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560 Cards in this Set
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- Back
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abhor
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to regard with disgust or hatred
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abide
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to tolerate or put up with; to agree to go along with; to remain to stay
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abominable
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horrible or unpleasant
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abound
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to be plentiful; to be full
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abridge
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to reduce; to limit; "The tough editor took my two-hundred page novel and abridged it into a three-page pamphlet."
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abyss
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a seemingly bottomless hole or space
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academic
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having to do with school or college
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access
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the right to enter or use; the act of entering
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accommodate
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to help someone; to adjust or adapt; to have room for
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accord
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to grant or give; to be in agreement OR (n.) harmony or agreement
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accumulate
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to collect or gain; to increase
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acquisition
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the act of obtaining something; something added, like an addition to an existing collection
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adage
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an old saying that is usually considered to be true
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adjacent
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next to or nearby; lying close by
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admonish
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to scold or criticize in a friendly yet serious way; "My grandfather admonished me every time I forgot to call him "Sir".
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affected
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charged or influenced in some way OR behaving in an artificial manner
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ail
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to suffer from sickness; to cause to suffer
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allege
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to declare that something is true without offering any proof
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alliance
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a formal agreement between two or more groups to unite
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ally
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a country or person that is united or joined with another for certain reason
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altruistic
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showing concern for the well being in others; "The altruistic efforts of Mother Teresa of Calcutta have saved thousands of poor people from starvation and disease."
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amass
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to gather or gain; to increase
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analogy
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some form of similarity between two things that are otherwise unlike; an explanation that compares one thing to something else that is similar
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analysis
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the process of separating something into smaller parts to better understand the properties of the object as a whole
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antisocial
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avoiding the company of other people OR interfering with society
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appall
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to shock or amaze; to horrify; "Larry's ability to turn his eyelids inside out was truly appalling."
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apparition
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a visible spirit or ghost
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append
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to add on to something
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apt
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just right for the occasion OR quick to learn
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arbitrate
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to agree to have a dispute settled by a third party; to settle a dispute
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ardent
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greatly passionate or enthusiastic
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arid
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very dry; having little rainfall
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aspect
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an element or feature; look or appearance; "The fact that people are often forced to parallel park is one of the more annoying aspects of driving a car."
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assailant
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a person who attacks someone else
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assert
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to state a viewpoint definitively; to declare OR to defend or maintain
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assess
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to evaluate; figure out the value or importance of OR to charge with a special payment
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asset
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a worthwhile object or quality that a person or thing possesses
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atmosphere
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the mixture of gases that surround a planet and is held by gravity OR the mood of a place
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atrophy
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the wasting or withering away of parts of the body
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audible
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loud enough to be heard
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authentic
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genuine and true; not fake
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avant-garde
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ahead of the times by being new and different, especially in the arts
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awe
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a feeling of wonder usually felt in the presence of something magnificent or majestic
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awry
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turned or twisted out of shape; "My plans to skip school went awry when my mother saw my foot sticking out from under my bed."
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baleful
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evil or harmful; threatening OR wretched and miserable
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balk
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to stop in the middle of something and refuse to proceed; "I was about to ask Richard to the dance, but I balked at the last minute and instead talked about the weather."
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bandy
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to throw back and forth; to exchange
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beam
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to send a signal OR to smile proudly
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bearing
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to way in which you walk or handle yourself OR the knowledge of your general location (usually bearings)
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bellow
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to yell in a deep voice
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besiege
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to surround a city in order to conquer it; to swamp or overwhelm; "Our office was besieged with phone calls after a local news station reported that we were giving away free turkeys for Thanksgiving."
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bestow
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to present a gift or honor
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bewilder
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to confuse greatly
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bias
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a personal leaning or point of view in one direction OR (v.) to cause to have bias or be biased; "The Texan judges were biased against all the contestants from New York City."
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bipartisan
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made up of two political parties
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blasé
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bored or uninterested due to constant exposure; "The fans screamed wildly after Plonsky hit the home run, but the blase expression on the announcer's face did not change at all."
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bleary
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blurred and indistinct, usually by tears; fuzzy and vague
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bloat
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to swell up
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blockade
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to surround a place so that nothing can get in or out
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bog
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to be slowed down or hindered OR (n.) a damp, muddy place filled with decaying plants, somewhat like a swamp
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bombard
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to continuously strike at a place, usually using some kind of explosive; to fire at repeatedly; "My teacher bombarded me with so many questions that I regretted having raised my hand."
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bore
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to drill into something, creating a hole "We bored holes into the flat piece of oak so we could place legs in them and create a table."
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brethren
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a group of relatives; associates within the same organization
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burly
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very stocky and muscled
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burnish
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to rub a surface until it's smooth and shiny
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bustle
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to hurry around; to walk around busily OR (n.) lots of activity
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cache
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a hidden supply of goods
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cackle
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to laugh in a high-pitched, unpleasant manner
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cajole
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to influence someone by using flattery or lies
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canny
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careful and shrewd; cautious
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cataclysm
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a terrible disaster; a violent change in the earth; "The island of Krakatoa was destroyed by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption in 1883."
