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69 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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astral
adj |
relating to the stars
she was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed. |
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astringent
adj |
binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe
the astringent quality of the unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult. |
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astronomical
adj |
enormously large or extensive
the government seemed willing to spend astronomical sums on weapons development. |
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astute
adj |
wise; shrewd; keen
the painter was an astute oberver, noticing every tiny detail of her model's appearance and knowing exactly how important each one was. |
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asunder
adv |
into parts; apart
a fierce quarrel split the partnership asunder; the two partners finally sundered their connections because their points of view were poles asunder. |
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asylum
n |
place of refuge or shelter; protection
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asymmetric
adj |
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
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atavism
n |
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents.
In his love for gardening, Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan ancestors who lavished great care on their small plots of soil. |
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atheist
n |
one who denies the existence of God
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atone
v |
make amends for; pay for
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atrocity
n |
brutal deed
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atrophy
n |
wasting away
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attentive
adj |
alert and watchful; considerate; thoughtful
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attenuate
v |
make thinner; weaken or lessen
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attest
v |
testify; bear witness
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attribute
n |
essential quality
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attrition
n |
gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harrassment
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atypical
adj |
not normal
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audacious
adj |
daring; bold
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audit
n |
examination of accounts
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augment
v |
increase; add to;
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augury
n |
omen; prophecy
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august
adj |
impressive; majestic
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aureole
n |
sun's corona; halo
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auroral
adj |
pertaining to the aurora borealis
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austere
adj |
forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented
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authenticate
v |
prove genuine
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authoritarian
adj |
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will
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authoritative
adj |
having weight of authority; peremptory and dictatorial
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autocratic
adj |
having absolute, unchecked power, dictatorial
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automation
n |
mechanism that imitates actions of humans
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autonomous
adj |
self governing
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autopsy
n |
examination of dead body; postmortem
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auxiliary
adj |
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary
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avalanche
n |
great mass of falling snow ad ice
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avarice
n |
greediness for wealth
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avenge
v |
take vengeance for something or on behalf of someone
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aver
v |
assert confidently or declare; as used in law, state for a fact
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averse
adj |
reluctant, disinclined
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aversion
n |
firm dislike
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avert
v |
prevent; turn away
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aviary
n |
enclosure for birds
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avid
adj |
greedy; eager
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avocation
n |
secondary or minor occupation
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avow
v |
declare openly
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avuncular
adj |
like an uncle
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awe
n |
solemn wonder
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awl
n |
pointed tool used for peircing
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awry
adv |
distorted; crooked
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axiom
n |
self-evident truth requiring no proof
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azure
adj |
sky blue
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babble
v |
chatter idly
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bacchanalian
adj |
drunken
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badger
v |
pester; annoy
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badinage
n |
teasing conversation
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baffle
v |
frustrate or perplex
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bait
v |
harass; tease
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baleful
adj |
threatening; menacing; sinister; foreshadowing evil
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balk
v |
stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue
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balk
v |
foil
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ballast
n |
heavy substance used to add stability or weight
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balm
n |
something that relieves pain
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balmy
adj |
mild; fragrant
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banal
adj |
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality
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bandy
v |
discuss lightly or glibly; exchange words heatedly
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bane
n |
curse; cause of ruin
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baneful
adj |
destructive; causing ruin or death
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bantering
adj |
good naturedly ridiculing
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barb
n |
sharp projection from fish hook or other object; openly cutting remark
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