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253 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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apocryphal
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of dubious authenticity or origin; spurious
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arcane
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understood by only a few; mysterious
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convene
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to summon or cause to assemble
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expedient
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useful for some purpose; convenient
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exude
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to flow out slowly; to ooze or emit
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gesticulate
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to motion energetically with the body or limbs
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imperturbable
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calm and assured
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levity
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excessive frivolity; a lack of seriousness; joking
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raconteur
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one who tells stories with skill and wit
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subterfuge
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a deceptive scheme or strategy
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vacillate
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to move back and forth from lack of balance; waver
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accoutrements
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equipment or accessories
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aggrieved
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feeling or expressing a sense of injustice, injury, or offense
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choleric
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easily angered; quick-tempered
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comport
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to behave or conduct oneself
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disconcert
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to disrupt the self-possession or confidence of; to perturb or fluster
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fauna
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animals of a region or period, considered as a whole
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interpose
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to place or come between; to intervene or interrupt
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maraud
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to roam in search of plunder
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modicum
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a small amount
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opulent
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having or exhibiting great wealth or abundance
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patrician
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a member of the nobility
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phlegmatic
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not given to action or reaction; sluggish or calm in temperament
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propensity
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a natural inclination or tendency
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utilitarian
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relating to usefulness rather than beauty; practical
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efficacy
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the power to bring about the desired result; effectiveness
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emolument
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salary or fees for work done; compensation
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incipient
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beginning to exist or appear; in the first stage
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inculcate
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to impress upon or teach by frequent repetition
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inestimable
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too valuable or great to be measured
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martinet
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a strict disciplinarian
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prodigious
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extremely large in bulk, quantity, or degree
causing amazement or wonder |
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stellar
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of or related to the star
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zealous
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very enthusiastic; fervert; passionate on behalf of someone or something
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circumspect
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cautious and prudent; heedful of consequences
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edifice
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a large, imposing structure or building
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ensconce
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to settle or place securely or snugly
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hapless
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marked by the absense of good luck; unfortunate
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heinous
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shockingly evil or wicked
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indoctrinate
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to teach or train in the fundamentals
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mausoleum
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a large and impressive tomb
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pillage
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to rob and plunder
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reverie
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the condition of being lost in thought
a daydream |
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thrall
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a loss of one's ability to act freely; a state over which one appears to have no control
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thralldom
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slavery or bondage
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abstruse
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difficult to understand
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accrue
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to arise or increase as a natural result or growth, usually used with to or from
to come as a regular addition |
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besmirch
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to stain or tarnish; to make dirty
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histrionic
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purposely affected; theatrical
histrionics: exaggerated displays of emotion, intended to produce an effect or response |
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impropriety
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the quality or state of being improper or unsuitable
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inveigle
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to lure or trick into doing something
to obtain by flattery or trickery ensnare; beguile |
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penitent
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sorry for having done wrong; remorseful; contrite
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probity
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honesty; trustworthiness; adherence to virtue
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purport
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to give or present the often false impression of being someone or intending something
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revelation
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something that is made known or revealed, often coming as a surprise
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surfeit
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an overabundant supply; an excess
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unsavory
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having an unpleasant look, taste, or smell
morally offensive |
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anathema
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someone or something that is intensely disliked, curesed, or shunned
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assuage
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to satisfy
to lessen or reduce the intensity of |
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avuncular
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like a benevolent uncle; familiar and indulgent
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convivial
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sociable; concerned with good company and festivities
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eclectic
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combining elements from a variety of sources
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epigram
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a short, witty poem or saying
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expound
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to explain in detail; to set forth
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intrinsic
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relating to the essential nature of something; real or actual
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inveterate
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habitual or deeply rooted; persistent
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mogul
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a very powerful or wealthy person; a magnate
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munificent
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extremely generous; liberal in giving
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nascent
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beginning to exist; emerging
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perspicacious
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clear-sighted; shrewd; astute
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philistine
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one who is indifferent to or disdainful of intellectual values
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propitious
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tending to favor or assist; encouraging
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careen
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to rush headlong, often with a swerving or lurching motion
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cavalier
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showing an offhand or carefree disregard; arrogant
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contiguous
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sharing a boundary; being very close or in contact: adjacent
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correlate
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to connect related things; to bring things into proper relation with one another
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etymology
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the history of a word
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frenetic
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wildly excited; frantic
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presage
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to foretell; to warn or indicate in advance
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pulverize
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to crush or grind into dust or powder
to demolish |
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recondite
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difficult to understand; abstruse
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undulate
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to form or move in waves
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upheaval
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a radical or violent change
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blasphemy
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an act or statement that shows disrespect or irreverence toward something considered sacred
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cadence
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a rhythm marked by a regular beat
the rising and falling of the voice in human speech |
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denouement
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the outcome of a series of event; the final resolution following the climax of the plot of a work of drama or fiction
