Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
247 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
macabre
|
gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
|
|
mace
|
ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval weapon
|
|
macerate
|
soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper
|
|
Machiavellian
|
crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power
|
|
machinations
|
evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate
|
|
maculated
|
spotted; stained; CF. immaculate
|
|
madrigal
|
pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments
|
|
maelstrom
|
violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream
|
|
magisterial
|
authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner
|
|
magistrate
|
official with power to administer the law
|
|
magnanimity
|
generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous
|
|
magnate
|
person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate
|
|
magniloquent
|
boastful; pompous
|
|
magnitude
|
greatness (in size or extent); extent
|
|
maim
|
mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life
|
|
makeshift
|
temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
|
|
maladroit
|
clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling
|
|
malady
|
illness
|
|
malaise
|
uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)
|
|
malapropism
|
comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop
|
|
malapropos
|
inappropriate; ADV.
|
|
malcontent
|
person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person; ADJ: discontented
|
|
malediction
|
curse
|
|
malefactor
|
evildoer; criminal
|
|
maleficient
|
doing evil; N. maleficience
|
|
malevolent
|
wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence
|
|
malfeasance
|
wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)
|
|
malicious
|
hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite
|
|
malign
|
speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame; ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence
|
|
malignant
|
tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor
|
|
malingerer
|
one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work
|
|
malleable
|
(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable
|
|
malodorous
|
foul-smelling
|
|
mammal
|
vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young
|
|
mammoth
|
gigantic; enormous
|
|
manacle
|
restrain; handcuff; N.
|
|
mandate
|
order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another country; power to given to a government; region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex. mandated territory
|
|
mandatory
|
obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
|
|
maneuver(manoeuver)
|
strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end
|
|
mange
|
skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair
|
|
mangle
|
tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex. badly mangled bodies
|
|
mangy
|
shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance
|
|
maniacal
|
raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm
|
|
manifest
|
evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly
|
|
manifestation
|
outward demonstration; manifesting; indication of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation of his pronounced musical bent
|
|
manifesto
|
public declaration of principles; statement of policy
|
|
manifold
|
many in number or kind; numerous; varied
|
|
manipulate
|
operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate publicity and men; ADJ. manipulative
|
|
mannered
|
affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech
|
|
mannerism
|
distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art (according to a set of styles)
|
|
mantle
|
loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
|
|
manumit
|
emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
|
|
mar
|
spoil the appearance of
|
|
maraud
|
move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
|
|
margin
|
border; room; allowance beyond what is needed; Ex. margin of safety
|
|
marginal
|
of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal effect/writing ability
|
|
marital
|
pertaining to marriage
|
|
maritime
|
bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces
|
|
marked
|
noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man
|
|
maroon
|
leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
|
|
marred
|
damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure
|
|
marrow
|
soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood cells
|
|
marshal
|
put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official
|
|
marsupial
|
one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat
|
|
martial
|
warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law
|
|
martinet
|
strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet
|
|
martyr
|
one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism
|
|
mash
|
crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl
|
|
masochist
|
person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism
|
|
mason
|
one who builds or works with stone or brick; N. masonry: work of a mason; stonework or brickwork
|
|
masquerade
|
wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume party or ball at which masks are worn; pretense; disguise
|
|
mass
|
Christian religious ceremony; CF. Mass: ceremony of the Eucharist
|
|
masticate
|
chew
|
|
mat
|
not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
|
|
materialism
|
preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)
|
|
maternal
|
motherly; N. maternity: motherhood
|
|
matin\'ee(matinee)
|
dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon
|
|
matriarch
|
woman who rules a family or larger social group
|
|
matriculate
|
enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix
|
|
matrimony
|
state of being married
|
|
matrix
|
point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization
|
|
maudlin
|
effusively sentimental
|
|
maul
|
handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer
|
|
mausoleum
|
monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos
|
|
mauve
|
pale purple
|
|
maverick
|
rebel; nonconformist (in a group)
|
|
mawkish
|
mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental
|
|
maxim
|
proverb; truth pithily stated
|
|
mayhem
|
injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim
|
|
meager
|
scanty; inadequate
|
|
mealymouthed
|
indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive
|
|
meander
|
wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly
|
|
meddlesome
|
interfering; V. meddle: interfere
|
|
mediate
|
settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire
|
|
mediocre
|
ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad
|
|
meditation
|
reflection; thought; V. meditate
|
|
medium
|
element that is a creature's natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substance through which something else is transmitted
|
|
medley
|
mixture
|
|
meek
|
submissive; patient and long-suffering
|
|
megalomania
|
mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance
|
|
melancholy
|
gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia
|
|
melee
|
fight
|
|
mellifluous
|
(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune
|
|
memento
|
token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit
|
|
memoir
|
memoirs; autobiography; biography
|
|
memorial
|
something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to honor the memory of a person or event; ADJ: commemorative
|
|
memorialize
|
commemorate
|
|
menace
|
threat; V: threaten
|
|
menagerie
|
collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo
|
|
mendacious
|
lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity
|
|
mendicant
|
beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
|
|
menial
|
suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)
|
|
mentor
|
counselor; teacher
|
|
mercantile
|
concerning trade or merchants
|
|
mercenary
|
motivated solely by money or gain; N.
