a false appearance
|
|
|
dissonance
|
discord, opposite of harmony
|
|
|
dogma
|
firmly held opinion
|
|
|
daunt
|
frighten
|
|
|
default
|
failure to act
|
|
|
delineate
|
portray, depict
|
|
|
denigrate
|
defame; belittle
|
|
|
dichotomy
|
split
|
|
|
discrete
|
separate, unconnected
|
|
|
disingenuous
|
not naive, sophisticated
|
|
|
disparage
|
belittle
|
|
|
disseminate
|
spread; distribute
|
|
|
distend
|
expand
|
|
|
eclectic
|
made up of a variety of sources
|
|
|
elegy
|
sorrowful poem or speech
|
|
|
emulate
|
imitate
|
|
|
enervate
|
reduce in strength
|
|
|
engender
|
cause, bring about
|
|
|
equivocate
|
lie, mislead
|
|
|
erudite
|
learned, scholarly
|
|
|
esoteric
|
hard to understand; understood only by a few
|
|
|
estimable
|
admirable
|
|
|
exacerbate
|
to make worse
|
|
|
ebullient
|
excitement, enthusiasm
|
|
|
effrontery
|
shameless boldness
|
|
|
empirical
|
based on experience
|
|
|
endemic
|
prevailing among a specific group of people
|
|
|
equanimity
|
calmness of temperament; composure
|
|
|
extrapolation
|
to infer (an unknown) from something that is known; conjecture.
|
|
|
fawn
|
grovel, flattering
|
|
|
fervid
|
marked by great passion or zeal
|
|
|
foment
|
arouse; promote growth of
|
|
|
frugality
|
thrifty
|
|
|
facetious
|
joking
|
|
|
fallacious
|
false
|
|
|
fatuous
|
foolish
|
|
|
felicitous
|
appropriate, well chosen
|
|
|
fervor
|
intensity of feeling
|
|
|
fledgling
|
inexperienced
|
|
|
flout
|
reject; mock
|
|
|
garrulous
|
tending to talk a lot; loquacious
|
|
|
gregarious
|
outgoing; sociable
|
|
|
guile
|
deceit
|
|
|
gainsay
|
deny
|
|
|
goad
|
urge on
|
|
|
gouge
|
overcharge
|
|
|
grandiloquent
|
bombastic
|
|
|
harangue
|
speech
|
|
|
iconoclast
|
one who opposes established beliefs/cusoms
|
|
|
imperturbable
|
not capable of being disturbed
|
|
|
impetuous
|
quick to act without thinking
|
|
|
implacable
|
unable to be calmed down
|
|
|
inchoate
|
not full formed; disorganized
|
|
|
ingenuous
|
showing innocence
|
|
|
inimical
|
unfriendly; hostile
|
|
|
innocuous
|
harmless
|
|
|
insipid
|
lack of interest/flavor
|
|
|
intransigent
|
uncompromising
|
|
|
irascible
|
easily made angry
|
|
|
impassive
|
w/o feeling
|
|
|
impede
|
hinder
|
|
|
incongruity
|
lack of harmony
|
|
|
indigence
|
poverty
|
|
|
indolent
|
lazy
|
|
|
insinuate
|
hint;imply
|
|
|
insularity
|
narrow mindedness; isolation
|
|
|
intractable
|
unruly; stubborn; not easily managed
|
|
|
invective
|
abuse
|
|
|
invective
|
abuse
|
|
|
laconic
|
using few words; brief and to the point
|
|
|
lament
|
express sorrow; grieve
|
|
|
laud
|
praise
|
|
|
lucid
|
clearly and easily understood
|
|
|
luminous
|
bright
|
|
|
lassitude
|
weariness
|
|
|
latent
|
dormant; hidden; undeveloped
|
|
|
levity
|
lack of seriousness
|
|
|
malinger
|
one who feigns illness to escape duty
|
|
|
malleable
|
capable of being shaped
|
|
|
misanthrope
|
a person who dislikes others
|
|
|
mitigate
|
soften; lessen
|
|
|
mollify
|
calm; make less severe
|
|
|
monotomy
|
lack of variation
|
|
|
maverick
|
rebel
|
|
|
mendacious
|
lying; habitually dishonest
|
|
|
neophoyte
|
beginner
|
|
|
obdurate
|
obstinate; unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding
|
|
|
obsequious
|
eager to please
|
|
|
obviate
|
prevent
|
|
|
occlude
|
stop
|
|
|
onerous
|
troublesome
|
|
|
opprobrium
|
public disgrace
|
|
|
officious
|
meddlesome
|
|
|
paragon
|
model of perfection
|
|
|
pedant
|
showing off learning
|
|
|
perfidous
|
willing to betray ones trust
|
|
|
perfunctory
|
indifferent
|
|
|
philanthropy
|
charity; desire to do good
|
|
|
placate
|
soothe; pacify
|
|
|
pragmatic
|
practical
|
|
|
precipitate
|
hasty; quick; sudden
|
|
|
prevaricate
|
to lie
|
|
|
proliferate
|
increase
|
|
|
propitiate
|
appease
|
|
|
prudence
|
wisdom; caution
|
|
|
partisan
|
one-sided; prejudeced
|
|
|
paucity
|
scarcity
|
|
|
penchant
|
strong inclination; liking
|
|
|
penury
|
poverty
|
|
|
pernnial
|
long lasting
|
|
|
pervasive
|
