Words 3

Front 1

cavil

Back 1

–verb 1. to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily (usually fol. by at or about ): He finds something to cavil at in everything I say.

Front 2

quibble

Back 2

"noun 1. an instance of the use of ambiguous, prevaricating, or irrelevant language or arguments to evade a point at issue.

Front 3

demotic

Back 3

"adjective v 1. of or pertaining to the ordinary, everyday, current form of a language; vernacular: a poet with a keen ear for demotic rhythms. 2. of or pertaining to the common people; popular.

Front 4

provocateur

Back 4

"noun 1. a person who provokes trouble, causes dissension, or the like; agitator.

Front 5

erasure

Back 5

–noun 1. an act or instance of erasing. 2. a place where something has been erased; a spot or mark left after erasing: You can't sign a contract with so many erasures in it.

Front 6

educe

Back 6

"verb (used with object), e·duced, e·duc·ing. 1. to draw forth or bring out, as something potential or latent; elicit; develop.

Front 7

derision

Back 7

noun 1. ridicule; mockery: The inept performance elicited derision from the audience. 2. an object of ridicule.

Front 8

propinquity

Back 8

"noun 1. nearness in place; proximity. 2. nearness of relation; kinship. 3. affinity of nature; similarity.

Front 9

attrition/diminution/peter

Back 9

"3W–noun 1. a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength: Our club has had a high rate of attrition because so many members have moved away. 2. a wearing down or weakening of resistance, esp. as a result of continuous pressure or harassment: The enemy surrounded the town and conducted a war of attrition.

Front 10

modicum

Back 10

noun a moderate or small amount: He hasn't even a modicum of common sense.

Front 11

simulacra/effigy

Back 11

noun 1. a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or semblance. 2. an effigy, image, or representation: a simulacrum of Aphrodite.

Front 12

introjection

Back 12

noun Psychoanalysis . an unconscious psychic process by which a person incorporates into his or her own psychic apparatus the characteristics of another person or object

Front 13

martient

Back 13

–noun 1. a strict disciplinarian, esp. a military one. 2. someone who stubbornly adheres to methods or rules

Front 14

consanguineous

Back 14

adjective having the same ancestry or descent; related by blood.

Front 15

heuristic

Back 15

–adjective 1. serving to indicate or point out; stimulating interest as a means of furthering investigation.2. encouraging a person to learn, discover, understand, or solve problems on his or her own, as by experimenting, evaluating possible answers or solutions, or by trial and error: a heuristic teaching method.

Front 16

crude

Back 16

adjective 1.in a raw or unprepared state; unrefined or natural: crude sugar. 2.lacking in intellectual subtlety, perceptivity, etc.; rudimentary; undeveloped

Front 17

specious

Back 17

–adjective 1.apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible: specious arguments. 2.pleasing to the eye but deceptive

Front 18

saccharine

Back 18

of the nature of or resembling that of sugar: a powdery substance with a saccharine taste

Front 19

effeminate

Back 19

"adjective 1. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy. 2. characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc.: effeminate luxury.

Front 20

reticent/taciturnity

Back 20

2Wadjective 1. disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved. 2. reluctant or restrained. reserve

Front 21

enspirit

Back 21

"verb (used with object) to infuse spirit or life into; enliven.

Front 22

nimbus

Back 22

a cloud, aura, atmosphere, etc., surrounding a person or thing: The candidate was encompassed with a nimbus of fame. 2. halo

Front 23

simpatico

Back 23

congenial or like-minded; likable: I find our new neighbor simpatico in every respect

Front 24

cavort

Back 24

verb (used without object) 1. to prance or caper about. 2. to behave in a high-spirited, festive manner; make merry

Front 25

careen/lurch

Back 25

2W verb (used without object) 1. (of a vehicle) to lean, sway, or tip to one side while in motion: The car careened around the corner

Front 26

exultation

Back 26

noun the act of exulting; lively or triumphant joy, as over success or victory

Front 27

stupefy

Back 27

verb 1. to put into a state of little or no sensibility; benumb the faculties of; put into a stupor

Front 28

personage

Back 28

noun 1. a person of distinction or importance

Front 29

implore

Back 29

verb 1. to beg urgently or piteously, as for aid or mercy; beseech; entreat: They implored him to go

Front 30

venal/mercenary

Back 30

2W adjective 1. willing to sell one's influence, esp. in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary: a venal judge

Front 31

pa ri ah

Back 31

noun 1. an outcast. 2. any person or animal that is generally despised or avoided

Front 32

libertine/profligate/debauchary

Back 32

3W –noun 1. a person who is morally or sexually unrestrained, esp. a dissolute man; a profligate; rake. 2. a freethinker in religious matters

Front 33

embellish

Back 33

"verb (used with object) 1. to beautify by or as if by ornamentation; ornament; adorn. 2. to enhance (a statement or narrative) with fictitious additions.