|
|
mercurial
|
capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood
|
|
meretricious
|
flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute
|
|
merger
|
combination (of two business corporations); act of merging
|
|
merit
|
good quality deserving praise; merits: aspect of character or behavior deserving approval or disapproval; Ex. judge each plan on its own merits; V: deserve; earn
|
|
merit
|
deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
|
|
mesmerize
|
hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer
|
|
metallurgical
|
pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores
|
|
metamorphosis
|
change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis
|
|
metaphor
|
implied comparison; CF. simile
|
|
metaphysical
|
pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality
|
|
mete
|
measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
|
|
meteoric
|
like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor
|
|
meter
|
arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual rhythm)
|
|
methodical
|
systematic; N. method: systematic method of procedure
|
|
meticulous
|
excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous
|
|
metrical
|
metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of Homer
|
|
metropolis
|
large city
|
|
mettle
|
courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome
|
|
miasma
|
swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence
|
|
microcosm
|
small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society
|
|
migrant
|
changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one that migrates
|
|
migratory
|
wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another; move periodically from one region to another
|
|
milieu
|
social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.
|
|
militant
|
combative; bellicose; N.
|
|
militate
|
work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier
|
|
militia
|
army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers
|
|
millennium
|
thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity
|
|
mime
|
pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic; pantomime
|
|
mimicry
|
imitation
|
|
minatory
|
menacing; threatening
|
|
mincing
|
affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way, taking little short steps; Ex. The actor minced across the stage; CF. mincemeat; CF. mincer
|
|
mingle
|
mix together in close association
|
|
miniature
|
small model; small painting; ADJ: small
|
|
minion
|
servile dependent; obsequious follower
|
|
minuscule(miniscule)
|
extremely small
|
|
minute
|
extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting
|
|
minutiae
|
petty or trivial details; CF. minutia
|
|
mirage
|
unreal reflection; optical illusion
|
|
mire
|
entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire
|
|
mirth
|
merriment; laughter
|
|
misadventure
|
mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
|
|
misanthrope
|
one who hates mankind; misanthropist
|
|
misapprehension
|
error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
|
|
miscellaneous
|
made up of a variety of parts
|
|
miscellany
|
mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items
|
|
mischance
|
ill luck
|
|
mischief
|
behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome
|
|
misconduct
|
immoral behavior; bad management; V.
|
|
misconstrue
|
interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge
|
|
miscreant
|
wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF. believe
|
|
misdemeanor
|
minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing
|
|
miserly
|
stingy; mean
|
|
misgivings
|
doubts
|
|
mishap
|
unfortunate accident
|
|
misnomer
|
wrong or improper name; incorrect designation
|
|
misogamy
|
hatred of marriage
|
|
misogynist
|
hater of woman; CF. misogyny
|
|
missile
|
object to be thrown or projected
|
|
missive
|
letter; written statement; CF. sent
|
|
mite
|
very small object or insect-like creature; small coin
|
|
mitigate
|
appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity
|
|
mnemonic
|
pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid
|
|
mobile
|
movable; not fixed; N. mobility
|
|
mock
|
ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision
|
|
mode
|
prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life
|
|
modicum
|
limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate
|
|
modish
|
fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
|
|
modulate
|
tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G
|
|
mogul
|
powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol, Moghul; CF. Mongolian
|
|
molecule
|
the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance
|
|
mollify
|
soothe an angry person
|
|
mollycoddle
|
pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively
|
|
molt(moult)
|
periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)
|
|
molten
|
melted; Ex. molten lava
|
|
momentous
|
very important; N. moment; CF. momentary
|
|
momentum
|
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force
|
|
monarchy
|
government under a single ruler
|
|
monastic
|
related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns
|
|
monetary
|
pertaining to money
|
|
mongrel
|
plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.
|
|
monochromatic
|
having only one color
|
|
monochrome
|
painting in only one color; ADJ.
|
|
monogram
|
design composed of one or more initials of a name; V.
|
|
monograph
|
scholarly article
|
|
monolithic
|
solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone
|
|
monotheism
|
belief in one God
|
|
monotony
|
sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone
|
|
monumental
|
massive; impressively large; built as a monument
|
|
moodiness
|
fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood:
|
|
moratorium
|
legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses
|
|
morbid
|
given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
|
|
mordant
|
biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit
|
|
mores
|
conventions; moral standards; moral customs
|
|
morgue
|
mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation
|
|
moribund
|
dying; at the point of death; CF. death
|
|
morose
|
ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
|
|
mortar
|
vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle
|
|
mortician
|
undertaker; CF. death
|
|
mortify
|
humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die
|
|
mosaic
|
picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.
|
|
mote
|
small speck (esp. of dust)
|
|
motif
|
theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure
|
|
motility
|
ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously
|
|
motley
|
multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)
|
|
mottled
|
blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors
|
|
motto
|
brief statement used to express a principle
|
|
mountebank
|
charlatan; boastful pretender
|
|
muddle
|
confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion
|
|
muggy
|
(of weather) warm and damp
|
|
mulct
|
defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy
|
|
multifarious
|
varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities
|
|
multiform
|
having many forms
|
|
multilingual
|
having many languages; fluent in several languages
|
|
multiplicity
|
state of being numerous or multiple; large number; Ex. multiplicity of details; ADJ. multiple: of more than one element
|
|
mundane
|
worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world
|
|
munificent
|
very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience
|
|
mural
|
wall painting
|
|
murky
|
dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom
|
|
murmur
|
low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
|
|
muse
|
ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)
|
|
musky
|
having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer
|
|
muster
|
gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.
|
|
musty
|
stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist
|
|
mutablility
|
ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant
|
|
mute
|
silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V: soften the sound, color, shade of
|
|
muted
|
silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic noise
|
|
mutilate
|
maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part
|
|
mutinous
|
unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer
|
|
mutter
|
utter (complaining words) indistinctly in low tones
|
|
myopic
|
nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia
|
|
myriad
|
very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand
|
|
mystic
|
of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
|