spread throughout
|
|
|
phlegmatic
|
calm
|
|
|
platitude
|
trite remark
|
|
|
presumptuous
|
arrogant; taking liberties
|
|
|
probity
|
uprightness
|
|
|
propensity
|
natural incination
|
|
|
proscribe
|
outlaw
|
|
|
quiescent
|
motionless
|
|
|
repudiate
|
reject the validity
|
|
|
reticent
|
silent; reserved
|
|
|
rhetoric
|
effective writing or speaking
|
|
|
recalcitrant
|
stubborn
|
|
|
recant
|
confess
|
|
|
recluse
|
hermit; loner
|
|
|
recondite
|
profound; secret
|
|
|
refractory
|
resistant; stubborn
|
|
|
relegate
|
demote
|
|
|
reproach
|
express disapproval
|
|
|
reprobate
|
devoid of decency
|
|
|
rescind
|
cancel
|
|
|
specious
|
deceptively attractive; misleading
|
|
|
stigma
|
mark of shame
|
|
|
stolid
|
unemotional
|
|
|
sublime
|
grand
|
|
|
tacit
|
w/o words
|
|
|
tirade
|
verbal attack
|
|
|
torpor
|
lethargy
|
|
|
transitory
|
temporary
|
|
|
vacillate
|
indecisive; unpredictable
|
|
|
venerate
|
to respect deeply
|
|
|
veracity
|
filled with truth
|
|
|
vex
|
annoy
|
|
|
waver
|
fluctuate between choices
|
|
|
salubrious
|
healthy
|
|
|
shard
|
fragment
|
|
|
genteel
|
well-bred; elegant
|
|
|
indomitable
|
unconquerable; unyielding
|
|
|
bludgeion
|
club
|
|
|
cabal
|
small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
|
|
|
waffle
|
speak equivocally/without meaning
|
|
|
dormer
|
window projecting upright from roof; sleeping room
|
|
|
stratum
|
layer of earth's surface; layer of society
|
|
|
portly
|
stout
|
|
|
intrepid
|
fearless
|
|
|
cavalcade
|
procession of riders; cavalry
|
|
|
subsidy
|
direct financial aid by government
|
|
|
skirmish
|
minor fight; minor battle in war
|
|
|
asunder
|
into parts; apart
|
|
|
seine
|
seine net
|
|
|
puissant
|
powerful; strong; potent
|
|
|
lustrous
|
shining; brilliant
|
|
|
knit
|
join together closely
|
|
|
rider
|
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
|
|
|
venerate
|
revere; treat with great respect
|
|
|
simile
|
comparison of one thing with another; using the word like or as
|
|
|
tureen
|
deep dish for serving soup
|
|
|
recapitulate
|
summarize
|
|
|
caliber
|
ability; quality
|
|
|
adjuration
|
solemn urging; entreat earnestly
|
|
|
bandy
|
discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange words heatedly; quarrel
|
|
|
demoniac
demoniacal |
cruel; demonic
|
|
|
inordinate
|
beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive
|
|
|
swarthy
|
(of a skin or complextion) dark; duscky
|
|
|
dotage
|
senility; feeblemindedness of old age
"in one's dotage..." |
|
|
oligarchy
|
government by a privileged few
|
|
|
intelligentsia
|
intellectuals; members of the educated elite
|
|
|
unassuming
|
modest
|
|
|
audit
|
examination of accounts of a business; official examination
|
|
|
viper
|
venomous snake
|
|
|
satire
|
form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly
|
|
|
espouse
|
adopt; support
|
|
|
synoptic
|
providing a general overview; summary
|
|
|
umbrage
|
resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult
"take umbrage at his rudeness" |
|
|
comprehensive
|
broad; thorough, inclusive
|
|
|
lumeber
|
move heavily or clumsily
|
|
|
patrician
|
noble; aristocratic; person of high rank;
|
|
|
iota
|
very small quantity
|
|
|
vivisection
|
act of dissecting living animals
|
|
|
pedagogy
|
teaching; art of education
|
|
|
extol
|
praise very highly; glorify
|
|
|
levee
|
earthen or stone embankement
|
|
|
enumerate
|
list; mention one by one
|
|
|
misanthrope
|
one who hates mankind
|
|
|
repertoire
|
list of works in music, drama, etc.
|
|
|
mollify
|
soothe an angry person
|
|
|
corollary
|
natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
|
|
|
begrudge
|
envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge
|
|
|
germinal
|
pertaining to a germ
creative "a germinal idea" |
|
|
pauper
|
very poor person
|
|
|
Occident
|
the West
|
|
|
mincing
|
delicate; cut into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness;
"the actor minced across the stage" |
|