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cavalcade
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a procession of notable events or people
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cavort
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to jump and leap about playfully; "Our family cavorted in the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean until someone yelled "shark!"
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celestial
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having to do with the stars or sky
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char
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to burn until reduced to charcoal or to burn a little
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charisma
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an exceptional ability to be liked and admired by a great number of people
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cherish
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to value highly; to affectionately care for
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chide
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to scold
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chronological
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arranged according to time of occurrence, from earliest to latest
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circulate
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to move around freely OR to spread widely
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cite
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to quote as an example OR to mention as a reward for honorable action
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clarify
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to make something easier to understand; to explain in greater detail
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clincher
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the final, decisive act or point
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clutter
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a bunch of things scattered around in a mess OR (v.) to fill up in a way that stops movement or action
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coalition
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a group of people acting together for a specific goal; "The sewer workers formed a coalition in order to demand higher pay and thicker boots."
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coax
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to gently persuade
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coherent
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easily understood; logically connected
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combustion
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the act of burning
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comely
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attractive and pleasant; "At our school's Thanksgiving dance, the comely lad had more than his fair share of willing dance partners."
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commission
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to grant authority to someone or some group for a specific purpose OR (n.) a group of people granted the authority to do something
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communal
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related to or serving every person in the community; "The wait staff at the coffee shop had a communal tip jar, which they emptied and split evenly every night."
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compatible
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able to exist or work together in the same system
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compute
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to work toward a solution through the use of math or a computer
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concede
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to give in; to surrender OR to grudgingly admit that something is true
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concoction
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a mixture of different ingredients
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condescend
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to willingly do something that is beneath a person's dignity OR to act in a way that shows you think you are better than others
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confidant
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someone that you tell all your secrets to
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configuration
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the way in which the parts of an object are fitted together
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confines
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the border or limits of a particular space
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confirmation
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something that provides proof; "Sylvia's bright orange tongue confirmed that she ate the rest of the orange-flavored ice pops from the freezer."
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confound
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to puzzle, confuse, or bewilder; "The more I learn about politics, the more confounded I become."
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confrontation
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a direct encounter, especially with an opponent
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congeal
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to thicken; to change from a liquid to a solid
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congenial
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pleasant, open, and friendly OR having similar habits and tastes
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congregate
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to assemble; to come together and form a crowd
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conjecture
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to make a guess; to form an opinion based on incomplete knowledge OR (n.) a statement or opinion based on guesswork
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connoisseur
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a person who is an excellent judge in a specific field; an expert in a particular subject
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consensus
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an opinion or belief held by the majority of a group
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contentious
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argumentative; easily bothered and ready to disagree
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contradict
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to express the opposite of a statement; argue against an earlier remark or belief
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contrary
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completely different; exactly opposite OR unfavorable
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contrition
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deep regret for doing something wrong (Contrite (adj) means sorry or regretful)
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controversy
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a public dispute between two sides who have opposing views
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convene
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to assemble in one place
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convey
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to take from one place to another OR to make something known or understood
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conviction
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a deeply held belief or opinion OR a guilty judgment from a judge or jury
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convoluted
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difficult or complicated due to many twists and turns
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copious
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plentiful; large in number or amount
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correlation
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connection or relationship of different factors or events; "Over thirty years ago, doctors noticed a correlation between cigarette smoking and lung cancer."
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corroborate
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to provide additional support for a statement by supplying new evidence to back it up; to confirm
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corruption
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wickedness, dishonesty or bad behavior (the verb "corrupt" means to cause to behave wickedly or immorally)
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covert
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secret; concealed; kept hidden
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cow
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to scare by using force or threats; "Jon gathered together his eight older brothers and cowed the bully into letting him play the baseball game."
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crafty
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sneaky; sly; skilled in deception or trickery
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crucial
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of the greatest importance; highly decisive
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cumulative
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adding up through a series or increases or additions
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cunning
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skilled at fooling people; sly
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curdle
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to spoil or turn sour OR to thicken into clumps
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dainty
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attractive and beautiful in a fragile, delicate way OR very choosy; fussy
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daunt
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to scare and discourage
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dazzle
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to momentarily blind with light OR to astonish, amaze, or impress
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debunk
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to prove or show that an exaggerated claim is false; "Officials used video recordings of the race to debunk rumors that Willis had cheated."
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deception
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a form of trickery; something done to fool someone into believing a lie (the verb "deceive" means to trick or fool)
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decompose
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to decay and rot; to break up into smaller, simpler pieces
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decree
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an order or command given by a person of authority OR (v.) to order or command something
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defiance
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open disobedience to authority
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definitive
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conclusive; having the ability to remove all doubt and end any debate
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delusion
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a false opinion or idea
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deplore
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to strongly dislike and disapprove; to condemn and hate; "As much as my father deplores the violence going on in the world, he sure does love football."
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deploy
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to spread out and position in a systematic or strategic way; "The search party deployed in a wide line across the field so that they could cover all areas."
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derail
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to go off the tracks OR to get taken off track
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deride
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to laugh at and ridicule; to mock and scorn; "The little pig derided the wolf for his wasted huffing and puffing outside the door."
