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102 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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ornate
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very fancy, usu. refers to tangible objects, i.e., ornate woodwork
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obsolete
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no longer in use
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obstinate
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stubborn
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obstreperous
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troublesome, boisterous, unruly
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obviate
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to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent
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occlude
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to shut, block
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odious
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hateful, contemptible
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ominous
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menacing, threatening, indicating misfortune
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omniscient
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having infinite knowledge, all-seeing
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opine
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to express an opinion
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opportune
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appropriate, fitting
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opprobrious
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disgraceful, contemptuous
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oration
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lecture, formal speech
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oscillate
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to move back and forth
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ossify
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to turn to bone; to become rigid
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ostracism
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exclusion, temporary banishment
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ouster
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expulsion, ejection, the act of forcing out
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overwrought
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agitated, overdone
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panache
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flair, verve; dashing elegance; style
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paragon
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a model of excellence
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penurious
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extremely stingy, poor, or miserly
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piquant
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pleasantly sharp in flavor; interestingly provocative or stimulating
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pique
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to excite; to arouse an emotion or provoke to action
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potentate
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a person who possesses great power
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prescient
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having knowledge of things before they exist or happen
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priggish
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very fussy, self-righteous, high-maintenance, usu. refers to people
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placid
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calm
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plenitude
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abundance, condition of being plenty
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pliant
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pliable, yielding
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plucky
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courageous, spunky
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plummet
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to fall, plunge
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ply
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to use diligently; to engage; to join together
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polyglot
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speaker of many languages
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pontificate
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to speak in a pretentious manner; to express an opinion in a dogmatic way
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pore
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to study closely or meditatively
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porous
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full of holes, permeable to liquids
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posterity
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future generations; all of a person's descendants
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potable
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drinkable
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prattle
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meaningless, foolish talk
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precarious
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uncertain
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precipice
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edge, steep overhang
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preface
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introduction to a book; introductory remarks to a speech
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premeditate
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to consider, plan beforehand
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preposterous
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absurd, illogical
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presage
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to foretell, indicate in advance
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presumptuous
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rude, improperly bold
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pretext
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excuse, pretended reason
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prevalent
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widespread
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prevaricate
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to lie, evade the truth
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privation
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lack of usual necessities or comforts
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probity
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honesty, high-mindedness
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proclivity
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tendency, inclination
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progenitor
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originator, forefather, ancestor in a direct line
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progeny
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offspring, children
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prognosis
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prediction of disease outcome; any prediction
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prologue
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introductory section of a literary work or play
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promontory
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piece of land or rock higher than its surroundings
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prostrate
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lying face downward, lying flat on ground
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protean
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readily assuming or taking on or adopting different forms or characters; exhibiting variety or diversity
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pugnacious
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quarrelsome, combative, always ready to fight
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pulchritude
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physical beauty
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palatial
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like a palace, magnificent
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palaver
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idle talk
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pall
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a covering that darkens or obscures, coffin; to lose strength or interest
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pallid
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lacking color or liveliness
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pandemic
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spread over a whole area or country
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panegyric
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elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
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panorama
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broad view; comprehensive picture
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paramount
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supreme, dominant, primary
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parasite
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person or animal that lives at another's expense
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pariah
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outcast
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parity
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equality
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parry
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to ward off or deflect; to turn aside; to evade or avoid
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pastiche
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piece of literature or music imitating other works
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pathos
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pity, compassion
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pauper
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very poor person
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pedagogue
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teacher
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peer
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contemporary, equal, match
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peerless
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unequaled
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penury
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extreme poverty
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permeable
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penetrable; seeking through
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perpetual
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endless, lasting
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pervert
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to cause to change in an inmoral way; to misuse
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pestilence
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epidemic, plague
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phalanx
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massed group of soldiers, people, or things
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philanderer
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pursuer of casual love affairs
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phlegmatic
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calm in temperament; sluggish
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phobia
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exaggerated, illogical fear
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piety
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devoutness
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pilfer
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to steal
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pinnacle
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peak, highest point of development
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pithy
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profound, substantial; concise, succinct, to the point
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protocol
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ceremony and manners observed by diplomats
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proximity
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nearness
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prude
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one who is excessively proper or modest
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pry
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to force open; to intrude into
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pseudonym
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pen name; fictitious or borrowed name
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puerile
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childish, inmature, silly
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punctilious
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careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony
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pungent
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strong or sharp in smell or taste
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punitive
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having to do with punishment
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purge
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to cleanse or free from impurities
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