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225 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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malapropism |
ludicrous misuse of a word |
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nonplussed |
perplexed |
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postlude |
concluding section |
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hierarchy |
ranking |
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portly |
stout |
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interdiction |
prohibition |
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vide |
see |
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omnibus |
covering many things |
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monolithic |
massive and uniform |
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imponderable |
difficult to ponder |
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benediction |
blessing |
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incredulous |
not believing |
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omniscient |
all-knowing |
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neophyte |
beginner |
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unilateral |
one-sided |
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hypothecate |
pledge as security |
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heterodox |
unorthodox |
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paterfamilias |
male head of family |
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putative |
thought-to-be |
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aver |
affirm or declare |
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megaton |
force of a million tons of dynamite |
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sangfroid |
cold-blooded composure |
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alter ego |
second self |
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altercation |
heated dispute |
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contravene |
go against |
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confluence |
a flowing together |
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circumlocution |
talking in circles |
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soliloquy |
speech to oneself |
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mollify |
make soft |
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gregarious |
sociable |
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declaim |
speak rhetorically |
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sotto voce |
in a low voice |
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translucent |
semitransparent |
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forte |
strong point |
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fortissimo |
very loudly |
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acerbity |
sharpness of temper |
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perambulate |
wander through |
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perfidy |
breach of faith |
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impugn |
attack as false |
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non sequitur |
an idea that does not follow |
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egocentric |
self-centered |
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loquacious |
talkative |
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sacrosanct |
sacred |
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cacophony |
bad noise |
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tangible |
touchable |
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obiter dictum |
passing remark |
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obsequious |
servilely following |
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abase |
to lower |
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pathetic fallacy |
ascribing feelings to things |
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ratiocination |
methodical thinking |
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mutatis mutandis |
with necessary changes |
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interstice |
small space |
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terra incognita |
unknown land |
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sedate |
calm |
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retort |
swift reply |
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nihilism |
belief in nothing |
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supersede |
replace |
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inanimate |
lifeless |
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condescend |
lower oneself |
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epigram |
witty comment |
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anthropocentric |
man-centered |
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gastronome |
a gourmet or epicure |
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autodidact |
self-taught person |
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monism |
doctrine that reality is one |
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in medias res |
in the middle of things |
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lycanthrope |
werewolf |
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circumambient |
surrounding |
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transmogrify |
change form |
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reify |
treat as real |
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au contraire |
to the contrary |
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vivacious |
lively |
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circumvent |
get around |
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heliotropic |
sun-following |
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exculpate |
free from blame |
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introspective |
inward looking |
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a priori |
from theory |
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a posteriori |
from observation |
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parthenogenesis |
unfertilized birth |
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assonance |
vowel repetition |
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objurgation |
rebuke |
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demotic |
of the common people |
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soporific |
sleep-inducing |
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internecine |
mutually destructive |
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sesquipedalian |
very long (words) |
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sui generis |
unique |
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plutocracy |
government of wealthy |
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delineate |
to outline |
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dichotomy |
two-part division |
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epiphany |
revelation |
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tortuous |
twisting |
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thanatopsis |
view of death |
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vacuous |
stupidly empty of ideas |
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lucubration |
late studying |
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ex cathedra |
away from throne |
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legerdemain |
sleight of hand |
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suspiration |
deep sigh |
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nepotism |
favoritism to relatives |
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synoptic |
general in view |
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lionize |
treat as a celebrity |
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assiduous |
persevering |
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subterfuge |
evasive dodge |
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bon vivant |
indulger in luxury |
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saturnine |
gloomy and remote |
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sedentary |
sitting |
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pusillanimous |
small-minded |
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syllogism |
three-part deduction |
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metonymy |
association name |
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anaphora |
repetition in successive phrases |
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bowdlerize |
censor prudishly |
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locus classicus |
classical example |
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reiterate |
repeat |