Front 34

epoch

Back 34

"noun 1. a particular period of time marked by distinctive features, events, etc.: The treaty ushered in an epoch of peace and good will.

Front 35

constitute

Back 35

"verb (used with object), -tut·ed, -tut·ing. 1. to compose; form: mortar constituted of lime and sand. 2. to appoint to an office or function; make or create: He was constituted treasurer.

Front 36

armamentarium

Back 36

noun the aggregate of equipment, methods, and techniques available to one for carrying out one's duties: The stethoscope is still an essential part of the physician's armamentarium

Front 37

issuance

Back 37

–noun 1. the act of issuing

Front 38

turpitude

Back 38

noun 1. vile, shameful, or base character; depravity

Front 39

precipice

Back 39

noun 1. a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging face. 2. a situation of great peril: on the precipice of war

Front 40

veritably

Back 40

adjective 1. being truly or very much so: a veritable triumph

Front 41

mores

Back 41

noun Sociology . folkways of central importance accepted without question and embodying the fundamental moral views of a group

Front 42

elucidation

Back 42

verb (used with object) 1. to make lucid or clear; throw light upon; explain: an explanation that elucidated his recent strange behavior

Front 43

antipathy

Back 43

noun1. a natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion

Front 44

generativist/engender(v)/ prolific

Back 44

"3W adjective 1. capable of producing or creating. 2. pertaining to the production of offspring.

Front 45

effrontery

Back 45

noun, plural -ter·ies. 1. shameless or impudent boldness; barefaced audacity: She had the effrontery to ask for two free samples. 2. an act or instance of this

Front 46

impudent

Back 46

impertient

Front 47

petulant

Back 47

"moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, esp. over some trifling annoyance: a petulant toss of the head.

Front 48

fretful

Back 48

verb (used without object) 1. to feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent, or the like: Fretting about the lost ring isn't going to help

Front 49

peevish

Back 49

adjective 1. cross, querulous, or fretful, as from vexation or discontent: a peevish youngster

Front 50

amicable

Back 50

adjective characterized by or showing goodwill; friendly; peaceable: an amicable settlement.

Front 51

carping

Back 51

adjective 1. characterized by fussy or petulant faultfinding; querulous: carping criticism

Front 52

emblem

Back 52

noun 1. an object or its representation, symbolizing a quality, state, class of persons, etc.; symbol: The olive branch is an emblem of peace

Front 53

cogitate

Back 53

–verb (used without object) 1. to think hard; ponder; meditate: to cogitate about a problem

Front 54

doling

Back 54

noun 1. a portion or allotment of money, food, etc., esp. as given at regular intervals by a charity or for maintenance.

Front 55

erstwhile

Back 55

adjective former; of times past: erstwhile friends

Front 56

abject

Back 56

adjective utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, or wretched: abject poverty.

Front 57

self-effacing

Back 57

humility

Front 58

unctuous

Back 58

adjective characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, esp. in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug.

Front 59

anonymity

Back 59

the state or quality of being anonymous

Front 60

abrogate

Back 60

verb (used with object) to abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal: to abrogate a law

Front 61

antithesis

Back 61

opposition; contrast: the antithesis of right and wrong

Front 62

titillate

Back 62

"verb (used with object), -lat·ed, -lat·ing. 1. to excite or arouse agreeably: to titillate the fancy.

Front 63

proffer

Back 63

to put before a person for acceptance; offer.

Front 64

coterie

Back 64

[koh-tuh-ree] –noun a group of people who associate closely

Front 65

delude

Back 65

verb (used with object) 1. to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive: His conceit deluded him into believing he was important

Front 66

vitriol

Back 66

something highly caustic or severe in effect, as criticism

Front 67

car-i-ca-ture

Back 67

any imitation or copy so distorted or inferior as to be ludicrous.