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desolation
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a dreary condition or place where very little exists or is happening OR a feeling of sadness and isolation
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despair
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a feeling of absolute hopelessness OR (v.) to lose all hope
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desperado
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a bold outlaw
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deteriorate
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to lessen in value, condition, or character; to get worse
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devastate
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to totally ruin or destroy; to lay waste
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diabolical
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concerning the devil; evil or wicked
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diagnose
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to study and examine carefully; to identify
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dictate
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to say something out loud so that it can be recorded by another person OR to establish a rule or law with authority
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differentiate
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to be able to tell the difference between two or more things; to make a distinction
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dilapidated
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worn down and in a state of disrepair
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dilute
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to lessen the strength of a liquid by adding an additional liquid, usually water; to weaken the force of something
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dimension
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the measurements of an object's length, width, and height OR the overall extent or scope
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diminish
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to reduce or decrease
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dingy
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dirty with grime or filth; dull and shabby
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directive
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an order issued by a central authority
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discourse
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conversation OR a formal, written discussion
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discretion
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caution and self-restraint in behavior OR freedom of choice; "This November, I will use discretion in voting for the next president of the U.S."
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dismal
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depressing and miserable; gloomy; "The dismal weather made the beach party a terrible flop."
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dismay
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a quick loss of confidence or courage in the face of difficulty or danger; "The bullfighter's confidence turned to dismay when he realized that his shoelaces were tied together."
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dispense
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to distribute in parts; to deal out
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disperse
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to scatter in different directions OR to vanish and disappear
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disposition
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the way a person usually feels, their mood OR an inclination or tendency
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distend
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to expand or swell due to some form of internal pressure
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distort
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to bend or twist something out of its normal shape
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doleful
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full of grief and sadness
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dominion
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the exercise of control over a specific area OR the area under control by a specific ruler
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dour
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silent and ill-tempered; forbidding and harsh
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dread
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large amount of fear; utter terror OR (v.) to greatly fear
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dreary
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dark and bleak OR dull and boring
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drench
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to soak thoroughly
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drone
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to speak in a monotonous tone; to make a continuous, low humming noise
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duplicity
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deliberate trickery or deception
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dynamic
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exciting and vigorous OR rapidly changing; constantly active; "The audience screamed for the dynamic performer to come back on stage and play some more."
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ebullient
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high spirited, bubbly, and full of enthusiasm
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eclectic
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coming from a variety of different sources; choosing from variety of sources
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edible
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fit for eating
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elaborate
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created with great attention to details; intricate
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elegance
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grace and cultured beauty in appearance or style
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elite
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the very best or the highest group; what is thought to be the best or highest group OR (adj.) made up of the very best; belonging to or made up of a small, privileged group
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elongate
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to stretch out or lengthen
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embed
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to place something firmly within a surrounding mass; "The splinter was so deeply embedded in her palm that tweezers couldn't remove it."
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empathy
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the ability to understand another person's feelings or thoughts
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emphatic
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stressed with emphasis; forceful and striking
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emulate
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to imitate someone in the hopes of equaling or exceeding their achievements
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endeavor
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a serious attempt OR (v.) to attempt to do something
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engaging
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likeable and attractive; charming
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enhance
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to increase
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ensure
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to make certain; to guarantee
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entitle
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to give the right or privilege to somebody
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era
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a period of time marked by certain conditions or events OR a unit of time, usually hundreds of millions of years long, used by scientists to describe major stages in Earth's development
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evacuate
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to leave or withdraw, usually from an area that is dangerous in some way
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evoke
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to summon or call forth OR to come to mind because of some type of stimulation or suggestion; "The old pond evoked memories of the Monet paintings I saw while in France."
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exasperate
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to irritate greatly; to make impatient or angry
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exclusion
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the state of not being allowed to enter or to join
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exempt
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excused; free from obligation OR (v.) to release from obligation
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exertion
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strenuous effort or work
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exile
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a person forced to live outside their native country OR (v.) to banish someone from his or her native land
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exorbitant
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far beyond customary levels or bounds; "I thought that $50,000 was a little exorbitant for a pair of shoes."
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exotic
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from a foreign land OR excitingly unusual and strange
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expanse
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a wide, open area
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expletive
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a curse or vulgar word; profanity
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exquisite
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having a beautiful and intricate design OR intense; very powerful
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extinct
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no longer alive anywhere on Earth
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extricate
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to get out of a situation; to remove or set free
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exuberant
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overflowing with joy and happiness
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exude
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to ooze out, give forth as if oozing; radiate; "The salesman exuded a friendliness that caused many people to buy his products."
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fathom
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to understand; to get the point OR (n.) a unit of length that equals six feet and is used by sailors to measure the depth of water
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fawn
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to try to please someone by excessive flattery; to seek favor by showing attention
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felicity
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joy and great happiness
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fend
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to hold off, especially an attack OR to attempt to manage
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figurehead
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someone who is head of group by title, but who actually has no real power
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flabbergast
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to amaze, astonish, bewilder
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flag
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to lose strength; to weaken; "As they reached the twenty-mile point in the marathon, the pace of the runners started to flag."