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desultory |
rambling |
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funambulist |
tightrope walker |
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lyssophobia |
fear of insanity |
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idée fixe |
obsession |
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schism |
division |
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apotheosis |
raising to god status |
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precursor |
forerunner |
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cosmology |
study of the universe |
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euphony |
beautiful sound |
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prolix |
tediously wordy |
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narcissism |
self-infatuation |
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miscreant |
evil unbeliever |
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physiognomy |
facial character |
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patrician |
aristocratic |
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apostasy |
desertion of principle |
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hedonism |
devotion to pleasure |
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sententious |
full of maxims |
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on the qui vive |
on the alert |
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manumission |
release from slavery |
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sanction |
authorize |
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terra firma |
firm land |
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synopsis |
summary |
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colloquy |
conversation |
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in loco parentis |
in place of the parents |
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valediction |
farewell speech |
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protagonist |
leading person |
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maladroit |
clumsy |
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stoicism |
indifference to sensation |
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sarcophagus |
stone coffin |
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ignominious |
disgraceful |
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surrealistic |
unrealistically imaginary |
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analects |
selected writings |
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expository |
explanatory |
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exegesis |
critical interpretation |
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magnum opus |
great work |
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moribund |
dying |
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supercilious |
scornful |
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diction |
word choice |
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emissary |
messenger |
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euthanasia |
mercy killing |
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ineffable |
inexpressible |
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expedite |
hasten |
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expatiate |
to elaborate |
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hagiography |
saint's biography |
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mirabile dictu |
wonderful to say |
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mellifluous |
honeyed |
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patronize |
condescend to |
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autochthonous |
native |
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inter alia |
among other things |
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bellicose |
warlike |
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anthropomorphic |
man-shaped |
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malediction |
a curse |
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xenophobia |
fear of foreigners |
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specious |
false |
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nonpareil |
something unequaled |
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malefic |
causing harm |
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contiguous |
touching |
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metempsychosis |
transmigration of souls |
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biogenesis |
theory of life from life |
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bas-relief |
low-relief sculpture |
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postprandial |
after dinner |
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equilibrist |
tightrope walker |
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punctilio |
point of conduct |
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superannuated |
obsolete |
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intractable |
stubborn |
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egregious |
blatant |
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abjure |
renounce |
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analgesic |
painkiller |
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discursive |
rambling |
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remonstrate |
plead in protest |
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solipsism |
doctrine: only self exists |
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ineluctable |
not escapable |
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truculent |
fiercely savage |
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supererogatory |
beyond what's asked |
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infra dig |
beneath dignity |
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recondite |
abstruse |
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disinter |
unearth |
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disjecta membra |
scattered fragments |
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obloquy |
verbal abuse |
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abrogate |
annul |
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acronym |
initials-name |
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pugnacious |
combative |
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incisive |
sharp |
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diatribe |
abusive speech |
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tautology |
needless repetition |
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antinomy |
contradicting reasonable principles |
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eschatology |
theology of last things |
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opprobrium |
disgrace |
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apocryphal |
not authentic |
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transom |
window or door crossbar |
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commiserate |
sympathize |
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epistemology |
study of knowledge |
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misogynist |
hater of women |
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morphology |
study of form |
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diffident |
shy |
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cognizant |
aware |
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stringent |
binding |
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temporize |
delay |
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somnambulist |
sleepwalker |
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aquiline |
eaglelike |
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malfeasance |
public misconduct |
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costermonger |
vegetable vendor |
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gynecocracy |
government of women |
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tenebrous |
dark and gloomy |
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superego |
unconscious conscience |
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expostulate |
to object earnestly |
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monograph |
paper on one subject |
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lacustrine |
of lakes |
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pungent |
sharp |
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megalomania |
delusions of greatness |
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syndrome |
complex of symptoms |
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euphemism |
pleasant name |
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dissonant |
inharmonious |
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narcolepsy |
attacks of sleep |