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edict
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a statement or command having the force of law
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enamor
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to inspire with love; to captivate
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insensate
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lacking sensation or awareness; lacking sense or ability to reason; brutal, lacking feeling
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renegade
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a person who deserts one group or cause for another; a traitor
a person who rejects lawful behavior |
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soliloquy
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a speech in which a character's thoughts are given verbal expression
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stricture
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a strong criticism
anything that restricts or limits |
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triumvirate
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a group of three, especially one possessing great power or eminence
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usurp
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to seize and hold power or authority in an illegal or unjust manner
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vestment
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an outer garment, especially one indicating a role, rank, or office
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votary
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a person who is devoted to a cause or organization, especially one of the religious nature
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blase
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indifferent to what others might find pleasurable or exciting because of excessive indulgence or enjoyment; unconcerned
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bravado
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an ostentatious display of bravery; defiant or swaggering behavior
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disparate
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containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
showing a marked difference or inequality |
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domicile
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one's house or place of residence
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itinerant
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traveling from place to place
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lilliputian
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extremely small or apearing to be so
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proclivity
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a strong inclination towards something
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queasy
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causing nausea or uneasiness
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relegate
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to put out of sight or mind; demote
to assign for a decision or further action |
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vertigo
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dizziness or a tilting, spinning sensation
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appease
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to bring to a state of peace or quiet
to pacify an adversary, often by making concessions |
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attrition
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a gradual reduction in numbers or loss of strength
a weakening resulting from pressure or harassment |
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debacle
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a sudden collapse, downfall, or failure
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defoliate
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to strip a plant of leaves, thereby damaging or destroying it
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equestrian
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having to do with horseback riding
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expunge
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to obliterate or erase completely
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hackneyed
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commonplace; trite; lacking forcing or significance became of overuse
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opprobrium
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scornful treatment or contempt, especially as a result of disgraceful behavior
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proviso
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a statement that makes a condition, qualification, or restriction
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sully
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to soil, tarnish, or besmirch
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tactile
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relating to or perceptible by the sense of touch
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upbraid
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to scold or criticize severely; to find fault with
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verdant
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green with vegetation; covered with green plants
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vertex
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the point opposite and farthest from the base; summit
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behemoth
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something or someone of enormous size or power
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disinter
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to remove from a grave or tomb; to dig up
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impinge
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to go beyond desirable or established limits; to encroach
to come into contact with, especially forcefully |
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multifarious
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having many forms; varied, versatile
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plenitude
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an ample amount, an abundance
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postulate
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to assume as a fact based on the best available evidence
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putrefy
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to become rotten or decayed, giving off a foul odor
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salubrious
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beneficial to health or well-being
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succulent
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fresh and juicy
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tundra
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flat, treeless plains of the arctic regions
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unequivocal
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leaving no room for misunderstanding; umambiguous
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vicissitudes
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fluctuations in conditions; changes of fortune
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amity
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peaceful relations; friendship
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animadversion
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a critical or hostile comment
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antithetical
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being in direct and outspoken opposition
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antithesis
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the direct contrast of one thing with another; the exact opposite
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bellicose
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inclined to quarrel; combative; warlike
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bucolic
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of or relating to country life; rustic; pastoral
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craven
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utterly lacking courage; willing to give up or capitulate
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exalt
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to raise in rank, wealth, or honor; to praise highly; glorify
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impugn
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to attack as false; to call into question
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introspective
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inclined to look inward and examine one's thoughts and feelings
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metier
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work or activity for which one is particularly suited
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penurious
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marked by extreme poverty
stingy; lacking generosity |
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privation
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an instance or condition of extreme hardship; a lack of comfort
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sobriquet
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a nickname
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tantamount
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equivalent to; the same as
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throes
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conditions of painful or difficult change, struggle, or turmoil
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altruism
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the putting of others' well-being ahead of one's own; unselfishness
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context
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the circumstances in which something exists or occurs
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crass
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lacking delicacy or sensitivity; gross
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debase
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to lower the quality, character, or status of; to devalue
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enjoin
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to direct or command
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extemporaneous
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composed or performed on the spur of the moment, with little or no planning
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genesis
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an origin, creation, or beginning
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libation
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a liquid, usually wine, especially when poured as an offering or drunk as part of a ceremony
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malaise
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a vague feeling of uneasiness or unwellness
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platitude
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a thought or remark that is dull or trite
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sunder
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to break or force apart; to sever
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travail
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activity that is arduous and burdensome; toil
suffering or anguish |
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abeyance
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a state of (usually temporary) inactivity or suspension
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buttress
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a projecting structure that supports a wall or building
to support or strengthen |
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commensurate
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corresponding in size, degree, or amount; proportionate; of equal value
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dilatory
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slow to act or respond; delaying; tardy
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ecumenical
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universal; inclusive, especially concerning religious matters
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facade
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the front or face of a building
a superficial appearance; an illusion |
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gargoyle
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a grotesque stone figure used as a decorative feature on a building or as an ornament; a spout projecting
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moot
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to debate, suggest, or discuss
deprived of significance; irrelevant |
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pinnacle
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a tall, slender, pointed top; peak