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flamboyant
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very flashy, over-the-top, exaggerated
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flank
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to move around and attack the side of something; to be placed at the side or another object OR (n.) the side of a body, just above the hip
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flattery
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excessive or insincere compliments
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fledgling
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new and inexperienced
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flout
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to scorn and show contempt for; to treat with contempt
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fluctuate
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to shift back and forth; to change irregularly
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fluent
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able to express yourself smoothly; graceful
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fluster
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to shake up and make nervous or excited
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flux
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continuous change; flow
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foil
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to prevent from being successful, to ruin
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foliage
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a group of plant leaves
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folly
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lack of good judgment; stupidity and foolishness; "Looking back, Edwin realized the folly of his plan to cross the Sahara desert on roller skates."
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foolhardy
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reckless and rash; bold without thinking
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forage
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to hunt or search for something
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foreboding
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a feeling that something bad is about to happen
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forge
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to form (usually metal) by heating then shaping; to shape or mold carefully OR (v.) to head forward against resistance
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formidable
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difficult to defeat; frightening or alarming; awe-inspiring
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forthright
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honest and open; straightforward and direct
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frail
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weak and easily broken
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frank
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open and direct; sincere
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frenzy
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a condition of wild excitement and agitation
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fringe
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the outer portion or margin; the edge OR a decorative edge with dangling or hanging threads
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fundamental
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having to do with the basic level; primary or elemental; "One of the fundamental rules of soccer is to never touch the ball with your hands."
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furtive
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done in a quiet, secretive way
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gale
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an extremely strong wind OR a loud outburst
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garble
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to mix up or distort; The poem is beautiful in the original Spanish, but this bad translation garbles its meaning.
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gaunt
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bony and thin; undernourished OR bleak and stark
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genre
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a specific type of literature or music, like science fiction or heavy metal
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gibberish
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speech or writing that makes no sense; crazy talk
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giddy
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dizzy; feeling an unsteady, whirling sensation OR excited and light-headed
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glare
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to stare angrily OR to shine brightly OR (n.) a long, angry stare OR (n.) a bright, blinding light
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glean
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to gather or find something out piece by piece
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glisten
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to shine with a sparkling light; to sparkle
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gnash
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to grind or strike teeth together
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goad
|
to urge or prod
|
|
|
grandeur
|
the state of being magnificent or grand
|
|
|
grandiose
|
having a huge scope or intent OR being pompous; having a pretended air of superiority
|
|
|
grapple
|
to struggle to hold onto; to struggle to understand
|
|
|
gridlock
|
a complete stop of all traffic on a road; a complete halt in activity
|
|
|
guarded
|
cautious or restrained
|
|
|
guru
|
a person who is both teacher and leader to a group of followers
|
|
|
haphazard
|
marked by chance or luck; random
|
|
|
heist
|
to rob or steal OR (n.) a burglary
|
|
|
hideous
|
extremely ugly; disgusting and revolting
|
|
|
hoarse
|
having a low, gruff sound; husky
|
|
|
hoary
|
gray or white because of age OR very old
|
|
|
hobble
|
to walk with a limp or with difficulty OR to slow something down or get in the way of something
|
|
|
homely
|
not good-looking; plain or simple
|
|
|
hoopla
|
excitement and confusion
|
|
|
horrid
|
extremely offensive; causing terror and disgust
|
|
|
hover
|
to float in one place in the air OR to hang around close by
|
|
|
hue
|
the color of an object OR the shade or tint of a specific color
|
|
|
husky
|
strongly built and very sturdy OR having a hoarse, deep quality (of the voice)
|
|
|
hygiene
|
practices related to good health, disease prevention, and cleanliness
|
|
|
hype
|
exaggerated publicity OR (v.) to deceive or swindle
|
|
|
ideology
|
a set of beliefs shared by a group of people, such as a specific religion or political party
|
|
|
impediment
|
something that blocks progress; an obstacle
|
|
|
impel
|
to drive forward; to urge into action
|
|
|
imperious
|
behaving like royalty; arrogant and snooty
|
|
|
implore
|
to beg earnestly; to ask anxiously
|
|
|
import
|
to bring something in from a foreign country in order to sell it
|
|
|
impose
|
to force yourself upon others; to place a burden upon others
|
|
|
incinerate
|
to burn to ashes
|
|
|
incompetent
|
unable to do things correctly
|
|
|
increment
|
an added amount; an increase
|
|
|
incriminate
|
to cause to appear guilty of some crime
|
|
|
incumbent
|
the person who currently holds a specific political office OR (adj.) holding a position or office
|
|
|
indifferent
|
showing no concern or interest; not caring one way or the other OR neither good nor bad, just so-so
|
|
|
indignant
|
feeling angry or upset about a perceived injustice or wrongdoing
|
|
|
induce
|
to influence or lead on; to coax OR to cause something to happen
|
|
|
indulgent
|
characterized by giving in to needs or desires; pampering
|
|
|
industrious
|
hard working and consistent
|
|
|
inference
|
the act of figuring something out by looking at all the facts OR a conclusion drawn from looking at the facts in a situation
|
|
|
inferno
|
a confusing, chaotic place, usually on fire; someplace that resembles Hell
|
|
|
infinite
|
having no end or limit; boundless
|
|
|
infuse
|
to fill or put into
|
|
|
ingenuous
|
honest and open, without trickery OR innocent and simple
|
|
|
initiative
|
the first step of an action; the lead OR the ability to start your own projects
|
|
|
inordinate
|
going way too far; excessive
|
|
|
inquiry
|
a request for information OR an in-depth search into a matter
|
|
|
insinuate
|
to suggest something in an indirect manner; to sneak something into conversation
|
|
|
insolent
|
boldly rude or disrespectful
|
|
|
integrate
|
to bring all different parts together
|
|
|
integrity
|
a person's moral character; honesty OR togetherness and unity; completeness
|
|
|
interval
|
the amount of time between events; the space between two things
|
|
|
intrigue
|
to fascinate and excite curiosity OR a secret plot or scheme
|
|
|
invariable
|
always the same; never changing; "Few plants grow in the desert because it is invariably hot and dry."