|
obviate
|
make unnecessary; get rid of
"obviate the need" |
|
|
lineaments
|
features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face
|
|
|
stringent
|
(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money
"stringent economic conditions" |
|
|
compile
|
assemble; gather; accumulate
|
|
|
abysmal
|
bottomless
|
|
|
benediction
|
blessing
|
|
|
satirical
|
using satire; mocking
|
|
|
incrustation
|
hard coating or crust
|
|
|
subaltern
|
subordinate
|
|
|
squalor
|
condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state
|
|
|
peripheral
|
marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central
|
|
|
tyranny
|
oppression; cruel government
|
|
|
brackish
|
somewhat saline
|
|
|
pastoral
|
rural; of rural life; idyllic
|
|
|
vertigo
|
severe dizziness; giddiness
|
|
|
brooch
|
ornamental clasp/pin
|
|
|
obsequy
|
funeral ceremony
|
|
|
rakish
|
stylish; sporty; morally corrupt;
"he wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle" |
|
|
resonant
|
echoing; resounding (sounding loudly)
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|
|
ratiocination
|
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; reason logically
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|
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impolitic
|
not wise
|
|
|
congenial
|
pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature
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masochist
|
person who enjoys his own pain
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|
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gainsay
|
deny
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|
|
ovation
|
enthusiastic applause
|
|
|
conformity
|
harmony
|
|
|
seismic
|
pertaining to earthquakes
|
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|
enrapture
|
please intensely
|
|
|
doldrums
|
blues; period of stagnation; ocean near equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind
|
|
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impiety
|
irreverence; lack of respect for God
|
|
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propriety
|
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct
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liability
|
drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility
|
|
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resignation
|
patiently submissiveness; statement of quitting ones' job
|
|
|
mnemonic
|
pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; device, such as a formula or rhyme
|
|
|
ratiocination
|
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; reason logically
|
|
|
impolitic
|
not wise
|
|
|
congenial
|
pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature
|
|
|
masochist
|
person who enjoys his own pain
|
|
|
gainsay
|
deny
|
|
|
ovation
|
enthusiastic applause
|
|
|
conformity
|
harmony
|
|
|
seismic
|
pertaining to earthquakes
|
|
|
enrapture
|
please intensely
|
|
|
doldrums
|
blues; period of stagnation; ocean near equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind
|
|
|
impiety
|
irreverence; lack of respect for God
|
|
|
propriety
|
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct
|
|
|
liability
|
drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility
|
|
|
resignation
|
patiently submissiveness; statement of quitting ones' job
|
|
|
mnemonic
|
pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; device, such as a formula or rhyme
|
|
|
depravity
|
extreme corruption
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|
|
tumid
|
swollen; pompous
|
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slovenly
|
untidy
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|
|
cataclysm
|
violent and sudden event or change
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|
|
automaton
|
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
|
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caprice
|
whim
|
|
|
regiment