Front 68

chauvinistic

Back 68

"shoh-vuh-niz-uhm] noun 1. zealous and aggressive patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory. 2. biased devotion to any group, attitude, or cause.

Front 69

mellifluous

Back 69

[muh-lif-loo-uhs] adjective 1. sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding: a mellifluous voice; mellifluous tones

Front 70

sangfroid

Back 70

sahn-frwa] –noun coolness of mind; calmness; composure: They committed the robbery with complete sang-froid

Front 71

vestige

Back 71

noun 1. a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence: A few columns were the last vestiges of a Greek temple

Front 72

miscreant

Back 72

mis-kree-uhnt adjective 1. depraved, villainous, or base

Front 73

endow

Back 73

to provide with a permanent fund or source of income: to endow a college

Front 74

askew

Back 74

adverb 1. to one side; out of line; in a crooked position; awry: to wear one's hat askew; to hang a picture askew

Front 75

awry

Back 75

uh-rahy adverb, adjective 1. with a turn or twist to one side; askew: to glance or look awry.

Front 76

atavist

Back 76

noun 1. Biology a. the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations. 2. reversion to an earlier type; throwback

Front 77

pantomime

Back 77

noun 1. the art or technique of conveying emotions, actions, feelings, etc., by gestures without speech

Front 78

mutiny

Back 78

–noun 1. revolt or rebellion against constituted authority, esp. by sailors against their officers

Front 79

eclectic

Back 79

adjective 1. selecting or choosing from various sources. 2. made up of what is selected from different sources

Front 80

perilous

Back 80

"adjective involving or full of grave risk or peril; hazardous; dangerous: a perilous voyage across the Atlantic in a small boat.

Front 81

parlously

Back 81

pahr-luhs] –adjective 1. perilous; dangerous

Front 82

devolve

Back 82

verb (used with object) 1. to transfer or delegate (a duty, responsibility, etc.) to or upon another; pass on.

Front 83

earmark

Back 83

any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic: The mayor's statement had all the earmarks of dirty politics 2. verb (used with object) to set aside for a specific purpose, use, recipient, etc.: to earmark goods for export

Front 84

olio

Back 84

a dish of many ingredients

Front 85

emblazon

Back 85

to depict, as on an escutcheon in heraldry. 2. to decorate with brilliant colors

Front 86

capitulate/assent/acquiesce/succumb/concede/remise/deference/obsequious

Back 86

8W verb (used without object), -lat·ed, -lat·ing. 1. to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms. 2. to give up resistance: He finally capitulated and agreed to do the job my way

Front 87

quandary

Back 87

a state of perplexity or uncertainty, esp. as to what to do; dilemma

Front 88

indubitable

Back 88

that cannot be doubted; patently evident or certain; unquestionable.

Front 89

reveries

Back 89

"noun 1. a state of dreamy meditation or fanciful musing: lost in reverie.

Front 90

perennial

Back 90

adjective 1. lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring: her perennial beauty

Front 91

parcel

Back 91

"noun 1. an object, article, container, or quantity of something wrapped or packed up; small package; bundle.

Front 92

deleterious

Back 92

adjective 1. injurious to health: deleterious gases

Front 93

militating

Back 93

to have a substantial effect; weigh heavily: His prison record militated against him.

Front 94

peremptory

Back 94

adjective 1. leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal; imperative: a peremptory command

Front 95

ambient

Back 95

of the surrounding area or environment: The tape recorder picked up too many ambient noises. The temperature in the display case was 20° lower than the ambient temperature

Front 96

quagmire

Back 96

noun 1. an area of miry or boggy ground whose surface yields under the tread; a bog

Front 97

onerous

Back 97

adjective 1. burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome; causing hardship: onerous duties

Front 98

risible

Back 98

adjective 1. causing or capable of causing laughter; laughable; ludicrous.

Front 99

presage

Back 99

1. a presentiment or foreboding

Front 100

vagaries

Back 100

noun, plural -gar·ies. 1. an unpredictable or erratic action, occurrence, course, or instance: the vagaries of weather; the vagaries of the economic scene