|
|
|
jabber
|
to speak rapidly but without making much sense; to chatter
|
|
|
jar
|
to have an irritating effect; to bother OR to knock off balance; to frighten and upset
|
|
|
jargon
|
a specialized language for a specific trade or industry, like "computer jargon" or "medical jargon" OR a mixture of several different languages
|
|
|
jostle
|
to bump or come into contact with roughly while you're in motion
|
|
|
karma
|
a belief put forth by certain religions that a person's conduct and actions during life determines his/her destiny in the world; a person's fate
|
|
|
keen
|
having a sharp edge; intense OR very intelligent and bright
|
|
|
laden
|
weighed down with a heavy load; burdened
|
|
|
languid
|
slow-moving, usually because of lack of energy; weak
|
|
|
larceny
|
a robbery; taking someone else's possessions unlawfully
|
|
|
largess
|
generous giving and generosity
|
|
|
linger
|
to be slow in leaving or acting
|
|
|
livid
|
discolored and bruised OR white or ashen from fright OR very angry; furious
|
|
|
logo
|
a symbol or trademark designed for easy recognition of a specific company or group
|
|
|
loom
|
to come into view, usually in a threatening way; to stand over someone threateningly
|
|
|
lope
|
to run using long, easy strides
|
|
|
lout
|
a stupid, awkward, foolish person
|
|
|
lug
|
to carry something with great difficulty
|
|
|
lush
|
covered with a great amount of plant life OR juicy and tender
|
|
|
luster
|
fame and glory OR a soft reflection of light; gloss
|
|
|
magistrate
|
a civil servant with the authority to enforce the law
|
|
|
mangy
|
looking shabby; covered with bare spots and appearing worn and rundown
|
|
|
manifest
|
obvious and clear OR v. to show or display or to be the physical proof of something
|
|
|
mar
|
to damage or ruin; to deface
|
|
|
meddlesome
|
interfering in others' business
|
|
|
melodrama
|
a play, book, or movie characterized by exaggerated emotions and feelings; behavior or actions full of exaggerated emotions and feelings
|
|
|
mercurial
|
rapidly changeable in thought, feeling, or opinion; fickle
|
|
|
midst
|
the center or middle position; right in the middle of something
|
|
|
mingle
|
to combine by mixing together; to join with others
|
|
|
minute
|
incredible small; insignificant OR characterized by a close study of all small details
|
|
|
mirth
|
happiness and good cheer
|
|
|
mode
|
a manner or style OR the latest fashion or trend
|
|
|
mogul
|
a very rich and influential person
|
|
|
monstrous
|
abnormal and horrifying; frightening and shocking OR really large
|
|
|
moor
|
to secure or fasten something, usually a ship OR n. a broad stretch of land with low-lying shrubs and patches of wetland
|
|
|
motivate
|
to provide with an incentive or action; to get things moving
|
|
|
muck
|
a moist, sticky pile of dirt, manure, rotting matter, or all three
|
|
|
multilingual
|
able to speak more than one language well
|
|
|
municipal
|
relating to a municipality, which is just a fancy word for a town or city
|
|
|
murmur
|
to speak in a low voice; to speak unclearly
|
|
|
muse
|
to consider for a long time; to meditate on a subject
|
|
|
muster
|
to bring together into one place; to call to come together, to summon
|
|
|
mutilate
|
to damage or seriously ruin, usually by cutting off or destroying some part
|
|
|
muzzle
|
to prevent from speaking or expressing an opinion OR n. a device that fits over an animal's nose and mouth to keep it from opening its mouth
|
|
|
mystify
|
to confuse or stump
|
|
|
narrator
|
the person telling a particular story
|
|
|
naught
|
zero; nothing
|
|
|
nautical
|
related to ships or sailing
|
|
|
nimble
|
quick and agile in movement and thought; The nimble child was able to complete the obstacle course in a new world record time.
|
|
|
nondescript
|
without any qualities that stand out, rendering something difficult to describe
|
|
|
nook
|
a hidden spot OR a corner or recess that is part of a larger room
|
|
|
notion
|
an idea of how something should be; an opinion
|
|
|
nuance
|
a small, subtle change in something; Adding just a pinch of pepper gave a spicy nuance to the strawberry cheesecake.