|
subject to strict order
|
|
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patronize
|
support; be a customer of
act superior toward treat in a condescending manner |
|
|
gravity
|
seriousness
|
|
|
taxonomist
|
specialist in classifying
|
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|
remunerative
|
compensating
|
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|
dissertation
|
formal essay
|
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|
impassive
|
w/o feeling; expressionless
|
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alimentary
|
supplying nourishment
|
|
|
gadfly
|
animal-biting fly; irritating person
|
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dabble
|
work in a nonserious fashion
|
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supplant
|
take the place of unfairly; replace
|
|
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malcontent
|
discontented person
|
|
|
ballast
|
heavy substaqnce used to add stability or weight
|
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minion
|
servile dependent; obsequious follower
|
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hap
|
chance; luck
|
|
|
improvident
|
thriftless; not providing for the future
|
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indubitable
|
unable to be doubted; which cannot be doubted; unquestionable
|
|
|
suppositious
|
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
|
|
|
congeal
|
freeze; coagulate
|
|
|
avuncular
|
of or like an uncle
|
|
|
comestible
|
something fit to be eaten
|
|
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foment
|
stir up; instigate
|
|
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overwrought
|
nervous or excited; extremely agitated
|
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|
edict
|
decree; official command
|
|
|
perspicuity
|
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
|
|
|
inchoate
|
recently begun; not explicit; at the beginning of development; rudimentary;
|
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coin
|
invent or fabricate
|
|
|
manumit
|
emancipate
|
|
|
consecrate
|
sanctify; declare as sacred
|
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orifice
|
small opening
|
|
|
cynosure
|
object of general attention
|
|
|
collation
|
a light meal
|
|
|
vouchsafe
|
guarantee
|
|
|
centigrade
|
opposite farenheit
|
|
|
diurnal
|
daily
|
|
|
emetic
|
substance causing vomiting
|
|
|
tangential
|
only slightly connected; not central
|
|
|
impetus
|
moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse
|
|
|
cantata
|
story set to music to be sung by a chorus
|
|
|
totter
|
shake or move unsteadily; sway as if to fall
|
|
|
luxuriant
|
abundant; growing healthily and in large amounts; excessively ornate
|
|
|
sheateh
|
place into a case
|
|
|
nugatory
|
worthless; futile
|
|
|
cistern
|
reservoir or water tank
|
|
|
quintesence
|
purest and highest embodiment; perfect example
|
|
|
nonplus
|
put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex
|
|
|
opalescent
|
iridescent; lustrous
|
|
|
fracas
|
brawl; noisy quarrel or fight in which a number take part
|
|
|
canker
|
any ulcerous sore
|
|
|
deify
|
turn into a god; make a god of; idolize
|
|
|
peregrination
|
journey; wander about
|
|
|
reputable
|
having a good reputation
|
|
|
martinet
|
strict disciplinarian
|
|
|
paltry
|
petty
|
|
|
delude
|
deceive
|
|
|
coterie
|
group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
|
|
|
thematic
|
of a theme
|
|
|
anecdote
|
short story of amusing or interesting event
|
|
|
spate
|
sudden flood or rush
|
|
|
taper
|
very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object
|
|
|
relent
|
become less severe; give in
|
|
|
malignant
|
tending to cause death; highly injurious
|
|
|
importunate
|
urging; always demanding
|
|
|
supposition
|
assumption; hypothesis
|
|
|
ravine
|
narrow valley with steep sides
|
|
|
flay
|
strip off skin; remove the skin form; criticize harshly
