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67 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abate
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to decrease; reduce
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abdicate
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to give up a position, right, or power
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abject
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miserable; pitiful
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abjure
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to reject; abandon formally
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abscission
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the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant
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abstinence
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the giving up of certain pleasures
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abysmal
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very bad
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accretion
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growth in size or increase in amount
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accrue
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to accumulate; grow by additions
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adamant
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uncompromising; unyielding
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adjunct
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something added, attached, or joined
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adulterate
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to corrupt or make impure
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affected
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pretentious, phony
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affinity
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fondness; liking; similarity
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aggrandize
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to make larger or greater
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alchemy
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medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; a seemingly magical power or process of transmutation
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allay
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to lessen; ease; soothe
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alleviate
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to relieve; improve partially
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alloy
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a combination; a mixture of two or more metals
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allure
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the power to entice by charm
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ambrosia
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something delicious; the food of the gods
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amenable
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agreeable; cooperative; suited
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amenity
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something that increases comfort
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amulet
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ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
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analgesic
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medication that reduces or eliminates pain
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anarchy
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absence of government; state of disorder
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anodyne
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something that calms or soothes pain
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antecedent
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something that comes before
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antediluvian
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prehistoric
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apathy
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indifference
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apex
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the highest point
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apogee
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the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point
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apothegm
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a terse, witty saying
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appease
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to calm; pacify; placate
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appellation
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name
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apposite
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strikingly appropriate and relevant
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apropos
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relevant
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arabesque
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ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which one leg is extended in black while the other supports the weight of the body
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archeology
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the study of material evidence of past human life
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ardor
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great emotion or passion
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arduous
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extremely difficult; laborious
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argot
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a specialized vocabulary used by a group
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arrest
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to stop; seize
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artifact
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item made by human craft
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asperity
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severity; harshness; irritability
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aspersion
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slander; false rumor
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astrigent
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harsh; severe
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asylum
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place of refuge or shelter
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atavism
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in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence; individual or a part in that exhibits atavism; return of a trait after a period of absence
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avarice
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greed
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avocation
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secondary occupation
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avuncular
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like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
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axiomatic
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taken for granted
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bacchanalian
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pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry
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banter
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playful conversation
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bard
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poet
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bawdy
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obscene
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beatify
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to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to
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bedizen
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to dress in a vulgar, showy manner
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behemoth
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huge creature; anything very large and powerful
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bifurcate
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to divide into two parts
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blandishment
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flattery
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blase
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bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned
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bolster
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to give a boost to; prop up; support
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bovine
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cowlike
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brazen
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bold; shameless
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broach
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to mention for the first time
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