|
|
|
oath
|
a promise to behave in certain way, calling on God or using some sacred item as your witness
|
|
|
oblige
|
to do a favor for OR to make thanks
|
|
|
obstinate
|
stubborn; unwilling to change from a particular course or belief
|
|
|
odious
|
disgusting and nasty; causing repulsion
|
|
|
optimal
|
the best or most favorable; Clear skies and a constant mild breeze are the optimal conditions in which to fly a kite.
|
|
|
opulent
|
characterized by great wealth or abundance; rich
|
|
|
opus
|
an artistic work or some kind, usually musical
|
|
|
oration
|
a formal speech given at a special event
|
|
|
orchestrate
|
to arrange a performance of an orchestra; to arrange something that has many parts
|
|
|
organism
|
a living thing of any kind
|
|
|
ostentatious
|
flashy or showy for the sake of being impressive
|
|
|
pact
|
a formal agreement between two countries; a bargain
|
|
|
painstaking
|
involving great care and thoroughness
|
|
|
palpable
|
able to be touched or felt; very obvious
|
|
|
panorama
|
a view of everything over a wide area; a view of a long series of events or a period of time
|
|
|
paradox
|
a statement that seems to contradict itself, but still might be true
|
|
|
parcel
|
a package; something bundled up to be sent for delivery OR a section or piece
|
|
|
parch
|
to make very thirsty and dry, usually by intense heat
|
|
|
pariah
|
someone who has been kicked out by society; an outcast
|
|
|
parody
|
a comic piece that exaggerates the actions or characters of some other piece to the extent that it becomes absurd and ridiculous OR a poor, weak imitation
|
|
|
pawn
|
someone used or controlled by others
|
|
|
peculiar
|
strange or unusual; weird OR belonging specifically to one area or region "peculiar to a small region in southern France"
|
|
|
peddler
|
someone who travels around selling goods
|
|
|
peevish
|
irritable; easily annoyed
|
|
|
perennial
|
living indefinitely; perpetual; appearing again and again
|
|
|
perpetrator
|
someone guilty of committing a crime
|
|
|
perplex
|
to confuse and bewilder; to puzzle through excessive complication
|
|
|
persistent
|
refusing to give up; stubborn and undaunted
|
|
|
petulant
|
ill-tempered and spoiled; bratty
|
|
|
phenomenon
|
an unusual occurrence or event; something wacky that happens
|
|
|
philosophy
|
a study of the basic truths that govern the world and society OR a value system by which you live
|
|
|
pigment
|
a specific substance that provides characteristic color to an object, such as hemoglobin (red) in blood
|
|
|
pit
|
to set against in a competition OR to mark with depressions
|
|
|
plausible
|
appearing to be reasonable and true
|
|
|
ponder
|
to think about something for a while; to carefully consider
|
|
|
precise
|
exact in execution; direct and clear; right on the nose
|
|
|
predator
|
an animal that hunts and eats other animals for its survival
|
|
|
predecessor
|
the person who came before another person in time, such as former person to have a certain job
|
|
|
predicament
|
a difficult, unpleasant situation that is hard for you to get of
|
|
|
premise
|
a fundamental fact or facts
|
|
|
presume
|
to assume that something is true; to take for granted OR to do something without asking permission
|
|
|
pretense
|
a false action or reason that's used to deceive; an unsupported claim
|
|
|
pretentious
|
trying to assume a position of status or wealth that is false; showy without a reason to be
|
|
|
prevail
|
to triumph OR to be most common or frequent
|
|
|
prim
|
stiffly proper and correct in manner
|
|
|
principal
|
first in rank or degree
|
|
|
pristine
|
remaining in a pure, original state, unspoiled by humanity
|
|
|
procession
|
a group that moves forward together in an orderly line; the act of moving forward
|
|
|
profess
|
to claim openly; to state aloud OR to claim knowledge or skill in
|
|
|
proliferate
|
to multiply and increase at a fast rate; to grow rapidly
|
|
|
prophetic
|
predicting the future
|
|
|
prosperous
|
economically successful; enjoying success and good fortune
|
|
|
prototype
|
the first example of an object or idea, upon which later models are based
|
|
|
provisions
|
stockpiles of food or other supplies OR measures taken to prepare for a certain event
|
|
|
prudent
|
sensible in handling common matters; level-headed and wise OR careful about your own conduct; cautious
|
|
|
pungent
|
a sharp, biting smell or taste
|
|
|
quaint
|
unfamiliar and odd OR odd in an old-fashioned way
|
|
|
qualify
|
to limit the meaning OR to soften; to make less extreme
|
|
|
quell
|
to stop by using force OR to calm
|
|
|
quibble
|
to complain about little things; to gripe for small reasons
|
|
|
radiant
|
sending out light or heat OR bright with happiness
|
|
|
ramble
|
to walk around with no purpose or direction OR to write and speak for a long time, constantly wandering off a topic
|
|
|
rancid
|
having a nasty smell or taste due to rotting
|
|
|
rascal
|
someone who misbehaves in a playful way OR a dishonest person
|
|
|
raspy
|
rough and grating; The singer's voice was so raspy from years of smoking.