|
|
|
dregs
|
sediment in a liquid; worthless residue
|
|
|
irresolute
|
uncertain how to act; weak; indecisive
|
|
|
amiabe
|
agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
|
|
|
inviolable
|
secure from corruption, attack, or violation
|
|
|
symmetry
|
arrangements of parts so that balance is obtained
|
|
|
occult
|
mysterious; secret; supernatural
|
|
|
cadaver
|
corpse; dead human body
|
|
|
amass
|
collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
|
|
|
convivial
|
pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay
|
|
|
misapprehension
|
misunderstanding
|
|
|
cadaverous
|
like a corpse; pale
|
|
|
exiguous
|
small in amount; minute
|
|
|
stultify
|
make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistant; suppress; frustrate or hinder
|
|
|
abstain
|
refrain; withhold from participation
|
|
|
bard
|
poet
|
|
|
subversive
|
tending to overthrow or ruin; destroy completely; undermine
|
|
|
deft
|
skillful
|
|
|
circuitous
|
roundabout
|
|
|
vegetate
|
live in a monotonous way (w/o interests or activity)
|
|
|
incur
|
bring upon oneself
|
|
|
corporeal
|
of the body
|
|
|
credulity
|
belief on slight evidence; gullibility
|
|
|
deadpan
|
wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; an expressionless face
|
|
|
rivulet
|
small stream
|
|
|
gestate
|
evolve as in prenatal growth
|
|
|
ethos
|
underlying character of a culture, group, etc.
character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture |
|
|
redolent
|
odorous; fragrant
|
|
|
abdicate
|
renounce; give up
|
|
|
hew
|
cut into pieces with ax or sword; chop
|
|
|
trivia
|
unimportant matters
|
|
|
chimerical
|
fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic
|
|
|
quiescent
|
dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest
|
|
|
arch-
|
chief
|
|
|
numismatist
|
person who collects coins
|
|
|
minutiae
|
petty or trivial details
|
|
|
askew
|
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
|
|
|
bouillon
|
clear beef/meat soup
|
|
|
sagacious
|
wise; perceptive; shrewd
|
|
|
litotes
|
understatement for emphasis
"not bad" = "pretty good" |
|
|
agog
|
highly excited; intensely curious
|
|
|
fastidious
|
difficult to please; fussy
|
|
|
penury
|
extreme poverty
|
|
|
dissimulate
|
pretend; conceal by feigning
|
|
|
hapless
|
unfortunate
|
|
|
truncate
|
cut the top off; shorten
|
|
|
disquisition
|
formal systematic inquiry; long formal speech or written report
|
|
|
ruffian
|
bully; violent scoundrel
|
|
|
incontrovertible
|
indisputable; not open to question
|
|
|
clamber
|
climb by crawling with difficulties
|
|
|
futile
|
useless; hopeless
|
|
|
concession
|
an act of yielding; conceding
|
|
|
import
|
significance; importance
|
|
|
subdue
|
less intense; quieter
|
|
|
suavity
|
polish; urbanity
|
|
|
duress
|
forcible restraint; especially unlawfully; coercion by threat
|
|
|
quarry
|
dig into (to get stone); mine
|
|
|
clime
|
climate
|
|
|
aureole
|
sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
|
|
|
ominous
|
threatening; of an evil omen
|
|
|
procurement
|
obtaining; obtain by effort;
|
|
|
querulous
|
given to complaining; whining
|
|
|
mettle
|
courage; spirit
|
|
|
dally
|
trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness
|
|
|
pall
|
become boring; grow tiresome
|
|
|
machinations
|
evil schemes or plots
|
|
|
kismet
|
fate; destiny
|
|
|
scuffle
|
struggle confusedly; move off i a confused hurry
|
|
|
cipher
|
nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero;
secret code |
|
|
immolate
|
offer or kill as a sacrifice
|
|
|
fecundity
|
fertility; fruitfulness
|
|
|
verisimilitude
|
appearance of truth; likelihood
"verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth" |
|
|
waylay
|
ambush
|
|
|
perturb
|
disturb greatly
|
|
|
oratorio
|
dramatic poem set to music
|
|
|
novice
|
beginner
|
|
|
sophistry
|
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning
|
|
|
erode
|
eat/wear away
|
|
|
constituent
|
supporter
|