the highest point of achievement |
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requiem
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a funeral mass or service; a musical composition honoring the dead
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sacrosanct
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highly sacred or holy; not to be violated
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sensuous
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producing an agreeable effect on the senses
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tenet
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a principle or belief held to be true, especially by members of an organization
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transcend
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to go above the limits of; to exceed or surpass
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venue
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the scene or locale of any action or event; the place of an alleged crime
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arbiter
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one whose decisions are accepted as final; a judge
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conclave
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a private meeting or secret assembly
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concomitant
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accompanying; occupying or existing at the same time
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coterie
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an intimate or exclusive group; a clique
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demur
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to raise objections; to withhold one's approval or agreement
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flaunt
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to parade or display conspicuously or boldly
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genteel
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polite, elegant, stylish; sometimes overly so
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inimical
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expressing hostility or unfriendly intent
having adverse or harmful effects |
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inordinate
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beyond what is ordinary or reasonable in amount or scope; excessive
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ludicrous
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provoking or describing laughter because of absurdity; ridiculous
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oligarchy
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government by a small, elite group
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redoubtable
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worthy of respect; formidable
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repugnant
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highly distasteful; offensive; repulsive
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chattel
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an item of property that can be moved, as distinct from real estate
a human being considered as property |
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commodious
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having plenty of space to move around freely; roomy
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conflagration
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a large, disastrous fire
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limbo
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a place or state of neglect, oblivion, or transition
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perfunctory
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done in a routine way, without care or particular interest
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pristine
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like new; spotless; free of dirt and decay
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ramshackle
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loosely made; appearing ready to collapse; dilapidated
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sequester
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to set apart; to seclude
to seize, especially by legal authority |
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subversive
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planning to undermine or overthrow an established order
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virulent
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full of hate; bitter or spiteful
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autocratic
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exercising sole or complete control; dictatorial
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caustic
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capable of destroying tissue by chemical action; corrosive
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debilitate
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to impair the strength of; to enfeeble
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duplicitous
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marked by deception
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duplicity
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deceit in speech or actions; deliberate deception
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emissary
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a representative sent on a special errand
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felicitous
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happily suited to an occasion or situation; appropriate and graceful
marked by happiness or good fortune; pleasant; charming |
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forthright
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direct; straightforward; frank
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impecunious
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being habitually without money; poor
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jaundiced
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affected by jealousy, resentment, or hostility
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mercenary
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serving merely for money or gain; greedy
a soldier who fights for whoever pays him |
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oust
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to eject from a position or place; to drive out of use
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ouster
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dismissal from a position
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parsimonious
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excessively sparing or frugal; penurious
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pejorative
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having negative or unpleasant associations; belittling
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precept
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a general principle or rule of action
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bereft
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deprived of or lacking something that is wanted or needed
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deride
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to laugh at in scorn or contempt; to ridicule
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effrontery
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a boldness that is offensive because of its lack of tact; audacity
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espouse
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to advocate or embrace, especially a cause or idea
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impending
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about to occur; imminent
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incensed
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filled with wrath; enraged
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pertinent
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relating to the matter at hand; relevant
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promulgate
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to proclaim or make known
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proscribe
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to forbid as harmful; to prohibit
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redress
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to correct or compensate for a wrong
something that makes up for a wrong |
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regime
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a form of rule or government
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retribution
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something given in repayment, especially punishment; recompense
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aegis
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protection; sponsorship
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bauble
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a showy, ornamental object with little practical use; a trinket
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complaisant
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willing to please; agreeable
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depredation
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the act of plundering or destroying; also, the loss or damage that results
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epiphany
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a sudden understanding of the meaning, essence, or reality of something
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moratorium
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a waiting period of temporary ban on activity
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pendulous
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hanging loosely or swinging freely
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portend
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to be a sign of; to indicate what will happen
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pragmatic
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concerned with practical solutions rather than abstract theory
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reprieve
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to delay or suspend punishment
a relief or respite, especially when temporary |
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stentorian
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extremely loud or powerful in sound
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tenure
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the condition of holding property, an office, or a position; also the period during which it is held
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unilateral
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done or carried out by one of two or more parties rather than in concert with others
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antipathy
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a consistent aversion or dislike
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deleterious
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hurtful; injurious
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excoriate
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to criticize severely; to berate
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extrapolate
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to estimate or infer by projecting from or expanding upon known information
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grisly
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horrible to contemplate or look upon; grim and ghastly
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idiosyncrasy
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a peculiar characteristic, habit, or manner that distinguishes a person
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impute
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to assign blame or credit; to attribute or ascribe
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maladroit
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lacking judgment or skill; bungling or clumsy
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negate
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to deny or refute the existence or truth of
to make ineffective or invalid |
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passe
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no longer in fashion; out moded
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pedagogue
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a teacher of children or youth; sometimes one who is dogmatic or overly formal
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preponderance
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the greater part; superiority in size, importance, or strength
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propound
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to put forward for consideration; to propose
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stance
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the way a person stands; the position of a person's fet
a position regarding politics or ideas; point of view |