|
|
|
ration
|
to make available in set amounts, especially during a time when a supply is scarce
|
|
|
rebuff
|
an unfriendly rejection; a snub OR v. to reject briefly and rudely
|
|
|
recede
|
to move away; to become smaller
|
|
|
recipient
|
a person who receives something
|
|
|
reckoning
|
the process of computing or calculating; the settling of all accounts, debts or otherwise
|
|
|
recuperate
|
to get healthier after an illness; to return to normal health
|
|
|
reedy
|
tall and thin, like a reed OR sounding like a reed instrument
|
|
|
reel
|
to be thrown off balance; to stagger OR to pull inward using a winding motion
|
|
|
refract
|
to deflect or bend light
|
|
|
refrain
|
to hold back; to restrain OR n. a phrase that is repeated throughout a song or a poem
|
|
|
regal
|
very fancy, beautiful, and expensive; kingly or queenly
|
|
|
regiment
|
a group of soldiers OR v. to conform to a highly-ordered system.
|
|
|
regress
|
to go back to a previous state of development
|
|
|
reign
|
the time period during which a king or queen is in power OR v. to rule as a king or queen; "Emperor Charlemagne reigned over much of what is now Europe."
|
|
|
relish
|
to greatly enjoy; to take immense pleasure in
|
|
|
reparation
|
something done or paid in order to repay a debt or earlier mistake
|
|
|
replenish
|
to fill again; to restock OR resupply
|
|
|
repress
|
to hold back; to keep down or hidden away OR to force out of the conscious mind
|
|
|
reproach
|
to blame or criticize OR (n.) blame or contempt; disgrace
|
|
|
repugnant
|
highly disgusting or offensive
|
|
|
resent
|
to be angry about something unfair and unjust
|
|
|
residue
|
the remains of something after a larger part is removed
|
|
|
retrospect
|
the review of the past event; hindsight; In retrospect, Dan realized that selling his XBOX for ten dollars was a bad idea.
|
|
|
revenue
|
income; the money collected by the government for public expenses
|
|
|
reverence
|
a feeling of respect, admiration, and love
|
|
|
revile
|
to denounce using abusive language; The manager reviled his workers for falling asleep on the job.
|
|
|
rhetoric
|
a study of how to use language persuasively and expertly OR insincere, snobbish, and boorish speaking and writing
|
|
|
rhythm
|
a movement or action that occurs over and over again in a regular pattern
|
|
|
ricochet
|
to bounce off at least one surface
|
|
|
rift
|
a narrow break, as in a rock; a split
|
|
|
ritual
|
a ceremony; a specific procedure or method
|
|
|
rivalry
|
a competition between two parties; "The two soccer teams had an intense rivalry."
|
|
|
romp
|
to goof off and have fun in an energetic, lively way
|
|
|
rout
|
an overwhelming defeat; a blow-out OR verb: to drive away; to scatter
|
|
|
rove
|
to wander around a large area
|
|
|
rubble
|
fragments of material left after a building collapses or is destroyed
|
|
|
ruffian
|
a thug or tough guy
|
|
|
ruminate
|
to spend time thinking about something
|
|
|
ruse
|
a sneaky trick or deception
|
|
|
rustle
|
to act quickly and energetically OR to move with a soft, fluttering sound
|
|
|
saturate
|
to fill or load to capacity; to soak thoroughly
|
|
|
saunter
|
to walk at a casual pace; to stroll OR n. a leisurely walk
|
|
|
scamper
|
to run quickly and lightly
|
|
|
scarce
|
hard to find; rare; not enough
|
|
|
scenario
|
an outline of an expected series of events OR the outline of a story or play
|
|
|
scorch
|
to burn the surface of; to burn intensely
|
|
|
scorn
|
to treat something as unworthy or inferior OR n. a strong feeling of dislike or contempt
|
|
|
scoundrel
|
a villain; a wicked person
|
|
|
scour
|
to clean by scrubbing vigorously OR to search thoroughly; to search over a large area
|
|
|
scrawny
|
very bony and thin, often due to inadequate food or exercise
|
|
|
scuffle
|
a rough, unorganized fight in close quarters
|
|
|
secrete
|
to exude or produce a substance, usually a fluid; The skunk secreted her warning scent.
|
|
|
sentiment
|
a general emotion or attitude; an opinion or feeling
|
|
|
shard
|
a fragment, often of glass or metal OR a broken piece of pottery like those found at archeological digs
|
|
|
shrewd
|
very clever and smart; tricky
|
|
|
shrill
|
high-pitched and piercing
|
|
|
shun
|
to avoid deliberately; to stay away from
|
|
|
sidle
|
to walk or move sideways; to move in a quiet, sneaky way
|
|
|
simper
|
to smile in a goofy, self-conscious manner
|
|
|
singular
|
being one of a kind; unique OR remarkable; peculiar
|
|
|
skulk
|
to creep around so that no one notices you
|
|
|
slacken
|
to slow down; decrease; to make something less firm or tense
|
|
|
spasm
|
a sudden involuntary twitch of a muscle OR a sudden burst of activity
|
|
|
spectacle
|
a remarkably impressive sight; a grand public display OR a regrettable display or action
|
|
|
spectrum
|
a band of colors that make up visible light OR a broad range of related ideas or qualities
|
|
|
spite
|
ill feelings that cause one person to harm or hurt another
|
|
|
sporadic
|
happening infrequently or on an irregular basis; having no pattern or order
|
|
|
sprawl
|
to sit or lie down with your body spread out in every direction; to spread out awkwardly
|
|
|
spree
|
a carefree outing OR the overdoing of a certain activity; "a shopping spree"
|
|
|
spry
|
lively and active
|
|
|
spurn
|
to reject something with a scornful air; to refuse something with disdain
|
|
|
squalid
|
appearing dirty and repulsive; wretched
|
|
|
stamina
|
the ability not to get tired when working or laboring hard; endurance
|
|
|
stammer
|
to speak with involuntary pauses or repetitions, usually caused by nervousness
|
|
|
stark
|
bare; without any decoration or adornment
|
|
|
stately
|
characterized by formality and dignity; impressive due to its size; majestic
|
|
|
stench
|
a very unpleasant smell
|
|
|
stereotype
|
a conventional and oversimplified idea, usually about a group of people
|
|
|
stern
|
hard and severe in manner; firm and unwilling to change
|
|
|
stifle
|
to keep something in or hold something back
|
|
|
stout
|
sturdy and bold; bulky; strong and determined
|
|
|
strive
|
to put in a great deal of effort and work; to struggle against
|
|
|
sublime
|
inspiring awe and admiration; supreme and without any equal
|
|
|
suffice
|
to adequately meet present needs; to satisfy; to be enough
|
|
|
sullen
|
characterized by ill-humored brooding; having a morose and sulky personality
|
|
|
summit
|
the highest point, usually the top of a mountain; the peak
|
|
|
supple
|
easily bent and manipulated; moving easily; limber and adaptable
|
|
|
supplication
|
begging; earnest appeal
|
|
|
swagger
|
to walk with a boastful air; to strut about with excessive pride
|
|
|
sway
|
to move from side to side OR to have influence over something
|
|
|
swoon
|
to lose consciousness; to faint
|
|
|
synchronize
|
to plan something so that it occurs at the same time; to happen at the same time
|
|
|
tangible
|
something real; something you can actually touch
|
|
|
tantrum
|
a fit of anger in which you behave badly and sometimes even throw things
|
|
|
tapestry
|
a large, heavy cloth decorated with a design or scene and then hung on a wall as a decoration
|
|
|
taut
|
to pull tight
|
|
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teem
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to be full of things; to abound; The pizza was teeming with pepperoni.
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temperament
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how a person acts; his/her attitude toward all events and situations
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tepid
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neither hot nor cold; lukewarm
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terrain
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the surface characteristics of a specific piece of land
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terrestrial
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originating from the planet Earth
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therapy
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a procedure used to heal people who are physically or mentally ill
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threshold
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the lowest level at which something can be heard or recognized; the place of beginning
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thrift
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the ability to handle money wisely
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thrive
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to grow vigorously; With abundant flowers, the African bees thrived in the jungle.
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timid
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very shy; easily scared
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tinge
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a slight hue, a little bit of color
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torrential
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resembling a massive downpour of water; A torrential rainstorm started last night.
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trait
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a recognizable characteristic or feature
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trajectory
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the path of a moving object, like the arc of a ball through air
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tranquil
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very calm and peaceful; without anxiety or stress
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transgression
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a violation of law or order
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travail)
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difficult and painful work; a really tough task; The mountain climber knew that her travails weren't over.
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trend
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a current fashion or style
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unfurl
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to open up or spread out; Before raising the flag, we unfurled it.
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uniform
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always exactly the same, never changing
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unprecedented
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with no previous example, never been done before
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utmost
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of the greatest amount of degree
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utopia
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a perfect, ideal place
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vehement
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forceful or intensely emotional; vigorous and energetic
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venture
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a risky undertaking; Diving into shark-infested waters was not a venture I was willing to make
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vex
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to really irritate; to greatly annoy
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viable
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capable of success or continued growth; workable
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vigil
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to guard or watch over something for an extended period of time
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vindicate
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to clear someone of wrongdoing by providing evidence that shows their innocence
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virtue
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moral righteousness and excellence
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vista
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a view, usually of things far away
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vivid
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very distinct and sharp; very realistic
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void
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a place of nothingness, seemingly without end
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volatile
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easily changeable, quick to explode
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vouch
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to provide support, to give supporting evidence
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wane
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to decrease, to approach an end to something
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whirl
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to spin rapidly; to turn around suddenly
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wily
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crafty or cunning; The wily general devised a plan to fool the troops.
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wistful
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full of hopeful wanting, mildly sad
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wondrous
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brilliantly remarkable
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wrath
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violent anger
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wretched
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very miserable and unhappy
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wry
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funny in an understated way; crooked or twisted
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yearn
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to want something greatly; to feel deep concern or pity
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yonder
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in or at a place indicated usually by pointing, at a distance within sight
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